Anydrum.com Now Carrying Kopf Percussion Cajons

Anydrum is pleased to announce that we are now carrying Kopf Percussion cajons in our store. Ever since the demise of Fat Congas, we’ve been looking for a small, family-type business that could step in and fill the void they left behind, both in terms of quality, craftsmanship, and price point. We think we have found a perfect match in Kopf.

Kopf Percussion is a family owned business located in Waycross, Georgia. The company was officially formed in 2008 by its CEO, Stephen Head (better known as “Steve”). The Kopf name has become synonomous with quality craftsmanship, incredible tone and impeccable attention to detail. Each instrument is handcrafted and is given a level of attention that is for the most part, a way of the past.

All Kopf Percussion instruments are handcrafted in the USA using sustainable materials and environmentally safe finishing methods. Kopf uses tried and true construction methods with simple and direct designs to obtain the best tone and durability in the percussion instrument industry.

Per Kopf’s website, “We strive to be the sort of percussion company that is rare these days. Quality, integrity, backed up with top-notch customer service is not just our goal, it is our standard. Every Kopf instrument is backed up with a 100% Unconditional Satisfaction Guarantee.”

Kopf Percussion’s lineup includes:

• S-Series Cajons - The S-Series begins with a solid poplar frame with Two Russian Baltic Birch Tapas attached by either glue, screws, or both. The drum is then finished with a delicate clear satin topcoatl for a beautiful finish that allows the woods overtones to shine through. The cajones are topped off with a 1″ padded seat and rounded corners for the ultimate in comfort. The S-Series includes the popular DeUno, a Slap Top Snare, and a standard Snare cajon.
• Birch Series Cajons – Available in DeUno, Slap Top, and Snare configurations, all constructed from high quality Baltic Birch plywood which give the drum amazing resonance and overtones. A semi-gloss finish provides protection while allowing the drums’ beautiful tones to shine through.
• Student Series Cajons – Featuring cajons for smaller players including the Novato (based on the DeUno design), a Junior Cajon and a Kids Cajon.

Anydrum.com is a proud supporter of Kopf Percussion and other small businesses everywhere, not just in our own back yard. Check out the complete lineup of Kopf cajons for professionals, casual players, students, and even kids here.

Enter LP’s Beat the $#!% Out of It Contest to Win a Hand-Signed Travis Barker Cowbell

Here’s your chance to enter to win LP’s new Travis Barker Ridge Rider Cowbell — hand signed by Travis himself!. The 8-inch mountable bell features artwork originally designed by Brian “Pushead” Schroeder for the cover of Barker’s most recent album release “Give The Drummer Some.”

The bell is based on LP’s Salsa Sergio Bell, which has been Barker’s cowbell of choice for years. The bell’s pitch is slightly lower than the LP Rock Ridge Rider Cowbell and features a yellow Jenigor bar to dampen the sound and resist denting.

The Travis Barker Ridge Rider Cowbell (LP009-TB) has a white powder coated finish emblazoned with dye-sublimated graphics, which will not scratch of chip, even during the heaviest use. MSRP for the bell is $77.99 (Anydrum.com price is $49.99) but the fact that it’s personally autographed significantly increases its value.

At the end of the contest period, six winners will be chosen at random and will receive the prize package described herein. You must be entered to win by April 30, 2012.

Open to residents of the U.S. only.

Keith Carlock Signs with LP

(from LP Music)

Latin Percussion and Gretsch Drums recently signed renowned Steely Dan drummer Keith Carlock to their respective artist rosters. Carlock, considered by most to be one of the world’s most preeminent players has also toured with Sting, Grover Washington Jr., Wayne Kranz and many other high profile acts.

“I’m proud to be a member of the LP and Gretsch teams,” said Carlock. “The gear sounds fantastic and I’m thrilled to be involved with the new and innovative instruments that are being introduced.”

One of those new and innovative instruments is the all-new Gretsch Brooklyn Drum Series. Gretsch outfitted Carlock with a new Brooklyn kit and he immediately began breaking it in while gigging in New York City with friends Anton Fig and Will Lee. Carlock is also using a range of LP gear on his kit, from a Rock Cowbell, a Micro Snare and the all-new Hi-Hat Chick-Ita.

On March 7, Carlock gave an afternoon clinic hosted by American Music in Seattle, Washington and played to a packed house.

Michael Cotta from American Music said, “This was the first time the store has held a clinic in the middle of the day and it was a big success! Working with Keith was incredibly easy and very much a pleasure. He answered everyone’s questions and made everyone feel comfortable and happy to be there. He’s a great ambassador!”

The clinic at American Music was a tune-up for Carlock’s upcoming 13-city clinic tour that kicks of on Tuesday, April 17 at Professional Drum Shop in Hollywood, CA and wraps up on Thursday, May 3 at DiCenso’s Drum Shop in Weymouth, WA.

For more information about Keith Carlock clinic dates, times and locations, visit lpmusic.com.

MEINL Percussion Inventory Clearance Sale: NEW PRICE!

Click to view a larger image

UPDATE 3/31/2012: No movement on this listing in the last go-round so we’ll start over with a new lower price – just $3,599 for the whole lot (or make me an offer). I’m a really small business (just me and my son) and I need to make room for my new 2012 inventory due in April. Great opportunity for a school, small music business, or other music organization to get a great deal on brand new instruments.

It’s time to make room for the new MEINL product inventory. To do so, I have to clear space in my warehouse so I’m “fire-selling” my leftover inventory of MEINL product purchased last year. Everything is new and in unopened boxes. If you know a school, music store, or other organization that could use a ton of products for a low price, please check out my listing on eBay. Here’s a list of what’s available:

TOTAL LIST VALUE: $10,543.00
TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $6,214.38
BUY IT NOW: $3,599.00 (plus freight)

The Evolution of Jazz Drumming

The most complete and comprehensive historical analysis of the drummers who created and defined modern jazz drumming.

Featuring Baby Dodds, Sid Catlett, Dave Tough, Max Roach, Buddy Rich, Roy Hanes, Evin Jones, Tony Williams, Mel Lewis, and many others.

The Evolution of Jazz Drumming is a guide and workbook designed by author Danny Gottlieb to be studied based on a typical 16-week college semester. A legendary and influential jazz drummer is studied during each of these weeks.

31 jazz drumming legends are examined with musical analysis including practice exercises in the style of the subject’s drumming, transcriptions of both solo and time playing, and etudes that examine the work of each artist in unprecedented detail. Each profile also includes a complete biography, personal anecdotes from the author, and dozens of exclusive and rare photos, many of which have never appeared in print before.

The book includes a DVD of classic video clips of many of the drummers, as well as an MP3 disc with over 300 tracks of exercises and etudes from the book recorded at various speeds that can be looped for analysis and practice.

Published by Hudson Music, you can purchase this book at Amazon.com. Preview the book and accompanying CD/DVD here: evolutionofjazz.com

About the Author

Danny Gottlieb is best known as the drummer in the original Mat Methany Group, but has also performed and recorded with Sting, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Gil Evans, John McLaughlin, Manhattan Transfer, Stan Getz, Randy Brecker, and many others. He currently performs with Gary Sinise’s Lt. Dan Ban, and is a tenured Associated Professor of Jazz Studies at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville.

Hudson Music’s Rob Wallis posed a few questions to the author in an online interview on their website:

Why did you write the book?

I have been teaching at the University of North Florida since 2005. Many of the drum set students appear to have a pretty good knowledge of the history of jazz drumming, but I usually discover that there is much missing in their background. When looking for a resource that would contain a basic jazz drum set history, I found that there were many jazz drum set videos and books available that refer to and feature many of the greats, but nothing that really serves as a comprehensive study guide. Hudson Music had previously released some of the most complete video collections available, but there was no text included, no practice exercises, no separate audio, and as a result, no real item that would work as a single source for the study of jazz drumming. The idea for this book was to take a compilation of Hudson’s previously released videos, and package them in study form that would serve this purpose.

A typical college semester is 15-16 weeks so I figured it would be best to feature the top 31 drummers, plan to study one drummer per week, and cover the entire overview in two semesters, a total of 31. There are of course more than 31 great jazz drummers, but with help from the Hudson crew, we picked the ones we felt would be the most important for a comprehensive overview.

For each drummer featured, I have included a basic bio, photos, study exercises and etudes. In many cases, the study exercise or etude is written in the style of a portion of the included video. Most jazz drum set students perform etudes or transcription solos as part of a weekly lesson, or as an end of semester jury. These exercises and etudes are designed to provide material for both purposes. In addition, I have found that it is very beneficial to pull a small excerpt from a particular drummer’s performance and make a study loop from it. By hearing the same passage over and over at different tempos, a student can really memorize the feel of a specific drummer. While many students use this method, I know of no other textbook or study guide on the market that uses specific excerpts from a variety of jazz greats for this purpose. I think we have over 300 study loops!

The audio is taken directly from the videos, and students can also view the complete performance as well. For those drummers featured where there is no video or audio, solos in the style of each drummer are provided, and a suggestion for further study. The important factor is that by studying this text, the student will now know the names of the most important jazz drummers on whom to base their study. After these drummers have been addressed, they can advance to more intensive analysis.  As my students have mentioned, this a book that you think must exist somewhere on the market, but until this point has not.

What were you using before this book became available?

The best resource I had found was a series of interviews that saxophonist/ bandleader and director of the Harlem jazz museum, Loren Schoenberg had conducted with the great big band drummer Mel Lewis. Just a year before Mel passed, Loren and Mel did 8-3 hour radio shows on WKCR, a NY based college radio station, where they listened to a “History” of jazz drummers, and Mel and Loren gave their comments. It’s 19 cd’s worth of listening and discussions. I have used these tapes for years,  they are great history of jazz drums source. They are also very much an inspiration for this text. The tapes also illustrated, though, that there was no source of study in one volume for the history of jazz drums, and it added to my desire to create one.

I was very close to Mel, and played occasionally in Loren’s band, and after Mel’s passing, Loren gave me his original tape copies of the shows. I was hoping to have them released commercially at some point, but as there are 130 musical selections, the copyright and legal issues are too much to really consider releasing them as something for the consumer. However, some of the tapes are available via the internet. The difference between those shows and this text, is that 1) Mel gave hours of comments about all of the drummers. This is a text just to get everybody started in the right direction. 2) In this text , we have actual written exercises and study loops 3) we have actual video examples.

There are other texts that I have used that include valuable information for many of these great drummers, such as John Riley’s books and Billy Mintz’s  “Different Drummers”. But there has been nothing else that really approaches this from a full week by week, drummer by drummer overview.

For whom is this book written?

The main focus of the book is to provide a student with a starting place. I will use it with college level jazz majors, and I am hoping that university professors around the world will find it useful for that purpose. It can also be used by a high school level student that wants to study jazz drumming in order to achieve entry into a competitive university jazz program. And in reality, even a middle school drum set student can use this material.

I am hoping that teachers that might not have had a strong background in jazz drumming would be able to just give this book to a student, and have them study one drummer per week. They themselves do not have to know that much about each drummer, as the student can discover each drummer by themselves. And a drum set instructor can just assign one drummer per week, and follow the student’s progress by listening to the exercises and etudes for each drummer studied.

The book might also be useful to any level rock oriented drummer who wants to learn more about jazz, and does not know where to start. And for the jazz drummers, it might contain some fresh material, great photos, and practice loops. I think those can help any drummer, including myself!

Meinl Percussion New Products for 2012: Djembes

New! Meinl Headliner Nile Series Rope Tuned Djembes

 Meinl Headliner Nile Series Rope Tuned Djembes

Features:

• Carved from one solid piece of plantation grown Mahogany Wood
• Hand selected goat heads
• Pre-stretched PP nylon ropes
• Hand carved shells

Rope: PP Rope, 5mm thick, 20 Runners

Sizes: 8 x 15-3/4″, 10 x 20″, 12 x 24″, 13 x 25″

Material: Mahogany Wood

Color: Brown

New! Meinl Headliner Wood Djembe, 12-1/2" Vintage Wine Barrel

Meinl Headliner Wood Djembe, 12-1/2″ Vintage Wine Barrel

Features:

• Sleek Hourglass shape for more comfort
• 8 mm strong tuning lugs
• 2 mm rounded rims
• Original MEINL style tuning brackets
• Black powder coated hardware
• Hand selected goat heads

Includes: Tuning key

Size: 12 1/2″

Height: 25 1/4″

Material: Rubber Wood (Hevea brasiliensis Muell. -Arg.)

Color: Vintage Wine Barrel

Finish: Matte

New! Meinl Headliner Black River Series Rope Tuned 8" Djembe

Meinl Headliner Black River Series Rope Tuned 8″ Djembe

Meinl adds a new, smaller 8″ size to its popular Black River Series rope tuned djembes in the Headliner model. These Djembes are made from a solid piece of plantation grown Mahogany wood, and are hand carved with a horizontal ripple motif that suggests a flowing river. This also makes the djembe easy to grip between the knees. The hand selected goat skin head is secured and tuned with the traditional Mali Weave system.

Includes:

• Carved from one solid piece of plantation grown Mahogany Wood
• Hand selected goat heads
• Pre-streched HTP nylon ropes
• Hand carved shells
• 8″ Diameter, 15-3/4″ tall

Meinl Percussion New Products for 2012: Congas and Bongos

Meinl introduces several new conga/bongo sizes and one new conga/bongo line for 2012.

New Meinl Headliner Traditional Designer Series Congas and Bongos

Meinl Headliner Traditional Designer Congas

The new Meinl Headliner Traditional Designer congas are offered individually, and you can make up a trio of the three singles: Nino, Quinto and Conga. These three sizes create a full tonal range.

Features:

• Hand selected buffalo heads
• 8mm strong tuning lugs
• Original MEINL style tuning brackets
• 5mm traditional TTR-Rims
• Black powder coated hardware

Includes:

• Tuning key
• Height adjustable basket stand with quick set up system

Meinl Headliner Traditional Designer Wood Bongos

Sizes:

• 10″ Nino
• 11″ Quinto
• 12″ Conga

Material: Rubber Wood (Hevea brasiliensis Muell.-Arg.)

Color: Walnut Brown

Finish: Matte

Matching Bongos are also available.

New Sizes for Meinl Headliner Wood Conga Sets

Meinl Headliner Conga Set, Pearl White 10" & 11" w/Basket Stands

Meinl has added the Pearl White and Maple color finishes to their Headliner 10″ and 11″ Conga Sets with Basket Stands. Previously, these colors were only available in the 11″ and 12″ set configuration.

The 10” & 11“ pair is the perfect set of congas to get you started. The compact size is easy for young players to handle, light to carry and has a full, rich sound. You can develop a full foundation of conga techniques and rhythms with these student-friendly drums. Professional sounding congas at a great price.

Features:

• Black powder coated hardware
• Original MEINL style tuning brackets
• 8mm strong tuning lugs
• Hand selected buffalo heads
• 2 mm rounded rims

Meinl Headliner Conga Set, Maple 10" & 11" w/Basket Stands

Includes:

• Tuning key
• Height adjustable basket stands (patented) with quick set up system

Size: 10″ quinto, 11″ conga

Height: 28″

Material: Rubber Wood (Hevea brasiliensis Muell.-Arg.)

Finish: High gloss

Matching bongos are also available in the Pearl White and Maple finishes

Meinl Percussion New Products for 2012: Cajons

Meinl Percussion sends greetings from their headquarters in Germany and announces more than 60 new items for 2012. They’ll be featuring them at the upcoming Winter NAMM show in sunny Anaheim, California. Yours truly will not be attending this year but figured I’d give you a preview, starting with cajons, congas, and bongos.

New Meinl Cajons

Meinl Artisan Edition Cajons

MEINL Artisan Edition Cajons are hand made in Spain with uncompromising craftsmanship for the most discerning of players. They are the finest cajons available on the market. Every detail has been elaborated and refined for the sole aim of creating the purest sound and best performance possible.

Meinl Artist Edition Seguiriya Cajon

The Seguiriya Line is Meinl’s top Artisan Edition Cajon. It features a specially contoured re-curved front plate of exotic Canyon Burl and 16 vertical snare strings. The sound port has a supplemental ring for enhanced compression and is covered with a fine mesh for improved microphone characteristics. Specially designed and formulated rubber feet prevent vibrations from transferring to the floor.

Stable 11-ply Birch body is gently mitred for optimum comfort and control, and is slightly convex where it contacts the strike plate. This results in an extra refinement of the fundamental sound. Flat screws with supplemental washers are utilized around the edges of the strike plate that receive the bass strokes. This retains the full material strength in this critical area of the cajon.

Handsome wood inlay on the top and our distinctive heat branding define the classy look of this proud instrument.

Meinl Artist Edition Bulería Line Cajon

The Bulería Line sports a beautiful Lava-Burl frontplate and has 10 tuneable strings in a wedge shaped array. A special internal baffle filters and compresses the bass tone. The sound port is covered with a fine mesh for improved microphone characteristics.

The frontplate and body are gently curved and mitred for comfort and control. The 9-ply Birch body is also slightly concave where the strike plate touches, for a further refinement of the fundamental sound. Flat screws with supplemental washers are utilised around the edges of the strike plate that receive the bass strokes. This retains the full material strength in this critical area of the cajon.

Meinl Artist Edition Soleá Line Cajon

Soleá Line (AE-CAJ3)

The Soleá Line has a solid Cedar frontplate finished in stately Espresso Burst brown. It has 10 horizontal pre-tuned strings. This model also features special internal baffle filters to compresses the bass tone.
The strike plate and body are gently curved and mitred for comfort and control. The 9-ply Birch body is also slightly concave where the frontplate touches, for a further refinement of the fundamental sound. Flat screws with supplemental washers are utilized around the edges of the strike plate that receive the bass strokes. This retains the full material strength in this critical area of the cajon.

New Larger Meinl Headliner Series Cajon in Mahogan (HCAJ3MH-M)

The MEINL Headliner® Series Cajons deliver the classic cajon sound at an affordable price and can be used in Flamenco or world music. They are also very useful during unplugged gigs for delivering the rhythmic foundation for a whole band when a full drum set can’t be used. For 2012, Meinl introduces a new larger size Mahogany Headliner Cajon, measuring 11-3/4″ W x 19-3/4” H x 11 -3/4” D.

New Meinl String Cajon with Fiberboard Body Frontplate in American White Ash (CAJ3AWA)

MEINL Cajons feature a builtin adjustable sizzle effect. Strings, which touch the frontplate on the inside and span from top to bottom, deliver a sensitive rattle that can be adjusted to fit various musical applications. The patented integrated string mute system controls the tension of the strings and ensures a dry and crisp sizzle effect. The new Fiberboard Frontplate cajon features a PVC covered, eco-friendly, medium density fiberboard resonating body and an American White Ash frontplate.

New Meinl Specialty Cajons

Meinl Specialty Travel Cajon (TCAJ1BK)

The MEINL Travel Cajon is a great way to practice cajon techniques while on the go or when you need to keep the volume way down. It is perfect for keeping your chops in shape, any time, anywhere!

Meinl Specialty Slap-Top Cajon (TOPCAJ1MB)

The MEINL Slap Top Cajon is a conceptual step up to a new level. This model is designed to bring the striking surface up nearer to the player, for a more upright playing style. The sound projects forward into the audience! High and low tones as well as a snare effect are built in to the sound board.

Meinl Specialty Subwoofer Cajon (SUBCAJ1AWA)

The MEINL Subwoofer Cajon features a forward projecting sound port in place of the traditional rear facing style and an internal reflex channel. This results in an enhanced bass note projection, particularly desirable for live and unplugged situations.

The Magic Carpet

Meinl Quick Set Markers in use on the Meinl Zebra Design drum rug

Many drummers consider their drum rug as nothing more than a means to keep drums and stands from sliding on hard surfaces. And a good drum rug should certainly do that. Several commercially available drum rugs have built-in barriers to keep your bass drum from moving. Some also have reinforced sections under the spots where bass drum and hi-hat pedals are likely to go.

But whether you use one of these hi-tech drum rugs or a household carpet remnant, that rug can also provide you with an invaluable service. It can be the take-everywhere blueprint for your perfect drumkit configuration. All you need in order to create this blueprint is a roll of gaffer’s or duct tape and a permanent marker. (Gaffer’s tape is more durable; duct tape is less expensive.)

First, lay out your rug, making sure that it’s smooth and flat, with no wrinkles. Next, set up your kit, carefully putting everything in the optimum position. Keep stand legs untangled, and be sure your pedals are exactly where you want them. Finally, tear off short strips of tape and use them to mark on the rug where the foot of each stand and the tip of each bass drum spur is located. Do this in a U-shape, with the open end pointing back up along the stand leg or spur. Do the same around the heels of bass drum and hi-hat pedals. For floor-tom legs, create small squares around each foot.

Whether your setup is complex or simple, it’s a good idea to put pieces of tape on one or more foot of every stand, as well as on the foot of each floor tom leg. Mark a code number or letter on these pieces of tape, and put the same number or letter on the tape markings attached to the rug. That way you can match them up quickly and accurately, ensuring that you have the correct foot of the correct stand in the correct location every time.

The beauty of this system is that it’s completely flexible. As you add, subtract, or reposition items on your kit, you can simply remove and replace the tape markings on your rug and your stands. In addition, if you should happen to use different kits (or kit configurations) for different gigs, it’s a simple matter to use different-color tape for each one.

There’s actually no “magic” to this process. It’s really simple to accomplish. But you’ll be amazed at how quickly and easily your set-ups will become—to say nothing of how comfortable you’ll be on every gig. And that’s a pretty magical feeling.

In Need of a Functional (and Snazzy) Drum Rug?

At Anydrum.com, we carry several different drum rugs from Meinl and Gretsch. For purists, there’s the basic black Meinl logo rug (5.25ft (160cm) x 6.5ft (200cm)) or the basic dark gray Gretsch logo rug (5.5ft x 4.5ft). For something a little more exotic, try Meinl’s drum rug in the Zebra Design, Original Camouflage Design, or the heavy metal “Jawbreaker” design (all 5.25ft (160cm) x 6.5ft (200cm)).

Meinl Quick Set Markers for Drum Rugs

Ditch the duct tape and try Meinl’s Quick Set Markers for Drum Rugs. They allow you to get your drums set up fast and in the perfect position every time. There are 60 hook & loop stripes for marking the hardware and 10 circles for marking the drums on your drum rug.

The Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra Visits Meinl Germany

While travelling through Germany, members of the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra stopped by at Meinl’s new showroom in Gutenstetten for an extensive test of Meinl’s symphonic cymbals- and percussion instruments.

“We are honored that the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra chose to use our symphonic cymbals,” comments Meinl’s International Artist Relations Manager Norbert Saemann. “I am looking very much forward to working with them in the future and helping them finding their perfect cymbal sound for all of their musical needs.”

Back row, left to right:
Norbert Saemann (Meinl)
Manuel Kroetz (Timpani / Percussion)
Peter Huepping (Artistic and Operations Manager)
Ulli Napp (Technical Director)
Nasser S. Nasseb (Stage Manager)

Front row, left to right:
Kee Guan Ng (Timpani / Percussion, Co-Principal)
Ferdinand Schaefer (Timpani / Percussion)
Rafeek Kolepperri (Stage Technician)

Meinl Cymbals – Pure Metal

Didn’t know Meinl makes cymbals? They do, and they’re quite extraordinary. Meinl is one of the world’s leading, most innovative and progressive manufacturers for cymbals made in Germany and Turkey. Some of the world’s most popular drummers and bands play Meinl cymbals exclusively.

Their annual Meinl Drum Festival held on the company’s premises in Germany is one of the top drum events in the world and gathers thousands of drum enthusiasts every year.

Anydrum.com carries the complete lineup of Meinl Cymbals and Meinl Percussion instruments.