Virgil Donati vid inside thread...

[McKenzie]

Those vids are NOTHING! in relation to what he can and does do many times whether on record or in clinic. His layering of rhythm's and the phrasing taking place WHILE layering goes much farther than what Bozz or Wackerman has ever done.

Dig

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ May 01, 2005 09:23 PM: Message edited by: Digital Man ]</font>

[DeSeipel]

I don't dispute the fact that Virg's technical ability is far above most. And I would love his playing a lot more if I heard his stuff done in a more tasteful way. What I mean is that regarding his drum solos, Virgil leaves me flat out bored, musically. Vinnie's solos, on the other hand, seem more interesting to me. there's a quality to them that keeps my interest. given that all of us go through a stage where we push ourselves technically and physically, does anyone else wonder about guys like Virgil or Lang or Minneman? I understand that to push oneself is often where you find yourself, but how long can these guys push the boundaries of the drum world? Is there really anything musically that can make such drumming groovy? Will these guys settle down with all their polyrhythms and go for groove and taste? Drummers like vinnie & weckl went through a phase where they were all about the technical side of drumming and both of them have matured and changed for the better. Do you guys see Virgil settling down?

[Suspiria]

Lets not forget this was a soundcheck. As was mentioned above, these videos definitely don't showcase his true capabilities.

[got_a_matchgrip]

went through a phase where they were all about the technical side of drumming and both of them have matured and changed for the better. Do you guys see Virgil settling down?

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Yes, & no. ;c) Virgil's present bag is OTT contemporary high-level prog-rock-fusion. He practiced & refined it heavily over ALL those countless hours/years, so that is what he's inclined to do until he just decides he has nothing to prove anymore. Or, he could go on like this until the day he trades in that grand drum throne in the sky. Who's to say?

I find he grooves on the intro to that PX tune in 7, Ataraxia, if i rem corr? Anyway, if one doesn't dig his OTT playing style, just keep Gadd or JR in the player. [img]wink.gif[/img] I listen to all these guys, for diff reasons, & enjoy each tremendously for what it is.

Virgil is perceived to be the Overplayer of the Millenia, & so he perhaps IS. But I take account the term "overplay," again. By [& how] what criteria does one measure this? I can't accuse him of OP'g on the OTV/PX stuff, because that is WHAT IT IS - over the top [OTT]. So why would anyone call this OP'g? I don't get that mentality. Everything doesn't have to fit nicely & neatly within some preconceived box. Altho there are MANY instances where one would use common sense & NOT "blow their whole bag," as in a studio red-light pop tune setting,* & as does VD w SS. He's not blowing his wad over the vocals & Neal's gtr...

Why can't he display his abilities? Is this a socialist, communist regime? Isn't there something for everyone, entitled to take it or leave it, with no two things necessarily alike? If a HIGHLY paid pro football player didn't use his full potential on the field, would he last very long? I realize sports & music maybe should not be compared this way [perhaps?], & as certain scenarios require a def "less is more" approach [refer to * above ;c)], but there are many SIMILARITIES between the two AW. So Virg is a total bad-asp & drops jaws aplenty around the globe. So what? When I get out of that mood, I pop in some Jeff... ;c}

I wouldn't want hand or leg cuffs on Virgil Donati any more than I'd want them on Jeff, Gadd, Curry, Gaynor, or JR. That would deprive me of something really special - witnessing someone's hard-wrought accomplishments, much like we view figure skating, the Masters, Wimbledon, or the Olympics.

I've always been of the impression that guys like Vinne, Weck, Chambers, & Virg have the cpabilty to play all that stuff, but still in time & groove to the style, & they can always back it down if need be. The same is not nec true in inverse... ;c)

Just look at it this way...Virg is often just simply "thinking outside the box"... ;c)

Fret not, he'll prob "get more musical" as more time passes by... ;c)

And I'll bne taking my happy, more musical-arse over to the skins for some practicing awa playing, now...

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ May 02, 2005 04:28 PM: Message edited by: got_a_matchgrip? ]</font>

[troutbrooke]

Originally posted by Digital Man:
His layering of rhythm's and the phrasing taking place WHILE layering goes much farther than what Bozz or Wackerman has ever done.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Well, I find that very hard to believe. Have you heard "Carrying No Cross" off of UK's "Danger Money"? Never mind that it was recorded over 20 years ago -- that stuff is beyond the beyond as well as being musically brilliant. And Wackerman's command of the sickest polyrhythms (like 11 over 3 or 7 over 5) on the London Symphony stuff is without peer.

[got_a_matchgrip]

OH NO! Virg vs Chad vs Boz...vs VC vs DW vs JR again! [img]graemlins/hmmm.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/sure.gif[/img] [img]wink.gif[/img] [img]tongue.gif[/img] [img]cool.gif[/img]

Godzilla beat the tar outta Kong in the Japanese release; Kong messed over da Big G in the US release...which Godzilla would win, the Jap version or American?

Spiderman or Superman? Aw, Supes could kick his little spindly-legged arse all the way back to the Web! Supes trumps everbody! UNLESS you have Kryptonite three doors down...Vinnie & Virg cower b4 kryptonite AW...

My bet's on God - I mean, he designed the Spider for Peter's sake - he can whack all their butts...but wouldn't necessarily, perhaps...& then again, sometimes...

Woooo-haaaaahh! There I go!...all giddy-like, & off the high-dive...

Ah, it isn't that serious...Laugh already, will ya.

I don't care, I'm talking to MYSELF anyway...*phhffft*
/;cP

[BTW - I was in no way calling anyone "socialist or communist" in that above post - just making a point via the statement of a general idea, that's all...so no off intended /;cp]

If I have entertained but even ONE here [awa detracted the topic from its present apparently ominous course/heading], then I've done my job...

...for the moment...

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ May 02, 2005 07:52 PM: Message edited by: got_a_matchgrip? ]</font>

[Morgenthaler]

@g.a.m: I think you made some excellent points in your lengthier post. Good job!

Might I just (as a most dedicated fan of "The Virg", NOT just his prog stuff!!!) add that Virg CAN do more stuff than most people here have heard. His 70's stuff (see/hear links below) is indeed VERY "Gadd'ish", and his recent tracks with D. Steward / M. Jagger for the "Alfie" soundtrack was indeed also very simply grooving, even one track with brushes, which I think would surprise a few of the "noone-but-(insert Vinnie/Gadd/JR/etc...) -guys!"

Virgils biggest problem is the same as many of the big ones have gone through: People who don't know better thinking; "Oh he's a tech head -he couldn't POSSIBLY do anything but fast db stuff". Far from the thruth indeed.

http://www.petercupples.com/recordin...-LoveWorld.mp3

http://www.petercupples.com/recordin...llRemember.mp3

(1982 Peter Cupples, Aussie star) I'm not saying that these clips state any undeniable facts,- but they might just open a few eyes.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ May 02, 2005 05:31 PM: Message edited by: Jeppe Morgenthaler ]</font>

[McKenzie]

You say 11 over 3 OR a 7 over 5. He is beyond playing complex time signatures but is at the forefront of playing different signatures left against right at the same time and alternating those times around the kit utilizing different pieces in his kit while phrasing in between using different rudiments. His layering concepts are technically amazing and his creativity in using them is amazing at the same time. One example is 7/8 against 5/16 just for starters. He plays a left foot pattern in 7 against the 5/16 utilizing the right hand and foot and than does paradiddles with the left hand and foot in the 7 against the 5/16 on the right side while switching the pattern in 5 to different pieces of the kit. The piano is playing the 7 and the bass is in 5 and he is playing along in both and will phrase in each at different times. Or he does a repeating 4/4 pattern over 5/8 in another tune which creates some cool phrasing and musical tension. Watching and hearing it is amazing and that is some of his simpler stuff now day's. Mangini pulls off similar concepts not quite the same they just do not come across as creative and grooving to me but they are still physically amazing.

Dig

[got_a_matchgrip]

Marco is into those similar kinds of crazy inter-dependence things AW.

[Morgenthaler]

Yeah Marco is pretty amazing. I just need to see him in some musical settings that would do him good. Illegal Aliens is not quite my cup of Famous Grouse. What did you think of the old Virgil soundsnippets?