Kenny Arnoff

[PocketPlayer]

Kenny has been a solid drummer for the past ten years after leaving Melancamp. He's a busy guy.
Any thots on why he is used so much. Where would you put him compared to Porcaro, Vega, Fongheiser, Baird, etc.
BYW, what happened to Mike Baird and Craig Kamph(sp?)

2003 Recordings
Michelle Branch - "Hotel Paper"
Joe Cocker - "Greatest Love Songs"
Michelle Branch - "Grammy Nominees 2003"
Rose Falcon - "Rose Falcon"
Emory Joseph - "Labor & Spirits"
John Mellencamp - "Conception: An Interpretation of Stevie Wonder's Songs"
Betty Dylan - "Heartland"
Lucy Woodward - "While You Can"
"Tears of the Sun" - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
John Gregory - "What A Girl Wants" Soundtrack
Eddie Money - "Essential Eddie Money"
Meat Loaf - "Couldn't Have Said it Better"
Robbie Williams - "Johnny English" Soundtrack
Willie Nelson & Friends - "Live and Kickin'"
Bernie Williams - "The Journey Within"

[BennyAndTheSkins]

He's certainly a solid player. I wouldnt compare him to Jeffrey, as much as someone like an Anton Fig. He plays a few different styles well, although I thought he did a very good job with Buddy's "Straight, No Chaser" on the Burnin' CD, so I'm sure he's got some tricks up his sleeve when he needs them.

I have an old Tama Starclassic marketing video from '94, and it features Kenny. He seems to be a real hustler, who loves/lives to work, which I'm sure helps.

[Jean-Paul]

I have seen the first set of instructional tapes and the second where you could spot a huge difference in Kenny's playing. A big approvement IMO. I think he has done it the hard way by studying hours and hours because he has not that much talent as Porcaro had. But we all can see that it finally pays off. Right now he is a studio machine with a human feel who can record any song fast by his experiences but not with a particular own voice IMO. Although his drumming on Billie Myers is great. JP

[Randy walker]

I just saw Kenny backing Michelle Branch on tour opening for the Dixie Chicks, I can't stand Branch but Kenny sounded killer. Aronoff's playing has never really done anything for me, but he was solid playing to some loops and his drums sounded great.

[buga]

Kenny is a good clinician and one of the hottest studio drummers, or so it seems.

Whatever he lacks in terms of "musicianship" he makes up with his general attitude towards music, life and drumming itself. I've never really seen anyone besides maybe Carlos who just enjoys playing that much and always has a perfect chemistry whether he's playing jazz or just "rocking" out with different pop/rock bands. Unlike many drummers(like Virgil/Lang who seem content, forced or in other words bored by the music itself-from being a cakewalk for them), Kenny totally disregards that and just has fun and with it and pushes the music forward....

A true gentleman and a pro indeed! No wonder he's getting so many gigs ehh [img]wink.gif[/img]

[McKenzie]

Actually Bozz you would be surprised that some guys like Virgil or Thomas would rather slam away in a straight ahead rock or metal band than play in certain situations that require more mental and physical application. It is about attitude. Virg loves playing with Freakhouse. They are pretty much just a nu-metal band with good hooks, the technical and mental aspects are not very demanding but he enjoys this realm more than some of his others because at Heart he is a "Rocker" and he relishes the power, volume and energy(attitude) of the music not sd much the compositional or technical aspects of it. But yet he loves pushing himself personally to move the boundaries of drumming in a mental(creative) and technical aspect and will jump on board a musical situation as under a progressive,fusion,
experimental umbrella that gives him that
freedom to explore and create and excel. I think we would be surprised by some of these drummer's personal taste and what they like to get involved with.

Regards Digital

[buga]

Kirk, I totally hear ya out, and im quite aware that Virgil is a "rocker" at heart just like many of the other "proggers"...

What im saying is when u watch his performance from MD, while being incredibily complex, fluid(haven't we discussed Virgil before, I don't thin I really need to say anything that hasn't been said before PRO-ANTI Virgil right?)

What im saying is at sum spots he looks "desinterested"(*sp*)in the whole "act", it sort of feels like if Mike Jordan played against a junior team and just had a cakewalk with them, u know what I mean?

on the other hand, Kenny always brings the energy and enthusiasm forward, it doesn't matter if he's playing a jazz standard, a pop/rock tune, the guy still gives %100 mentally and ofcourse in terms of performances. Whereas when I "watch" Virgil, I wouldn't say the same unfortunately

[McKenzie]

Bozz I understand where you are coming from, but IMO it probably has to do more with one's personality and corresponding facial expressions than someone being disinterested or interested or enjoying or not enjoying the performance whether it is Virg,Kenny,Dave,Thomas,Vinnie or whoever etc. Look At Dave W. I Love his playing but half the time I have seen him he looks ticked off or bored but I am sure he is enjoying what he is doing, I hope so. Just a different personality altogether. I have seen Virg a number of times and he has similar expressions maybe a tad more pleasant but not this joyous expression of bliss like Kenny, but I am sure they are all enjoying the playing process, just different expressions coming from different people. Really I could care less about their expressions as long as they kick my Butt! [img]biggrin.gif[/img]

Regards Kirk

[PencilZ]

Bozz....how can you see kennys expression with those glasses on? [img]tongue.gif[/img]

If a guys got a straight face but suffers from hemaeroids, when his face is then excrusiated with pain from the said hems......does it mean he's enjoying himself more? [img]eek.gif[/img]

[ladanny]

I just saw Kenny on TV playing with Michelle Branch on the Pepsi Smash show. I'm not a huge fan of Kenny's style, but I must say, his energy really comes through. Quite a showman, similar to Abe Jr. His playing was solid and appropriate.

Did anybody else see the show?

Danny