Drum Solos

And please, no "I thought this was the music forum" type smartarse replies!

quote:

Originally posted by Chris Kelly:
Or I am just the sad git who sat through them when everyone else headed to the bar at a gig?

...even other band members usually headed for the bar...

True!

If ever I get to a drum solo on a CD I jump for the remote. At a gig, I groan and shrink into my seat. I actually find them dreadfully embarassing to sit through. Even at a jazz gig where they each get a solo spot I cringe.
It's just so Spinal Tap.

Two drummers whose solos I listen to are Billy Cobham and Elvin Jones. Both apply multiple rhythms and drums to create a musical effect. My favorite Billy Cobham solo is on Observations & Reflections

Anthony

A few good solos that come to my mind are;

Aja - steely dan

'Day or night' - little feat.

Some of the best druuming skilss I have ever seen is on a video with Steve Smith, Victor Wooten and Steve Gadd - drum anniversary - do a search on any peer 2 peer software and you should find it - incredible.

Thanks guys. The topic was slightly tongue in cheek but I really did enjoy the drumming on the Allmans album.

Not so keen on the more self indulgent soperific drum solos, Moby Dick, The Mule etc.

But I love listening to the supportive rhythms of people like Stewart Copeland, Neil Peart, Steve Gadd, Pick Withers, Bruford, Baker et al.

Steve

quote:

Originally posted by Chris Kelly:
Thanks guys. The topic was slightly tongue in cheek but I really did enjoy the drumming on the Allmans album.

I, uh, sort of, uh, confess that I used to own this record umpteen years ago. The drumsolo/duo was split over two sides of the vinyl. Brilliant. Wouldn't mind listening to it once again, just for the whatever.

Willem

Eat a Peach will be on my vinyl to buy list.
The Aja solo is a bit gentle and creeps up on you. For something a bit more upfront try the Egil Johansen solo at the later end of the third track, High Life on Jazz at the Pawnshop.

RH.

Even the best can become self indulgent and why not when your as good as he is - yes it Jon Hiseman's solo album and it is a solo album and About Time Too - the players on this fine work are

Jon Hiseman - Drums

That's it - wonderful stuff.

Listen to the great man here

Of course not far behind are following great drummers

Carl Palmer

Ainsley Dunbar

Ringo

Dave Mattacks

oh and in case I didn't mention him

Jon Hiseman

Have to say that my favourite drummer has always been Al Jackson because of what he didn't play. He was tighter than a ducks a**e in his style.

Why should a drum solo be any worse than some of these look what I can do guitar solos?

It s the ability to keep the rhythm going and drive the music along that makes a good drummer. The exceptional ones are able to be intricate and subtle within the music thats being played. Playing without this or on your own is an easy task for a drummer, or any musician and usually results in a boring performance.

Imo 2 of the best drummers that i've heard play and play live too, are John Theodore of the Mars Volta and Danny Carey of Tool. Impeachable technique and ability with an impressive knack for knowing when to be simple or quiet. traits not normally associated with rock drummers.

Ryan

I agree with BigH47 and Ryan_d on drumming.

I think some guitar solos are hilarious - what is it with some guys and penis substitutes?

I once had the misfortune to go and see Herbie Hancock and the Headhunters and Herbie allowed each member of the band to have free expression in every song.

That meant the drummer could live out his fantasy of playing what seemed liked 20 min drum solos but were probably only 5 minutes long.

God it was boring. It was only a fair amount of lubrication and my friends that stopped me slitting my own wrists.

quote:

Of course not far behind are following great drummers

Carl Palmer

Ainsley Dunbar

Ringo

Dave Mattacks

oh and in case I didn't mention him

Jon Hiseman

Ringo? He wasn't even the best drummer in the Beatles.

I don't mind 3 or 4 minutes but there was a time when every concert I attended in the early 70s would have a 30 minute solo. It was absurd. I remember one time when the support band drummer started his solo and my mate and I popped out to the pub across the road, had a couple of pints, and when we went back the solo was still going on. And this was the support band! Can't remember who they were but to me that was the height of nonsense and self indulgence.

Tom I remember that era all too well! But I do remember some outstanding stuff too. Jon Hiseman, as ROTF so eloquently extolls, was a wonderful drummer and band leader. And Osibisa, where percussion was a key element of the music were tremendous live.

More recently, was lucky enough to see Cream at the RAH on 05/05/05. Ginger baker's drumming was tremendous throughout, and a relatively modest "Toad" (5 or so minutes) brought the house down.

The guy with Jools Holland, Gilson Lavis, is also another excellent drummer who lobs in a tasty solo to some of Jools' gigs.

Try Jack de Johnette on this wonderful set - outstanding!

Graeme

I'd agree with some of the other comments that solos in rock music, where the rest of the band stop playing for any length of time, are self indulgent tosh...

...might be a different story in Jazz... I don't know enough about it to say for sure but I doubt it..

In jazz everybody has a go at a solo in turn, predictable and boring. IMHO.