Hello all,
I've been reading this message board for quite some time and only recently took the time to sign up and begin contributing. It's rare to find a message board with people that are actually respectful to one another and actually discuss the topics at hand, (if I wanted to argue politics and religion, I wouldn't go to a MUSIC Message Board...) so kudos to all of you, and to Steve Holmes for creating such a fine website and forum for all of us hopeless drumming addicts!
Inspired by one of my favorite music-related films of all time, High Fidelity, I would like to ask everyone for their Top 5 Vinnie recordings, CD, VHS, DVD, 8 Track, wax, bootleg, or otherwise. I've spent a great deal of time considering my own question and have settled on the following:
(My alterior motive is to be turned on to other albums I haven't yet heard and possibly do the same for someone else!)
1. Warren Cuccurullo: "Thanks to Frank" (CD):
If you haven't heard this album, and are a fan of Vinnie's drumming, it's a crime. The entire album was recorded live in the studio, with no overdubs whatsoever, and featured Warren on guitar, Vinnie on drums, and fellow Zappa alums Pino Palladino and Nick Beggs on bass. The tracks were recorded in 2 days (August 20th and 28th, 1994) and 7 of 10 were done in ONE TAKE. A true testament to Vinnie's sightreading ability and musicality. Contains some of the most remarkably tasty fills I've ever heard Vinnie play. (Especially tracks 2 and 9!) Easily my favorite Vinnie recording to date.
2. Sting: "The Soul Cages Concert" (VHS):
It's easy to argue that some of Vinnie's finest work was done with Sting between 1990 and 1999. The Soul Cages Concert (and all recordings I've heard of the Soul Cages Tour) were, to me anyway, the most uninhibited and carefree performances of Sting's post-Police career. The simple straight-ahead 4-piece lineup, (which I believe we have all been begging Sting to get back to, no matter WHO the drummer is!!) allowed all 4 of these brilliant musicians (David Sancious, Dominic Miller, Sting, and Vinnie, of course) the freedom and space they deserved. The setlist may not have changed much throughout the tour, but the performances varied drastically from night to night. Vinnie was obviously having a great deal of fun in his new role, and pulled out all of the stops, tastefully, on every song they played. Check out the renditions of Message in a Bottle, Roxanne, and Wild Wild Sea. Vinnie strays quite a bit from timekeeping towards the end of Wild Wild Sea, but it's exactly what the direction of the song demanded and the result is mind-boggling.
3. Randy Waldman: "Wigged Out" (CD):
It's hard not to laugh when listening to a lot of these tunes. The sense of humor displayed by all 3 of the core musicians on this album (Vinnie, John Patitucci and Randy Waldman) is fantastic. The renditions of timeless Classical compositions are respectful, but still very playful. And since they are being performed by 3 of LA's most respected studio musicians, the quality of the jazz playing is at its highest level. Check out Vinnie's solos on Ride of the Valkyries (the lead-in for which is so tasty and appropriate it doesn't even sound like a solo until the second chorus, and who the HELL puts that much double bass into a piano jazz drum solo and gets away with it???), Prelude in C# Minor, and Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies (the left-hand singles at about 3:41 are sick).
4. Robben Ford: "Supernatural" (CD):
Vinnie and Robben Ford could sit in a studio without instruments and not make a sound for 45 minutes and it would still be better than most recordings on the Top 40 charts right now. (An Ashlee Simpson joke right now would be far too easy...) Not only is Vinnie's playing tasteful (that word just keeps coming up, doesn't it?), but Robben Ford shows his incredible range on each tune. Vinnie doesn't pull out many stops, but the little things only he can get away with that fall mostly on deaf ears will be especially prominent to Vinnie's followers. Key tracks: Supernatural (AWESOME guitar solo), Lovin' Cup (great drum groove and remarkably tough guitar riff), and Water For The Wicked (very relaxed, easygoing feel, with plenty of space for Vinnie to work his magic).
5. Bill Evans: "Starfish and the Moon" (CD):
Truth be told, I've never been a fan of Contemporary Jazz saxaphone players, ESPECIALLY soprano, but Bill Evans is definately an exception. The composition of the tunes (mostly co-written by pianist, arranger and producer Jim Beard) is beautiful and melodic and very easy to listen to. It is yet another album I purchased only because of Vinnie, but was WELL rewarded for my leap of faith. I can almost see Vinnie grinning through the entire recording. The followup, "Touch", was equally as good and contained more Vinnie solos, but I had to choose this one because of Vinnie's fantastic touch on the cymbals and the way he plays with the time during most of the tunes. (Check out the last minute of Track #8. Beat displacement at its finest!) If you get "Touch", make sure to listen all the way through the last track, ye shan't be disappointed!
Honorable Mentions: Jing Chi (ALL), Sting (Ten Summoner's Tales, Mercury Falling), Frank Zappa (Joe's Garage, Shut Up And Play Yer Guitar), Greg Mathieson (Live at the Baked Potato)
It appears I have made up for all of the posts I haven't made in this one message, so sorry for the ramblings. I'll try to keep it brief in the future I swear.
Thanks again for keeping it real on this board, and I look forward to your replies and to chit-chatting with you on this board in the future.
-Pete
