Big Drum Thump

Drum and Drummer News and Photos

  • Sabian’s AAX Raw Bell Dry Ride

    [Press Release]

    The popularity of Sabian’s HH Raw Bell Dry Ride and recently released, brighter sounding AA version has prompted the company to introduce the innovative AAX Raw Bell concept into its AAX series. Design-wise, the 21″ AAX Raw Bell Dry Ride is medium-heavy weight and fully lathed with the exception of its large and solid raw bell. The cymbal surface is fully hammered from edge to center. The Raw Bell Dry Ride design is popular because it offers players a highly effective versatility at virtually any volume and in any style of music. Being an AAX series model, this cymbal includes Sabian’s innovative AAX “Dynamic Focus” design, which ensures optimum response at all volume levels, from low to loud, and a consistent purity of sound.

    “The Raw Bell Dry Ride design is possibly the single most versatile and effective ride cymbal ever designed,” said Sabian master product specialist Mark Love. “Not only does this AAX model deliver consistently bright and pure sounds, it is ideal for any player wanting the absolute best in terms of consistently pure and bright stick definition across the bow and bell areas, as well as a level of dynamic sensitivity that ensures crisp clarity and accuracy at all volumes.”

    Created from pure Sabian B20 bronze, the 21″ AAX Raw Bell Dry Ride is available in a natural finish or glossy brilliant finish and is quality-protected by Sabian’s two-year warranty.

  • Lars Ulrich Signature Drum Kit

    It always happens this way. Before every NAMM show, I plan and plot and map out my strategy for hitting every drum booth in a methodical and efficient manner. But as soon as the doors are thrown open and I get that smell of new gear in both nostrils, I immediately run to whatever big and shiny drum kit I see first. This time, it was Tama that grabbed me by the balls with a Lars Ulrich signature set. Here are some teaser pics before we get the full gallery on Flickr up.

    [Update: Our complete Tama gallery is now available here. It includes thirteen photos of the Lars Ulrich signature set.]

  • New AAX Memphis Ride From Sabian

    I caught a quick demonstration of this model at the Sabian press conference on Thursday. The cymbal has both a good crash and a good ride sound. If you got room for only one cymbal on that tiny-ass Holiday Inn stage you’re stuck playing on every weekend, you wouldn’t go wrong grabbing a Memphis ride.

    From the press release:

    Combining dry, crisp stick articulation over a wash of glassy bright tone, the Memphis ride offers a range of versatility that makes it an ideal choice for drummers in search of a ride that does it all. Designed with a high profile and AAX hammering, the bottom of this 21″ medium-thin model is cut with narrow pin-lathing to enhance the feel and increase the crash response capability, while the top is line-lathed, resulting in clear stick definition.

    “The Memphis ride is a great combination of ride and crash without compromise,” said Sabian master product specialist Mark Love. “It’s ideal for many styles of music, with prototypes popular with gospel drummers and other soulful players. Aside from the design, the magic in this cymbal is its weight. The Memphis ride is just heavy enough to ensure it performs perfectly as a ride, a crash, and as a crash-ride.”

  • Sabian “One of 100″ Project Offers Exclusive Soil-Aged Cymbals

    Fuck off, Father Time. Instead of waiting decades to get a beautifully aged cymbal, you can just bury that baby in the ground. Or at least that’s what some of the mad-genius cymbalsmiths at Sabian are betting on.

    For a project titled “One of 100,” the company has buried 100 of its primo 21″ Vault Artisan ride cymbals in a specially designed container in eastern Canada. In mid-2009, they’ll be dug up, sonically approved by the Sabian Vault Team (keep in mind the cymbals will have been subjected to the cold, heat, and general misery of the Canadian climate), and then individually packaged in a deluxe wood box, complete with official documentation of authenticity signed by master product specialist Mark Love. Details on how to purchase one of the 100 cymbals will be announced on Sabian’s website in February.

    More info from the press release:

    In a move driven by market curiosity, Sabian has buried 100 of its premium Vault Artisan ride cymbals and will dig them up from the ground in mid-2009. Why? According to Sabian VP of sales Peter Stairs, the company receives hundreds of queries annually regarding the “aging of cymbals by burying them in the ground.” So the specialists in the Sabian Vault have buried the cymbals in an undisclosed spot near the Sabian factory in eastern Canada. The project is entitled “One of 100.”

    Continued Stairs: “Buried cymbals are the stuff of legend. Anecdotal comment indicates that aging the cymbals by burying them in soil actually helps shape their sound. Of course we are as curious as anyone to see what these cymbals sound like when they’re pulled up from the earth. These are custom-sized 21” Artisan medium ride models in a natural finish. They will have endured about eight months of dry, wet, hot, and cold soil including the freezing temperatures of our Canadian winter. We anticipate they will be dirtier looking, and if what the legend says it true, they should be dirtier sounding as well.”

    The cymbal of choice for “One of 100” is no accident, says Stairs. “The Artisan ride exemplifies Sabian cymbal-making artistry in that it is hand-hammered traditional-style, and its tone is darker and dirtier…quite earthy. It’s the ideal choice.”

  • Sabian Press Conference at NAMM 2009

    As soon as the doors opened on Thursday at NAMM 2009, Sabian kicked things off with an official press conference for us drumming journos. Along with announcing a spate of new cymbals and the very intriguing “One of 100” project, Sabian management talked about the struggling economy and how the company was prepared to tough it out. Founder Robert Zildjian even put in an appearance, acknowledging the layoffs that we reported on last month and finding for his company something of a silver lining in the current cash crunch: Sabian is set to survive the economic downturn, but many smaller cymbal manufacturers probably won’t.

    While that Darwinian attrition may be good news for established businesses, it doesn’t exactly leave me with the warm fuzzies. I like that there are (or at least that there were) opportunities for new and creative cymbal companies to put interesting or less expensive products on the market. I like choice. I like options. And I definitely like that the little guys can bust out with big innovations.

    But what do you think? Are there too many little companies causing “confusion in the cymbal market,” as Robert Zildjian implied, or are there not enough options out there for you? Do you play one of the big four—Zildjian, Sabian, Paiste, Meinl? Or do you prefer one of the smaller brands?

  • BDT Invades NAMM!

    I, your humble SFL, drew the big straw at DC headquarters and packed all my niftiest electro-gadgets to go cover NAMM, the music industry’s largest and loudest trade show in America. I spent the day attending press events, snapping tons of pictures, eye humping all the great drum gear, and chatting with friends old and new. Over the next few days, I’ll post frequently about all the cool bangables that have been unveiled at the show. Be sure to check out our Flickr page for the complete stream of photos (it will be inundated once I get Flickr to play nice with an ailing—though venerable, dammit!—G4 iBook).

  • Drummer Lil’ John Roberts Is Having a Baby…

    Well, his fiancee, Jill Scott, is doing the actual carrying and birthing and stuff, but Lil’ is the daddy-to-be. The couple have been engaged since June.

  • Buy Vinnie Paul’s Cell Phone on eBay

    Seriously. You can actually own Vinnie’s first cell phone, purchased for him by his late brother Dimebag. It’s apparently been stored away in a shoe box for the last fifteen years, and if you’re lucky enough (i.e., rich enough) to have the winning bid, you can stick this piece of “heavy metal history” in your very own shoe box for fifteen more. The winner gets not only the autographed phone but six batteries, a charger, a car charger cord, and the satisfaction of knowing you helped Vinnie get rid of “this fucking Star Trek cell phone made by Motorola.”

    The current top bid is $400. The auction ends on January 19, so there’s plenty of time to take out a loan.

    [via Music Radar]

  • Jimmy Cobb Interviewed by JazzWax

    Jazz master Jimmy Cobb, perhaps best known for his drumming on Miles Davis’s Kind of Blue, is the subject of a long and excellent 4-part interview with the site JazzWax. Cobb discusses playing with other jazz legends (e.g., Dinah Washington, Cannonball Adderley, and Miles Davis of course) and lots of other awesome tidbits that you’ll definitely dig.

    Here are the links to each part:

    Interview: Jimmy Cobb (Part 1)
    Interview: Jimmy Cobb (Part 2)
    Interview: Jimmy Cobb (Part 3)
    Interview: Jimmy Cobb (Part 4)

  • Cindy Blackman Joins Istanbul Agop, Has New Signature Cymbals

    Cindy Blackman has joined forces with Istanbul Agop to create a new line of signature cymbals called the OM series. The cymbal line will be unveiled at this year’s NAMM show (stay tuned for our pics!) and will include a 20″ ride, three crashes (16″, 18″, and 20″), and a pair of 15″ hi-hats. From the press release:

    The Cindy Blackman OM series was designed in conjunction with Cindy to capture the vibier, more dynamic cymbal sounds from the golden era of jazz. The 22″ ride has a clear, slightly metallic stick due to the unique blue/black finishing and intense hammering, and features a dry, trashy crash sound. The 15″ hi-hats are low, dark and sloshy, with a clear chick and a dark and mellow wash. Crashes are paper thin, with an explosive attack and a quick decay. The 20″ makes a dynamic, yet powerful and versatile left side or crash/ride.

    [via Drummer Cafe]

  • Giovanni Hidalgo and Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez Are “Traveling Through Time”

    Get your passports ready, thumpers!

    [Press Release]

    The year is off to a bang with the announcement of two of the music world’s most innovative and exciting Latin percussionists touring Europe together for the first time. Giovanni Hidalgo, widely regarded as the greatest living conga player, will be performing a series of workshops and concerts with master of Latin drumming Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez.

    Called the “TRAVELING THROUGH TIME TOUR” after their critically acclaimed and ground-breaking DVD, they will be performing music from the DVD, which was described by Modern Drummer as “a percussion lover’s dream come true.”

    Prepare to experience some of the most incredible playing of drums and congas in history. Better still, these masters will be explaining how each duet was conceived, how they approach their individual parts, and their approach to improvising within each piece during a series of workshops across the continent. This is a unique and rare opportunity to get up close and personal with these incredible players and to explore the bold textures and rhythmic complexities of Latin percussion.

    The full lists of dates are as follows:

    Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez & Giovanni Hidalgo: TRAVELING THROUGH TIME 2009
    25 JANUARY – Vals-Tarragona/Spain – xQbeat Festival (concert)
    28 JANUARY – Valencia/Spain – Auditorium (concert)
    29 JANUARY – Milan/Italy (workshop)
    31 JANUARY – Verona/Italy (workshop)
    01 FEBRUARY – Brescia/Italy (workshop)
    02 FEBRUARY – Barcelona/Spain (workshop)
    03 FEBRUARY – Barcelona/Spain (workshop)
    04 FEBRUARY – Huesca/Spain – Theatre (concert)
    05 FEBRUARY – Zaragoza/Spain – Theatre (concert)
    07 FEBRUARY – Barcelona/Spain – Auditoriun Percussion Festival (concert)
    13 FEBRUARY – Cagliari/Italy (workshop)
    14 FEBRUARY – Roma/Italy – Auditorium (concert + workshop)
    16 FEBRUARY – Salerno/Italy – Il Moro Club (concert)
    19 FEBRUARY – Lecce/Italy (workshop at Conservatory)
    20 FEBRUARY – Larino/Italy (workshop)
    21 FEBRUARY – Urbania/Italy (workshop+concert)
    22 FEBRUARY – Udine/Italy (workshop)
    23 FEBRUARY – Amsterdam/Holland – Bimhius (concert) + Conservatory (workshop)
    25 FEBRUARY – Vienna/Austria – (workshop)
    26 FEBRUARY – Gmunden/Austria (workshop)

    For more information on tickets and venues, please see http://www.elnegro.com/ and http://www.myspace.com/horaciohernandez

    The Traveling Through Time DVD is available from Alfred Publishing.

  • Mapex Releases Black Panther Special-Edition Elm Snare Drum

    Ah, you didn’t really think that Mapex was through releasing new gear, did you?

    [Press Release]

    Mapex USA introduced the Black Panther special-edition elm snare drum. The 14″ x 5.5″ uses a revolutionary shell construction to achieve its unique tonal qualities. At the heart of the drum is a 6.1mm maple shell with an exterior ply of exquisite hand-selected elm, finished in a high-gloss clear lacquer finish to accentuate its beautiful wood grain.

    Additionally the drum is designed with a 3.4mm-thick walnut sound ring at the top and bottom edge of the shell. These sound rings add roundness and darkness to the sound of the drum. The result is a tone that is unmatched by any other drum on the market.

    The special-edition elm snare comes with die cast hoops and a fully adjustable Black Panther throw-off. The drum’s hardware is plated in black chrome to give the instrument an even more dramatic appearance. The drum also features high-quality Remo Ambassador heads and a 20-strand snare.

    Quantities of this snare drum will be limited. Like all Black Panther special-edition models, the drum comes with a durable, padded Black Panther deluxe carrying bag. MSRP for the special-edition elm snare (BPLM4550BXN) is $744.99.

  • Want to Meet Tommy Lee Backstage?

    You just got to get a little bit naked:

    You must remove one article of clothing—your pants, your top—or else you are not allowed in my dressing room. That gets the fucking party started so quick. Everyone’s walking around topless.

    Does that go for dudes too?

    [via Hard Rock Hideout]

  • Custom Drum Tracks Recorded by Dave Weckl and Russ Miller

    The economy is tanking, the music industry of yesteryear is finally gasping its last breath, and recording studios worldwide are on life support, but that doesn’t mean that enterprising drummers won’t find a way to keep working. Mix has published two great articles that detail how Dave Weckl and Russ Miller have each created a new-school business model for drummers by recording custom tracks from their home studios. If you’re at all interested in being a session drummer, be sure to read these pieces to learn what a “session” is fast becoming.

  • Mike Portnoy’s Dad Has Died

    Mike Portnoy’s father, Howard, passed away on Sunday, January 4. He was 68. Mike released the following statement:

    “It’s with the heaviest heart and deepest sorrow that I share the news of the passing of my best friend, my idol and my father, Howard Portnoy.

    “He passed away this morning [Sunday, January 4] at 3:38 am with his loving wife Trish and myself by his side after a six-month battle with cancer.

    “He was an amazing person whose lively spirit was a tremendous inspiration to me and to most people that had the pleasure to know him.

    “He will be sorely missed by so many friends and family—but none more so than his wife Trish, his daughter-in-law Marlene, his grandchildren Melody and Max and yours truly.

    “The spirit carries on, ‘ol popz….”