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Glad we all are sharin' and carin' with the drum-love today [img]wink.gif[/img]
When you think about it, it isn't the drummers who influence us, it is our personality that decides to either like or not like the drummers we hear. Therefore, our taste influences what we listen to, which therefore adds to our catalog of information we have taken in, which influences our taste, which influences what we listen to... you get the picture.
Therefore, that is why it is good, all the different players who are good in one area, but may lack in another, exist. Because when we want an example of some extreme groove, we look toward so-and-so; when we want an example of polyrhymic craziness, we listen to ______; when we desire to hear Mr. Crazy-Feet, we check out Mr. Crazy-Feet. I feel like using the breakfast cereal analogy [img]tongue.gif[/img]
By having examples available of extreme proficiency in certain areas, we are able to use those as information and inspiration. Having examples of those which are proficient but not the 'guiding light' in certain areas also provides an example of a type of player, also (a well-balanced drumming-individual [img]wink.gif[/img] ) That, in itself, is a type of player that can be considered as a pioneer in their area of expertise just as a Thomas Lang can be considered a pioneer in his area of expertise. A well-rounded player can be considered to be leading the way in terms of that area just as these other "extreme" examples can be considered to be leading the way in their's.
If Thomas can nail a click and is totally even on all limbs but can't groove like so-and-so, well, that is what Mr. So-and-So is for; Thomas is for this other thing over here. By taking individuals and using them as examples of what it is to excel at a certain given area or areas, you can therefore use those as shining examples of what it is to be that type of great player. Use Marco as your guide for this, Jeff as your guide for that, Vinnie goes over here, and Gadd fits in there, a little J.R. might look just right in that corner... and presto, there you have YOU, the amalgamation of everything you like and don't like.
It's good to have opinions, Billy Ward says that all the time... know what you like and what you don't. However, not liking something is different than expecting someone to be everything. By expecting Virgil to be everything, or Thomas to be everything, or Vinnie to be everything; by default, there is the expectation that someone can be everything (which they can't) and therefore that sets up a paradigm that YOU YOUSELF could be everything... you can't. It is a let-down waiting to happen, or a let-down continuing to happen. I have a friend who is a Neutrino Physicist and he is the first to admit that a first year grad-student in Astro-Physics probably knows more than he does when it comes that branch of knowledge and expertise. That is a 'duh' statement, i admit, but then why do we expect people in our profession (one with a large scope, maybe not like physics, but still a large scope) to be experts at everything?
With the level of knowledge on this board, i don't think any one single player that we listen to could fulfill every musical wish that a drummer would want to hear; many on here have very high standards (and rightfully so!) and aren't fooled easily. That is good because people on here know what they want... if you want to hear a damn good groove then chances are you know where to find one and you notice when someone ain't up to par with what you find to be a damn good groove. Same goes for virtosic technique. Since not everyone can be a '10' when it comes to everything, then i'm glad there are some people who are a '10' at somethings but at other things they may only be a '6'... i am glad i have people like that for examples, so that i can derive something from that '10' aspect of their playing; rather than just having everyone be a solid '7' when it comes to everything. Extremes are good, i like being able to pick and choose... even those who are extreme at being good at everything and not perfect at anything... that's hard too!
I love having a wide variety of Marco's, Mangini's, J.R.'s, and Vinnie's... so much to choose from, so little time!
So choose, and choose widely! [img]wink.gif[/img]
<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ July 16, 2005 10:58 PM: Message edited by: matricks ]</font>
