• MOTH • CLASSIC MAX SOLO • SONGO STUDIES • NEIL PEART September 2002 RENEWED SPIRIT SNL’S MASTER PERCUSSIONIST VALERIE DEE NARANJO ERIC HARLAND BLUE NOTE ACE COLLINS, HELM, & OTHERS ON DRUMMING & SINGING SOUND ADVICE: THE PROS ON GREAT MONITOR MIXES $4.99US $6.99CAN 09 0 74808 01203 9 Redefining “Drum Machine” Ever wonder why Evans heads are so consistent and easy to tune? Designed and built in-house by our staff of engineers, this robotic “Drum Machine,” called the Gluing Gantry, ensures that every Evans head has a true collar. A series of vacuum fixtures holds the film in place for each head while the robotic gluing arm circles above the hoop and dispenses epoxy. The result is a drumhead that tunes both easily and consistently. At Evans, we do it right the first time. And every time. Check out what Peter Erskine has to say about Evans drumheads at www.evansdrumheads.com PO Box 290 • Farmingdale, NY 11735 TM A lightweight biting tambourine fastened to your drumstick — that mutes when you want. Introducing the JingleMUTE™ from Pernan Percussion. Now you can play the tambourine in sync with every part of the kit as you've always wanted. Unlike a stand-based, or hi-hat mounted tambourine, the JingleMUTE™ allows you to have the full, natural wash and attack of a tambourine without robbing a hand that could be playing a hi-hat, ride, or tom simultaneously. The JingleMUTE™ is a serious instrument for the live player, and a must-have for all levels. To order your JingleMUTE™ visit www.jinglemute.com today, or call toll free (877)398-9700. exclusively at www.jinglemute.com order • find out more • video clips Tested and developed with Matt Walker © 2002, The JingleMute™ is a multi-patented product and is not available in stores. from Impossible The JingleMute™ name and logo are the trademark of Pernan Percussion Recording Machine Paiste 2002 is one of the most successful and legendary musical instrument brands ever. Created for the needs of a totally new generation of musicians, 2002 cymbals have been part of a sound that changed the world of music. During the 1960's Beat and Rock music took the world by storm. A prevalent feature of the new music was the extensive use of electronic amplification. To answer this sound challenge, Paiste began creating cymbals from 8% Bronze, and so the Giant Beat series was born. As the new music styles matured and evolved, the requirements of cymbal sound became more complex. The answer was a fusion of forceful Giant Beat and sophisticated Formula 602 sound qualities. The resulting cymbals were introduced in 1971 and christened "2002", a number at once reminiscent of the "602" and expressing a completely revolutionary concept by choosing a year far ahead in the future. Since this year has actually arrived, and the cymbals are still made successfully, it seemed appropriate to celebrate the more than 30 years of history of one of the most influential musical instruments ever created. "Special Edition" 2002 cymbals are identical to the cymbals manufactured in the early 1970's, a condition easily achieved since 2002 cymbals have been made exactly that way ever since. The one concession to history is the application of brand and model designations using the traditional black, hand stamp method. We hope you enjoy this magnificent musical instrument, which, due to the limited manufacture only in 2002 is sure to become a cherished collector's item. For free literature and stickers please contact us: call 800.472-4783 or +714.529-2222, email [email protected], visit our web site www.paiste.com or write Paiste America, Inc., 460 Atlas Street, Brea, CA 92821, USA www.paiste.com ContentsContents Volume 26, Number 9 Cover photo by Andrew MacNaughtan RUSH’S NEIL PEART When you’re one of the most scrutinized and obsessed- n n o o t t over musicians of your generation, a five-year absence h h g g u u from the scene is profound. Now, with the release of a a N N c c Vapor Trails, Neil Peart and Rush return, bringing with a a M M them the scars of tragedy, and the wonder of rebirth. w w e e by William F. Miller r r d d n n 58 A A SNL’S UPDATE 28 n n i i Tommy Lee e e VALERIE DEE NARANJO t t s s 72 k k c c E E “The most compelling music comes from a powerful Jeff “Tain” Watts n n o o community.” New York percussionist Valerie Dee R R Naranjo might not be speaking of the gleaming city Moth’s Atom Willard when she says that, but it sure goes far to explain her deeply musical gifts. Gina Schock Of The Go-Go’s by Lauren Vogel Weiss Chuck E. Weiss BLUE NOTE ACE Skeebo Knight ERIC HARLAND a a i i 86 a a SPOTLIGHT R R 132 An uneasy childhood couldn’t keep Eric Harland from a a L L becoming one of today’s most exciting jazz drummers, l l Vic Firth, Inc. u u a a backing giants like McCoy Tyner, Betty Carter, and P P As a recent visit to the Vic Firth factory proved, a lot Terence Blanchard. more than meets the eye goes into making the sim- by Ken Micallef ple, elegant drumstick. Plus: A concise breakdown of Firth’s mind-bending variety of sticks and accessories. SOUND ADVICE: by Rick Van Horn a a c c l l o o S S x x e e STAGE MONITORING l l A A FOR DRUMMERS 144 You can’t expect to communicate your musical vision if you can’t hear yourself. Nine top drum stars, from studio legend Jim Keltner to Train super-groover Scott Underwood, share tips on this vital topic. by Mike Haid MD GIVEAWAY 114 Win A Custom Drumkit From Spaun Drums, Along With A Set Of Handmade Turkish Cymbals! Education 70 OFF THE RECORD 108 THE MUSICAL DRUMMER 120 THE JOBBING DRUMMER Rush’s Neil Peart: Vapor Trails Understanding The Language Of Drumming & Singing: by Ed Breckenfeld Music, Part 12: Chord Extensions Double Skills Make You by Ron Spagnardi Doubly Valuable 102 DRUM SOLOIST by Stephan S. Nigohosian Max Roach: “Jodi’s Cha Cha” 112 ROCK ’N’ JAZZ CLINIC Transcribed by Dave Miele Strenthening Your Feet 124 SLIGHTLY OFFBEAT by Rod Morgenstein A Wedding Drummer’s Warning 106 LATIN SYMPOSIUM by Mike Brennan Songo: The “Jazz” Of 116 JAZZ DRUMMERS’ Cuban Drumming WORKSHOP by Maria Martinez Feathering The Bass Drum: The Power Of Subtlety by Phillip Smith Departments Page 158 10 AN EDITOR’S OVERVIEW 22 IT’S QUESTIONABLE 168 DRUM MARKET A Few Rotten Apples Including Vintage Showcase by Ron Spagnardi 156 ON THE MOVE 176 DRUMKIT OF THE MONTH 12 READERS’ PLATFORM 158 CRITIQUE 18 ASK A PRO 162 BACKBEATS Terry Bozzio, Mike Mangini, and International Drum Festivals JR Robinson and more Equipment 38 NEW AND NOTABLE 46 PRODUCT CLOSE-UP Drum Workshop Collector’s Page 38 Series Birch Drumkit by Kevin D. Osborne 48 Meinl Professional Series Wood Congas by Norman Arnold 55 Regal Tip Thai Sticks by Rick Mattingly 50 Vater Sugar Maple And Player’s Design Sticks by Chap Ostrander 126 SHOP TALK Building Your Own Drumset, 52 Custom Showcase: Scan-Beat Pedals Part 2: Obtaining Your Parts by Chap Ostrander by Paul Bielewicz 54 Tama Kenny Aronoff Trackmaster Limited Edition Signature Snare by T. Bruce Wittet Page 46 With no assembly line bound- aries and no mass production compromises, Masterworks drums truly represent all that is possible. Each drum is a work of art, constructed by seamlessly blending the artisan qualities and experienced wisdom of hand craftsmanship, with the cutting edge technology and precision of state-of-the-art custom built machinery. There is no inventory. Nothing is stock. The words inventory and custom do not even belong in the same sentence. Every drum in your kit is designed by you, and hand built to your exacting specifications, one drum at a time. We’ve assembled an elite group of Pearl master craftsmen in order to manufacture the finest drums the world has ever known. Great attention is given to even the smallest of custom details. From our wood specialists, that visually inspect and choose each individual wood ply at the mill to insure the absolute ulti- mate of quality standards is pre- cisely meet, to the custom paint artisans that apply an exclusive, labor intensive, thirty-one step custom finish, in a truly endless array of custom colors and styles, Masterworks drums are as individual as you are, and like no other you have heard or seen before. Find Out More About Pearl. About The Kit Above Get your free copy of Pearl’s all new hour long The Masterworks kit featured above and to video “The Company, The Drums, and the Artists the left features thin 4 ply/5mm shells That Play Them”. It features great interviews, awe- comprised of 2 inner plies of African some live footage, and indepth product insight Mahogany and 2 outer plies of North from some of the world’s greatest drummers American Maple, with a stunning Green including Dennis Chambers, Chad Smith, Tico Fade Pearl finish. Sizes chosen are 22”x18” Torres, Virgil Donati, and Vinnie Paul, to name just Bass Drum, 8”x7”, 10”x8”, 10”x9”, a few. The new Pearl video is available at no cost 13”x11”, 14”x13”, 16”x14” Toms, and a from your local authorized Pearl dealer, or for a matching 13”x4” Snare Drum.