MODERN DRUMMER VOL. 4 NO. 1 FEATURES: COLLOQUIUM III Horacee Arnold. Billy Hart and Freddie Waits comprise the group Colloquium III. The three musicians are as devoted to each other as they are to the music they play. Each one dis- cusses the foundation of the drummers role today and in the past and their own individual experiences on the music scene. 12 ALAN WHITE As the drummer for the popular British rock group Yes, Alan White has many definite ideas concerning the position of the drummer within a rock band. White talks about the importance of the bass drum, the studios and writing for the drums. 16 DAVE MATTACKS British session drummer Dave Mattacks has recorded with many of today's popular recording artists. Rejecting a techno- flash style, Mattacks is happy complementing the styles of the performers he works with. 28 ROBERTA CRAIN Roberta Crain is a rock drummer, currently employed by the United States Navy. Crain explains the competition she faced entering the Navy's music program and the prejudice encoun- tered because she is a drummer. 22 READERS POLL BALLOT 19 WHAT 10 TOP BANDLEADERS LOOK TRIBUTE TO KEITH MOON 20 FOR IN A DRUMMER 24 Cover photo by Cheech Iero COLUMNS: EDITOR'S OVERVIEW 4 TEACHERS FORUM READERS PLATFORM 6 Dealing with the Older Student by Charley Perry 45 IT'S QUESTIONABLE 8 ASK A PRO 10 CONCEPTS Stanley Spector: Challenging the Rudimental JAZZ DRUMMERS WORKSHOP System 46 Pointers for a Relaxed Set-up by Ed Soph 32 SHOP TALK Different Heads for Different Drummers ROCK PERSPECTIVES by Bob Saydlowski, Jr. Evolutionary Insight 48 by Horacio Gianello 34 WHERE IT'S AT 52 STRICTLY TECHNIQUE TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS Practice Techniques for the Creative Drummer The Professional Drummer by M. Rupert Walden 38 by Bob Saydlowski, Jr. 54 ON THE JOB DRUM SOLOIST The Art of Simplification Max Roach Transcription by Gary Dates 40 by Rupert Kettle 60 SOUTH OF THE BORDER DRUM MARKET 64 New Directions in Latin Drumming by Norbert Goldberg 42 JUST DRUMS 70 STAFF: EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Ronald Spagnardi FEATURES EDITOR: Karen Larcombe ASSOCIATE EDITORS: Cheech Iero Paul Uldrich MANAGING EDITOR: Michael Cramer ART DIRECTOR: Tom Mandrake I'd like to start off MD's fourth year with a general picture of some of our plans for the upcoming year. We think it's all pretty exciting. PRODUCTION MANAGER: Roger Elliston We've lined up an outstanding array of feature interviews this year with some of the greatest modern drummers in the rock and jazz idiom. ADVERTISING DIRECTOR: Jean Mazza People like Neil Peart, Roy Haynes. Carl Palmer, Paul Motian, Keith Knudsen and Chet McCracken of the Doobie Brothers, Derek Pellicci, ADMINISTRATION: Isabel Lori Joe Cocuzzo and Louie Bellson, to name a few. The MD staff will be on Ann Lambariello the road a great deal this year for an inside look at the likes of Remo, Calzone Cases, Star Instruments and Latin Percussion for openers. DEALER SERVICE We'll be taking an in-depth look at some of the newer items available to MANAGER: Carol Morales drummers and we will continue to actively cover the most important events in the percussion industry both here and abroad. CIRCULATION: Leo L. Spagnardi We're also planning our own version of Roots this year with a compre- Marilyn Miller hensive four part series titled The Great Jazz Drummers: An Historical Nancy Schuller Perspective. The report will discuss each and every major jazz drumming figure from Tony Spargo (circa 1917) and Baby Dodds, to Tony Williams and Billy Cobham. We'll see the evolution of the art form through words, MD ADVISORY BOARD: vintage photographs, and revealing transcriptions, and look closely at the great players who literally shaped that evolution. Henry Adler Mel Lewis In MD's column department David Garibaldi and Ed Soph will be with Carmine Appice Peter Magadini us again throughout the coming year with their respective "Rock Per- Horacee Arnold Mitch Markovich spectives" and "Jazz Drummers Workshop." I'm also happy to formally Louie Bellson Butch Miles announce the addition of notable New York teacher Charley Perry who Roy Burns Joe Morello will be doing MD's "Teachers Forum" column on a regular basis. Elec- Jim Chapin Charley Perry tronic expert David Ernst will be taking a look at electronic percussion. Billy Cobham Charlie Persip And big band buffs should delight in the news that Mel Lewis will shortly Joe Corsello Joe Pollard take over the duties of "Driver's Seat". Les DeMerle Arthur Press Our cover feature this issue is Colloquium III. a trio of super players, Len DiMuzio Paul Price each a respected member of the jazz drumming community. Horacee Sonny Igoe Ed Shaughnessy Arnold, Freddie Waits and Billy Hart talk about the group, their back- Don Lamond Lenny White grounds, and jazz drumming in general in this upfront roundtable dis- cussion. Alan White has been with Yes since 1972 and our MD exclusive brings this dynamic young player into clear focus. Dave Mattacks, one of the most in-demand English session drummers, talks about drums in the MODERN DRUMMER Magazine ASSN studio, and Roberta Crain highlights her job as the lifeblood of Lifeboat, 0194-45331) is published bi-monthly, February, the U.S. Navy rock band. April, June, August, October and December by MD's Cheech Iero recently surveyed some of the country's top band- Modern Drummer Publications, Inc., 1000 Clif- ton Avenue. Clifton. NJ. 07013. Second class leaders to determine what they look and listen for in a drummer. Their postage paid at Clifton. N.J. 07013 and at ad- answers should offer the aspiring pro some illuminating insight into the ditional mailing offices. Copyrighted 1979 by world of professional music. Finally, we pay humble tribute to a drum- Modern Drummer Publications, Inc. All rights mer whose novel drumnastics and daring percussive concepts with the reserved. Reproduction without the permission Who, altered the course of late 60's rock drumming. MD honors the late of the publisher is prohibited. SUBSCRIP- Keith Moon. TIONS: $9.9.1 per year. $19.00, two years. A sampling of our educational columns includes new directions in Latin Single copies $1.75. MANUSCRIPTS: Modern Drummer welcomes manuscripts, however, can- drumming, tips on furthering your drumming career, a classic Max not assume responsibility for them. Manu- Roach transcription, and Stanley Spector, New York's ever-con- scripts must be accompanied by a self-addressed troversial jazz drumming teacher speaks out on rudiments and modern stamped envelope. CHANGE OF ADDRESS: drumming. Allow at least six weeks for a change. Please This issue also contains your official ballot for MD's Second Annual provide both old and new address. MUSIC Readers Poll. It's time once again to voice your personal opinion so DEALERS: Modern Drummer is available for please take a moment to cast your vote for your favorites in each cate- resale at hulk rates. Direct correspondence to gory. We'd like to hear from all of you. Modern Drummer Publications, Inc., 1000 Clif- ton Avenue. Clifton. N.J. 07011. (201)778-1700 POSTMASTER: Send form 3579 to Modern Drummer, 1000 Clifton Avenue. Clifton, N.J. 07013. I thought the article on Michael Shrieve The entire Modern Drummer staff should David Williamson is wrong about the in your October/November issue was ex- be complimented on the outstanding Oc- Syndrum. He made statements in your cellent. And, I also enjoyed the inter- tober/November issue. Being the loyal magazine cutting down drummers who view with Ralph MacDonald in the May/ reader that I am, I've found it must be don't use the Syndrum. I hope he knows June issue. I hope there will be articles the best or one of the best that you have he's insulting almost every drummer on Latin percussionists Chepito Areas, released. As a young drummer, I have who won MD's Readers' Poll. Drum- Mongo Santamaria, Armando Peraza, had many questions about the celebrated mers who use Syndrums are like punk Tito Puente and Paulinho da Costa in fu- Gene Krupa. This issue not only an- rock synthesizer players. They make ture issues. swered my questions about the man, but sounds, or should I say noises that also about his music and skills. sound good once in a while. But they don't really know what they're doing. HENRY ENG It's like playing a computer. What does TORONTO, ONTARIO JOHN CHURCH Mr. Williamson want, robot drummers? WARREN, OH It's like playing a child's color-coded pi- ano, the easy way out. The only use I see for the Syndrum is to get people into the drumming business that have no tech- nique. As a steady reader of your magazine, I BOB MOSBY would like to congratulate you on your RICHMOND. VA generous and informative article on the The articles on Gene Krupa were worth late and great Gene Krupa. It's good to the cost of a whole year's subscription know he hasn't been forgotten. Gene al- and it's not just nostalgia. Krupa was tre- lowed drummers to be noticed and re- mendous to say the least. He and Buddy spected and finally placed in the Rich were major influences on me and spotlight. Many thanks to Karen Lar- I've never stopped playing. You men- combe and your magazine for saluting tioned "Blue Rhythm Fantasy." It was a one of the classics of jazz. God bless novelty tune perhaps, but sensational. I Gene! saw it performed at the Paramount (I used to cut school to see the bands).