Febraury 1988
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VOLUME 12, NUMBER 2, ISSUE 100 Cover photo by Neal Preston DENNY CARMASSI When Heart needed to change drummers a few years back, they were looking for someone with the power of a heavy metal drummer who could also be sensitive to ballads. Denny Carmassi fit the bill perfectly, and he and the group have gone on to their biggest success. 16 by Rick Mattingly STUART NEVITT While his group, Shadowfax, is often labeled "New Age," for drummer/percussionist Stuart Nevitt that label is much too restrictive. He discusses the background that has enabled him to combine a variety of influences into his distinctive style. by Robert Santelli 22 HARRY STINSON Most visible as the drummer with Steve Earle's band, the Dukes, and as a Nashville session player, Harry Stinson's activities as a background singer, producer, and songwriter give him insights that add depth to his drumming. 26 by Robyn Flans MD SOUND SUPPLEMENT: NEIL PEART CONTEST WINNERS A few months ago, drummers were invited to submit tapes to Mike Jachles Neil Peart, with the three best winning three of Neil's by drumsets. We are happy to present the winning solos by Jack 32 Hess, Wayne Killius, and Mark Feldman. Photo EDUCATION ROCK PERSPECTIVES PRODUCT CLOSE-UP AROUND THE WORLD 5/8 Funk Compo And Cana-Sonic African Cross-Rhythms by Bradley Branscum 66 Drumheads JAZZ DRUMMERS' by Rick Van Horn 112 by Clive Brooks ........ 34 IN THE STUDIO WORKSHOP NEW AND NOTABLE 120 Dealing With Studio Acoustics Ensemble Playing PROFILES by Craig Krampf 36 by Peter Erskine 76 KEYBOARD PERCUSSION DRUM SOLOIST PORTRAITS Steve Gadd: "Up Close" Video Carlton "Santa" Davis Recording The Vibraphone 62 38 Solo by Chris Boyle by Jerry Tachoir TRACKING by Bobby Cleall and HEALTH & SCIENCE Sight-Reading In The Studio Mathew Letley 90 A Conversation With by Emil Richards 40 CONCEPTS Dr. Robert Litwak THE JOBBING DRUMMER Practicing And Balance by Rick Van Horn 78 All In Good Time by Roy Burns 106 UP AND COMING 42 Joel Rosenblatt by Simon Goodwin CLUB SCENE ROCK 'N' JAZZ CLINIC Adapting by Teri Saccone 86 A Little Can Go A Long Way: by Rick Van Horn 108 NEWS Part 2 UPDATE 6 by Rod Morgenstein 56 INDUSTRY HAPPENINGS 118 ELECTRONIC INSIGHTS EQUIPMENT Protecting Your Gear From AC SHOP TALK DEPARTMENTS Power Monsters Revamping Your Snare Drum EDITOR'S OVERVIEW 2 by Jim Fiore 58 by Patrick Foley 84 READERS' PLATFORM 4 THE MACHINE SHOP ELECTRONIC REVIEW ASK A PRO 10 Programming Shuffles Upbeat Rhythm Programmer IT'S QUESTIONABLE 12 by Clive Brooks 60 by Rick Mattingly 94 DRUM MARKET 104 It's always been interesting to me how false rumors three drummers in the same issue all play the same have a way of spreading. Without naming names, brand, or when several consecutive cover artists there are some people in this business who, for use a similar line. The point to keep in mind is that some reason, enjoy distorting the truth. Let me use we really don't consider that very important. MD's this month's Overview to set the record straight on selection of artists is based on individual musical a few stories that seem to have been circulating. achievements, talent, recognition in the drumming One such rumor that really intrigues me is that community, and an ability to impart something of we're going to stop publishing the magazine. Well, a musical, conceptual, or philosophical value to let me simply state that that's utter nonsense, you—the Modern Drummer reader. spread by individuals who obviously have nothing Featured players are also selected on the basis of better to do. As Publisher of MD, I'd like to how well they balance one another in an issue. emphatically assure readers that Modern Drum- We're always searching for a variety of musical mer has never been in better shape. Our worldwide styles and directions, and this is a key consider- circulation continues to grow, and our advertising ation—not what line of drums, cymbals, electron- Setting support has never been stronger. You need only ics, or whatever else a particular drummer may browse through an issue and decide for yourself use! whether this is a publication that appears in any In my very first Editor's Overview, which intro- The way unstable. I believe the quality and content of duced the magazine to the drumming world in the magazine speak for themselves. 1977, I wrote the following: "Our publication will This next one is a real winner! It involves the be free in spirit and content, and since we have no Record accusation that MD editors select the drummers we stake in any particular line or its endorsers, we can interview on the basis of the brand of equipment afford to be completely representative and unbi- they play. Apparently, the implication is that we're ased in our presentation of artists and equip- receiving kickbacks from certain manufacturers in ment." That statement is as true today as it was Straight return for favoring their endorsers in our editorial when I wrote it 11 years ago. I think it's unfortu- pages. This again is an absolutely ludicrous insinu- nate that I'm forced to defend our editorial integ- ation with no basis in truth whatsoever. rity again, but rest assured, that's the position Of course, there will be times when it might we'll hold for as long as Modern Drummer con- appear as though a particular line of equipment is tinues to be a worthwhile entity in the being favored. This occurs primarily when two or world of drumming. EDITOR/PUBLISHER ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ronald Spagnardi Tracy Kearney Susan Alexander, Chip Deffaa, Robyn Flans, Simon Goodwin, Karen Ervin ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Pershing, Jeff Potter, Teri Saccone, Robert Isabel Spagnardi Joan C. Stickel Santelli, Bob Saydlowski, Jr., Lauren DEALER SERVICE MANAGER Vogel, T. Bruce Wittet. Sharon M. Leary SENIOR EDITOR MODERN DRUMMER Magazine (ISSN 0194- Rick Mattingly CIRCULATION 4533) is published monthly by MODERN Leo Spagnardi DRUMMER Publications, Inc., 870 Pompton MANAGING EDITOR Crystal W. Van Horn Avenue, Cedar Grove, NJ 07009. Second-Class Rick Van Horn Susan M. Dobkowski Postage paid at Cedar Grove, NJ 07009 and at additional mailing offices. Copyright 1988 by ASSOCIATE EDITORS SALES PROMOTION MANAGER Modern Drummer Publications, Inc. All rights Evelyn Urry reserved. Reproduction without the permission of William F. Miller the publisher is prohibited. Adam Budofsky SUBSCRIPTIONS: $24.95 per year; $44.95, two CONSULTANT TO THE PUBLISHER years. Single copies $2.95. EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Arnold E. Abramson MANUSCRIPTS: Modern Drummer welcomes Cynthia Huang manuscripts, however, cannot assume responsi- MODERN DRUMMER ADVISORY bility for them. Manuscripts must be accompa- BOARD nied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Henry Adler, Kenny Aronoff, Louie CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Allow at least six ART DIRECTOR Bellson, Bill Bruford, Roy Burns, Jim weeks for a change. Please provide both old and David H. Creamer new address. Chapin, Alan Dawson, Dennis DeLucia, MUSIC DEALERS: Modern Drummer is avail- Les DeMerle, Len DiMuzio, Charlie able for resale at bulk rates. Direct correspon- Donnelly, Peter Erskine, Vic Firth, Danny dence to Modern Drummer, Dealer Service, 870 Gottlieb, Sonny Igoe, Jim Keltner, Mel Pompton Ave., Cedar Grove, NJ 07009. Tel: 800- ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Lewis, Larrie Londin, Peter Magadini, 522-DRUM or 201-239-4140. Kevin W. Kearns George Marsh, Joe Morello, Andy POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Mod- Newmark, Neil Peart, Charlie Perry, Dave ern Drummer, P.O. Box 469, Cedar Grove, NJ Samuels, John Santos, Ed Shaughnessy, 07009. Steve Smith, Ed Thigpen. ISSUE DATE: February 1988 KENNY ON RINGO bingo—hi-hats! tions was most informative. I look for- I'd like to say how delighted I am to see At any rate, thank you, Kenny, for a ward to reading more of this good stuff Kenny Aronoff's series on Ringo Starr. It's very informative perspective on one of the every month. about time! I was 14 years old when the most creative, unique, and underrated Pete Berg Beatles hit the U.S. in 1964, and had been drummers ever to hold a pair of sticks. Detroit MI playing rock 'n' roll for a couple of years Ringo showed us how you could move peo- already. I realized the unique differences in ple by playing simple and being creative. Ringo's playing right away. Those differ- He also demonstrated that technique—al- ences have influenced my playing to this though very important—is not the be-all YUGOSLAVIAN CORRESPONDENT day. I'm sure they have equally influenced and end-all of making great music! I have been a Modern Drummer subscriber thousands of other drummers—some Joe Rossi for two years now, and I'd like to tell you more than they would care to admit. Auburn NY that I very much appreciate your fine mag- Kenny's analysis of Ringo's style is ex- azine. I think it is a connecting point for cellent, but I must take exception to his ref- drummers all over the world. Because I erence to Ringo's "splashy ride cymbal" THE NATURAL DRUMMER would like to be a part of that connection, as being part of his distinctive mark. Ringo I would like to thank Roy Burns for his please print my name and address so that did, indeed, use a big, splashy ride cymbal article on "The Natural Drummer" in his drummers around the world may corre- sound on certain songs, such as "Boys," November '87 Concepts column. It is true spond with me. "Don't Bother Me," and others.