Jim Gordon on Derek and the Dominos

Posted on March 10, 2017 by Scott K Fish

SKF NOTE: When Jim Keltner called me at Modern Drummer to ask if we would be interested in interviewing his friend, Jim Gordon, the answer was an unequivocal yes. It was a time when we MD Editors felt, to an extent, as if we were playing catch up securing interviews with the long line of drummers we felt deserved interviewing.

In this third audio excerpt, Jim Gordon talks about the formation of Derek and the Dominos, rehearsing and recording with that band, and about his drum solo on “Derek and the Dominos in Concert.” Jim couldn’t remember the name of the song on which he soloed with Derek and the Dominos, but it is almost certainly Let It Rain.

The full back story and the published Jim Gordon interview are posted here.

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Monster Drumsets: Against the Spirit of Gretsch (1978)?

Posted on March 6, 2017 by Scott K Fish
gretsch_downbeat_ad_782803

SKF NOTE: From 1978, this is not my favorite Gretsch ad. Too many words. Drummer photos too small, too cropped. Tony Williams, Jeff Hamilton, Freddie Waits, and Charlie Watts all – I think – had dedicated Gretsch ads – which were much more fun to study.

Also, Phil Collins came close, but I can’t remember any drummer playing a monster Gretsch kit like the set shown at the bottom of this ad. I was so knocked out by all the classic Gretsch ads with Philly Joe Jones, Max Roach, Elvin Jones, Mel Lewis, Tony Williams, Art Blakey, and their four-piece Gretsch drumsets — I bought one.

I’m sure the Gretsch marketing team would disagree with me, but nine toms, double-bass drums, and a snare drum still seems against the Spirit of Gretsch.

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Charlie Watts, Max Weinberg: Ludwig vs Premier vs Rogers (1981)

Posted on March 5, 2017 by Scott K Fish

SKF NOTE: I’m sorry for the audio quality here, especially the first few seconds. I’ve sweetened the sound to the best of my ability, and while it’s not great sound, it’s audible. I’m posting this excerpt from my November 12, 1981 with Charlie Watts because I think it might be of particular interest to drum equipment buffs.

The full back story to this interview is here.

Max Weinberg is the first voice heard in this excerpt. Max is talking about a Ludwig Beatles front drum head given to Max from one of the reputable drum shop owners at the time. But Max isn’t sure how to authenticate the drum head.

Charlie then begins a conversation about the scarcity of Ludwig drums in England around 1960. And that leads to a three-way conversation about Premier drums and hardware, how Keith Moon and Kenney Jones improved Premier hardware, and Charlie’s use of old Rogers hardware that, he says, is “rusty.”

Rogers had since been sold to CBS Musical Instruments, and Ludwig had recently been acquired by The Selmer Company.

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Freddie Gruber: Criteria for Taking on a New Student

Posted on March 4, 2017 by Scott K Fish

SKF NOTE: Excerpt #5 from my interview with Freddie Gruber circa 1983.

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The Fabulous Charli Persip (1956)

Posted on March 3, 2017 by Scott K Fish

charli-persip-lee-morgan-sextet-2-cd

SKF NOTE: A wonderful photo by Francis Wolff of one of my favorite drummers, Charli Persip. This picture is from Blue Note’s Lee Morgan Volume 2: Sextet CD booklet.

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