| Day One
– Saturday, 9th June
The crowd was buzzing with anticipation in wait for the first drummer to take stage. It did not help that earlier on, some of them have had a preview of what is to come through the Master Classes with Grant Collins and Derek Roddy. After all, it is not every day that you get up close and personal with your favourite drummers. In fact, cynics would even say that it is too good to be true, especially here in Singapore.
Who could blame them? For the longest time, an event featuring 10 world-class drummers seemed only possible in the Western countries. Most had resigned to watching video footages for their dose of drumming brilliance. The lineup for the first ever Singapore Drumfest was truly a work of art, attracting drum enthusiasts from all over the world; some in attendance flew in specially for the event, coming from Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, Finland, USA and the UK! |
| Before the stage was turned over to the pros, the crowd was kept entertained by the finals of the Drum Challenge 21-and-under category. The showdown was between 18-year-old Jonathan Ong and the American contender that flew in from California, 20-year-old Danny Morledge. The latter eventually emerged as the champion, winning the judges over with his structured and well thought-out solo, not to mention his impeccable sense of timing. As the winner, Danny walked away with a Mapex drum kit worth $1,800, 1-year subscription to Modern Drummer magazine and apparel gift vouchers. Jonathan was well-rewarded for his efforts too, receiving a Meinl cymbal set worth $800 and 1-year subscription to Modern Drummer magazine. |
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Jonathan Ong - Danny Morledge
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Gregg Bissonette
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By the looks of it, all the anticipation was just killing the crowd. So when Gregg Bissonette finally appeared in flesh on stage, he was greeted by appreciative, excited applause and cheering from the crowd before he even took his place behind the drum set. He was visibly surprised and flattered by the reception and went on to kick start Singapore Drumfest 2007 in style.
A solo with a mix of left-foot clave patterns, catchy grooves on a fantastic-sounding snare drum and some flashy chops immediately hushed the crowd as they watched in wide-eyed fascination and from then on, Gregg had all their attention. And who could forget the moment when he flipped his snare upside down and did some ‘Drum n’ Bass’ rhythm while filing in using the snare wire? The animated performer also took some time out of his set to chat and interact with the crowd, delighting those in attendance with his personality and humour.
After Gregg finished his set with a super-catchy Bollywood-flavoured tune, the star of the moment was treated to a surprise himself when the emcees broke into a chorus of “Happy Birthday” and presented him with a cake for the special occasion.
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Gregg Bissonette
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| The good spirits continued with the dynamic percussion duo of Steve Thornton and Mohammad Noor as they took stage for their combined item. Steve, a renowned percussionist who have worked with the likes of Mongo Santamaria and Jazz legend Miles Davis, joined efforts with our local percussion great to bring a slice of Latin flavour to the show. Warming up and then launching into a detailed and demonstrative solo comprising a series of impressive chops, Steve was then accompanied by Mohd Noor (as he is commonly known in these parts) on the cajon that provided the “drum set” effect and then on the timbales with cracking rolls and fills. Later, the duo were also joined by several local musicians in a traditional Latin Jazz ensemble, pleasing the crowd with Mohd Noor’s flavourful cascaras and Steve’s precise technique and resounding notes and slaps adding zing to the smooth rhythms. |
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Mohammad Noor
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Steve Thornton
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If there were to be an award for Mr. Nice Guy at Drumfest, it would go to a very unlikely recipient in the eyes of most - extreme metal drummer Derek Roddy, who was the third drummer for Day 1. Off stage, Derek was all smiles despite the jet lag and early morning sound checks.
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He chatted happily about anything from his love for snakes to his lovely wife who was back in Florida taking care of their python eggs, which were on the verge of hatching. Speaking with the tone of a concerned father, he told us about the difficulties that come with taking care of those hatching eggs, for the snakes are known to drown easily when hatching. It is hard not to be infected by his easy demeanor, even if he is talking about breeding pythons.
On stage though, Derek definitely did not put the audience to relax mode. Living up to his reputation as one of the fastest extreme metal drummers around, Derek riled the audience up with the incredible speed of his playing. It was scintillating to see him ride on his double bass, and for most, if not all of the audience, it was quite possibly the fastest single double bass playing that they have seen live. Derek also surprised everyone when he incorporated some Latin and Jazz tunes into his set, showing off his proficiency with various genres and highlighting his versatility as a drummer. |
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Derek Roddy
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Derek Roddy
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After his set, Derek turned from performer to audience as he settled down to watch his newfound friend, Grant Collins from Brisbane, Australia, sizzle up the stage. The two had hit it off immediately and became fast friends, promising to keep in touch and maybe even work on future projects together. Grant, who had affectionately named Derek his ‘long lost brother’, was all warmed up and ready to take the stage by the time it came to his turn.
He kept the flavour fresh through his unique style of playing. With almost all of his tunes playing in odd time signatures, it really opened up the eyes of many to the different styles and techniques of playing that can be done on the drums. On top of that, Grant also wowed everyone with his out-of-this-world independence, playing some very different and difficult patterns on each limb. The end result was an array of innovative and incredibly groovy tunes by the man from Down Under. |
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Grant Collins
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Grant Collins
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The fifth and final drummer to take stage for Day 1 came in the form of Jojo Mayer, and it was obvious from the huge cheers he received that most of the audience had been waiting eagerly to watch the Swiss maestro in action. Jojo did not disappoint with a very educational set for the audience, specifically teaching on how to develop good techniques to enhance one’s drumming.
With acoustic drums and the use of the “Moeller” technique, he can easily sound like a ‘Drum n’ Bass’ set on his own. For the finale, Jojo brought up his band NERVE, who is a rising star in the electronic dance music scene, for an epic concert of electronic dance music in its finest form.
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Jojo Mayer
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Jojo Mayer
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And then, what almost no one had been expecting happened: the two firm friends took to the stage for a surprise item. For the first time ever, Grant Collins and Derek Roddy combined their powers of versatility and technique to trade several solos. As Grant built his rudimental technique on Derek’s foundations of raw speed and power, the collaboration between them left the crowd agape. Not surprising, then, that there was a resounding ovation and even cries of “Encore” when the two up-and-coming titans stepped out from behind their kit to embrace. It was last but not least in a day of firsts, and more was yet to come on the second day of the Drumfest.
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Day Two – Sunday, 10th June
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Gilbert Rolan Nogales
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Following the structure of Day 1, Day 2 started out with the Drum Challenge finals. This time, it was for the Open category, where Gilbert Rolan Nogales from the Philippines pitted his skills against Gary Tan.
Gilbert, with his creativity and crowd-pleasing antics won the judges’ vote though it was a very close contest against Gary’s well-honed techniques and impressive chops. Both drummers were rewarded with 1-year subscription to Modern Drummer magazine and gift apparel vouchers.
In addition to that, Gilbert won for himself a Sonor drum kit worth $2,500 and Gary, a Meinl cymbal set worth $2,000.
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Backstage at the second day of Singapore Drumfest, Nate Morton was giving his set-up a final once over. When asked what he felt about going first on Day 2, the very humble Nate declared, “I asked to go first, ‘cos I don’t think I would want to have to play after any of those drummers. I would look horrible.”
The audience did not share his sentiments though, seeing as his album, Playground Philosophy, sold like hot cakes after his set and was gone even before the night ended. Nate was a joy to watch on stage, being one of those drummers whom you can just tell really enjoys himself behind the drum kit. He laid a very solid foundation for the music without overplaying, and with the experience of playing with the Rockstar INXS and Supernova house band under his belt, Nate really set the standard of how music should be played for everyone. |
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Nate Morton
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Jimmy Lee
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After the rock show, next came Singapore’s very own Jimmy Lee, who slowed things down a little together with his band in a high-quality Jazz set that even those who are not fans of the genre would appreciate. Unlike the other drummers, Jimmy played all the songs in his set looking at the scores, and he shared with the audience how important sight reading is to a drummer.
Jimmy’s amazing solos really added a whole new dimension to the band’s Jazz music. Playing with such incredible speed and skill, he definitely did Singaporeans proud by holding his own at the Drumfest alongside all the other international drummers.
While there could be no doubt that everyone in the audience must be enjoying the world class drumming on show, some were probably still sour from the news of Benny Greb’s health problems as reason for his absence.
Everyone was expecting a shortened programme for Day 2 because of that; so imagine the crowd’s surprise when Tan Boon, the director of Singapore Drumfest, brought back
Jojo Mayer for a very special first-time collaboration with child prodigy Tony Royster Jr.
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| Though it was a weekend specially dedicated to the drums, other forms of music was at its highest level as well, and for this performance, the two drum stars were accompanied by NERVE’s highly-accredited bassist, Janek Gwizdala. Janek has worked with some of the most respected musicians in the business, including Pat Metheny, Mike Stern, Eric Johnson and Paul Oakenfold. His prowess on the bass was on show during Jojo’s set the day before, and was no doubt the perfect accompaniment for this very special duet. |
Jojo Mayer - Janek Gwizdala - Tony Royster Jr.
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The impromptu performance really showcased drumming at its highest level as Jojo and Tony traded solos from opposite ends of the stage to the incredible bass groove provided by Janek in the centre. With good flashy chops, metric modulation, dash of showmanship and some killer grooves from both the drummers, it was no wonder that the crowd went wild for the friendly battle between the master drummer and the young talented contender. Who came up tops? Well, it was simply impossible to say.
The trio’s adrenaline-pumping set was followed by an equally captivating set by Gorden Campbell aka the Groove Machine. The R ‘n’ B drummer played licks and grooves that were so catchy that it was simply impossible not to move to the music. Gorden played with an unconventional, open-handed way, and coupled with the Gospel music that is pretty much unexplored here in Singapore, he really opened up the eyes of many in the audience.
Finally, it was time to bring on 22-year-old Tony Royster Jr., who was by far the youngest drummer in the lineup. He lived up to his reputation as the child prodigy with his explosive performance. Tony has got everything – the chops, the groove, showmanship, speed, time – you name it, and he pretty much has it.
Midway through his set with a band of Singaporean musicians, Tony also took some time out to talk to the audience about the importance of timing in drums, and even challenged everyone to try and count the time signature of the tune that he had written himself! While his drumming ability was never a doubt, Tony really proved to everyone his talent as a musician with his own composition.
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Gorden Campbell
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Tony Royster Jr.
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Tony Royster Jr.
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As Drumfest drew to a close, the organisers had just the right finale to end this groundbreaking event. The whispers in the crowd grew louder as three drum kits were being set up on the stage and it broke into loud cheers as the emcees welcomed back Gorden, Jimmy and Tony for a three-way drum battle as a special treat for the audience.
All three drummers showcased what they do best in the exciting match-up. They dished out some incredibly high-level drumming and drove the crowd crazy with flashy stick tricks and gimmicks. Determined not to be outdone, each solo by the drummers got wilder and more unbelievable, drawing gasps of surprise from the awestruck audience. As the trio hit their last note, they were given a standing ovation for what was really an example of a drum battle at its best.
As the happy, excited and satisfied crowd streamed out for an autograph session with the drummers, there were already talks of a Drumfest 2008. It was obvious that the audience just could not get enough of all this high level, world class drumming action.
At that moment though, they could only contend with etching memories of the incredible weekend into their minds and getting the drummers to ink their signatures as a commemorative for an unforgettable Drumfest 2007.
Singapore Drumfest has stirred up the appetites of drummers and musicians alike for more of such world-class events at this magnitude, and from here on, music can only get better. Drummers in particular, can look forward to more drumming action in the very near future.
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Singapore Drumfest 2007 was proudly supported by
Sonor, Mapex, Drum Workshop
Meinl, Sabian, Paiste
Remo, Evans
Vic Firth
Latin Percussion
Report written by:
Liting Xu
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Tony Royster Jr.
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