Spur of the Moment solo:

Man,
Thanks so much for posting this up. It's great to see that people are so willing to share their gift with others.

Your chops sound good and your hand speed is pretty nifty as well, some of the quiter snare singles are great!!!

However, I am 199% with Dazzler when he says it doesn't sit. It sounds like you pause every so often to allow yourself to hear the click. You may know where it is, but you give the impression to the listener that you don't. The passge between 15 seconds and 33 seconds is particularly uncomfortable. I found myself on the edge of my seat listening (not in a good way [img]wink.gif[/img] ) waiting for you to fall back in...

I see a teacher called Bob Armstrong here in the UK, and he's always taught that even solos should be as metronomic as time itself, this sounded free-form and very edgey.

Man, like I said, kudos for posting that stuff here, and long may we all continue to do so. The second version you posted was better than the first, I can't wait to hear another revised version!!!

Thanks again!!!

MP

Yeah, that was my reaction, too. Well done.

Thanks for all the feedback. Ways to improve faster are appreciated.

The initial concept worked in another context imo, but not for Spur. Along with the suggestions, if I was going for more perfection, I'd probably switch to a lighter stick from this one:

..and maybe switch from pinstripes with (nearly slack heads) on the toms to ambassadors..And reduce the velocity so I can concentrate on the click more (and not break so many bass drum heads [img]wink.gif[/img] ). But then again, that might not be my sound anymore [img]wink.gif[/img] .

Roger, on Pymfao from Chic Hot, I'm hearing the time come a little unsettled around 19-20 seconds after you come out of a fill. What factors contribute to moments in your performace when the time goes out, and how do you pull the time back in? Do you have any examples of soloing over the vamp at around 4:57 of that tune.

Thanks.

Hey Method,

I don't know what say to you...
I try to give my best like all we try to do it, and I try to play right in time, not easy, but I think that I'm pretty right in place on "Pymfao"...
This song is old for me now, when I listen this song I even don't hear the drums, I just hear the music, and for me it's works.

I don't and I don't want to intellectualize the music, for me it's just about heart and giving the best of myself for the music.
"Pymfao" was a first take, three four and boom, mistakes ? It's ok, it's me, I assume, I think that music, the essential, is there.

By the way, "Pymfao" means "Play Your Mother F... Ass Off..."

It was a game in the band, who gonna be the badass !!!

Anyway, peace.

Hey Groovemeister,

You're a gentleman, and I find you words for Method very kind.
Very well said.

Peace.

That's cool, Rodge. I thought Pymfao was some exotic ethnic reference. [img]wink.gif[/img]

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I also recommend practicing 3, 5, and 7 note groupings repeated over the click

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Thanks cjbdrm. I got the chops to make it through the solo within the last month or so.

When I get bored fast, I rotate different practice routines. A phrase like 7 over 3 (divided into 2's, as 5 groups of 3, the last note beat six, if I recall correctly), can sound pretty organic. I'm going to break down some tabla solos (got this cool recording..I think it is Zakir Hussain's dad). Gotta get the inspiration from different places and keep it fun.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ November 08, 2004 01:24 AM: Message edited by: MethodAir ]</font>

Mr MethodMan,

Your stuff sounds ok although I agree with many of Steve and others points about it basicaly not being in time and comfortable...but that's ok we are all trying to move forward.

I am a bit more concerned about you getting in a p*#~ing match with Roger B (AKA N40). Do you know who that guy is?? He's played with Zawinul and a whole bunch of other top cats....he's a monster.

Have a little respect and humility.

Gary, we were having a constructive dialogue, not a punching match. I asked for his advice, and as others noticed, the last take of Spur was more in time. Roger liked my groove stuff more than the solo, which is fine.
As we all know, the bar is set very high with Spur, and Weckl's performance.

It's getting better. But as you said it, the bar is high. Especially since you want to interpret it in a Weckl way.
My advice would be to slow down the hard parts, exagerate the dynamics, spot the notes that fall on the beats and make sure you LOCK them to the click. This should help to feel the pulse while phrasing all these notes.

That's what I'm currently doing in another attempt to nail Festival De Ritmo for fun. I got the transcription and play it with click very slowly to make sure I always know and feel where the pulse is. When internalized at slow, I bring it up a bit.

Don't give up!

BTW, do you or anybody know of a play-along (or good midi file) version of Festival de Ritmo??

Interesting points, Tombo.

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Especially since you want to interpret it in a Weckl way.

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">That's correct to a point, but I hear the music differently, even when I play some (alot) of the same notes. That's apparant to me when I listen to this section. I can tighten up the execution, but other than that, maybe it's pointless to try and be a second rate carbon copy. Presence is one of the first things I listen for, and when I don't hear it, I turn off the music.

In regards to some of Dazzler's comments, I use the Contemporary Drummer + One package to practice time/feel/phrasing in complex music. You admitted you can't play this solo in time with a click, and that's ok, it's hard. I wouldn't necessarily assume you had weak fundamentals because of it. Advice from guys I've heard (Steve, Roger, Andy to name a few) is especially helpful because they probably have the ability to play it based on what I heard. It would be helpful to hear how you'd tackle something in the realm of Spur..

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passge between 15 seconds and 33 seconds is particularly uncomfortable

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Yea, Groovmeister that passage is pretty awful to my ears now, but I'll live with it for now...this section is hard and also needs work.

Regarding the playalong, I'll point to the obvious place [img]wink.gif[/img]

Any of you guys gonna give this solo a shot, PeteC?? [img]wink.gif[/img]

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ November 09, 2004 02:03 AM: Message edited by: MethodAir ]</font>