In keeping with the time honored tradition of taping things and then selling a DVD of said things to people... Hudson Music has released the DVD of last year's Modern Drummer Festival. Way to go guys. Source: Harmony-Central.com Featuring amazing performances and illuminating interviews from eleven of today's greatest drum artists, Hudson Music's new, four-disc, twelve-hour DVD of the 2008 Modern Drummer Festival™ is much more than merely the highlights of the most prestigious, longest-running, largest live ...

Source: AllAboutJazz.com AAJ: Are you still planning a documentary on the history of fusion in jazz? LW: Yes, that is my intention. I'm compiling interviews, viewpoints, footage. I want to start with Miles and Bitches Brew and go from there. AAJ: Any plans after the RTF tour? LW: I plan on recording a new project of my own to be released maybe next year or sooner depending on whether I can finish it in time. I also have a ...

Our friends across the pond at Mike Dolbear have just posted a cool interview with Red Hot Chili Peppers' drummer, Chad Smith.  The interview covers his roots, his origins in the RHCP, and moving to California. What we’re trying to do, is move the whole thing away from ‘what drum sticks do you use?’ type of question. So… what drum sticks do you use? It’s not working Bob! Ok, I’ll try again. What got you into drumming? I started ...

Living Legends Music has posted a cool 8 part interview with Dream Theater drummer, Mike Portnoy, on their YouTube channel.  The interviews discuss the beginnings of Dream Theater, to the creative process, to artistic fulfillment. Here's Part 1.  For more, check out their channel. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tlmABrgnuo&feature=PlayList&p=FF0F6C8A4CDE98D5&index=0[/youtube]

Source: ModernDrummer.com We've been following this for a while, but here is the final, official roster of artists for MD's festival weekend to be held September 20 and 21 in NYC. Will Calhoun Living Colour In 1988, Living Colour’s Will Calhoun exploded onto the world stage with a unique mix of power and finesse. Will’s continued to evolve in startling ways, and today he’s considered one of the most profound drummers alive. Bill Stewart & Special Musical Guests John Scofield/Pat Metheny For ...

Source: AllAbout Jazz.com When I was growing up, the really big jazz artist at the time was Louis Armstrong. So, it was kind of like peer pressure—but not really. If I had said that I wanted to play the drums, it would have been like a sacrilegious thing. I always knew that I wanted to be a drummer. My mom would say that I was playing the drums in the womb—always kicking. Read the full interview.

Athletes call it "The Zone," Billy Ward calls it "Playing with the Creative Side of the Brain," and samurais call it "Mushin" which loosely means "mind of no mind." If your brain is a band (metaphorically) then Mushin is when the improvisation guy gets to take a solo. Every one shuts up and he does his thang. There's no miscellaneous thoughts to impede improv guy from expressing himself. It's just him, the music, and the ...

Billy Ward follows up "Big Time" with "Voices In My Head." I've gotta give Billy props right here right now. I thought big time was an odd title for a drum instructional but he surpassed himself with this one. Never in a million years would I have thought "voices in my head... sounds like a drum vid. "That's enough slamming on the title, so lets get to it! I gotta say that if you own Big Time, ...

Big Time is Billy Ward's first Drum instructional dvd and really redefined what a drum instructional could be. It's not as out there as Brain's drum instructional videos, but within 20 seconds of viewing you know that this is definitely something very different from the rest. Big Time mostly takes place in Billy's studio in Long Island City where you look in on him giving a clinic to a few of his private students. I'll ...

This week we conclude our PASIC 2007 coverage as we review the Billy Martin and Peter Erskine/Alex Acuña clinics.   We also discuss Dave's Master's Recital!  Show Notes