Do you listen to albums? You should. ⠀ One of the best ways to grow as a musician is to consider music as art that is an audible mind and spirit-expanding experience and not just a skill that requires only technical proficiency. Albums can be listened to in any format, i.e. streaming, CD, a digital download, and also on vinyl (its resurgence is one of the brightest lights of recent times as it has reminded people that the LP format can inspire and captivate). There are untold depths to the experience of listening to an entire album from front to back; just the way you would watch a movie from start to finish, or read a chapter in a book from start to finish. The REAL magic is in the experiencing of an album over and over again through the years. I put on Zeppelin's "Physical Graffiti" the other day for my nine year old to listen to for her first time (for me it must have been the 100 millionth time) and I heard some things I had never heard before. That is part of the experience of a good album. It's the gift that keeps on giving. - Chris Brewer / Meinl Cymbals⠀ ⠀ Which albums are your biggest sources of musical inspiration? ⠀

Meinl Cymbal artist George Lindsay.

Because it's fun applying Toon filters to pics of cymbals.

#meinlcymbals #purealloy #meinlfactory

Meinl Cymbals artist Charlie Engen.

I just spent the last couple of days with Matt Halpern of Periphery. I picked Matt up at the Memphis airport and we spent all of Tuesday at the world famous Memphis Drum Shop. Matt spent the majority of the day filming videos for MDS’ mycymbal.com. From the time I picked Matt up Monday night at the airport to dropping him off on Wednesday morning back at the airport, Matt and I were able to get some much-needed hang time in. It’s always a joy getting to spend time with Matt. He is full of energy, ideas, drive, and is 100% easy as can be to work with. If Matt didn’t have one gear manufacturer sponsoring him, he would still make the part of his career that happens in the drum world happen anyway. And that’s one of the aspects of Matt as an individual that makes working with him so easy. He never expects anything and is always appreciative of what comes his way. When he started touring with Periphery years ago, he was playing on broken cymbals, but he still made it work. He knew that he had to make a name for himself on the road with his band - the old fashioned way - to some degree before he could come to a company and ask for any level of gear support. When he did approach Meinl Cymbals for a possible endorsement contract, he did so with humility and with very low expectations; he was just happy to get his foot in the door. This attitude made me that much more sure about working with Matt. That and the fact that he is a great drummer, in a great band, with a great work ethic, and a willingness to always ask what he can do to help Meinl. His awareness of the reciprocal nature of endorsements was with him from the beginning of the Matt Halpern / Meinl Cymbals relationship and has never wavered, even as Periphery has scaled some pretty lofty heights in their career. So why the Love Fest over Matt Halpern? Well, because after a few days of hang time with him that involved some solid work and some time to break bread together and have some great in-depth conversations about everything under the sun, I was reminded of some simple truths about what makes an artist one that a company wants to work with. I felt that anyone out there with aspirations for a career in music and particularly an aspiration to one day align themselves with their dream companies for gear support should take note of all of the qualities that makes Matt great to work with. Humility, flexibility, gratitude, a willingness to say “how can I help?,” and a natural inclination to make things happen for himself rather than waiting on others to do it for him. All of these qualities are what Matt possesses. Thanks Matt for all that you have done and continue to do for Meinl Cymbals. We REALLY appreciate it buddy. A LOT!  - Chris  #meinlcymbals #matthalpern #periphery #meinl #drums #cymbals #drummer #drumming

Brand new video of #meinlcymbals artist JP Bouvet performing his own composition "Rosco the Wolf" up on our YouTube page and also at Meinl Cymbals dot com. JP's set up from left to right is as follows - 15" Byzance extra dry dual hats; 21" Byzance Jazz series nuance ride; 19" Byzance traditional medium thin crash; 12"/14" generation x trash hats; 22" Byzance Jazz series symmetry ride; 20" mb20 medium heavy crash. #meinlfamily #meinl #byzance #drums #cymbals @jpbouvet

There’s a new Mike Mitchell video live now and it’s a doozy! Go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhPAD_kan40 to check it out. #meinlcymbals #meinl #meinlfamily #cymbals #drums #mikemitchell #drumporn #cymbalporn #byzance #classicscustom

We recently did a video shoot with #ghostnote - videos coming soon. In the meantime, here are some pics of Robert ‘Sput’ Searight’s cymbals taken by Meinl Cymbals’ very own Ayrton Gauerke. #sput #snarkypuppy #meinlcymbals #meinl #cymbals #drums #drummer #drumming #tamadrums #tama #evansdrumheads #vicfirth

Four Chinas That Our Artists Play

Here are four 18" Meinl chinas that are favorites of our artists. These are workhorse cymbals that see a lot of use from a variety of drummers. (-Chris)

I received an outstanding email today from a drummer who plays our cymbals and I wanted to share it with all of you. “Hi, my name is Bryan. I am 22. I am from Arkansas, United States. I have been playing drums for about 12 years now. I recently bought a Byzance Extra Dry Splash cymbal. I was blown away by the craftsmanship and the artistry that went into making this cymbal. So much so that I replaced all of my cymbals to the byzance series. I absolutely love everything about your cymbals. I catch myself holding one in my hands and smiling. I can see the strikes of the hammer. I can smell the factory on them. They are so beautiful to look at. Everytime I am setting up my drum set for a show I look at my cymbals and think “Wow, I really need to shake the hands of the man that made these.” Because they are not just cymbals, they are art. So many companies have lost sight of this and I want to give you guys a hug for keeping tradition. You have won yourself a lifetime fan. My goal is to one day visit the factory and see from start to finish how these pieces come to be. I love your company, I love your products. Thank you so much for all that you do. - Bryan Clark (New Meinl Fanboy)” #MEINLFAMILY #meinlcymbals (-Chris)

#drums #drumming #drummer #cymbals

When I was a kid and I received my first drum set, it came with a set of crappy hihats and a tiny little "practice cymbal," as my parents called it. They were (and still are) awesome parents, and this was evidenced in them buying my first drum set for me (and my second one too). But the fact was, they weren't going to shell out more money for some semi-expensive cymbals until they were certain that I was going to stick with this drumming thing. Fast forward to today and the range of options that are out there, our HCS cymbals specifically speaking. Some people are not familiar with our HCS series. I saw a comment somewhere, where a guy said something really smart like, "man, Meinl sure ruined themselves by making those HCS cymbals..."...this all being in the same conversation about some super high end Byzance Cymbals that were being discussed. Boy, talk about comparing apples to oranges! Anyway, smart comments on social media by super geniuses aside, our HCS series are lower priced entry level cymbals that won't embarrass you. They're made out of brass, not bronze, and for what they are, they sound good and look good. Good enough that we will put our name on them. The pics show two new for 2015 HCS cymbals: a 14" trash stack and a 16" trash stack. These stacks cut hard, and have plenty of quick bite. I'm the Artist Relations Manager for the US and Canada, and I have had a few artists telling me how great they think these stacks sound. That is a statement! Anyway, check them out if you can. Tight syncopated patterns? No problem. These shiny beauties will handle it. (-Chris). #meinlcymbals #hcs #meinlfamily #drums #drumming #cymbals #drummer #drumset

DRUM! Magazine has just released the results from its annual DRUMMIES! Readers' Choice Awards. Here are the only results that matter to us… 😀 Rising Star Drummer #1: Anika Nilles Runners Up: Alex Rudinger, Matt Garstka Funk Drummer Runner Up: Robert 'Sput' Searight Progressive Rock Drummer Runner Up: Matt Garstka Extreme Metal Drummer Runner Up: Derek Roddy Hip Hop Drummer Runners Up: Robert 'Sput' Searight, Lil John Roberts Punk Drummer Runner Up: Jorma Vik Gospel Drummer Runner Up: Lil John Roberts Blues Drummer Runner Up: Stephane Avellaneda Drum Set Clinician Runner Up: Mike Johnston Congratulations to one and all! We're super proud that you are all Meinl Family! (-Chris) #meinlcymbals #meinlfamily

How many AR managers are taking unofficial candid pics of their company's instruments right now just because they simply love the way they look? I laughed at myself because that's just what I found myself doing. The fact is, I'll NEVER get tired of looking at our cymbals! ❤️(-Chris) #meinlfamily #meinlcymbals #ClassicsCustomDark

You’re looking at the Meinl Byzance Jazz Series 22” Symmetry Ride and 21” Nuance Ride. These two cymbals were born out of completely organic means. Meinl Cymbal artist and Jazz drumming master Ralph Peterson is the artist behind these two beautiful instruments. It’s his signature that’s laser engraved underneath the bell of each cymbal.

Ralph became a part of the Meinl Cymbal family a few years back because he really took a liking to the cymbals he heard us creating. A former student of his (Ralph is a professor at the prestigious and world-famous Berklee College of Music) was and still is a Meinl Cymbal artist, and Ralph had been hearing what his former student had been playing on and was intrigued. After a lot of conversation and a lot of trying different cymbals out, Ralph decided to join the Meinl Family.

For awhile Ralph played our standard stock production cymbals and was happy to do so, but eventually he started finding some sonic gaps in what he wanted to hear in a ride cymbal. And let’s face it, for a jazz drummer the ride cymbal is EVERYTHING. Ralph’s ears and hands are the products of a full career immersed in the deepest traditions of Jazz music. Having been the last drummer to play with Art Blakey in his Jazz Messengers Big Band, as well as being one of the last drummers that Elvin Jones recommended as a sub on a gig, Ralph is as one friend of mine put it, “one of the Last of the Mohicans.” His experience speaks for itself, and was invaluable in creating these rides. Fast forward to 2015 and you are looking at the finished product of Ralph’s and Meinl’s extensive back and forth R&D efforts.

These cymbals are unique in their look, but for jazzers and more, have as Ralph put it, “something for every season.”

Check out this video to learn more.

http://youtu.be/k9oUuF8AboQ

(-Chris)

#meinlcymbals #byzance #drums #drumming #cymbals #jazz #berklee #elvinjones #artblakey #ralphpeterson