being an all round player

[PocketPlayer]

Who do you think they would have used if the "new guy" wasn't their choice for recording? And if they were going to use someone else (maybe more than one) wouldn't they ask that drummer to play with them? I mean, if he could interpret their music well enough to be recorded forever, he must be the right player for them...right?

This stuff fascinates me...I'm a process guy.

[Pedro G]

Pete, Fuse, Tombo, thank you for your coments, I really apreciate them [img]smile.gif[/img]

Randy, congratulations!!, you are moving in the big leages so sooner or later something better would apear [img]graemlins/thumbs_up.gif[/img]

What I think about this, first, for me one of the most important things as a musician is to have direction, the moment you see a picture of the drummer you want to be, or the gigs you'd like,it becomes easier to know what you need to study.
Being versatile it's not necesary better, it's just a path that we choose. 40 years ago you have two options: being a jazz drummer or a rock drummer, but these days are way more, and it's imposible to cover all, so we must be vey careful in what we choose to practice or not.
I've seen that the versatile drummers usually have more work, but the specializad drummers are more recognized, specially in the drummers circuit.

About the latin rhythms, I think it doesn't matter if you are latin, african, chinese or watever, the information is there. I'm not a latin expert by any means, but what I know I learned from the same sources that anybody can have accses, like books and CDs. I'm from Mexico, but the traditional music in Mexico doesn't have clave, so I didn't have any advantage.
I've known Antoni S. for some years, and when he went to Berklee, he didn't know anything about latin music, he learned everything there... he could have been born in Yougoslavia and it would be the same thing.
I can more or less play the clave with mi feet, and I've done maybe hundreds of different gigs over the years and I've never been asked to play it, I do it just for fun. I think that Antonio coud be playing the Metheny and Brecker gigs without a cowbell in his feet and 99% of the people would'n notice, or care!, (even Pat and Michael).

This is an intresting topic, I've to go now, but I'll come back later [img]wink.gif[/img]

[Randy walker]

Pocket, according to Jay and Scott the cd was complete and they were mixing. So, what i find interesting is that they decided to redo some of the tunes with the new guy instead of just letting it be released and doing the tour and THEN doing a new disc with the new cat.

[no_bells]

Randy-Congrats, that's great that you got that audition.

I think being well-rounded comes down to keeping an open mind about music. Listening to what a style of music has to offer and being open to it rather than not listening to it because it does'nt have what you want it to offer. I agree with Bozzio, if a player is going to get to the essence of a style of music it better be because that player loves that music. After you've done all the homework, it's up to you to express yourself through it.

[FuseU1]

Cool story, RW, thanks so much for the insight.

You are right, Angelo, & thx for that brief yet informative post
...& can anyone say, "El Negro?" [img]wink.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/thumbs_up.gif[/img]
[I know there are plenty of other "unsung heroes" out there, plenty of percussionist AW coming up who are doing these sorts of things, but i just figured i'd name a 'famous' one that most here could relate to] ;=)

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ March 21, 2004 12:45 PM: Message edited by: FuseU1 ]</font>

[Randy walker]

My pleasure Fuse. All in all, it was a great hang and to have been invited meant more to me than getting the gig.
I have been fortunate to play for quite a few acts and have had my share of auditions too, but this was a tad more special in how it all went down and I regard it as such.

I was very surprised to hear that they are using the new guy on the record, which when I was there they mentioned that the disc was done and that they were behind in the mixing for a May release.
So this could be very kewl to hear him on the new disc.