CONTENTS FEATURES: HAL BLAINE Hal Blaine is one of the most respected studio drummers on the music scene today. For 22 years he has recorded with prac- tically all of the major artists and is still going strong. His longevity in the business is phenomenal. With all of that ex- perience behind him, Blaine has much to share with up and coming drummers, and does so both in MD's interview and in his introductory column "Staying in Tune." 10 FAMOUDOU DON MOYE Drawing from the tradition of African music, ancient theatre and religion. The Art Ensemble of Chicago is truly a unique and creative musical force. Famoudou Don Moye, the inven- tive drummer/percussionist with the Art Ensemble explains the concept of their music. His own approach to the music involves experimentation and exploration of the different percussive sounds that can be obtained. 14 GIL MOORE As drummer with the rock band Triumph. Gil Moore is con- scientious about his art, stating that in order to expand tech- nically, it is most beneficial to experiment with a diversity of musical styles. Moore is also very attentive to his equipment and knowledgeable about how to achieve the best sound from his drums in live and recording situations. 22 PERCUSSION PIONEER: AN MD SPECIAL DOUBLE PLAY: DAVID PETERS AND REPORT ON GAUGER R.I.M.S. 18 AND BOBBY CAMPO OF LEROUX 28 MD VISITS THE PERCUSSION INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY 25 COLUMNS: EDITOR'S OVERVIEW 2 STRICTLY TECHNIQUE Quadragrip READERS' PLATFORM 5 by Michael Welch 54 6 IT'S QUESTIONABLE ASK A PRO by Cheech Iero 61 ROCK PERSPECTIVES IN MEMORIAM Converting Those Old Rhythms, Part I Cozy Cole by David Garibaldi 32 by Scott K. Fish 62 COMPLETE PERCUSSIONIST CONCEPTS Symphonic Tympani Head Heroes by Vic Firth 36 by Roy Burns 68 MALLETS JAZZ DRUMMERS' WORKSHOP Introducing David Samuels The Music of the Drums by Scott K.. Fish 74 by Barry Altschul 42 PRODUCT CLOSE-UP DRUM MARKET 45 Pearl ET-Series 8-ply Maple Drums by Bob Saydlowski, Jr. 78 SOUTH OF THE BORDER SHOP TALK Getting the Latin Flavor Upstaging by John Rae 46 by Vince Gutman 86 SHOW AND STUDIO INDUSTRY HAPPENINGS 96 Irv Cottler: Keeper of the Time by Tracy Borst 52 JUST DRUMS 99 STAFF: EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Ronald Spagnardi FEATURES EDITOR: Karen Larcombe ASSOCIATE EDITORS: Mark Hurley Paul Uldrich MANAGING EDITOR: Scott K. Fish ART DIRECTOR: Tom Mandrake PRODUCTION MANAGER: Roger Elliston ADVERTISING DIRECTOR: Jean Mazza ASSISTANT We receive literally hundreds of letters each week. I've repeatedly ADVERTISING asked for your thoughts and suggestions since our inception five years MANAGER: Maureen Politi ago, and I thank you all for your kind response to that request. ADMINISTRATIVE A great deal of the mail we receive is directed to name drummers. DIRECTOR: Isabel Lori Some of you have written asking if your letters do in fact get through to the artists. We try to channel as many letters as possible through ADMINISTRATIVE our Ask A Pro column, however, others request a personal reply. Per- MANAGER: Ann Lambariello sonal reply letters are grouped with others going to the same artist and DEALER SERVICE forwarded periodically. Often the letters are sent to a personal home MANAGER: Carol Morales address, while in some cases they're forwarded to the management of- CIRCULATION: Leo L. Spagnardi fice, PR people or the drum company. Ellen Urry Letters to MD's columnists are also forwarded regularly. Your com- MD ADVISORY BOARD: ments on a column, and suggestions for future ones, are appreciated Henry Adler Mel Lewis and essential. Of course, our columnists receive a great deal of mail Carmine Appice Peter Magadini also, so it's wise to try to be as concise as possible. If you need a per- Horacee Arnold Mitch Markovich sonal reply, enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope. But bear in Louie Bellson Butch Miles mind, you may not get an immediate reply. Even though our colum- Roy Burns Joe Morello nists are dedicated to helping young drummers, they're also extremely Jim Chapin Charley Perry busy musicians. It's often difficult to maintain a performance and Billy Cobham Charli Persip teaching schedule, write for MD, and answer personal mail quickly, as Joe Corsello Joe Pollard well. Nonetheless, I know our columnists enjoy hearing from you. Les DeMerle Arthur Press Your questions and suggestions often materialize into ideas for new ar- Len DiMuzio Paul Price ticles, and act as a barometer from which the writers can gauge your Charlie Donnelly Paul Real needs. Send your letters to the columnists, c/o Modern Drummer Mag- Sonny Igoe Paul T. Riddle azine. We'll see to it they receive them. Don Lamond Ed Shaughnessy This issue leads off with an absorbing interview with studio drummer Lenny White Hal Blaine, by MD's Robyn Flans. A Grammy Award winner, Blaine CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: is the epitome of a well-rounded, versatile drummer. Along with his Susan Alexander, John Faraola, Robyn work in TV and motion pictures, Blaine has performed and recorded Flans, Norbert Goldberg, Harold Howland, with an incredible assortment of major artists spanning three decades. Cheech Iero, Larry Kanusher. Rick Mat- Triumph's Gil Moore has some intriguing views on a myriad of drum tingly. Michael Rozek, Boh Saydlowski, Jr.. topics, while Famoudou Don Moye discusses his role in the develop- Michael Shore, T. Bruce Wittet. ment of contemporary music with the Art Ensemble of Chicago. And MODERN DRUMMER Magazine ASSN 0194- David Peters and Bobby Campo from LeRoux comment on making it 4533) is published 9 limes yearly, February, big in a Louisiana based band in Double Play. April, May, June, July, August, October, In our travels this issue, we've visited L.A.'s Percussion Institute of November and December by Modern Drum- Technology, one of the most innovative new drum schools in the coun- mer Publications, Inc., 1000 Clifton Avenue, try; and Minnetonka, Minnesota (of all places) for an in-depth discus- Clifton, N.J. 07013. Controlled Circulation Postage paid at Clifton, N.J. 07015 and at sion with Gary Gauger, the man behind the exciting and revolutionary Richmond, Virginia 23219. Copyrighted 1981 Resonance Isolation Mounting Systems (RIMS) for drums. by Modern Drummer Publications, Inc. All MD is also delighted to welcome several outstanding guest colum- rights reserved. Reproduction without the nists this issue: Barry Altschul on jazz drums, Latin insights from John permission of the publisher is prohibited. Rae, Vic Firth on timpani, and an introduction to a brand new MD SUBSCRIPTIONS: 5/5.95 per year, $28.95, mallet percussion department by David Samuels. Plus, the ever-inven- two years. Single copies $2.00. MANU- tive David Garibaldi explores shuffle rhythms, and Michael Welch en- SCRIPTS: Modern Drummer welcomes lightens us on the many possibilities of Quadragrip. A close-up of manuscripts, however, cannot assume re- Pearl's Earthtone Series, an informal rap with Sinatra's Irv Cottier, sponsibility for them. Manuscripts must be and how to build your own drum riser/flight case are all engrossing ad- accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope. CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Allow at ditions to this month's package. Enjoy. least six weeks for a change. Please provide both old and new address. MUSIC DEAL- ERS: Modern Drummer is available for resale at bulk rates. Direct correspondence to Mod- ern Drummer Publications, Inc., 1000 Clifton Avenue, Clifton, N.J. 07013. (201) 778-1700 POSTMASTER: Send form 3579 to Modern Drummer, 1000 Clifton Avenue, Clifton, N.J. 07013. I've been reading your magazine with The interview with Joe Cocuzzo may Modern Drummer's Oct./Nov. 1980 is- interest over the last several months, and well have been the best article you have sue made a very commendable first at- I've especially enjoyed your column ever published. It should be required tempt at a musical comedy. Having Mick "The Club Scene" by Rick Van Horn. reading not only for drummers but all Fleetwood sandwiched between the likes As I also work in the Southern California musicians. of Louie Bellson, Steve Gadd and Roy area and am often in the rooms Rick After reading the responses to this Haynes was killer material, albeit a bit describes, I take a particular interest in article (one letter probably written in sadistic. As usual, your magazine, keep- his suggestions pertaining to showman- crayon) I can see why the "What kind of ing up its image and standards of infor- ship and professionalism. equipment do you use?" type interview mative journalism did teach me a couple Recently, I had an opportunity to see is so popular. A very sad commentary on of things: 1. Yes Mick, it's true; "A band Rick with his group Summerwine in San some of the practitioners of our craft. is as good as its drummer." 2. By gosh Diego. He is a talented, exciting per- HAROLD RYDELL Mick, ignorance really is bliss. former and a dynamic soloist, demon- WARWICK,N Y M. KANAREK strating the expertise he shares in his LOS ANGELES, CA column. Ed Greene's comments on Hal Blaine R. M. DAVIS (Aug./Sept. 1980) were welcome reading Thank you Rick Van Horn for your CHULA VISTA, CA and raise the question of why so little informative articles on the club scene. recognition and credit has been given to Too often, most of what a drummer Hal in the various music publications. discovers about this type of work is My omission of Max Roach's contribu- Nearly all of us have been influenced at found out on the job the hard way. tion in music was not a deliberate act least indirectly by this innovative musi- What you have written is right on the but, sometimes, the most obvious things cian whose career spans the entire era of mark and any drummer that puts your in any given interview or article are not rock oriented pop recording.