Anyone mention Virgil Donati yet?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n--nDc_mb1Y

Not a fan. I used to work at a drum shop, and we had him in clinic. While his pyrotechnics are pretty amazing, his playing just doesn't reach me. Same with Thomas Lang.
Marco Minnemann is somehow different; I don't know why, but HIM I dig. Maybe it's because he writes so much music and can play other instruments pretty well.

Agreed on Marco. And Virgil. It's the same with people like Weckl and those jazz guys. There's no doubt they can PLAY. Awesome players... But their albums almost ALWAYS suck. Formulaic excuses for studio musicians to solo. They do it well.

Then you listen to one of Marco's albums. The guy is a musician. Brilliant writing, heavy, dark, beautiful. And more often than not, he plays most of the instruments. I think that's the difference. He approaches his drums knowing the way a bass player thinks, and has understanding of harmony and melody.

Anyone who can play innovative, genre-bending music like that, and then go on tour with a band like Necrophagist deserves respect.

Kev

Marco, Terry Bozzio, Pat Mastelloto...however, if you want to hear someone very different and REALLY incredible, check out Paco Sery... He played with Zawinul for a long time.. google him on youtube....

Not really a great technical drummer by comparison ... but a few years back I remember watching a lesser known Steven Soderbergh film called "Solaris". Drummer Cliff Martinez (the Dickies, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Captain Beefheart) did a really gorgeous soundtrack for this movie and it was based mostly on exotic percussion. Incredibly musical stuff coming from a rock drummer. It made me go buy the soundtrack.

I think Louie Bellson needs a mention, aside from being a great drummer, his compositions/arrangements really appeal to me. Duke Ellington called him "the world's greatest drummer." Hard to argue with that.

What about Ringo Starr? (No, seriously!)

Ahh, Ringo...love, love, love.

I just took care of my friend's dog for the past week. The dog's name is Ringo.

K - The only hiccup: When Marco let his girlfriend sing. (But then, how many musicians have been guilty of that one?)

I haven't gotten a new Marco album in a few years. It's time to check out his catalog again.
Aside from everything else: he is a genuine sweetheart of a guy. Easy going, energetic, happy, and very open.

Ooooh... his girlfriend... haven't heard that one. I'd boycott it on principle.

Speaking of drumers, I'm writing this as we speak because mine stood me up and left me all alone at the mexican restaurant in Norfolk. Two and a half hours to kill before practice. Sigh. At least the margarita is good and strong.

K