Lang and Practice

[XNavyDrummer]

Have you all seen Lang's approach to practice?........Good stuff!

http://www.artport.at/sticktrix/x/w/Practicing.html

[buga]

Lang should update his site!

Thomas Lang Drum Solo

Lang Behind the Scenes 2

And a quite interesting o discussion from the Virgil board on Mr.Lang(I'd say I agree with Kirk's thought on there just in case)

Thomas Lang Topic

But if we're talking practice, commitment to the art, execution of technique and comming from a rudimental background and incorporating those ideas into the kit I appreciate him ALOT because I identiy myself with his philosophy and believe, he just needs to find his own voice, it's quite hurting that he's taking the clinician way instead of playing with musician which might bring the best out of him, the only instance i've heard him with a band is the Conrad Shrenk Extravanga "Save the Robots" which was released in 96(quite outdated)and doesn't really show alot aside from "just another prog metal player that sounds like Mike Portnoy" IMO. [img]graemlins/shhh.gif[/img]

[royerin]

I was lucky enough to have Thomas as a teacher when I was at PIT in London, and I got to see him play in several situations, and believe me, he can play it ALL. I have a video of him with Irish pop chickies "B*Witched" and he really grooves on it. Other teachers were trying to get him exposed over here back then ('96/'97), so I'm glad he's finally doing it. Hopefully we'll get to see him play in lots of different situations.

[Steve Holmes]

I've watched that Lang clip twice now and I just can't get into it. It seems he's just playing realy fast all the time and not a single groove or reference to any pulse whatsoever.

Did you see that shot of the audience? That says it all I guess. Don;t get me wrong, he's a great drummer, I just didnt care for that particular solo I guess.

[peter c]

I can empathize, Steve.

On the practicing side,
one of the suggestions
he made on the upcoming
video, was something
that Tony had me do
back in 1977.

It is not an original
concept to do double-
strokes, in-between
drums, as some believe.

Notice that Thomas'
routines have the 2nd-
stroke, moving towards
you. Tony did them both
ways, emphasizing the
ones going away.

Thomas has chops. There
is no doubt. He can twirl.
There is no doubt. He
has great command over
his double-pedals and
strokes. There is no
doubt. He is physically
very fit and strong.

I have to agree with Steve,
however. He almost seems
"too big" for his drums,
the "groove" getting
"choked". There's some-
thing missing for me.

Maybe it's the material.
Whatever it is, it's def-
initely missing for me.

He's a fine drummer, though.

[img]cool.gif[/img]

[buga]

Interesting observations Peter. Like I said earlier I think the guy is awesome from a technical perspective and I would subscribe with many of the thoughts/ideas/methods i've seen him talk about, BUT what he needs to do is find musicians that are on his level of playing, and beyond that, listening to music. One of the most underrated aspects and one that many drummers in today's age seem to lack. Seems as tho alot of people restrict themselve to a particular genre of their liking, say someone who listens to METAL music will try to emulate what he's hearing and will dismiss other forms like funk, latin, jazz and so forth. Restricting himself to the studio work and not working with "top musicians" limits his learning/playing abilities IMO

If I remember reading correctly Lang was brought up on classical music and has performed with the Vienna Art Orchestra and most of his credits come from studio gigs for Bonnie Tyler, Ozzy, Kylie Minogue, B* Witched etc, but no band experience aside from Conrad Shrenk Extravaganza.

On the other hand u take another Sonor artist and european like JoJo Mayer who IMO is in the same level of Thomas in terms of technique, BUT look at his credentials(see the difference)=

Dizzy Gillespie
Ernestine Anderson
The Vienna Art Orchestra
Wolfgang Muthspiel
Harry Pepl
Gerald Veasley
Monty Alexander Group
Chico Freeman
James Blood Ulmer
George Adams
Steve Coleman
John Zorn
The Intergallactic Maiden Band
Hiram Bullock
Meshell n'dege Occello
Minu Cinelu
Friedrich Gulda
Harry Sokal
Lunar Crush
John Zorn
James Blood Ulmer
Chico Freeman
George Adams
Jamaaladeen Tacuma
Mike & Leni Stern
Steve Colemans 5 Elements
Passport
Wah Wah Watson
Depart
Headless Torsos
David Fiuczynski
John Medeski
Harry Pepl Quartet


.....and many more

<font color="#a62a2a"><font size="1">[ October 17, 2003 08:28 PM: Message edited by: Bozzio ]</font></font>

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ October 18, 2003 04:16 AM: Message edited by: Bozzio ]</font>

[ptrack]

Originally posted by Bozzio:
Interesting observations Peter. Like I said earlier I think the guy is awesome from a technical perspective and I would subscribe with many of the thoughts/ideas/methods i've seen him talk about, BUT what he needs to do is find musicians that are on his level of playing, and beyond that, listening to music. One of the most underrated aspects and one that many drummers in today's age seem to lack. Seems as tho alot of people restrict themselve to a particular genre of their liking, say someone who listens to METAL music will try to emulate what he's hearing and will dismiss other forms like funk, latin, jazz and so forth. And when they actually get down with the latin stuff they approach it from a different perspective, from the educational/schoolar point of view instead of actually LISTENING to the "old school latin records" and then using the books as support. That's why alot of americans don't seem to really get it with the exception of Garibaldi and in sum extent Weckl [img]graemlins/smarty.gif[/img] .

Lang ofcourse is european so perhaps he hasn't been in touch with funk/jazz/r & b/blues what3ever. If I remember reading correctly he was brought up on classical music and has performed with a Vienna Art Orchestra and most of his credits come from studio gigs for Bonnie Tyler, Ozzy, Kylie Minogue, B* Witched etc.

On the other hand u take another Sonor artist and european like JoJo Mayer who IMO is in the same level of Thomas, BUT look at his credentials=

Dizzy Gillespie
Ernestine Anderson
The Vienna Art Orchestra
Wolfgang Muthspiel
Harry Pepl
Gerald Veasley
Monty Alexander Group
Chico Freeman
James Blood Ulmer
George Adams
Steve Coleman
John Zorn
The Intergallactic Maiden Band
Hiram Bullock
Meshell n'dege Occello
Minu Cinelu
Friedrich Gulda
Harry Sokal
Lunar Crush
John Zorn
James Blood Ulmer
Chico Freeman
George Adams
Jamaaladeen Tacuma
Mike & Leni Stern
Steve Colemans 5 Elements
Passport
Wah Wah Watson
Depart
Headless Torsos
David Fiuczynski
John Medeski
Harry Pepl Quartet


.....and many more

<font color="#a62a2a"><font size="1">[ October 17, 2003 08:28 PM: Message edited by: Bozzio ]</font></font>

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Being an awesome drummer in NYC got JoJo those gigs....

[royerin]

Originally posted by Bozzio:

Lang ofcourse is european so perhaps he hasn't been in touch with funk/jazz/r & b/blues what3ever.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Because "Europeans" don't listen to, or have access to, or basically know anything about "funk/jazz/r & b/blues what3ever".....???? [img]graemlins/hmmm.gif[/img]

As I said before, I've seen him in many situations and he sounds great. I think that because of his technical capabilities either he or whoever is marketing him is focusing on presenting that aspect to the American audience.....cool guy, plays fast, appeals to kids....oh look, there's a Meinl cymbal package available....etc etc.

[buga]

I didn't say they didn't, but their traditions, methods, beliefs are quite different and differ from other cultures if u know what I mean.

And yeah I'd agree with your assesment, he probably would appeal to the guy who's been playig 3 years and worships the ground Mike Portnoy walks, so I would guess that's also the intent of the Hudson Music DVD [img]rolleyes.gif[/img]

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ October 18, 2003 12:01 AM: Message edited by: Bozzio ]</font>

[shedder]

listening to thomas lang makes me appreciate virgil a whole lot more. maybe it's just my taste but i don't think he's even in the same league as virgil. both have similar technique abilities but virgil's brain is so much more developed then lang's. they are worlds apart. man, i miss watching virg play live. his cup just overflows with ideas. lang on the other hand sounds like he practices exercises all day long but never seems to listens to music (not generally speaking but just on this particular solo.... and every other solo i've seen him play).

i think steve and a few others on this board can show lang a thing or two about musicial solos.