JULY 2016 F L U I D Machined Chain Drive Fluid Design = Fluid Motion. Responsive, accurate, powerful and decidedly DW. The all-new MCD pedal represents the convergence of engineering and art. mfg Coming to your favorite DW retailer soon. U.S.A. www.DWDRUMS.COM/hardware/dwmfg/ 12©2016Modern DRUM Drummer WORKSHOP, JuneINC. ALL 2014 RIGHTS RESERVED. MCD Chain Drive Pedal Ad- 2016 (MD)-fav.indd 1 4/20/16 11:20 AM Jason McGerr | DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE ©2016 Vic Firth Company ©2016 STAR POWER The Ultimate Drum Set? With several hundred years of combined experience, Tama’s master craftsmen set out to pursue their vision of the ultimate drum set. Their work centered on one essential goal: to inspire the artists that have inspired them. By now it’s fair to say, STAR drums have inspired some amazing drummers. Regardless of musical style, STAR drums and innovative STAR hardware continue to surprise, impress, and inspire even the most discriminating players. Armed with an array of smart mechanical inventions, luxurious looking finishes, and rich, soul-stirring sound—STAR drums unbeatable sound. offer drummers a musical medium that’s as singular as it is powerful. VicKick Beaters® from Vic The first time Jason McGerr of Death Cab for Cutie tried out his VicKick Beaters®, his sound engineer said, “Hey man, what did you do? Your kick drum sounds amazing!” That’s because the VicKick Beaters® were designed from the ground up with sound quality as our absolute #1 priority. Check them out for youself. From the first beat, you’ll hear a difference. felt WOOD FLEECE Dual Position Dual Position ADAM ULYSSES SIMON RONALD KENNY DEITCH OWENS JR PHILLIPS BRUNER JR ARONOFF The Tama STAR drum kit pictured above in Wild Sea Blue Bosse finish was awarded “Best In Show” at the 2016 Winter NAMM show. TAMA STAR DRUMS Jason McGerr | DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE ©2016 Vic Firth Company ©2016 STAR POWER The Ultimate Drum Set? With several hundred years of combined experience, Tama’s master craftsmen set out to pursue their vision of the ultimate drum set. Their work centered on one essential goal: to inspire the artists that have inspired them. By now it’s fair to say, STAR drums have inspired some amazing drummers. Regardless of musical style, STAR drums and innovative STAR hardware continue to surprise, impress, and inspire even the most discriminating players. Armed with an array of smart mechanical inventions, luxurious looking finishes, and rich, soul-stirring sound—STAR drums unbeatable sound. offer drummers a musical medium that’s as singular as it is powerful. VicKick Beaters® from Vic The first time Jason McGerr of Death Cab for Cutie tried out his VicKick Beaters®, his sound engineer said, “Hey man, what did you do? Your kick drum sounds amazing!” That’s because the VicKick Beaters® were designed from the ground up with sound quality as our absolute #1 priority. Check them out for youself. From the first beat, you’ll hear a difference. felt WOOD FLEECE Dual Position Dual Position ADAM ULYSSES SIMON RONALD KENNY DEITCH OWENS JR PHILLIPS BRUNER JR ARONOFF The Tama STAR drum kit pictured above in Wild Sea Blue Bosse finish was awarded “Best In Show” at the 2016 Winter NAMM show. TAMA STAR DRUMS INTRODUCING MUSIC CITY CUSTOM YOU ORDER. WE MAKE. YOU PLAY. 86 SHELL OPTIONS • 29 FINISH CHOICES • AVAILABLE IN 14 DAYS HAND ASSEMBLED BY MASTER CRAFTSMEN IN NASHVILLE, TN. USA MUSIC CITY CUSTOM SHOWN IN TURQUOISE GLASS FEATURING A CAVERNOUS 22˝ X 20˝ BASS DRUM. INTRODUCING MUSIC CITY CUSTOM YOU ORDER. WE MAKE. YOU PLAY. 86 SHELL OPTIONS • 29 FINISH CHOICES • AVAILABLE IN 14 DAYS HAND ASSEMBLED BY MASTER CRAFTSMEN IN NASHVILLE, TN. USA MUSIC CITY CUSTOM SHOWN IN TURQUOISE GLASS FEATURING A CAVERNOUS 22˝ X 20˝ BASS DRUM. CONTENTS Volume 40 • Number 7 30 On the Cover GEAR OF THE YEAR The most compelling drums, cymbals, and accessories of 2016. FEATURES 18 Catching Up With…SIMON PHILLIPS much of a surprise that neo-soulster Leon Bridges has and JAE SINNETT put his grooves in Block’s hands. by Je Ryan 42 GREG WELLS. Musicians who nd great success are 60 GET GOOD: PLAYING ON TV. There are more often the ones who remain the hungriest for new experi- variety shows than ever on television today. With these ences. This invaluable asset for the likes of Katy Perry and ten tips in mind, you’ll be ready when it’s time for your Pink certainly supports that theory. by Stephen Belans close-up. by Mike Arturi 50 ADAM RUDOLPH. Complexity, variety, and indi- 86 ENCORE: BLACK SABBATH’S PARANOID. viduality may de ne the percussionist/leader’s work, but BILL WARD might not be traversing the globe with the spirituality guides it. by Je Potter rest of Sabbath’s original lineup during the band’s current farewell tour. But recordings like this one are forever. 54 JOSH BLOCK. His work with the proggy indie band by Michael Parillo White Denim always oozed with feel. So it’s really not that EDUCATION EQUIPMENT DEPARTMENTS 64 Teacher’s Forum 22 Product Close-Up 8 An Editor’s Overview Teaching Young Children Paiste 2002 Big Beat Cymbals Gear, More Gear, and Then Some! Time-Tested Advice for Getting Them Dunnett Dreamtime Snare Drums by Billy Amendola Going at an Early Age Bone Essence Series Drumset by Je Salem Cymbomute Cymbal Dampeners 10 Readers’ Platform Innovative Percussion 66 Basics Legacy Series 9A Drumsticks and 14 News Advanced Disco KDB-1 Bass Drum Beater Beyond Four on the Floor 20 It’s Questionable by Rich Redmond 58 Gearing Up Mind Matters: Mental Training The Winery Dogs’ Mike Portnoy Doesn’t Work by Bernie Schallehn 68 Strictly Technique Nine Over Two 78 Showcase Part 2: Sticking Variations 76 Concepts Featuring Drum Market by Bill Bachman Organize Your Gear Part 2: Riders 82 In Memoriam 70 Rock ’n’ Jazz Clinic by Russ Miller Santana’s Raul Rekow and Groove Construction Earth, Wind & Fire’s Maurice White Part 3: Linear Patterns by Jost Nickel 84 Critique Win an Incredible Prize Package Daniel Freedman, Herlin Riley, Jaimeo 72 Rock Perspectives From Pearl Drums and V-Classic Cymbals! Brown Transcendence, and more Progressive Drumming Essentials Page 73 Part 12: Double Bass Boot Camp 88 Kit of the Month by Aaron Edgar Rocktopus AN EDITOR’S OVERVIEW Founder Senior Art Director Gear, More Gear, Ronald Spagnardi Scott G. Bienstock 1943–2003 and Then Some! Editorial Director Publisher/CEO Adam J. Budofsky hen I was a young drummer just Isabel Spagnardi starting out, I saw a clip of Buddy Managing Editor W Senior Vice President Michael Dawson Rich playing a mind-blowing drum Lori Spagnardi solo…on a folding chair. I can’t quite Associate Editor remember what show it was on—maybe Vice President Willie Rose it was during one of Buddy’s many Kevin W. Kearns appearances on The Tonight Show with Editor at Large Johnny Carson—but the one thing I can Associate Publisher Billy Amendola Tracy A. Kearns clearly remember is the huge impression Business and it made on me, and the point he was Advertising Director Content Development making: It’s not what equipment you play Bob Berenson Miguel Monroy that matters, it’s the music you play on it. Buddy came out, unfolded the chair, and Advertising Assistant Digital Media Director blew everyone away with his skills. Point well taken! LaShanda Gibson EJ DeCoske Now, me personally, I’ve never been what you would call a “gearhead.” The MD Pro Panel: Chris Adler, Gregg Bissonette, Jason Bittner, Will Calhoun, Yes, of course I appreciate good-sounding drums and cymbals, but Terri Lyne Carrington, Matt Chamberlain, Jeff Davis, Peter Erskine, Bob Gatzen, coming up it was always, Let me tune up the kit and hit the drums and Daniel Glass, Benny Greb, Matt Halpern, Horacio Hernandez, Gerald Heyward, Taku Hirano, Susie Ibarra, Jim Keltner, Pat Mastelotto, Allison Miller, Rod Morgenstein, cymbals, and if I dig them, I’ll use them. For years I didn’t take particular Chris Pennie, Stephen Perkins, Dafnis Prieto, Rich Redmond, Brian Reitzell, Jim Riley, note of the number of plies or the type of wood the shells were made Antonio Sanchez, Gil Sharone, Chad Smith, Steve Smith, Todd Sucherman, Billy Ward, from, or if the hoops were die-cast or whatever. I always thought, I’m Kenny Washington, Paul Wertico playing the instrument, not making it. I had faith that the drum, cymbal, MODERN DRUMMER ADVISORY BOARD: SUBSCRIPTIONS: U.S. $29.95, Canada and hardware manufacturers were all pretty much putting out quality Kenny Aronoff, Eddie Bayers, Bill Bruford, $33.95, other international $44.95 per gear. I got to know many of the people who worked at those companies, Harry Cangany, Dennis DeLucia, Les year. For two- and three-year subscription DeMerle, Peter Erskine, Bob Gatzen, prices go to www.moderndrummer.com. and I recognized the passion they put into their work. Danny Gottlieb, Jim Keltner, Paul Leim, Single copies $5.99. As I got older and more into playing, I began to realize that, yes, it was Peter Magadini, George Marsh, Rod true that when I did fi nd a drum or cymbal I really liked, it would make Morgenstein, Andy Newmark, Neil Peart, SUBSCRIPTION CORRESPONDENCE: Steve Smith, Billy Ward, Dave Weckl, Modern Drummer, PO Box 274, Oregon, me sound and play better. I started religiously reading former Modern Paul Wertico. IL 61061-9920. Change of address: Drummer product specialist Rick Van Horn’s columns and reviews, and I Allow at least six weeks for a change.