Vinnie Live 2010

[Steve Holmes]

YamahaPlayer, I agree that Vinne's influences have had a strong impact on him, let's forget the original ideas that come out of him as well. Having watched (very closely) many performances of his I find his ability to quickly react to music with an idea that was not in his head before hearing that music to be one of things about him that sets him aside as well. Many ideas are completely original, or are such an advanced mutation of another idea that it hardly resembles the source anymore.

II'm not disagreeing about his influences, it's just not fair to leave out the original side of him as well, since I find that to be just as impressive (if not more).

[YamahaPlayer]

YamahaPlayer, I agree that Vinne's influences have had a strong impact on him, let's forget the original ideas that come out of him as well. Having watched (very closely) many performances of his I find his ability to quickly react to music with an idea that was not in his head before hearing that music to be one of things about him that sets him aside as well. Many ideas are completely original, or are such an advanced mutation of another idea that it hardly resembles the source anymore.

II'm not disagreeing about his influences, it's just not fair to leave out the original side of him as well, since I find that to be just as impressive (if not more).

Oh for sure, I was hoping my comment wouldn't be taken in that manor. The amount of ingenuity the man plays with is truly astounding. Books could be written on it. Profound respect for the man.

More specifically jean krupa said "He didn't learn to think like that from those experiences,"

I think those experiences are EXACTLY what he learned from! And ran with it... very far and very fast. Vinnie has talked about Zappa forcing his musicians to improv in very odd ways, times and with very bizarre criteria (the seal sounds and disco solo?) I can't imagine the level of impact that kind of musical experience would have on future development. The idea of "forced creativity" is very real.

I believe there is definitely a correlation between playing opportunities and a players personal advancement.

Who wouldn't be a substantially better player if they were able to play literally every day in about the most varied musical contexts imaginable?


No doubt, what so ever, he's the best drummer to walk the planet. I think if we can understand the sources and origins, the path the master takes, we can better replicate and apply that to our own journey as drummers. Hopefully for the progression of ourselves and instrument as a whole.

[Odd-Arne Oseberg]

It's all from the "Refuge of the Roads" DVD.