Introduction, Donati and Hiseman Review

[Flower of Life]

Hey guys, i'm reading along for quite a while now and finally decided to register, because this board has to be one of the most integlligent boards on the nets, at list in drum talk. I come from Germany, am 17 years old and play the drums for 8 years - but started to prectice on a regulary basis 2 years ago so i am not as good as i should be.

Anyway, i wanted to share my impressions of a Virgil Clinic (btw my first Clinic ever) on Thursday. I knew that he was good from listenig to his music and view some video clips (e.g. the one posted on this page...) but what i saw totally blew me away. This guys is inhuman, you can't descirbe him. He started with a solo which was about 1/2 hour long, then answered some questions and played along to some playalongs of Planet X.

His technique is more than outstandig, i think i don't need to mention his doublebass wich is insane (he played heel up constantly) and his showmanship with twirling and backsticking. But my jaw dropped to the floor totally when he started some shit like Paradiddle between LF and LH over double paradiddle between RF and RL. This is not possible [img]smile.gif[/img] . His polyrythmic ability is also quite impressive. Speaking of his character he joked around with the audience and answerd all questions very kindly an patient, his views about drumming were inspiring. What a great person he is, and i think i won't forget that evenig too quickly !

Second thing is the Colosseum concert i watched yesterday. I don't know if any of the american guys know colosseum, but they're around in europe since the 70's and kind of "invented" european Jazzrock/Blues. There Drummer Jon Hisemand is kind of a legend, and he proved his status with the solo yestery, he had some things in it where he accelerates a roll with his feet and deaccelerates a roll with his hands - quite impressive. Furthermore the band was very thight (no big thing when playing together for 30 years [img]wink.gif[/img] )and joked araound with the audience and was really nice overall. There sound was really good, and i thought their guitar player played very tasty.

Ah Well, thats basically it.

[peter c]

JanL,

Thanks for the reviews.

Virgil is something,
isn't he? I have
seen him a few times
now, once in clinic
and share in the over-
whelm, which comes
naturally after wit-
nessing such a skill.

I know that as time
goes on, his repert-
oire will expand and
more and more drum-
mers will acknowledge
him for his incred-
ible, alien talent
and ability.

[img]cool.gif[/img]

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ November 08, 2003 11:06 AM: Message edited by: peter c ]</font>

[Fusionsticks]

Who is this Virgil Guy I have never heard of him? Is he a session dude or does he primamrily play with a paticular group, thanks.

[Vdrummer]

Fusionsticks, check out VirgilDonati.com. That should answer a lot of your questions.

[peter c]

Here's an audio sample of Virgil:

www.thediametrixletter.com/dogboots.mp3

In the recent era, Virgil Donati has
emerged as one of the most influential
players; the combination of his hand
and feet development, in my opinion,
never been seen or heard before.

Some might argue that his repertoire
does not command the following that he
has rapidly amassed. I myself had doubts
about things that I had heard from very
prominent drummers.

That was put to rest at a drum clinic
that I attended in the Chicago area.

If you would like a great example of
Virgil's playing skills, check out the
OTV release at Audiophile. His Planet
X material is exemplary to.

Just prepare yourself because what was
impossible is now possible with Virgil
and I'm not kidding.

[img]cool.gif[/img]

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ November 10, 2003 03:00 PM: Message edited by: peter c ]</font>

[FuseU1]

The 1st time i heard him on his 1st solo disc On the Virg/Serious Young Insects [& then again on Planet X's Live Oz & Moonbabies], I collapsed into a jelly-like heap of driveling, sniveling rubble, i tell you...a friend snapped the pic of me to the left just b4 i hit the ground, body following my jaw, first [if u see me in real life, you'll know what i'm talkin about [img]wink.gif[/img] ]...took 15 plastic surgeries to reinsert my jaw in its proper place [& outta my a**]...
Unfortunatley, i think a lot of the phrasing of what a guy like, say, Virg or Vinnie does goes over a lot of folks' heads, but Virgil tends to bring in the metalers, with the harder edge sound to the songs [& of course, the speed, & tricks, & dbl-kicks]..."Chicks dig it" [that was 4 u, Bob [img]wink.gif[/img] ]...well, OK... maybe not the Britney/Madonna/Backdoor Boys chicks [OK, the BB's do have good harmonies, let's be real; even tho it's a "pre-pubescent chick sell"]...
Hey, BobtKOMD, if it's all about the "$$ & chicks," then by that logic Spears & tBB's are way better'n any metal band [img]wink.gif[/img] ]...
...Virg IS THE DEFINITIVE post-modern "heavy-metal" drummer [even tho he's much more - really a "fusion" drummer...there's that naughty "f" word again]...but if I was a metal-head, I'd be singing his praises, for shore...4get 90% of the other clowns that are mass popular - i said "90% - NOT ALL...OK, make that 95% ... [img]wink.gif[/img]

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ November 10, 2003 06:11 PM: Message edited by: FuseU1 ]</font>

[five eight]

Love those fills on Serious Young Insects that seem to stutter and collapse into themselves (but in time, of course.)

[FuseU1]

Ditto, 5...what a great observation/way to describe them.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ November 10, 2003 06:06 PM: Message edited by: FuseU1 ]</font>

[five eight]

Almost forgot. If I may appoint myself ambassador of HOD (for just 30 seconds) I'd like welcome JanL to the board on behalf of myself and everybody.

This brings home the fact of how our posts are internationally read. Not thousands, but tens of thousands of people the world over read our opinions and the bottom line seems to always be the 'most intelligent drum forum on the Internet.'

I'm so nervous now this might be my last post ever.

NOT! [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[Dazzler]

I recorded an album at John Heisman's studio a few years back and he was engineering. I remember him to be a very kind and generous bloke and he also let me use a few of his Paiste cymbals for some of the tracks!
With regard to Colluseum, I personally don't like the music, I think that now it sounds like nasty, dated 70's fusion - not in the same league as Weather Report or Mahavishnoo obviously. Perhaps it was cutting edge for it's day, but now I think it sounds a bit convoluted.