Letterman drum solo week II

[Robert Bluman]

Yea, sorry Riddim, I don't agree with that. That context? To me music is the only context. It's just fine to disagree. Caravan is not a song everyone knows today unless they're a jazz fan, this isn't the 40s. It's also not Tony's thing to play a Gene Krupa beat swing beat with Billy Cobham fills, not to mention an open solo that didn't have anything to do with the song or genre he picked. If he blew through some P-Funk, or Mary J BLidge or Beyonce, it would have been more suited towards his strengths. That's all I'm saying. Tony is a monster drummer and anything he plays is top notch, I'm not questioning or being opinionated about that. Knowing what his "thing" is, I wanted to hear it. To me it didn't sound right, from the tuning and sound of his drums to the playing. I'd much rather hear him with Jay-Z. Many members here agree with me, one calling him Chris Coleman lite. That's insulting to me. I didn't come from that angle at all. I'm not bashing. I have all the respect in the world for these guys. I'm a Royster fan and I know he can burn in his element.

Gavin, I can't wait to see you kill it I'm a big fan of your work! I have to wait until tomorrow myself.

[Gaddabout]

Yea, sorry Riddim, I don't agree with that. That context? To me music is the only context. It's just fine to disagree. Caravan is not a song everyone knows today unless they're a jazz fan, this isn't the 40s. It's also not Tony's thing to play a Gene Krupa beat swing beat with Billy Cobham fills, not to mention an open solo that didn't have anything to do with the song or genre he picked. If he blew through some P-Funk, or Mary J BLidge or Beyonce, it would have been more suited towards his strengths. That's all I'm saying. Tony is a monster drummer and anything he plays is top notch, I'm not questioning or being opinionated about that. Knowing what his "thing" is, I wanted to hear it. To me it didn't sound right, from the tuning and sound of his drums to the playing. I'd much rather hear him with Jay-Z. Many members here agree with me, one calling him Chris Coleman lite. That's insulting to me. I didn't come from that angle at all. I'm not bashing. I have all the respect in the world for these guys. I'm a Royster fan and I know he can burn in his element.

Imagine getting a phone call from Letterman's bookers saying:

- Hey, we want you to be the featured musical guest for drum week in 3 weeks
- It's got to be to an accompanied song the band will agree to play
- It must have a solo that last no more than approximately 90 seconds
- You have to play something that will entertain 3.5 million non-drummers on television
- You might get about 45 minutes to rehearse with the band once you get here to tape the show

How prepared would you or any of the other critics here be to pull that off to the satisfaction of highly informed drummers?

I don't really envy any of these guys.

[Rafael Dolinski]

[Andrew<3'sVinnie]

Heck yeah Gavin! And by far the best drum sound of all the Letterman drum solos, so it looks like messing around with the sound worked out well!

[Jay Alsman]

Gavin,

Great performance on Dave's show! Also a big thank you for such an informative master class at DFC in Cleveland. I hope more of our drum family here gets the opportunity to experience you in a clinic/classroom setting in the future. You have a very deep understanding of our craft, and I'm grateful you are willing to share your knowledge and experiences. I haven't sat down at a kit with a double pedal in almost 15 yrs., but after hearing your approach to using it in a musical non-machine gun 16th way, I'm seriously considering picking one up again. Also, I'm guessing the number of drummers here that have heard you play swing are small (I could be wrong), but it was equally as impressive as your progressive playing in class. Are there any recordings available with you playing in a jazz context? Possibly with Laurence Cottle?

[Isaac Lee]

Gavin you straight killed it!!! Super tight and tasty. =)))

[chris perra]

Killer drum tone..... Awesome playing..

You have done a great service to Sonor and Zidjian...

If you are going to be front and center on Letterman,.. Don't have a shitty drum sound haha..
That's probably the best drum sound I've heard on t.v......

[amoergosum]

Now that's what I'm talking about!...FANTASTIC job Gavin!

[Yussuf]

Wow, I couldn't handle that kind of situation, pressure must be ridiculous.. Great job Gavin and btw it's really cool that you participate here at the forum.

[amoergosum]

By the way....I've never seen anyone blowing air into a floor tom before....
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