Choosing the right Remo drumheads for Paco Séry's sound

Paco Séry has spent more than four decades shaping African-rooted jazz, funk and fusion. From his early years with the Rail Band of Bamako to global stages with Joe Zawinul, Mory Kanté and Salif Keita, his drumming blends Ivorian and Malian rhythmic vocabulary with modern jazz articulation. His biography, discography and tour history offer wider context for anyone studying his approach.

A key part of his signature sound comes from his equipment. Paco Séry has long endorsed Sonor Drums for their tonal warmth and projection, and he relies on Remo drumheads for consistency, durability and musical character. Remo's synthetic heads deliver predictable response in studios, festival rigs and humid outdoor stages, qualities that matter when a single kit travels from Abidjan to Amsterdam to Adelaide within a few months.

Australian drummers chasing his tone quickly discover that head choice shapes a kit as much as the shells themselves. Whether sitting in at a Monday night jam in Melbourne's Bennetts Lane or rehearsing for a festival set in Sydney, the right Remo head can lift an ordinary kit into the punchy, vocal sound that defines Séry's work with Walfadj and Afrocubism.

This article walks through the practical decisions behind those choices. From comparing Remo's main head families to sourcing them through Australian retailers, the aim is to help you assemble a setup that responds like the kit heard on recordings such as Kenen and Le Deuil du Maïs.

Why Remo heads suit West African-influenced playing

Paco Séry's technique relies on a strong bottom-end thump, crisp snare articulation and clear bell tones. A head that chokes too quickly, fights the stroke or drowns the natural wood voice of the Sonor shells will undo what the drums are designed to do. Remo heads earn their place because the Mylar films, dampening rings and synthetic weaves behave predictably across changing humidity and temperature, a real concern for drummers flying between equatorial and temperate climates.

Single-ply heads like the Ambassador series breathe and respond to a light touch, suiting the delicate cross-rhythms that Séry layers on the toms during ballads. Two-ply heads add the focus and durability required when the music shifts into a heavy Sankaran or Mandé groove. Many performances captured in the photo archive show the kind of setup that survives relentless open-handed playing without losing tone.

Comparing the main Remo head families

For a drummer trying to echo Séry's work with the Joe Zawinul Syndicate, a Powerstroke 3 on the bass drum and a Pinstripe on the snare deliver that recorded punch. A drummer focused on the acoustic leanings of his Ivorian releases will find the Ambassador or Fiberskyn series a closer match for tom resonance and ride clarity.

Matching heads to your musical setting

Funk and fusion players need heads that hold tuning under heavy backbeats. The Emperor and Powerstroke 3 lines give a snappy response without choking, and they stand up to rimshots during long sets in venues like the Melbourne Recital Centre or Brisbane's Powerhouse. A player who also rehearses acoustic material can swap to a Diplomat or Renaissance head on the snare for a softer, more textured voice that sits well under a thumb piano or balafon.

For a touring percussionist working Australian festival circuits, including WOMADelaide or the Melbourne International Jazz Festival, durable two-ply heads reduce the risk of a dented film in transit. Touring across the Nullarbor or shipping gear to Hobart for a winter show exposes drums to rapid temperature swings, and Remo's synthetic construction is far less reactive than calfskin under those conditions.

Sourcing Remo heads in Australia

Drummers across Sydney, Perth, Adelaide and regional centres can find Remo stock at retailers such as the Sydney Drum Centre, Drums Only in Melbourne, and chains including Musicland and the Allans Music + Billy Hyde network. Most core lines — Ambassador, Emperor, Powerstroke 3 and Pinstripe — are stocked in standard 10, 12, 13, 14, 16 and 22 inch sizes, while Fiberskyn and Renaissance models may need to be ordered.

Buying online from local distributors usually means two to five business day freight from Sydney or Melbourne warehouses, and many stores offer free shipping above modest order thresholds. If a model is out of stock locally, Australian drummers sometimes order from Japanese or American Remo dealers, though GST, customs duty and inspection fees can add 15 to 25 per cent to the final price.

A few practical ways to track down harder-to-find models:

• Join Australian drumming forums such as Drummerworld Down Under to ask about spare stock
• Contact Sonor Australia directly, as they sometimes bundle Remo heads with shell packs
• Visit the Remo website and use the dealer locator filtered to Australia
• Check second-hand marketplaces for retired touring kits that include premium heads

Tuning and care for a long-lasting setup

Remo heads are robust, but they still benefit from basic care. A clean microfibre cloth and a drop of mild soap after each session removes sweat and stick marks, while a light application of synthetic-head conditioner every few weeks keeps the surface from drying out. Australian coastal humidity, from Fremantle sea breezes to tropical Cairns conditions, encourages mould growth on damp cases, so wiping the kit before packing it away extends head life considerably.

Tuning should be approached with the same ear for overtones that Séry applies to his toms. Start with the batter side, bring it up to a medium tension, then tune the resonant head slightly higher or lower to control sustain. A simple routine keeps the kit responsive:

• Tap each lug to check for even tension across the head
• Use a drum dial if available to match top and bottom heads within a few cents
• Retune the snare after a long set, as heat and impact can drift the pitch
• Replace heads every 12 to 18 months for a working professional, longer for occasional players

Head to Paco Séry's official website to explore his gear list, upcoming clinics and tour dates, and source your Remo heads through the Australian dealers mentioned above.