VOLUME 16, NUMBER 10 FEATURES STEVE LEWIS EDDIE GORMAN NASH BAYERS The Black Crowes' Steve Gorman Only in his early 30's, Lewis Nash has supplied the pulse for The biggest artists in might not have decades of experience, but this is one drummer some of the top jazz musicians of country—Ricky Skaggs, the our time—Dizzy Gillespie, Ron Judds, Vince Gill, Randy Travis, who's put it all together real fast—and with a high degree of Carter, Kenny Burrell, Branford Rosanne Cash, Hank Williams, Marsalis, Betty Carter, and Sonny Jr.—can't get enough of the success. Learn what it takes to rhythmically propel one Rollins, to name just a few. drummer with the golden (and Check out what this intelligent platinum) groove. Find of today's biggest rock 'n' roll success stories. and passionate skinsman has to out why in this very say regarding the life special MD feature. • by Teri Saccone 28 and language of jazz • by Robyn Flans 22 drumming. • by Ken Micallef 32 COVER PHOTO BY RICK MALKIN INSET BY NEIL ZLOZOWER COLUMNS Education 54 ROCK 'N' JAZZ CLINIC The Funky Octopus Beat BY TOMMY CAMPBELL 70 TRACKING Composers And Equipment Samplers BY EMIL RICHARDS 38 PRODUCT Departments CLOSE-UP 88 ROCK CHARTS Gibraltar Stands 4 EDITOR'S Bill Bruford: BY RICK VAN HORN "Silent Talking" OVERVIEW News TRANSCRIBED 39 Sonor Force 1000 Kit BY ED TARZIA BY RICK MATTINGLY 6 READERS' 8 UPDATE Jason Bonham, Duratech Drumsticks PLATFORM 40 Eric Singer, Michael 104 THE JOBBING BY RICK MATTINGLY Foster of Firehouse, and DRUMMER 12 ASK A PRO Paul Garisto of Shooting Balter Percussion Backing Club Acts 41 Gallery, plus News BY ROBERT COXON Products BY RICK MATTINGLY 16 IT'S 106 JAZZ QUESTIONABLE 118 INDUSTRY DRUMMERS' 46 ELECTRONIC HAPPENINGS REVIEW 20 LIAISON WORKSHOP Roland R-70 Human Advanced Rhythm Composer Timekeeping: Part 3 CRITIQUE BY RICHARD WATSON 100 Profiles BY RICK MATTINGLY 52 NEW AND 124 DRUM MARKET 60 PORTRAITS 116 CONCEPTS Jimmy DeGrasso The Presence NOTABLE BY ROBYN FLANS Of Heart BY ANDREW KOLLMORGEN 56 SHOP TALK 86 SHOW DRUMMERS' Slingerland Radio Kings: Part 1 SEMINAR Circus Drummer BY JOHN M. ALDRIDGE Tim McGinley BY RICK VAN HORN EDITOR/PUBLISHER Ronald Spagnardi ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Isabel Spagnardi Something New And Notable MANAGING EDITOR Rick Van Horn FEATURES EDITOR William F. Miller ASSOCIATE EDITOR Adam J. Budofsky EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Justin J. Cordes Ever since MD's debut issue back in 1977, we've ART DIRECTOR always reserved space for the announcement of new Scott G. Bienstock drum products and other items of interest to ART ASSISTANT Lori Spagnardi drummers. Those who go back a ways with Modern ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER Tracy A. Kearns Drummer might recall that the department that ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Bob Berenson covered this information was originally called Just ADVERTISING ASSISTANT Drums. However, since JD always seemed to Joan C. Stickel include a bit more than "just drums," it was re-titled New And SALES AND MARKETING Crystal W. Van Horn DIRECTOR Notable in November of '87. CONSULTANT TO THE Arnold E. Abramson Interestingly, over the years, reader surveys have indicated that PUBLISHER New And Notable has remained among the most popular depart- MODERN DRUMMER ADVISORY BOARD: Henry Adler, Kenny ments in the magazine. And a more recent study once again demon- Aronoff, Louie Bellson, Bill Bruford, Jim Chapin, Alan Dawson, Dennis strated that N&N was still among the top five. In light of all this, DeLucia, Les DeMerle, Len DiMuzio, Charlie Donnelly, Peter Erskine, Vic Firth, Danny Gottlieb, Sonny Igoe, Jim Keltner, Larrie Londin, Peter we've decided to devote more space to the department. To Magadini, George Marsh, Joe Morello, Rod Morgenstein, Andy accommodate the additional space requirement, we've begun by Newmark, Neil Peart, Charlie Perry, Dave Samuels, John Santos, Ed Shaughnessy, Steve Smith, Ed Thigpen, Dave Weckl. relocating the column from the very back of the book—where it's always been—to a position further forward. So beginning with this CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Robyn Flans, Simon Goodwin, Rick Mattingly, Ken Micallef, Teri Saccone, Robert Santelli. issue, New And Notable will run immediately following our Product Close- Up and Electronic Review departments. As a result, all equip- MODERN DRUMMER magazine (ISSN 0194-4533) is published monthly by MODERN DRUMMER Publications, Inc., 870 Pompton ment-related material will now be centralized in one section of the Avenue, Cedar Grove, NJ 07009. Second-Class Postage paid at Cedar magazine, which will allow you to locate it more easily. Grove, NJ 07009 and at additional mailing offices. Copyright 1992 by MODERN DRUMMER Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. There are several other advantages to this design alteration. First, Reproduction without the permission of the publisher is prohibited. since we'll now be able to bring you more new product information EDITORIAL/ADVERTISING/ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES: MODERN in each issue, the problem of editorial backlogging will be eased. (Of DRUMMER Publications, 870 Pompton Avenue, Cedar Grove, NJ all the departmental material published in MD each month, infor- 07009. Tel.: (201) 239-4140. mation earmarked for New And Notable tends to get backlogged MODERN DRUMMER welcomes manuscripts and photographic mate- more than any other column's.) Second, devoting more space to rial, however, cannot assume responsibility for them. Such items must be accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. product press releases will enable us to report on new product infor- mation in a much more timely manner. And manufacturers, who've MUSIC DEALERS: Modern Drummer is available for resale at bulk rates. Direct correspondence to Modern Drummer, Dealer Service, P.O. sometimes waited a couple of months for their product announce- Box 389, Mt. Morris, IL 61054. Tel.: (800) 334-DRUM or (815) 734- ments to run, should be pleased that this time lag will be somewhat 6013. reduced. Finally, you'll notice that New And Notable will appear in SUBSCRIPTIONS: $27.95 per year; $49.95, two years. Single copies complete editorial spreads, uninterrupted by advertising. This will $3.95. enable us to run a greater selection of product photos in larger sizes. SUBSCRIPTION CORRESPONDENCE: Modern Drummer, P.O. Box Oddly enough, New And Notable—despite its popularity—has 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 always had the appearance of filler material relegated to the back of Tel.: (800) 551-3786. the book. This minor redesign will help make the department a POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Modern Drummer, P.O. Box more intrinsic part of our editorial content, which it rightly deserves 480, Mt. Morris, IL 61054. to be. We think that both readers and manufacturers will benefit equally from this format change, and we hope you agree. Take a look to see what we've done, and drop me a line. Audit Bureau Of Circulations Membership applied for. Poll Winners Respond for 1992. My wife told me the news just as dB. He then says: "With prolonged expo- With deep sincerity, I wish to thank all I was getting ready to board a jet for the sure to 90 dB, I, for one, wouldn't be able those who voted for Roll The Bones as the long trip home after a European tour; she to hear the drums for all the blood spurt- "Best Recorded Performance" in this thought the news would cheer me. It cer- ing from my ears, so this wouldn't be year's Readers Poll. It is always the great- tainly did that, but it was also humbling, much of an issue to me." est honor to be appreciated by other and served to remind me just how much As some of MD's readers may already drummers, but I am especially proud of more there is to learn about drumming know, volume is measured in decibels (dB) this recognition for my most recent, and and jazz. I thank you all very much, and of Sound Pressure Level (SPL). An SPL of perhaps hardest-won, piece of work. I put will do my best to deserve the honor. 90 dB will certainly not cause one's ears to a lot of thought and sweat into that record, Peter Erskine bleed and could roughly be compared to and consequently this appreciation from Santa Monica CA the noise one hears in heavy traffic (with other drummers means a lot to me. trucks and busses) or a subway train. The The first time I appeared in the MD I would like to express my deep apprecia- typical amplified band easily cranks out Readers Poll—many years ago now—I felt tion and gratitude to the faithful readers of between 105 and 115 dB SPL, and a loud the most intense mixed emotions: a Modern Drummer for voting me into the rock band might push an onstage SPL of strange combination of exaltation and recent Readers Poll. It is so very reassuring about 125 to 130 dB SPL. A volume level of unworthiness. No other award would ever to be recognized by one's peers. All the 120 dB SPL is considered the "threshold equal that first one, as I'm sure anyone can long hours and hard work were truly worth of pain"—the level where the average per- understand. But still, the thrill of pride it all. I am both flattered and encouraged son begins to experience discomfort. For a doesn't really fade. Even after 25 years of by this great honor. Thanks so much! person's ears to bleed, the SPL would have playing drums—and the good fortune to Milton Sledge to be well above 150 dB, which is the vol- have been appreciated for it—I remain Nashville TN ume level where permanent damage to the humble before all the master drummers of hearing starts to happen.