Omar Hakim

[Wolfguy]

This is my first post on this forum. I've been a frequent visitor to the site - big Weckl and Colaiuta fan, of course. Love Smith and Chambers too so you can imagine I've enjoyed some of the recent posts on all those greats.

Anyhow, sitting around listening to Scofield's 'Still Warm' with Omar Hakim. Back in the mid 80's Omar was the guy I emulated. Saw him at Sting's first solo gig in '85 at the Ritz in N.Y. His performance 'live' changed forever the way I looked at drumming. Kinda like hearing Jeff Beck's 'Wired' for the first time and realizing there was a 'different' type of music.

As big a fan that I was it's a shame that his name isn't mentioned as much as it should/could be. Any thoughts on Omar and the lack of exciting stuff that he's hasn't done.

Great forum by the way!!

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks for posting.
The Drum Solo on "I burn for you" on the Sting documentary Bring On The Night literally chokes me up when I see it. It's got such fire, I Love it. Part of that is the music though.
I'm very familiar with the Bring On The Night double CD as well, it's great live stuff. I learned a few things from it then.
yeah, Omar rocks.

[numeroUnoHODfan]

His solo CD entitled Rhythm Deep has only been played once in this house.

Any opinions on what other albums he's on that's collection-worthy?

[beat Hit]

Wolfguy,

Omar is also a great influance on my playing. "Still Warm" by Scofield is a CD I NEVER get tired of listening to. As I mentionned in the recent "Amazing Dennis solo MP3..." Post, Omar seems to be riding some kind of wave when he solos and that inspires me BIG TIME!!! What a musical drummer he is!!

Yepper, that Sting Live Video is AWESOME!! I also like his work on the 1st Urban Knights CD, great grooves. The clinic I attended by Omar 2 years ago is a memorable one as well.

Weather Report's "Domino Theory" is a CD I have been looking for for a long time, as it's out of print. Or maybe available in Imports from Japan? I don't know, but that's another Omar must-have!!

Any other suggestions? Please let me know.... [img]smile.gif[/img]

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ December 12, 2002 10:07 PM: Message edited by: beat Hit ]</font>

[Randy walker]

Procession and Domino Theory are both available(weather report), great Omar playing. There is a new double rarities set out from Weather Report which has some unreleased live stuff with Omar on it.
David Sanborn's As We Speak is a good listen.
Also Anita Baker Giving the Best that I got, nice pocket playing by Omar.

[Randy walker]

Also the last 2 Victor Bailey solo cds have some great Omar playing.

[mja61]

"Still Warm" by Scofield and "As We Speak" would probably be my top two Omar records. I think he really kicks ass with that snare drum into to "Picks and Pans" on "Still Warm." I love his playing and his drum sound on "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free."

I heard him live with Madonna on an HBO special some years back. He did this combined drum/percussion break during one of the tunes with Luis Conte that was absolutely burning!

However, I was kind of disappointed with his playing on the Buddy Rich Memorial Concert (was it Tape 4?)

Anyways, I still think Omar is one of the top players around, though he never seems to get mentioned in the same breath as Dave, Vinnie, Smith, and Dennis.

[helpmate]

Since I've heard only a few tracks, I'm not really qualified to add to what's been said about Omar in this post. But...

The mention of Jeff Beck 'Wired' prompts me to confess: that CD hasn't left my player in a week! Someone mentioned Narada Michael Walden in a recent post, which brought back fond memories of that album. In listening to it again for the first time in 2 years, I was reminded why it was and is my all-time fave album. The orchestration is brilliant, as is the playing by all 4 drummers. If you've not heard 'Wired', go out and get it!

Great post, WolfGuy.

[beat Hit]

helpmate,

Jeff Beck "WIRED" is one of my favorites as well. Its 1st track is a classic, isn't it!! I had it on LP and got it on CD only last year and I play it very often, I mean OFTEN!!!

Narada is another ferocious drummer that has led the way in many respects!!

Can't get tired of Jeff Beck's guitar either....

[FuseU1]

Ah yes, Omarrrrrr! A great drum'r & 1 of my fav's. I've actually spoken of him several times in these forums since I've signed on [altho i couldn't tell ya which 1's now @ this point, as it was usually in topics that weren't originally about him]. So now that we r officially on the subject[LOL] - ditto on 'Still Warm [complete w/ that great snare intro & killer groove on 'Picks & Pans,' & that killer groove & solo on 'Techno'], Domino Theory, & the Bring On the Night' vid. [I've stated this b4 - incredible play'g on these.]

However, like Uno, i too bought his 'Rhythm Deep' - listened to it 1ce; tried it again, & still didn't dig it - kinda like when i bought Stanley Clarke's 'Hideaway' ['86] - a little too poppy/commercial 4 me - i can hear that kind of stuff on a lot of the sessions that he's played on. Now I realize that maybe I 'just didnt get it,' or that he was tryin to do the opposite of what every1 [or at least drummers!] expect, or whatever, but i guess i'm just '1 of those guys' who expect to hear some chance takin on a 'solo artists' solo album. Kinda like Weckl's or Vinnie's [img]wink.gif[/img] .

But having said that, i still say he's a phenom. player [but then that's obvious!]

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ December 13, 2002 12:59 AM: Message edited by: FuseU1 ]</font>

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ December 13, 2002 01:02 AM: Message edited by: FuseU1 ]</font>