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Re: Mr. Gadd

Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 2:48 am
by langmick


This came up in my ipod last night during a walk.

He had such clarity in lower volume notes, each perfect. Remarkable.

Re: Mr. Gadd

Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 6:51 pm
by Niles

Re: Mr. Gadd

Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 7:07 pm
by Pocketplayer
THIS is the Gadd that got me back in the day!
Tom Scott New York Connection (full LP)



The first song...Starsky & Hutch theme flavor? Oh my...
yes, limited tool box as noted today, BUT he owned it all and
was so ahead of his time regarding his voice. Influence?
Unquestionably one of the most if not THE most influential for his
generation.





Added...A must...perfect Gadd vehicle (full LP);


also...
Andy Newmark - drums
Jeff Porcaro - drums
Mark Stevens - drums, percussion

Re: Mr. Gadd

Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2014 1:33 am
by Matthijs Ament
Everybody should listen to Steve Gadd every once in a while, even if it was only for hygienic reasons. He is this genius mix of being a musician and a drummer. It is his love that strikes me the most when I hear him and I always get inspiration. He makes me feel good and I always learn something. Thanks for the thread about him.

Re: Mr. Gadd

Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2014 11:18 pm
by bclarkio
[youtube]www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzFWSYFX4J8[/youtube]

Re: Mr. Gadd

Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2014 3:27 pm
by Julián Fernández

Re: Mr. Gadd

Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2014 5:15 pm
by langmick
Damn that's good stuff.


Re: Mr. Gadd

Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2014 11:39 pm
by bclarkio
I would have loved to see him and Marotta play together live at Mikell's back in the day


Re: Mr. Gadd

Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 12:12 am
by french toast
I like old chuck mangione stuff.
Great live ...


Re: Mr. Gadd

Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2014 6:30 am
by treeinrock
I had the XI commandment record in high school and memorized that solo. I still think that solo holds up to one of his best solo playing in his career. I thought it was so funny that the last fill at the very end sounds like he dropped his sticks. It was like as imperfect as anything could get. Just goes to show that even when you are on 100% anything can happen.
Especially in a live setting - but at least it is real.


I think Vinnie and Weckl bring it to a whole other level but Gadd's sound is soulful. I kinda feel that "there is no soul in perfection" and his sound is a bit raw and old school.
It's like a singer who never goes sharp and is safe and pitch perfect. Sometimes going slightly sharp conveys more emotion and tension to get a lyric across.

Many drum sounds now sound very sample like and the playing can be very technical but not soulful. Too much trying to be like "the machine" (Gadd went through this phase in the late 80s and nineties i feel- probably too much recording and not enough live playing). I like the snare to sound a little different every hit as to opposed to the sample-like backbeat (which is harder to do on a high pitched snare head). Al Jackson comes to mind. Jim Keltner has that snare sound as well. Philly Joe said he can't play a clean roll but he wasn't losing gigs because of that. Not saying you shouldn't play a good clean roll but there is another dimension beyond perfect technique and that can't be explained very well.