What comes to mind when you hear or read about rock and roll? It’d probably be an image of a band in leather pants, tousled hair, and one or more of the band members clutching a guitar. You might also ...

Guitars, sure. Vocal performances, fine. Keys, bass, flute—got it. Sometimes what you really need to get riled up is percussion. Percussion! It’s the hits of the drums that get your heart pounding, ...

Drum solos are primal in jazz. It’s what makes the finale of Damien Chazelle’s “Whiplash” as amazing as anything you’ll see at the movies these days. But it’s J.K. Simmons’ performance that’s as ...

Who did Max Roach inspire with his astoundingly innovative drumming and exceptional musical eloquence? It might be easier to ask who he didn’t inspire, given the enormous, genre-leaping impact of ...