Mi2N.com – Public Enemy To Record With Tom Morello, Rise Against And Z-Trip On New AlbumChuck D apparently has more to say. The outspoken rapper/commentator and his outfit Public Enemy want to record another album. I have to say I support them. This is not only because I am an old-school P.E. fan. It is also because they are being creative with the way they seek funds to produce the record. They are having fans directly finance it through an organization called Sellaband, and are the first major act to do so. Some ahead-of-the-curve indie artists have been doing this. I play for a brilliant artist named Janet Robin who financed her last record, “Everything Has Changed”, through fan dollars. Kudos to any artist who can pull that off at any level.
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Lewis Nash: Artists: Modern Drummer MagazineThe playing mindset of jazz drummer Lewis Nash is highlighted in this article I have posted. Nash is one of my favorite jazz drummers. He represents a perfect marriage between tradition and modernism. In fact his traditional foundation enables him to play very adventurous, modern things and still keep a Jimmy Cobb-like hard swing going. Many drummers lose their swing feel the second they “take it out”. Nash has ears and musicality that guide his technique in a way that has enabled him to play with such a wide variety of jazz artists. Anyone with an opportunity to hear him live will be rewarded with high inspiration.
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Soldier’s “Drum Hike” For Fellow Troops. Headlines from the Drumming WorldHere is an article about a guy named Troy Yocum who is playing drums for a great cause. Troy is a former U.S. Army Specialist who is hiking across the U.S. to raise awareness for military families in need of financial assistance. This is an under-covered subject in the media so good for him for serving as a soldier and continuing to serve as a citizen. Troy is playing a small doumbek drum, presumably because it is light. It is interesting to hear, as he is playing military snare-type rhythms on a middle eastern hand drum. Troy is sponsored by Yamaha Drums (why the HELL did an American manufacturer not get behind this?????), Latin Percussion, and Sabian. Go Troy!
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John Bonham Drum God: Modern Drummer MagazineJohn Bonham had it all: deep groove, huge tone, high energy, genre-busting creativity, and impeccable phrasing. His influence is enormous amongst drummers, but I dare say that this does not come across in much of the modern rock I hear.
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Uriel Jones, Motown LegendUriel Jones, drummer on many Motown hits, died in March 2009. This was over a year ago but the man is worth celebrating. He had an unbelievably powerful groove, as did the other two main Motown drummers, Benny Benjamin and Pistol Allen. However, the approach Jones had was more muscular than his two more elegantly grooving colleagues.
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Mi2N.com – Drummer Gerry Gibbs Hands Down His Awesome Aural History Of Jazz Icon Miles DavisGerry Gibbs has recorded another set of Miles Davis "Bitches Brew"-era music. His latest ensemble, The Electric Thrasher Orchestra, follows up his Bitches Brew Orchestra with more Miles-inspired improvisational journeys. This is a grueling type of music to play; it requires total focus and you must have your ears wide open. Autopilot playing will definitely not work here. I would love to witness the editing process as it will be such a huge part of things. On the Miles 1967-1975 recordings, extensive tape splicing was employed making for a few bumpy transitions. I consider that to be part of the charm of those recordings.
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Mi2N.com – Nomy: The Record Label’s Worst NightmareI'm going to admit it: I have never heard Nomy before. But I admire him nonetheless. Why would I be willing to give props to an artist I haven't even heard? Because I'm giving him marketing props, not musical. Nomy has managed to get himself a large amount of exposure without being signed to a record label. That makes him heroic on some level.
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Mi2N.com – ‘Spotlight On Haiti’ Benefit Concert Featuring MuteMath To Take Place In New OrleansHere is a great charity that raises money for the suffering people of Haiti. This concert features the band MuteMath, whose recording "Armistice" was nominated for a Grammy. I am actually quite partial to their self-titled first release. It has a major early-Police influence (minus the reggae feel) mixed with with a generous dallop of 80's Modern Rock (college radio) vibe. The drummer, Darren King, plays some very interesting hi-hat and snare combinations that seem influenced by programmed drum patterns, Stewart Copeland (The Police), Larry Mullen Jr. (U2), and David Robinson of The Cars amongst other elements. Darren King's playing with MuteMath is certainly some of the more interesting pop drumming I have heard lately.
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Jim Chapin In Memoriam. Headlines from the Drumming WorldWith a tear in its eye the drumming world bids farewell a master drummer and educator, Jim Chapin. Mr. Chapin was a very giving soul who shared his expertise freely with anyone who had interest. A fixture at the NAMM show as well as the PASIC convention and other events, Mr. Chapin would give impromptu lessons as everyone gathered around. I myself have found myself part of these unscheduled group classes while at the NAMM show in the past. There was a palpable sense of joy to the information he was imparting, and even had some great stories to tell about his stellar performing career. I have no intention of minimizing that great performance career but here my comments focus on Mr. Chapin's educational impact.
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Online Recording Studios: Get Pro Studio Services And Stay At Home
For years professional recordings were made only by those who had a large budget. Artists signed to major labels and those with investors were predominately the privileged ones who got record professionally. The difference in sound between recordings made in a professional studio and demos made otherwise was always as chasmic as it is now. |