An Artist Retrospective by Dave Kropf

Part IV - Closing Remarks

Earl Palmer’s list of artists with whom he’s recorded reads like a blues, R&B, and rock & roll Hall of Fame inductee list. Artists include Pat Boone, The Beach Boys, Roy Brown, Charles Brown, Ray Charles, Rosemary Clooney, Priscilla Coolidge, Elvis Costello, The Everly Brothers, Dizzy Gillespie, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Jan & Dean, King Pleasure, B.B. King, Peggy Lee, Smiley Lewis, Little Feat, The Mamas & the Papas, Amos Milburn, The Monkees, Johnny Otis, The Platters, Lou Rawls, Diana Ross, Shirley & Lee, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand , Roosevelt Sykes, Big Joe Turner, T-Bone Walker, Dinah Washington, and many, many more. Although this list of artists is impressive, what’s most important about Earl Palmer is his place in music and percussion history. (more…)

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The folks over at Drum! Magazine have just updated their site with loads of interviews and videos from the recent Vans Warped Tour. Check it out!

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Maybe this has been around for a while, but I just saw this over at Roland!  It’s a slick electronic marching drum that comes with tons of sounds and features.

The new RMP-12 is the world’s first electronic marching-percussion instrument to incorporate Roland’s patented and unique muti-layer mesh head technology with a built-in sound module and Rhythm Coach. With its advanced V-Drums technology and wide variety of sounds, the RMP-12 offers enhanced playability, expressiveness, and versatility. It’s perfect for indoor and outdoor performance as well as for quiet practice. Unlike other practice pads, the RMP-12 offers an amazing replication of acoustic drums thanks to its realistic sounds and feel.

Their site has some amazing videos that feature non other than Johnny Rabb!  You really owe it to yourself to see it in action.

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It’s that time of the month and now Drum! Magazine has posted up their March 2008 Issue online.  It’s free stuff and it’s online, so go check it out now!

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Source: TimesOnline.co.uk

More than 100 million album sales into his career and roughly two thirds of the way through our interview, Phil Collins casually serves notice of his retirement. Having joined a reformed Genesis for a world tour last year, he says he’s through with the touring and there’s no album planned. He’ll write, but only because he doesn’t know how to stop writing.

Read the full story …

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Steve Gadd is probably the most well respected drummer alive today, so it makes sense that he’d be chosen to star in Hudson Music’s new Master Series DVDs. The new Master Series, um, series… is pretty much just a recording of a drummer doing a clinic, master class, showcase concert, meet n’ greet, panel, Q&A session and whatever other title they may give these types of events. Maybe it was born out of a desire to share these live sessions with the public who couldn’t be there in person. Maybe it was because they couldn’t schedule these artists to come in and shoot a DVD so they just recored a clinic the artist was going to do anyway. Maybe these Master Series DVD’s cost less to produce… we may never know. Regardless of the reason, these things have been a long time coming.

The great thing about this DVD is that you have the best seat in the house, where the action is! If Steve is doing something interesting with his feet, you’re right there with the bass drum cam. When he does brush work, you’re right over the snare drum, catching ever sweep. Just a really pro job from the Hudson Music crew (though by now we’ve come to expect that.) So let’s talk about Steve’s performance. (more…)

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Source: RollingStone.com

Rolling Stone recently caught up with Metallica drummer, Lars Ulrich, at a recent record signing. He talks quite candidly about the state of music today an the digital music revolution.

RS: You were one of the first artists to sue over copyright infringement and voice concerns over aspects of downloading. Eight years later, with bands like Radiohead embracing the Net and yet charting, how has your stance changed, if at all?
Lars: We have FLACs and MP3s for sale. It was never about downloading per se. We have the Vault where you can download shows from twenty years ago for free, full-on and it’s been there for years. You can download recent shows days after they happen for cost. Back in the day there was a much bigger question about “on whose terms?” We said, “Wait a minute, it should be about the artist.” Then all hell broke loose and we sat on the sidelines for a while. We’ve always been fiercely independent and controlling; sometimes to a fault. That’s why we exist and why all these people show up.

Read the full article …

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Source: Drummerzone.com

After a 10 year absence, the 2008 Buddy Rich memorial returns with a vengence on October 18, 2008 at Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City, NY. This year’s event prom ises to be the biggest ever. The event is being produced by Cathy Rich and Scabeba Entertainment, Neil Peart and title sponsor Drucker Labs.

Featured artists include drumming icon Neil Peart from Rush, Terry Bozzio from Frank Zappa and Missing Persons, John Blackwell from Prince and Justin Timberlake, and Buddy Rich’s grandson Nick Rich. More guests to be announced.

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Source: Harmony Central

SABIAN has expanded its Vault collection with the introduction of 13-inch Vault Fierce Hats. Inspired by renowned drummer Jojo Mayer, the Fierce Hats feature a raw, unlathed surface and jumbo hammer marks that combine to deliver an aggressive low-end clarity and punchy, semi-dry response that projects in any music. It is this unique response that has made the Fierce concept a favorite among drummers of all styles, said Mark Love, SABIAN master product specialist.

“The hats’ attack is very aggressive with a low bite, which means they are punchy and cutting, yet not metallic sounding. This is more about music than metal,” Love said. “Sticking is always precise, and the pedal ‘chick’ is strong and articulate. Jojo’s Fierce Ride and Crash created such a positive stir, and with so many people commenting about the cymbals on his ‘Weapons for the Modern Drummer’ DVD, introducing the Fierce Hats was a natural progression.”

Read more here …

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On today’s show, we talk about the best bang for your buck in terms of books and gear.  Carmine Appice is the drummer of the week, the 11 Stroke Roll is the rudiment of the week, and we talk about Stanton Moore’s new album, Emphasis (on Parenthesis).  Show Notes

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I didn’t even know he had a new record coming out, but alas, the grand master du funk has released he new album, Emphasis! (On Parenthesis). It’s not out on iTunes yet, but it’s available over at Amazon.com MP3 for only $8.99! I recommend you go buy it .. NOW!

We’ll have a full review shortly.

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Who knew that Peter (Ginger) Baker made an instructional video? I did. So I’m reviewing it.

(more…)

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An Artist Retrospective by Dave Kropf

Part II - The Music (Continued)

Session greats don’t become “greats” unless they have an ability to blend into any musical landscape. Palmer is no exception to this ideal and Sam Cooke’s 1958 cut “You Send Me” is a perfect example of how a good drummer holds down the pocket and does only what the music requires. This is a true testament to Earl Palmer’s outstanding musicianship. This track, while not Palmer’s first non-R&B cut, symbolizes a departure from the drummer’s New Orleans influences in the studio. Pop tracks such as these were popular during the same time that Little Richard and Fats Domino were dominating the charts, but the fact that artists such as Same Cooke had hit singles demonstrates the diversification of the mainstream market. In regards to the percussion, the parts are very out of the way and in the background – a huge difference from Palmer’s usual backbeat-heavy work. The track contains a light backbeat played using brushes with a subtle 12/8, eighth-note ostinato throughout. What’s important to note during these sessions is how Palmer did only what was musically necessary. There’s no flash, no vanity, no conceit – just simple, perfect parts that demonstrate Palmer’s excellent versatility. (more…)

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Source: TheLocal.se, BigDrumThump.com

People with a knack for holding a steady beat score higher on intelligence tests, a new study has shown. Researchers say the study suggests a biological basis for intelligence related to the regularity of nerve cell activity in the brain.

“We know that precision in nerve cell activity down to the millisecond is important for processing information and for processes related to learning,” Fredrik Ullén of the Karolinska Institute said in a statement.

In addition, the researchers found a relationship between high intelligence, the ability to hold a rhythm, and the volume of white matter found in the frontal lobes of the subjects’ brains.

Read the full article here …

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Yesterday, we posted a video documenting the “Amen Break.” Here’s a video with Jojo Mayer explaining breakbeats and the Amen Break.

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