Doc Sweeney Drums is a custom drum company whose bread and butter centers around building steambent and stave drums. Their website states that they: “Specialize in building high-quality instruments us…
Louie Bellson: A Life of Persistence, Patience and Modesty
When we think of the great drummers that have walked this planet, several factors come into play when defining how greatness relates to that person. Of course, every drummer who can be referred to as …
Elvin Jones: Relax, I Got It
Few drummers have ever reached musical pinnacles and generated as much admiration as Elvin Jones did. He resides in the one-name pantheon of the greats of our instrument along with Gene, Buddy, Max, T…
Papa Jo Jones: High Praise
Jonathan David Samuel Jones was born on October 7, 1911, in Chicago, Illinois. The man known to so many as “Papa Jo” spent 74 years on this earth until he passed away after a valiant battle with cance…
Terri Lyne Carrington, on Legends Vol. 3
PAPA JO JONES I first met Papa Jo when I was 10 or 11. My dad used to take me to a club called Sandy’s [Melody Lounge, and later, Jazz Revival] in Beverly, Massachusetts; Papa Jo would play there some…
Mitch Mitchell, A Man So Experienced
When we hear the name Jimi Hendrix, our thoughts are inundated with a range of images and connotations. We’re tempted to imagine a fuzzy-haired silhouette tinted blue and purple, and associate it with…
Donn Carr: February 15, 1944 – October 17, 2018
There are those in our lives that not only influence and help guide us, but also leave a lasting impression and impact, and in my case, this case, an everlasting impression and life-long impact. I mus…
Provenance 1944 Rolls Royce Merlin XX V12 Snare – Review
Recently I was enjoying a night out with friends and I ordered a specialty cocktail made with a liquor ingredient which I never had before. Yes, this is a product review for a snare drum and I promise…
Jason McGerr – Knowing What It Takes
It’s certainly a rare thing, to see a band continue to grow their career after 20 something years of going through the motions. Death Cab For Cutie is a prime example, having maintained three of the f…
Six Days at Ronnie Scott’s, Six Decades of Music
Surprisingly, “Six Days At Ronnie Scott’s: Billy Cobham On Jazz Fusion and The Act Of Creation” is the first book written about Bill Cobham. The 191-page book is a fascinating insight into the life an…
Tony Brock – Isn’t It Time
The second wave of great British drummers that followed the ‘60’s legends to The States included such great names as Ian Paice, Roger Taylor, Simon Kirke, Jerry Shirley, Bev Bevan, Topper Headon, and …
Gavin Harrison: Great Drummer, Bad Actor
Gavin Harrison should need little introduction here, having previously graced the cover as one of the trio of King Crimson drummers in 2016. But that’s just one of his many achievements. Born near Lon…