Mapex Drums has added three new artists to its roster showcasing its new Black Panther Design Lab series of drums – Jeff Hamilton, Kirk Covington and Greg Hutchinson. There is also a brand new website to promote the BP Design Lab.
Mapex says Jeff Hamilton is constantly in demand, whether recording or performing with his own trio, Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown, the Clayton Brothers or co-leading the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra.
Mapex Artist Relations Manager Bob Terry says of Hamilton: ‘I am absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity to work with such a drum legend and accomplished artist! Jeff has a definite drum sound in mind and is very particular about his “voice” when he plays.’
Kirk Covington: ‘…is widely recognized as an eclectic chameleon of talent, known for being one of the world’s most versatile and dynamic drummers in the world, while also performing as an accomplished vocalist and keyboard player,’ Mapex says. ‘After hearing and playing these kits, I immediately had to have both the Versatus and Cherry Bomb drums to cover the spectrum of music that I create. The Black Panther Design Lab team created the perfect hybrid Versatus shells for a modern vibe, but the Cherry Bomb is perfect for jazz or rock ‘n’ roll.’ Covington says. ‘These kits are without a doubt, the best sounding drums that I have ever played!’
Mapex’s third addition is Greg Hutchinson, described by Jazz Magazine as ‘the drummer of his generation’. As a young drummer, Hutchinson shared stages with the likes of Red Rodney, Betty Carter, and Ray Brown. More recently, he continues to work with a virtual who’s who of the jazz world including Dianne Reeves, Betty Carter, Wynton Marsalis, John Scofield, Roy Hargrove, Charles Lloyd, Diana Krall, Harry Connick Jr, Joshua Redman, Christian McBride and Maria Schneider among many other luminaries.
‘Versatus and Cherry Bomb: both sing and make my life easier,’ Hutchinson says, ‘These are the drums I have been waiting for. If I have been waiting, so have you! Come join me and my new friends, Mr. Cherry Bomb and Mrs. Versatus!’
Mapex has also launched the BP Design Lab website: ‘…with a fresh new look and user-friendly navigation, updated with new products, innovative features and artist information’.
Info: www.mapexdesignlab.com
The CSD400 is an eight-piece full mesh head kit comprising of the Commander 500 sound module, five mesh drum pads (1 x 8” bass pad with kick pedal, 1 x 10“ dual-zone snare and 3 x 8” dual-zone toms) and three cymbals (1 x 10“ single-zone hi-hat，2x 10” single-zone crash and ride cymbals with choke function). The module features 12 user-defined drum kits, 29 preset drum kits, 358 high-quality percussion voices, 20 demo songs, 3-band EQ and two reverb settings.
The G9 Workstation features a touch-screen sound engine packed with features including high-definition live drum samples of many well-known drums and cymbals. Each multi-layered sample can be treated with a range of built-in effects including compression and comprehensive equalization, as well as adding room ambience and reverb. The Workstation contains multichip architecture giving superior sound processing along with stroke detection and features both 128GB internal memory and a further 4GB flash memory, while the G9’s connectivity includes stereo XLR outputs, jack outputs for each individual kit element, USB and MIDI.
Other features include on-board recording facility (48kHz sampling rate), Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, PDF reader, music player (featuring a vary-speed player which preserves the pitch of the tracks and loop function), customizable stage sets stored in chains for quick set changes during live use, sound output mapping and much more. GEWA also detailed plans for their online cloud-based store, which the G9 will be able to connect to via Wi-Fi, and where further sound samples and kits will be available for purchase.
Along with the G9 Workstation (module) itself, the G9 features drum shells and hardware made by DW Drums along with newly designed mesh heads from REMO. The kit comes in a range of configurations ranging from a six-piece set-up featuring mesh pads and a polymer rack (designed by DW) through to a six-piece featuring full wood shells and a newly designed, heavy-duty split rack design. All of the kits feature GEWA’s new e-cymbals, which have been specially designed from the ground up to replicate the feel, weight and motion of traditional cymbals, with each kit supplied with 14” hi-hats, 2 x 14” crash cymbals and an 18” ride cymbal as standard.
Also supplied as standard is a supplement of specially designed DW hardware, including: hi-hat stand featuring a special lock to keep the hi-hat controller in-place and cushioned feet to aid noise reduction when in use; a snare drum stand featuring cushioned snare basket and feet to aid noise reduction; and a kick pedal featuring a noise reducing beater.
Price-wise, the G9 Workstation kits ranges from €4000.00 for the Studio 6 set-up (which features more traditional mesh pads on toms rather than drum shells) through to €5599.00 for the Pro LQ6 flagship model. The G9 Workstation module will also be available separately for €2399.00.
