Let's Talk About Joey Heredia !

[Groovissimo]

I discovered Joey Heredia in a small booth at the NAMM show about 12 years ago. My younger brother who is also a drummer brought me to see Joey, to me, a complete unknown ! He was playing with his trio, Marco Mendoza on bass and Renato Neto, keys from Sao Paulo, Brazil.

When I walked out of that booth 15 minutes later, Joey's playing changed the way I thought about most of the music I love: Latin, rock & jazz... everything in a melting pot.

In the years that followed, I was able to really admire Joey's playing abilities seeing him play in California, but also in a club in Montreal called "L'Air du Temps", which has closed up since.

I would like to ask you guys out there, who either know Joey personnally or through his music, why is this guy so under rated in the world today ? I've heard stories about his years building up a career in the LA region. I've rarely seen Joey in magazines like Modern Drummer, etc.

Is it just me, or do any of you share the same feelings when it comes to the intense grooves Joey Heredia plays ?

[Willy Brown]

I agree with Groovissimo. I saw Joey for the first time in 1988 at the Baked Potato. Aside from the obvious fact that he had hair down to his waist and was distinctive in appearance (he has since sheared those locks!), he was one of the most dynamic drummers I'd ever seen, outside of New Orleans drummers backing strippers, another story. The next year I saw Joey back a mundane vibraphonist in Venice at a small dinner club. It was one of those life changing events. He played his Cuban grooves so tight, his South American grooves so right, with that pulse on "two" that almost reminds of reggae, and his funk was so cleannnn. I remember well first his Slingerland drums, then his DW the next year, and the constant: his Ludwig Standard snare drum. What a beautiful rimshot. Over the subsequent years, I've seen Joey play it all: tracks with Chick Corea, Frank Gambale, Billy Childs...I built up a collection of CDs and cassettes. To me, he is the most cutting-edge funk and Latin player in the business, end of story. Mention any other name and they do not measure up, whether it be in terms of playing to clave without crossing it, creating unique and exciting fills, generating a signature sound...one could go on and on: I've already done that, sorry. Groovissimo is right. Joey Heredia is the king of funk and the king of Latin drumset playing bar none. Name others. They don't even sniff the same air. The whole question of his level of recognition may be based on a different set of factors. Joey may have missed the boat in that respect for certain reasons. Fortunately, in the realm of the creative musician he is still relatively young and can still deal a lesson or two. I'm waiting.

WB

[Pedro G]

Hey Groovisimo, I also saw Joey Heredia in a small booth at the NAMM show about 12 years ago!!!. I was near his snare drum, and if I hadn't had my earplugs, he could have destroyed my left ear!!.
I love his playing, especially with Scott Henderson. Also, this trio has a great live album.
Hope to hear more of him in the future.

[Christian Travaglini]

Hi guys,
I agree with you! Joey is a really great player!Check out the Scott Henderson/Gary willis cd called Tribal Tech with Joey,Brad Dutz & david Goldblatt...
I have a Tribal Tech dvd with Joey,it's from a show in Argentina (1993)about 55 min.The quality is not really good,but it's interesting(for me) to see him live with Tribal Tech.

Peace

Christian

[Morgenthaler]

Joey is awesome. Such great execution.

His playing on Michael Ruff's "Feel's Good" is legendary. Thats the one where straitjacket (Heredia, Mendoza, Neto) backs Ruff live in Denmark.

[cjbdrm]

Can anyone recommend some CD's and/or post some MP3's?

Thanks-

[Riddim]

Joey's quite good, and has a great spirit and sense of drive, but to say he's the most cutting edge out there suggests a lack of awareness of what else is out there.

Check out Raul Pineda, Julito Baretto, Dafnis Prieto, and Jimmy Branly, in depth, for starters.

[XNavyDrummer]

I saw Joey the first time a few years ago with Marco and Steve Weingart. After I picked my jaw up off the floor, I discovered a truly innovative player with a fresh creative approach to the whole latin/funk/jazz thing. Great player!!!

[Jan jansson]

Around 1989 he was mr songo in LA
Loved to watch him live at le caf? think it was called
where he played all the time .
He was nice to all crazy Swedish songo freaks.

web page

[Groovissimo]

Hey cjbdrm,

Here is a site where you can see and read about Joey's "live" CD with Marco Mendoza and Renato Neto. Really worth buying !

http://www.bluedesert.dk/straitjacket.html