Official Virgil Donati thread

[Morgenthaler]

Aaaand, it's out!

http://virgildonati.spinshop.com/

[electrizer]

Bought! "Red Air" didn't impress me but I'm a Virgil fan so I keep my hopes for the rest of the record.

[Mark P]

This is the kind of song where when I hear the groove, I want make that face where something smells bad, but because the groooove is so good. Simple, deep, in the pocket. Gadd-like. That's what this tune begs for.
This is not that groove unfortunately. =(

http://vimeo.com/63332378#at=0

It's hard to play simple and feel good. It's hard to not embellish AT ALL after 4 bars (Hi Weckl) . That's what makes JR and Gadd so great. Don't play drummy stuff. Just play a simple groove for THIS kind of song.

Truth is I understand this struggle pretty clearly. Constantly subdividing in my head and hearing all the phrases to a slow pulse. NOT playing them after spending years developing the ability TO play them is challenging. And all Virgil does mostly is constant gigs where he has total freedom to blow. TheN something like comes up and he's a fish out of water almost. He's playing so much stuff there, it's almost funny.
My respect for him would 1000x if he did his best Jeff here. Oh well.
I LOVE VIRGIL'S playing, have taken a lesson with him. I've drank with him at the Potato. This is just an opinion/constructive criticism. Do not. Panic.

This.

That was the most discomfort I've felt since I accidentally sat on a splintered wooden tent peg when camping. That there is a really uncomfortable feel. Mostly right infront of where the pocket is, but not always, it's scary. I actually have the hairs on my arms standing up and am sat alert, bolt upright in my chair like a dog who's just been called. It never settles. I'm unnerved. If that's what he's going for, BINGO.

Wow, sorry, now to say something nice.

Great ideas, great wacky sounds, great facials and great hat.

MP

[electrizer]

This is the kind of song where when I hear the groove, I want make that face where something smells bad, but because the groooove is so good. Simple, deep, in the pocket. Gadd-like. That's what this tune begs for.
This is not that groove unfortunately. =(

http://vimeo.com/63332378#at=0

It's hard to play simple and feel good. It's hard to not embellish AT ALL after 4 bars (Hi Weckl) . That's, what makes JR and Gadd so great. Don't play drummy stuff. Just play a simple groove for THIS kind of song.

Truth is I understand this struggle pretty clearly. Constantly subdividing in my head and hearing all the phrases to a slow pulse. NOT playing them after spending years developing the ability TO play them is challenging. And all Virgil does mostly is constant gigs where he has total freedom to blow. TheN something like comes up and he's a fish out of water almost. He's playing so much stuff there, it's almost funny.
My respect for him would 1000x if he did his best Jeff here. Oh well.
I LOVE VIRGIL'S playing, have taken a lesson with him. I've drank with him at the Potato. This is just an opinion/constructive criticism. Do not. Panic.

G

This.

That was the most discomfort I've felt since I accidentally sat on a splintered wooden tent peg when camping. That there is a really uncomfortable feel. Mostly right infront of where the pocket is, but not always, it's scary. I actually have the hairs on my arms standing up and am sat alert, bolt upright in my chair like a dog who's just been called. It never settles. I'm unnerved. If that's what he's going for, BINGO.

Wow, sorry, now to say something nice.

Great ideas, great wacky sounds, great facials and great hat.

MP

Mark I wanted to comment but Im having hard time understanding what you are trying to say. Are you referring to Virgil's album or the song Steve's post was about?

[Mark P]

Apologies,
I wrote that in regards to the content of the "quote" I quoted.
I haven't heard the album or the sample from it.

Just my very humble opinion too.

MP

[Pocketplayer]

It's hard to play simple and feel good. It's hard to not embellish AT ALL after 4 bars (Hi Weckl) . That's what makes JR and Gadd so great. Don't play drummy stuff. Just play a simple groove for THIS kind of song.

Truth is I understand this struggle pretty clearly. Constantly subdividing in my head and hearing all the phrases to a slow pulse. NOT playing them after spending years developing the ability TO play them is challenging. And all Virgil does mostly is constant gigs where he has total freedom to blow. TheN something like comes up and he's a fish out of water almost. He's playing so much stuff there, it's almost funny.
My respect for him would 1000x if he did his best Jeff here. Oh well.

Finally...thank you! THIS is exactly what I get listening to VD...all those years of mastering his ideas. As Jeff said about Omar, (edit quote) "If I had all that facility, I would have a hard time playing like I do." A leopard can't change his spots. You are who you are. However, the Gadds, Erskines, etc can do just that...play to the song. Peter w/D Krall is a perfect example of professionalism. Dude played some of the most up tempo stuff with Weather Report, has all the facility from his era, but can play for a specific song. The most laid back Gadd drumming for me is on T Scott's New York Connection. Virgil trains like an Olympic Athlete...and I do think the level of skill is at an all time high today compared to another era. What Tony did in the 70's was epic, today, not so much. Part of the evolution I guess. However, what will never change is FEEL...and in the end, when we reflect on performance, it doesn't matter how many notes are played, what matters is does it FEEl right in the musical context. Am I wrong here? I mean, I hear an EWand Fire tune and wished Maurice played a hi hat roll into a chorus or more complex stuff, so it goes both ways.

My personal feeling is guys like Virgil CAN play simple when the song calls for it, but to them, it does not FEEL right. There is an ego element here. I used to go to a monthly film analysis class based on the Dramatica story telling theory. The guy who created this very complex 64 level of psychological analysis is brilliant...so much so he doesn't even really know how brilliant. His life has been breaking down film, so much so he created this theory. It IS his identity (ego conflict). We watch the film, take a break, then get into it. First we go through the 12 steps of story. After that take a very deep dive into the subdivisions of the film. I usually lose the guy quickly after this. At times, I want the guy to take a deep breath and simply say, "This movie kicked ass" or "This movie pretty much sucked." Make sense?

[Morgenthaler]

[Cough] His brand new solo album - his first since OTV in 1999 - (and it's released today!, yay!) is also on Spotify and Rdio if you want to check it out [cough]

[Morgenthaler]

Finally got some of my own physical copies. Honestly couldn't be more proud. SO happy with the result. I think it came out beautifully
and Lars's design really shines. Virgil is extremely pleased with it too, which is as it should be.
Can't recommend it hard enough. You know I'm biased as hell, but I really think the cello, the oboe, the english horn and the general
level of new ground being broken compositionally is worth a listen. Much more than just another fusion album.
Really f'cking proud to have played a small part in this.

[Mark P]

Finally got some of my own physical copies. Honestly couldn't be more proud. SO happy with the result. I think it came out beautifully
and Lars's design really shines. Virgil is extremely pleased with it too, which is as it should be.
Can't recommend it hard enough. You know I'm biased as hell, but I really think the cello, the oboe, the english horn and the general
level of new ground being broken compositionally is worth a listen. Much more than just another fusion album.
Really f'cking proud to have played a small part in this.

Good on you Morganthaler!
I didn't want to put a dampener on this thread with my post, it was just that particular playing in that particular context.
I'm really prepared to give this album a good listening to, I'll make sure I track down a copy! And yes, great job on the album artwork it looks the business! Keep up the great work...

MP

[Juan Expósito]

Some info about the recording machines: