December 1982
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VOL. 6 NO. 9 Cover Photo by Mark Harris FEATURES ELVIN JONES When Elvin Jones first became involved with drums, his goal was to master the instrument. Elvin met that goal to such an extent that he has actually established new standards for drumset mas- tery. Here, he discusses his concept of the instrument, and shares his concerns about the future of drumming and of the music busi- ness. by Rick Mattingly. 8 JOHN DENSMORE Although it's been over ten years since the death of Jim Morri- son, The Doors remain as popular now as they were in the '60s. As the drummer for that group, John Densmore is in a unique posi- tion to comment on that important musical era, and he does so in this exclusive MD interview. by Robyn Flans .14 MD FORUM: Audio Engineers—on Miking & Recording Drums: Part 1 by Mark Z. Stevens .18 JAMES BLACK Back Home by Scott Fish .22 INDUSTRY INSIGHTS Drum Workshop's Don Lombardi by Rick Van Horn SHEILA ESCOVEDO Despite the fact that she's only twenty-four, Sheila Escovedo has established herself as an in-demand Latin percussionist on numerous recordings and with a variety of groups. Sheila remi- nisces about her early experiences and talks about her latest pro- ject: leading her own band. by Robin Tolleson .30 COLUMNS TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS CLUB SCENE Legally Speaking Case Repair and Maintenance by Stuart Eisenberg 72 by Rick Van Horn .40 .122 EDUCATION JAZZ DRUMMERS JUST DRUMS WORKSHOP PROFILES Studies in Style: Part 1 UNDERSTANDING RHYTHM SHOP TALK The Sixteenth-Note Triplet Philly Joe Jones by Howard I. Joines 84 Al Duffy by Nick Forte 34 by Michael Rozek. 68 CONCEPTS DRUM SOLOIST REVIEWS Elvin Jones: "Crisis" Art vs. Money ON TRACK .98 by Roy Burns 52 by Jean-Etienne Roch 88 NEWS ROCK PERSPECTIVES THE JOBBING DRUMMER Playing Simple Drumming For The General UPDATE by David Garibaldi 54 Business Scene by Robyn Flans 116 by Tim Smith . 96 INDUSTRY HAPPENINGS 118 SHOW AND STUDIO Notes On The Making of Moving DEPARTMENTS Pictures: Part 1 EQUIPMENT by Neil Peart 56 EDITOR'S OVERVIEW 2 READER'S PLATFORM 4 COMPLETE PERCUSSIONIST PRODUCT CLOSE-UP ASK A PRO 6 Chord Scales Remo Pre-Tuned Percussion IT'S QUESTIONABLE 104 by David Samuels 66 by Bob Saydlowski, Jr. 38 DRUM MARKET 106 STAFF: EDITOR/PUBLISHER Ronald Spagnardi FEATURES EDITOR Rick Mattingly MANAGING EDITOR Scott Fish ASSOCIATE EDITORS Michael Epstein Mark Hurley ART DIRECTOR David Creamer ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Kevin W. Kearns It's an indisputable fact that all musicians require some form of feed- ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR back to accurately gauge their accomplishments as performers. Isabel Spagnardi As musicians, who are now magazine people, we also require feedback. ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER Where once we obtained an immediate response from a listening audience, Ann Thompson DEALER SERVICE MANAGER we must now receive it from our reading audience. Simply put—it's essen- Ellen Urry tial we hear from you, not only on what you liked about an issue, but what CIRCULATION you didn't like, as well. Leo L. Spagnardi For instance, we'd like to know if you felt a particular interview missed Robin De Paul the mark, or if it delivered precisely what you had hoped to learn from or Janet Gola about that artist. Are the column departments too complex, too simple, or SALES PROMOTION MANAGER is everything alright as far as you're concerned? Are you learning some- Evelyn Urry thing from the columns, or do you feel you're not getting as much out of them as you'd like? How can it be changed to better fill your needs as a player? Did you like the photos, the cover shot, the graphics? If you did, MD ADVISORY BOARD tell us about it. If you didn't, well that's certainly okay—provided you Henry Adler, Carmine Appice, Horacee Arnold, Louie Bellson, Bill Bruford, Roy don't keep it to yourself. Let us hear about it. Burns, Jim Chapin, Billy Cobham, Les De The point is, communication is essential for us to continue to deliver the Merle, Len DiMuzio, Charlie Donnelly, Saul kind of product you need. So, sit down and write that letter you've been Goodman, Danny Gottlieb, Sonny Igoe, meaning to write for six months, even if you've never written to a magazine Jaimoe Johanson, Jim Keltner, Don Lamond, before. Rest assured, your letter will be read. Oftentimes, letters are circu- Mel Lewis, Peter Magadini, George Marsh, lated to all members of the Editorial staff, because what a reader truly Butch Miles, Joe Morello, Neil Peart, Charlie feels, is the single most important ingredient he can supply to a publica- Perry, Charli Persip, Joe Pollard, Arthur Press, tion. So, good or bad, let's hear it. Paul Price, Paul Real, Paul T. Riddle, Ed Shaughnessy, Max Weinberg, Lenny White. December's MD kicks off with the incomparable Elvin Jones, and what may well be one of the most intelligent interviews ever with this outstand- CONTRIBUTING WRITERS ing artist, conducted by our own Rick Mattingly. Susan Alexander, Rich Baccaro, Robert Carr, Jim Joining Elvin in this issue is former Doors drummer John Densmore, Dearing, Clint Dodd, Robyn Flans, Stanley Hall, New Orleans based James Black, and the gifted Sheila Escovedo. Dave Levine, Michael Rozek, Robin Tolleson, T. Studio drummer Mark Stevens recently spoke with some of the nation's Bruce Wittet. busiest audio engineers for the first of a two-part article on miking and re- cording. If you've ever wondered what goes on behind the glass window, MODERN DRUMMER Magazine (ISSN 0194- Audio Engineers: On Miking And Recording Drums, is must reading. 4533) is published monthly by Modern Drum- We've also added two new departments to the regular MD roster: Tak- mer Publications, Inc., 1000 Clifton Avenue, ing Care Of Business, as the title implies, will address itself to the business Clifton, NJ. 07013. Second Class Postage paid of music, with a series of informative articles and an opportunity to ask at Clifton, NJ. 07015 and at additional mailing questions of specialists in the entertainment field. The Jobbing Drummer is offices. Copyrighted 1982 by Modern Drummer our second new entry; a much requested department specifically designed Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Repro- for the serious semi-pro on the local music scene. duction without the permission of the publisher We hope you'll find both new departments helpful. As I said earlier, let is prohibited. SUBSCRIPTIONS: $21.95 per year, $39.95, two years. Single copies $2.25. us know what you think. MANUSCRIPTS: Modern Drummer welcomes manuscripts, however, cannot assume responsi- bility for them. Manuscripts must be accompa- nied by a self-addressed stamped envelope. CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Allow at least six weeks for a change. Please provide both old and new address. MUSIC DEALERS: Modern Drummer is available for resale at bulk rates. Direct correspondence to Modern Drummer Publications, Inc., 1000 Clifton Avenue, Clif- ton, NJ. 07013. (201) 778-1700. POSTMAS- TER: Send Address Changes to Modern Drum- mer, 1000 Clifton Avenue, Clifton, NJ. 07013. CHARLIE WATTS STEEL DRUMS MAGADINI VS. BUERGER I would like to thank MD, Robyn Flans, As a Trinidadian and an active drum- I want to thank MD for reviewing my Jim Keltner and Scott Fish for bringing us mer, I was proud that you featured "our" two new books, Learn To Play The Drum the Charlie Watts interview. contribution to the world of music: steel Set, Vol's 1 & 2. I felt Joe Buerger was try- RICKY D.PEARSON drums and calypso. Wyn Sargent's ac- ing to be fair in his assessment of Book 2, HARTINGTON, NE count of the steel drum's historical roots, and I appreciated the kind remarks. How- manufacturing, tuning, etc. were quite ac- ever, it's obvious that Joe didn't go into curate. The only part that miffed me was the material in depth. If so, he would've ED MANN your final "profile column." No mention realized that Book 2 is not a "crash was made of the real innovators of the course." It's the result of twenty years of Congratulations on your article on Ed playing and teaching, and the book deals Mann. It takes a true professional to be '40s, such as Winston "Spree" Simon, who first burnt the pans and used rubber with essential learning techniques. I'm also able to play the calibre of music that Zappa disappointed that Joe didn't seem to take a produces. Playing in Zappa's band is a on his sticks. Also Ellie Mannette of the Invaders Steel Band, who tuned some of look at Book 1 before he wrote his review. compliment to any musician. If so, he would've realized that I ended BRUCE ARMSTRONG the sweetest pan heard in Trinidad and who is now practicing his art in New York Book 1 with flams and covered that basic. EDMONTON, CANADA City. Rick Mattingly reviewed Book 1 and I feel KEITH D. HERCULES he put more time and effort into that re- TAMPA, FL view. Book 1 has now been translated into FOR THE RECORD six languages. PETE MAGADINI First, I would like to thank drummer TORONTO, CANADA Jerry Allison, of Buddy Holly and The Crickets, for the very kind compliments he EXPLORING SELF-AWARENESS made about me and my drum style while I was with Little Richard, in The History of I enjoyed the article by George Marsh, Rock Drumming, Part II. I still do play my Exploring Self-Awareness. His concepts set, low-rider style! Secondly, with all due on drumming are excellent.