Cover photo by Ebet Roberts 18 AIRTO He calls himself the "outlaw of percussion" because he breaks all the rules, but that's what has kept Airto in demand with musicians such as Miles Davis, Chick Corea, and Weather Report for almost two decades. His latest rule-breaking involves the use of electronics, but as usual, he has come up with his own way of doing it. by Rick Mattingly 24 GILSON LAVIS Back when Squeeze was enjoying their initial success, drummer Gilson Lavis was becoming increasingly dependent on alcohol. After the band broke up, he conquered his problem, and now, with the re-formed Squeeze enjoying success once again, Lavis is able to put new energy into his gig. by Simon Goodwin 28 BUDDY Photo by Ebet Roberts MILES He made his mark with the Electric Flag, Jimi Hendrix's Band of Gypsies, and his own Buddy Miles Express. Now, active once again with Santana and the California Raisins, Buddy Miles reflects on the legendary music that he was so much a part of. by Robert Santelli 32 DAVE TOUGH He didn't have the flash of a Buddy Rich or a Gene Krupa, but Dave Tough made such bands as Benny Goodman's, Artie Shaw's, and Woody Herman's play their best through his driving timekeeping and sense of color. His story is a tragic one, and it is thus even more Roberts Ebet remarkable that he accomplished so much in his by relatively short life. Photo by Burt Korall VOLUME 12, NUMBER 9 ROCK BASICS PERSPECTIVES Heavy Metal Power Warming Up: Part 1 Fills: Part 1 by Kenny Aronoff by Jim Pfeifer 38 90 UP AND COMING DRUM SOLOIST ROCK'N'JAZZ David Bowler Max Roach: "Jordu" CLINIC by Bonnie C. Moore by Karl Ott Breaking With 56 40 Tradition UPDATE by Rod Morgenstein 8 PORTRAITS IN THE STUDIO 92 Julie Spencer Drums, Bass, And Time by Patrick Wilson INDUSTRY Feel HAPPENINGS CONCEPTS 66 by Craig Krampf Practicing And Fun 112 42 by Roy Burns AROUND THE 102 WORLD JAZZ DRUMMERS' Glen Velez WORKSHOP CLUB SCENE by Iris Brooks Samba Rhythms For Maladies & Remedies 76 Jazz Drummers by Rick Van Horn by Peter Erskine 104 44 SHOW EDITOR'S DRUMMERS' OVERVIEW SEMINAR 4 The Drummer- Conductor READERS' Relationship PLATFORM by Ray Marchica 6 46 ELECTRONIC ASK A PRO MASTER CLASS REVIEW 12 Triggers II Portraits In Rhythm: by Bob Saydlowski, Jr. Etude #14 IT'S 80 QUESTIONABLE by Anthony J. Cirone 14 86 ON TRACK NEW AND 60 NOTABLE DRUM MARKET 114 100 Ever give any thought to how important our local your regular business keeps this valuable entity drum shops and music stores are to us as musi- open to you. Be willing to work with a dealer cians? Think about it. A dealer with a wide selec- when he's up against any one of a number of tion, representing a number of lines, offers us the problems that could arise at the manufacturing opportunity to closely examine the equipment we level. Delays, shortages of stock, and back order- see in catalogs and advertisements. A shop is where ing of special items are oftentimes beyond his we go for service and for that much-needed assis- control. In all likelihood, your local dealer is proba- tance when a product falls short of the bly doing his best to offer you good service. It's in manufacturer's claim. Your local dealer is that all- his best interest to do so, assuming you're a valu- important midway point between you and a manu- able customer. facturer in some distant city. Under basic courtesy comes that fine line be- The music shop is a place to meet with fellow tween taking him up on an offer to try out a new musicians. What would some of us do with those piece of gear, and taking undue advantage of the long afternoons without the shops to hang out in, offer by rudely disturbing every other transaction where we get to talk about music and equipment going on in the shop. Under good common sense with friends and shop employees? Your local dealer comes something as simple as paying your bills A Two- also provides a learning environment of sorts. It's on time. If your local dealer has extended you the place many of us went for lessons as begin- credit, don't abuse the privilege. It's the surest ners, and where many seasoned players continue way to damage a healthy relationship. Plus, when Way to fine-tune their skills with staff instructors. enough people tie up a dealer's cash, the risk of A shop is a place where musicians tend to go losing something of great local value becomes out of their way for one another. Stories abound of very real. Street dealers who've saved the day for road musicians Finally, if you're really happy with your local with potential disasters on their hands, or who've shop, tell others about it. Good word-of-mouth come to the rescue of the local clubdate player advertising can go a long way for a dealer. And hours before the gig. I once had a shop manager anything you can do to keep your local shop in offer to open the shop on a Sunday afternoon to business benefits you in the long run, as well. supply me with an emergency leaner set tor that True, the shops need our patronage to stay in very evening. Try to get a department store man- business. But don't we actually need them for the ager to do that for you! It's just impossible to put a same reason? A good relationship between a mu- dollar value on that kind of service. sician and a local dealer is really a two-way street. What can you do for your local dealer who Keep it in mind the next time you drop by. offers you so much? Well, obviously, bringing him EDITOR/PUBLISHER ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ronald Spagnardi Tracy Kearney Susan Alexander, Robyn Flans, Simon Goodwin, Karen Ervin Pershing, Jeff Potter, Teri Saccone, Robert Santelli, Bob Saydlow- ski, Jr., Robin Tolleson, Lauren Vogel, T. Bruce Wittet. ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Isabel Spagnardi Joan C. Stickel MODERN DRUMMER Magazine (ISSN 0194-4533) is pub lished monthly with an additional issue in July by MODERN SENIOR EDITOR ADVERTISING DIRECTOR DRUMMER Publications, Inc., 870 Pompton Avenue, Cedar Rick Mattingly Kevin W. Kearns Grove, NJ 07009. Second-Class Postage paid at Cedar Grove, NJ 07009 and at additional mailing offices. Copyright 1988 by Modern Drummer Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Repro- MANAGING EDITOR DEALER SERVICE MANAGER duction without the permission of the publisher is prohibited. Rick Van Horn Josie Cuaycong EDITORIAL/ADVERTISING/ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES: Mod- ern Drummer Publications, 870 Pompton Avenue, Cedar Grove, ASSOCIATE EDITORS SALES PROMOTION NJ 07009. William F. Miller Crystal W. Van Horn MANUSCRIPTS: Modern Drummer welcomes manuscripts, Adam Budofsky however, cannot assume responsibility for them. Manuscripts must be accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. MAIL ROOM SUPERVISOR MUSIC DEALERS: Modern Drummer is available for resale at EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Leo Spagnardi bulk rates. Direct correspondence to Modern Drummer, Dealer Cynthia Huang Service, 870 Pompton Ave., Cedar Grove, NJ 07009. Tel: 800- Alyssa Klein CONSULTANT TO THE PUBLISHER 522-DRUM or 201-239-4140. Arnold E. Abramson SUBSCRIPTIONS: $24.95 per year; $44.95, two years. Single ART DIRECTOR copies $2.95. David H. Creamer MODERN DRUMMER ADVISORY BOARD SUBSCRIPTION CORRESPONDENCE: Modern Drummer, PO Henry Adler, Kenny Aronoff, Louie Bellson, Bill Box 480, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0480. Change of address: Al- low at least six weeks for a change. Please provide both old and A Member Of: Bruford, Roy Burns, Jim Chapin, Alan Dawson, Dennis DeLucia, Les DeMerle, Len DiMuzio, Charlie Don- new address. Toll Free Phone: 1-800-435-0715. nelly, Peter Erskine, Vic Firth, Danny Gottlieb, Sonny POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Modern Drummer, P.O. Igoe, Jim Keltner, Mel Lewis, Larrie Londin, Peter Box 480, Mt. Morris IL 61054. Magadini, George Marsh, Joe Morello, Andy New- mark, Neil Peart, Charlie Perry, Dave Samuels, John Santos, Ed Shaughnessy, Steve Smith, Ed Thigpen. ISSUE DATE: September 1988 TOMMY ALDRIDGE HOLISTIC HELP REBUTTAL lack of responsible and appropriate medi- After reading your interview with Tommy I would like to take exception to the ar- cal care. Furthermore, since many of the Aldridge in the June issue, I respect him ticle, "Holistic Help For Drummers' Inju- injuries we commonly see are self-limiting, more and understand his ideas better. But ries" written by )an I. Stromfeld, D.C. [June the gullible patient will get better on his Mr. Aldridge made one point with which I '88 MD]. This article is a disservice to the own and give the chiropractor all the credit strongly disagree. In speaking of his early standards of your magazine as well as to for his recovery. In fact, the patient himself years, he says, "Teachers were in short sup- your readers, who are comprised of profes- is responsible frequently for his own recov- ply where I lived in Florida, and unless you sional and nonprofessional musicians. Mr. ery, and it may have nothing to do with the wanted to wear a stupid uniform and march Stromfeld has composed a love letter to exhaustive series of expensive, dangerous, around with a snare drum in the school himself made up of pseudo-scientific clap- and worthless X-rays he has received. In band, you were out of luck." I find this trap and wishful thinking.