September 1991
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
VOLUME 15, NUMBER 9 FEATURES JOHN "VATOS" HERNANDEZ NEW YORK Oingo Boingo's John "Vatos" Hernandez has his work cut out JAZZ DRUMMERS for him—driving rock's "big KENNY band" through composer Danny ROUND TABLE Elfman's unusual and demand- ARONOFF ing arrangements. If you had to explain to a man Learn how this talent- from Mars what jazz drumming ed drummer steers his Mellencamp's big beat has been means today, all you'd have to unique ship. 28 spreading his unshakeable do is put him in a room with • fay Pot Lewis grooves around in a big way these guys. In this exclusive inter- lately. Learn how Kenny left the view, Ralph Peterson, Adam nest for studio suc- Nussbaum, Victor Lewis, Marvin cess—and why he "Smitty" Smith, Lewis Nash, Billy came back home. Drummond, Kenny EQUIPMENT • by Rick Mattingly 18 Washington, and Jeff Watts tell it like it is. 24 THEFT: BEFORE • fay Ken Micallef AND AFTER All my stuff...it's gone!!! Don't let this happen to you. Learn invaluable tips on how to prevent your valu- able equipment from 32 "walking." • by Ernie Santilli MD TRIVIA CONTEST Win a limited-edition Ludwig Black Beauty snare102 drum! COLUMNS Education 52 ROCK 'N' JAZZ Equipment CLINIC Filling In The Holes On The Hi-Hat: Part 4 38 PRODUCT BY ROD MORGENSTEIN CLOSE-UP New Sabian Cymbals Departments BY RICK VAN HORN 56 BASICS AND WILLIAM F. MILLER Getting Serious News About Timekeeping 40 Bison Custom 4 EDITOR'S BY PETER I. COHEN Symphonic OVERVIEW 8 UPDATE Snare Drums Chris Whitten, Joe 60 LATIN BY GARY J. SPELLISSEY 6 READERS' Zawinul Syndicate's 42 Vic Firth Michael Baker, SYMPOSIUM PLATFORM Tim Alexander of Practical Applications Signature Mallets BY RICK MATTINGLY Primus, Vinx, Of The Mozambique 12 ASK A PRO Mark Schulman, Rhythm Freddie Gruber, and BY CHUCK SILVERMAN 46 ELECTRONIC Dan Peters of 16 IT'S Screaming Trees, 62 CLUB SCENE REVIEW QUESTIONABLE plus News Don't Pay To Play Sapphire Slim Line BY RICK VAN HORN Studio Drum Pad BY RICHARD WATSON 84 CRITIQUE 108 INDUSTRY HAPPENINGS 94 CONCEPTS 47 KAT kicKAT Mistakes BY RICHARD WATSON 114 DRUM MARKET BY ROY BURNS Profiles 110 NEW AND 120 PHOTO GALLERY Fish NOTABLE BY MICHAEL JACHLES 54 UP & COMING Bill Stewart BY BILL MILKOWSKI EDITOR/PUBLISHER Ronald Spagnardi ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Isabel Spagnardi MANAGING EDITOR Rick Van Horn On Major Growth FEATURES EDITOR William F. Miller ASSOCIATE EDITOR Adam J. Budofsky CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Rick Mattingly Several years ago, a magazine called Drums & EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Karen Walsh Drumming was introduced to the drum world. A ART DIRECTOR Scott G. Bienstock publication of the GPI Group—publishers of ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER Guitar Player, Keyboard, and Bass Player—Drums Tracy A. Kearns & Drumming began as a one-shot and gradually ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Bob Berenson progressed to monthly frequency. In February of ADVERTISING ASSISTANT Joan C. Stickel this year, GPI decided to suspend publication of CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING Laura Martin Drums & Drumming, effective with their May 1991 SALES AND MARKETING Crystal W Van Horn issue. Major negotiations between Modern Drummer Publications and DIRECTOR GPI began shortly thereafter, and I am now pleased to announce that CONSULTANT TO THE Arnold E. Abramson we have formally purchased Drums & Drumming magazine, and are in PUBLISHER the process of absorbing it into Modern Drummer. MODERN DRUMMER ADVISORY BOARD: Henry Adler, Kenny One portion of the acquisition involves the D&D subscriber file, all Aronoff, Louie Bellson, Bill Bruford, Roy Burns, Jim Chapin, Alan of which is now being converted to Modern Drummer. Those who are Dawson, Dennis DeLucia, Les DeMerle, Len DiMuzio, Charlie Donnelly, Peter Erskine, Vic Firth, Danny Gottlieb, Sonny Igoe, Jim currently subscribers to both magazines will simply have the balance of Keltner, Larrie Londin, Peter Magadini, George Marsh, Joe Morello, Rod their subscription due them from D&D extended with their subscrip- Morgenstein, Andy Newmark, Neil Peart, Charlie Perry, Dave Samuels, John Santos, Ed Shaughnessy, Steve Smith, Ed Thigpen, Dave Weckl. tion to Modern Drummer. Also, for all who may have entered D&D's $12,000 Yamaha Equipment Giveaway, I'm delighted to report that MD CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Robyn Flans, Simon Goodwin, Ken Micallef, Jeff Potter, Teri Saccone, Robert Santelli, T. Bruce Wittet. will soon be offering the Yamaha Giveaway to readers of MD. You'll be hearing more about this in an upcoming issue. MODERN DRUMMER magazine (ISSN 0194-4533) is published monthly by MODERN DRUMMER Publications, Inc., 870 Pompton Along with subscribers, the majority of Drums & Drumming's music Avenue, Cedar Grove, NJ 07009. Second-Class Postage paid at Cedar dealer distribution is being added to our circulation, as are foreign Grove, NJ 07009 and at additional mailing offices. Copyright 1991 by MODERN DRUMMER Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. retailers, wholesalers, and news dealers. We'll also be taking on foreign Reproduction without the permission of the publisher is prohibited. licensing arrangements and additional American and Canadian news- EDITORIAL/ADVERTISING/ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES: MODERN stand distribution. MD advertisers will be happy to know that we're DRUMMER Publications, 870 Pompton Avenue, Cedar Grove, NJ expecting our total circulation will well exceed the 100,000 mark as a 07009. Tel.: (201) 239-4140. result of all this. MODERN DRUMMER welcomes manuscripts and photographic mate- Finally, I'd like to point out to the thousands of MD readers that this rial, however, cannot assume responsibility for them. Such items must be accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. transaction in no way means we're changing the editorial focus of Modern Drummer. Selected editorial material from D&D may be MUSIC DEALERS: Modern Drummer is available for resale at bulk rates. Direct correspondence to Modern Drummer, Dealer Service, PO. absorbed to some degree. However, we certainly are not planning any Box 389, Mt. Morris, IL 61054. Tel.: (800) 334-DRUM or (815) 734- major alterations in editorial direction. Serving the needs of loyal MD 6013. readers in the manner they've become accustomed to remains our pri- SUBSCRIPTIONS: $27.95 per year; $49.95, two years. Single copies mary editorial objective. $3.95. Obviously, the merging of two magazines into one is a complex SUBSCRIPTION CORRESPONDENCE: Modern Drummer, PO. Box undertaking that requires total cooperation from everyone involved. My 480, Mt. Morris, IL 61054-0480. Change of address: Allow at least six weeks for a change. Please provide both old and new address. Toll Free sincere thanks go to the fine people at GPI, who have done their best to Tel.: (800) 435-0715. facilitate a smooth transition. We now hope to continue to serve MD POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Modern Drummer, PO. Box readers and advertisers—as we've done for nearly 16 years—even more 480, Mt. Morris, IL 61054. powerfully and efficiently as a result of this exciting event in our devel- opment. More Rahs For Roy 40 band and "hit the road." I'm still out over to a lefty setup. But lefties, don't give I really enjoyed your article on Roy there today, and after 16 years of playing up! Here are a few suggestions: 1) Haynes in the May issue. Mr. Haynes is a cover tunes, I've discovered that every Consider expanding your goals to include very inspirational figure, because he plays type of music has challenges that can't subbing for the percussion chair, which such innovative material on such a mini- always be appreciated just by listening. I usually includes timpani, mallet percus- mal kit by today's standards. What? No don't just play Top-40 anymore; I also sion, hand drums, etc. 2) Try to find out ice bell...no gongs...no RotoToms? Not play originals, country, rock 'n' roll, big if there is a lefty playing a show in town even a bell on the ride cymbal? Mr. band, and easy listening. And I think it's and let him or her know that you are Haynes is as incredible as he is, not a challenge for any musician to play dif- interested in subbing. 3) Consider sub- because he plays on as much stuff as he ferent styles and make them sound like bing for a touring show drummer. You can buy, but because he is a true artist- they should. will make a good contact, and there is drummer-musician. Thank you for fea- I know a lot of you guys are laughing to always a chance he or she may ask you to turing such productive yet concealed tal- yourselves, saying, "Listen to this guy: finish the tour. Who knows; it may end up ent amidst today's barrage of gadgetry He's been on the road for 16 years and back on Broadway. and hype. he's proud because he thinks he's suc- Ken Ross John Perlman cessful." Well, think about this: I've been Riverside CT Scottsdale AZ all over the world, I've played for thou- sands of people, and in my travels I've been lucky enough to rub elbows with some great musicians. I'm currently play- Acupad Review Rebuttal Return Of Club Scene ing in my own band on a cruise ship in Modern Drummer is a wonderful publi- When Club Scene started again in the the Caribbean. Maybe that's not success cation that I have enjoyed for years. You May '91 issue, I was excited (to say the to you, but the IRS thinks it is. What I'm provide a variety of information to drum- least). When I first read Rick Van Horn's trying to say is: Before you cool dudes mers worldwide, and since it is the only column I was in high school, but now I look down on me, ask yourself, "Do I drum magazine on the market, I think it am out of college and am playing in local have what it takes to play in a cover is important that this information be as clubs.