I have been watching the Art Verdi videos on the artverdi.com site and it is great

[AnnD]

Mr. Verdi has the best technique I have ever seen. Those videos on the artverdi.com site are fantastic. Mr. Verdi is the fastest drummer in the world!

[PocketPlayer]

But can he GROOVE!
I love technical players that have committed the time and effort necessary to develop great technique (which is no small feat).
I saw Joey Heredia Thursday night play with Weckl's bass player on a Brazilian jazz-funk gig. The last time I saw him was about eight years ago and he played about three times the amount of notes he played Thursday.
In the eight years it's been since I've seen Joey, he has matured like few drummers I've seen. He played a very slow bossa nova that grooved- his space between notes was very impressive and his time was rock solid. So, I love the ninja stuff, but groove in the context of a song does it for me.
Go Art!

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ July 15, 2002 05:46 AM: Message edited by: PocketPlayer ]</font>

[FuseU1]

Yeah, u r right on, Pocket. Joey H is killer. Great technique, feel, & time. For pocket: Gadd, Porcaro, JR Robinson; many others. Ever seen John Molo [Bruce Hornsby's longtime drummer]? He can groove. & what's with all this "that guys hands go 120 mph - he can play over 1,000 single strokes in a minute" sh**?! Speed is NOT what music is all about; altho a drummer w/ great technique [that's musically phrased at the right place within the time/groove & song structure] is awesome. Billy Ward is a good pocket player - that's why he works so much.

[frankw]

I visited the Art Verdi site.(artverdi.com) That first video single stroke roll looks like a roll that Buddy R. would do. This guy is very fast.