Cymbal Choices of the Greats — NYC
The Prof is in...Cindy Blackman-Santana
arcane are you gonna go my way Art Blakey Berklee Bob Gatzen Carlos Santana Cindy Blackman cymbomute Dennis Chambers Dionne Warwick drumline Gretsch Drums Istanbul Istanbul Agop K Zildjian Lenny Kravitz Mantra set Max Roach multiplicity Narada Michael Walden NYC OM Series Santana Tony Williams Vic Firth Wallace Roney Warner Bros youtube
The subject of this blog is the current drummer of latin/jazz/rock/funk supergroup Santana and is in fact married to the leader of said band, the very spiritual guitar virtuoso, Carlos Santana. Cindy Blackman (as she was way back when) came to my attention (and everyone elses) by backing Lenny Kravitz in the iconic video to his hit single ‘Are you gonna go my way?’ (we weren’t sure which way that was but we all followed just in case it got even more exciting). She put in all the right moves on the video (much to do with some great editing...
The Prof is in...Billy Ward
10" Mini Hi-Hats A Custom Fast Crash A Zildjian and Cie Vintage Ride Alfred Music Avedis Big Time Billy Ward Cincinnati Crash of Doom cymbomute Dallas Elvin Jones Hal Leonard Hudson Music Joan Osbourne Lennon Modern Drummer Festival Nashville NYC Promark The Bulb The only serious choice Voices in my head zildjian
'Big Time'. I remember when I first saw Billy Ward play on the Modern Drummer Festival DVD in 2008. I had no idea who this genial looking guy was (not being familiar with his resume and recorded work - of that, more later), but taking a look at his (ergonomically - yes, I am 'that' guy) kit set up and all of the interesting bits on it, I was kinda hooked before he played a...erm..note? His approach was loose, open and fluid, with an easy command of the tunes he was playing (and let's not forget, in this situation these...