TOMMY CLUFETOS the Journeyman Drummer Has Single-Mindedly Ignored Distractions
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!N)NCREDIBLE0RIZE 0ACKAGE&ROM2OLAND /::934/--9#,5&%4/3s0!339/52#/,,%'%!5$)4)/. 7). 6ALUED!T/VER $ECEMBER 4HE7ORLDS$RUM-AGAZINE 353)%)"!22! !.$ 4(% -$02/0!.%, (/44/0)#3&/24/$!9´3$25--%2 #(!$3-)4( 7),,#!,(/5. *!3/.")44.%2 !,,)3/.-),,%2 (/2!#)/(%2.!.$%: 0!5,7%24)#/ 2/$-/2'%.34%). *%&&$!6)3 -/$%2.$25--%2#/- $!.)%,',!33 #(2)30%..)% 0%4%2%23+).% Volume 34, Number 12 CONTENTS 46 28 TOMMY CLUFETOS The journeyman drummer has single-mindedly ignored distractions Paul La Raia and focused solely on what’s important: the song, the groove, and slamming beats like his life depends on it. 34 REXSELL HARDY JR. At a young age, the future Mary J. Blige drummer knew he was preparing for big things. Today his résumé features some of the greatest artists on the R&B and gospel scenes, including Chaka Khan, Kirk Franklin, Keri Hilson, and Marvin Sapp. His mantra for success? Go hard, or go home. 43 THE 2011 MD PRO PANEL The Modern Drummer Pro Panel is an annually revolving group of internationally recognized player/commentators with one essential purpose: to help us master the physical and mental techniques of our noble instrument, the drumset. 46 SUSIE IBARRA Drummer/composer and 2011 MD Pro Panelist Susie Ibarra not only bucks tradition in “out” jazz, she boldly ignores the limits of a drum- 28 34 mer’s influence on the world stage. Alex Solca 58 COLLEGE BOUND! Planning on attending a music school? We illuminate many of the steps to take in order to apply and audition with success. 14 UPDATE HARVEY SORGEN 66 A DIFFERENT VIEW Drummer/Producer MICHAEL SEIFERT Gene Ambo 86 PORTRAITS 102 Sting’s DAVID COSSIN And RHANI KRIJA Guitar Center Drum-Off 2009 Champ RAMON SAMPSON 90 WOODSHED Fates Warning/Slavior’s MARK ZONDER MODERN DRUMMER 102 WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT...? PRO PANEL The New York Dolls’ JERRY NOLAN Pro Panel cover/feature photos by Paul La Raia (Susie Ibarra, Will Calhoun, Allison Miller, Horacio Hernandez, Rod Morgenstein, Jeff Davis, Daniel Glass), Alex Solca (Chad Smith, Chris Pennie), Chad Lee (Jason Bittner), Travis Shinn (Peter Erskine), and Gene Ambo (Paul Wertico). Chad Smith’s feature photos courtesy of Sabian. 43 Bob Gruen EDUCATION 68 Concepts Playing Someone Else’s Kit Creating A Positive Experience by Jeremy Hummel 72 Strictly Technique Chops Builders, Part 9: The Ultimate Accent/Tap Exercise by Bill Bachman 18 76 Percussion Today 90 The Cajon Tradition, Techniques, And Beyond by Arturo Stable 80 From The Past The Original Drum Battle Jazz At The Philharmonic At Carnegie Hall, 1952 by Dr. Bruce H. Klauber DEPARTMENTS 8 An Editor’s Overview What You Don’t Know Won’t Kill You— Alex Solca In Fact, It’ll Keep You Alive 110 by Adam Budofsky 10 Readers’ Platform 12 Ask A Pro Black Sabbath’s Bill Ward “War Pigs” Hi-Hat 16 It’s Questionable Ludwig Juvenile Snare Drum • Mind Matters: Accepting A Compliment 96 Showcase Lauren Vogel Weiss 99 Drum Market 100 Critique 110 Backbeats 2010 DCI World Championship Results • Who’s Playing What 112 Kit Of The Month Deep Sound, Small Footprint EQUIPMENT 25 18 Product Close-Up • Ludwig Keystone Series Drums • Meinl Marching, Symphonic, And Suspended Cymbals 100 • Legacy Percussion Remote Speedy Hat Stand • Mapex Horizon Fastpack Drumset • Snare Drum Of The Month: Grover Percussion G3 Deluxe Concert Snare 25 MD Product Shootout! Practice Pads 84 Gearing Up Jazz/Pop Great Manu Katché Jordin Sparks’ Michael Bedard WIN ONE OF THREE AMAZING PRIZES FROM ROLAND: 94 New And Notable a TD-20SX V-Pro series V-Drums set, a TD-4SX V-Compact series MD DIGITAL SUBSCRIBERS! When you V-Drums set, or an Octapad. $ PAGE see this icon, click on a shaded box on the page to open 10,000! 75 the audio player. Note: Shaded boxes appear when you Contest valued at over first view a digitally enhanced page, and then they fade; they will reappear when you roll over the area. Sign up online! AN EDITOR’S OVERVIEW What You Don’t Know FOUNDER MODERN DRUMMER ADVISORY Won’t Kill You—In Fact, BOARD: Kenny Aronoff, Eddie Bayers, RONALD SPAGNARDI Bill Bruford, Harry Cangany, Dennis 1943–2003 DeLucia, Les DeMerle, Len DiMuzio, It’ll Keep You Alive Peter Erskine, Vic Firth, Bob Gatzen, Danny Gottlieb, Sonny Igoe, Jim Keltner, Paul Leim, Peter Magadini, George rumming’s a funny thing. In one PUBLISHER/CEO Marsh, Joe Morello, Rod Morgenstein, Dsense, the drumset is the simplest ISABEL SPAGNARDI Andy Newmark, Neil Peart, Ed Shaughnessy, Steve Smith, instrument imaginable: Put a hi-hat, a Billy Ward, Dave Weckl, Paul Wertico. bass drum, and a snare drum in front of SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT anyone with decent rhythmic sense— CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: LORI SPAGNARDI Michael Bettine, John Emrich, Mike Haid, say, you or me when we were eleven— Dr. Asif Khan, Rick Mattingly, Ken cue up the Stones’ “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” VICE PRESIDENT Micallef, Mark Parsons, Bernie Schallehn, Robin Tolleson, Lauren Vogel Weiss, or Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” KEVIN W. KEARNS T. Bruce Wittet. and before you know it, we’re on stage MODERN DRUMMER magazine at a battle of the bands and dreaming ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER (ISSN 0194-4533) is published of rock stardom. TRACY A. KEARNS monthly by Then a few weeks or months go by, and one day we notice how Charlie MODERN DRUMMER Publications, Inc., 12 Old Bridge Road, Cedar Grove, NJ 07009. Watts adds a subtle accent before 2 and 4, and that Dave Grohl holds back just PERIODICALS MAIL POSTAGE paid at a little before the cymbal crashes in the chorus, and we begin to get an inkling EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Cedar Grove, NJ 07009 and at additional mailing offices. Copyright 2010 by that there’s more to discover in playing the drums than just how fast our little ADAM J. BUDOFSKY MODERN DRUMMER Publications, Inc. garage band can get the neighbors to call the cops on a Friday night. All rights reserved. Reproduction without the permission of the publisher is prohibited. If we’re lucky, our parents see how much we’re into this latest craze of ours, MANAGING EDITOR and they agree to buy us a modest kit and pay for private lessons. And if we’re MICHAEL DAWSON EDITORIAL/ADVERTISING/ADMINIS- really lucky, our teacher is experienced and wise and opens up our mind to TRATIVE OFFICES: MODERN DRUM- MER Publications, 12 Old Bridge Road, weird and wonderful things like brushes and clave and Physical Graffiti. ASSOCIATE EDITOR Cedar Grove, NJ 07009. Tel: (973) Soon we’re borrowing Dad’s car for gigs and regular trips to the local drum BILLY AMENDOLA 239-4140. Fax: (973) 239-7139. Email: [email protected]. shop, where we realize there’s a small but dedicated group of people just like us, each with his or her own teachers and tastes, and we begin to share our ASSOCIATE EDITOR MODERN DRUMMER welcomes manu- scripts and photographic material, howev- drumming discoveries and experiences with them. MICHAEL PARILLO er, cannot assume responsibility for Then one day it hits us: This drumming thing, it’s way bigger than us. Every them. Such items must be accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. time we discover a great drummer or figure out a tricky sticking, we aren’t EDITORIAL ASSISTANT closer to mastering the drums, we’re farther away! The bad news? It’s SUZANNE HURRING SUBSCRIPTIONS: US and Canada absolutely true that the more we learn, the more there is to learn. The good $34.97 per year; $56.97, two years. Other international $59.97 per year. news? There’s more to learn! Single copies $5.99. Think about that: Twenty years from now, we could be sitting in our wood- SENIOR ART DIRECTOR SUBSCRIPTION CORRESPONDENCE: shed, or traveling to a country we’ve never visited before, and discover some SCOTT G. BIENSTOCK Modern Drummer, PO Box 274, Oregon, fascinating new way to organize beats and sounds. To a non-drummer, that IL 61061-9920. Change of address: might be a mildly interesting fact. To a drummer, it’s a reason to breathe. Allow at least six weeks for ART DIRECTOR a change. Please provide both old and And we’re all in the same boat. Even if you’re an international rock star who GERALD VITALE new address. Call (800) 551-3786 can afford to use your gold records for skeet shooting, or you’re a living legend or (815) 732-5283. Phone hours, 8AM–4:30PM Monday–Friday CST, who’s played with everyone from Duke Ellington to Miles Davis, if you’re hon- or visit Subscriber Services at est, you have to admit it: You do not know everything there is to know about ADVERTISING DIRECTOR www.moderndrummer.com. drumming and music. And the day you decide you do, your creativity, and your BOB BERENSON MUSIC DEALERS: Modern Drummer passion, comes to an end. is distributed by Hal Leonard Corp. This month we’re introducing a concept that we’re extremely excited about: (800) 554-0626. [email protected] ADVERTISING ASSISTANT www.halleonard.com/dealers the MD Pro Panel, a revolving group of drummers from various backgrounds, LASHANDA GIBSON brought together in the spirit of drumming discovery and improvement. You’ll INTERNATIONAL LICENSING REPRESENTATIVE: Robert Abramson be hearing from these musical luminaries in multiple ways in the coming year, & Associates, Inc., Libby Abramson, from educational columns to feature stories. In terms of credits and creativity, President, PO Box 740346, Boyton Beach, FL 33474-0346, the group is staggering—but perhaps even more profound is the members’ [email protected].