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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Mel Lewis: Loose, Fat, Musical

Posted on March 1, 2017 by Scott K Fish

SKF NOTE: I think a lot about the Mel Lewis and Friends album. Last week, this song, Ain’t Nothin’ Nu, came around on an old, unmarked cassette I was listening to. Forty years since the album’s first release on the Horizon label — it’s still a prime Mel Lewis album.

Mel’s feel, his drumset sound, his fills — loose, fat, musical. Great stuff. Mel’s band on this cut is Michael Brecker and Gregory Herbert (tenor saxes), Freddie Hubbard (trumpet), Ron Carter (bass), and Hank Jones (piano).

Footnote: Mel told me thought Freddie Hubbard played exceptionally well on this date because Thad Jones was in the recording studio control booth during the session.

 

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