Christensen was voted Drummer of the Year by the European Jazz Federation in 1975, the year that he appeared on ECM albums by German bassist Eberhard Weber and Italian trumpeter Enrico Rava. His flexible articulation of time, and the dry ping of his 22-inch Istanbul K ride cymbal, became hallmarks of the ECM sound.
Read moreBob Gullotti, Drummer and Teacher Known For a Legendary Tenure with The Fringe, Dies at 70
Bob Gullotti, an endlessly creative jazz drummer hailed as a guru by several generations of musicians, both for his instruction at the Berklee College of Music and his work in an experimental trio called The Fringe, died on Saturday at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
Read moreJoe Yuele, A Drummers's Journey: 25 years with John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers
Liverpool's King's Dock on July 19 2003 was the venue for a long awaited and much anticipated reunion between Eric Clapton and John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers. The occasion was both a celebration of John Mayall's 70th year and a fundraiser for Unicef. Joe Yuele on drums driving the band hard with the most perfect double shuffle.
For 25 years Joe Yuele was the driving force behind The Father of British Blues, John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers. But with a 50 year career span that also includes other notable artist such as Buddy Guy, Albert Collins, Dobie Gray, Coco Montoya, and Rick Vito, (to name just a few), there is so much more to Joe's story.
Read moreRemembering Neil Peart by Todd Sucherman
There was the hockey kit, the actual Stanley Cup, a full big band and an entire film crew. We shook hands and chatted, I congratulated him on his new young daughter, and as I remember— he was the one that was asking me all the questions.
Read morePaul Wertico: The Sound Painter
In the international press, Paul has been called “an inspired madman,” and “a restless innovator.” The same could be said of painter Jackson Pollock. There is a direct rhythmic connection between what Paul composes on the drums and what Pollock visually composed on canvas. Each deliberately using an organized rhythmic pattern while communicating their inconsistencies, anomalies and imperfections. Both speaking different languages of which only they can understand and interpret. Critics may never be able to fully describe the true motivations and complete originality of Paul Wertico and Jackson Pollock since both were creating in the moment.
Read moreBill Bruford’s Earthworks Announce the Release of ‘Heavenly Bodies - The Expanded Collection’
Bill Bruford was the drummer with Yes and King Crimson before he moved to jazz with his band Earthworks. Heavenly Bodies – The Expanded Collection takes 23 tracks from the ‘Earthworks Complete’ Deluxe box set to present a tidy overview of the band’s 20-year history in a double CD.
Read moreGordy Knudtson - The Pompatus of Drums
I had the opportunity once again to spend a couple of hours with Gordy before a recent show. He broke down the Open/Close technique showing how it has evolved over the years.
Read moreTaking Backline To a Whole New Level by John De Salvo
We've had everybody through SST, drumming-wise. It's been a dream for me. I'm teching for Marco Minnemann, one of my all-time favorites. Oh, my goodness! Mike Portnoy from Dream Theater. Tommy Clufetos with Black Sabbath. Mike Mangini of Dream Theater. Gavin Harrison of Porcupine Tree, Jay-Z’s drummer, Tony Royster, Jr. They are all jaw-dropping drummers.
I’ll sit back behind the drums in the rehearsal room while they’re working and pretend like I'm fixing a pedal just to watch these guys drum. It's unbelievable. And they are all totally sweet guys. It’s like a brotherhood of drummers. Every day I get to see God-given talent, to see the mechanics, to see what it really takes to get to that level.
Read moreHudson Music publishes new book - Buddy Rich: One of a Kind - by Pelle Berglund
The biggest public misperception of Buddy Rich over the years has come from the infamous Bus Tapes; recordings of Rich cussing out his band that the internet has allowed to fester. Yeah, that happened, but that was only .001% of what Buddy was and did. Imagine there being a recording or video of your worst behavior moment that never goes away. Is that all there is to you? No. This book fills in the other 99.99% with first hand accounts of his humor, generosity, struggles and humanity.
Read moreMax Roach and His Legacy - Honorary Events at U Mass
On October 23 & 24, 2019 - Legendary jazz drummer Max Roach will be honored in a series of symposiums and events at the University of Massachusetts - Amherst. Roach who passed away in 2007, was a faculty member at UMass from 1972 to 2004. Professor Roach joined the W.E.B. Du Bois Department of Afro-American Studies, and was one of the founders of the Jazz in July Program along with Billy Taylor and Frederick Tillis.
Read moreBilly Arnold - Young At Heart by David Barsalou
Seventy year old drummer Billy Arnold is presently touring the world with The Young @ Heart Chorus. Those who have seen the award winning Twentieth Century Fox documentary soon realize that age is a state of mind. This amazing group performs a wide range of eclectic rock and soul. All members of the chorus range in age from 73 to 95. To see them perform is a revelation. They truly are, young in heart, mind, and spirit.
Read moreNPR Highlights Jazz, Coltrane, and Gretsch Great Elvin Jones
On this past September 10th, National Public Radio’s Morning Edition program ran an intriguing feature titled: Not All “Lost” Jazz Albums Are Created Equal. It focused on several albums, either recently or about to be released, that contain previously unreleased material by iconic jazz artists like John Coltrane, Miles Davis, and Stan Getz. One of those albums was Both Directions at Once: The Lost Album, which featured material from 1963 recording sessions and reference tapes, and was released in 2018. Another is Blue World, set to be released on Impulse! Records on September 27. It features Coltrane recordings from 1964.
Read moreMichael Shrieve and a Super Classic (w video)
Imagine being a young 20-year-old drummer on tour for the first time playing to large audiences that were not familiar with your band, as the record had not come out yet………… and as fate would have it, the song that included your drum solo spot was put into the final cut of the movie known as Woodstock; 3 days of peace love and music.
Read moreVideo - the great drummers of New Orleans, Swing and Bebop
Videos of many of the great drum set drummers from the nineteen twenties through the sixties.
Read moreVIDEO! Sticky Wicket - War Time Ludwig Victory Drum Kit
Sticky Wicket strikes again. Authentic playing on this Ludwig Victory kit.
Read morePress Release! Drum Channel Releases "The Buddy Rich Show" on DVD and digital
In 1982—at the height of his popularity and influence— Buddy hosted and played in three live TV specials that featured the legendary drummer as the world had never seen him. The shows included classic performances of nearly two dozen jazz standards by Buddy with his big band and musical guests Ray Charles, Mel Torme, Lionel Hampton, Stan Getz, Woody Herman and Gerry Mulligan. But, unfortunately, “The Buddy Rich Show” never aired and remained unseen for the past 37 years.
Read moreTim Smith - The POCO Years
Tim never had to audition for Poco… Rusty Young hired him on Rich Neville’s recommendation, and it changed everything. “I’ll forever be grateful…and stepping into George Grantham’s shoes to replace him was an honor in itself.”
Read moreMartin Barre Drummer Dave Schoepke To Release Innovative Solo Drum Album “Drums On Low”
Drummer Dave Schoepke will be releasing his first solo drum album titled “Drums On Low” on July 15, 2019. Schoepke is an accomplished North American drummer, who has had the pleasure of working with the legendary Jethro Tull guitarist Martin Barre. Dave toured with Martin's band in 2017 and in 2018 for the “Cruise To The Edge” Tour.
Read moreReview of the 2019 Connecticut Vintage and Custom Drum Show
On Sunday, April 22, 2018, Rick Smith presented another memorable vintage and custom drum show at The Sphinx Shriners Center in Newington, Connecticut. Featured clinicians this year were long-time Journey drummer, Steve Smith, and Paul Francis - Director of Research & Design /Quality at the Avedis Zildjian Company. Both Paul and Steve entertained large audiences, giving them some truly inspirational performances. Also in attendance were several well-known drummers including – Gary Asher - Joe Corsello – Arti Dixson - Daniel Glass – Andrew Klein - Dave Mattacks – Adam Nussbaum and Bobby T Torello.
Read moreCarmine Appice: Rockin' with the Rascals
“We went to SST to rehearse for our tour last year. We worked there for five days. We recorded all the songs we did on the multi-track at SST, as well. It was great to work there. We had food every day. The room was great. The sound system was great. The sound of the room was great. We were there every day from like, ten to six. It was a very pleasurable experience.”
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