website update

apologies for the blatant plug - my website has been updated with some new sounds and videos etc....check it out if u have time.

Louie,

Great job on your site and on the Tiempo video! Nice playing!!

Andy

Wow. Very nice.

That solo on Submarine is blazing! You play it better than Bissonette plays it on his Dvd!

The sax solo groove on Tiempo is wicked also.

Where do you get all these drum-less tracks from?? I wish i had that many! I'm always short of stuff to play along to.

Oh, any chance of a lesson any time soon? I'm in Oxford, it would be cool if we could get together and do something at some time.

Cheers...

Loz.

Oh and i really like that thing in 19/16. Wicked.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ September 15, 2005 05:40 PM: Message edited by: LDGuy ]</font>

I'm not a religious man Louie, but JEEZUZ H CHRIST!!!! [img]eek.gif[/img] [img]eek.gif[/img]

Awesome... and the production is great too, attention to detail! Like the cute little cutting between the bass drum bursts on your solo.

Fantastic playing, but not too sure about the jazz examples, sorry. I think they could feel looser, maybe I'm just a purist. The rest is great. [img]wink.gif[/img]

Nice one. [img]biggrin.gif[/img]

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ September 15, 2005 05:40 PM: Message edited by: Dazzler ]</font>

Very nice -- I really enjoyed your playing throughout all the videos.

Your drumming is much better than the music selections, however -- at least in my opinion.

But they do demonstrate your wide range of style and ability -- and that's what is important.

Hi Louis,

Wow, I just heard "Tiempo..." and I have to say that you play really great !!!

But why you don't use your OWN music instead of using Weckl's music ?

You can find "everywhere" some great song in any style you want, why to take music where people can compare you to a MASTER like Dave ?
I don't think that it's good for you or anybody else to play these Weckl track in front of people/audience...
Good for practicing alone at home, but that's it.

You play really great, but if you play Dave's music, obviously the people gonna compare you to him...
There is only one Weckl, and in my opinion there is not so much people who can touch him, SPECIALY in HIS music composed by himself !!!

No offense please because you are already a great player, I just think that you have to take now some good decisions for your own "profile/business/exposure"...

Take care Mate and have fun.

Peace.

Thanks guys. chuffed to have those comments from you dazzler - and noted about the jazz stuff, i am working on that now - thats exactly what it needs to be feel-wise; looser.

As for the Weckl track and music selections. I couldnt get a band together in time - i would have to pay the musicians, pay for rehearsal, pick tunes and it would be hard for one band to cover all those styles and the shoot would have taken twice as long and therefore cost twice as much. At least with a track i am the only one who can make mistakes.

The point of the dvd was for it to be a business card showing ability in most recognised styles - the intended audience will have no idea who originally played tiempo and its a great latin track.....all the people who were at the shoot and have watched it who are not drummers love that tune the most, its just a fun tune.

The rest of the tracks are very average i agree - but what can i do? maybe the next one i'll involve some live musicians - im always on the hunt for good backing tracks. the new peter erskine books are great for this but again are in a jazz style so its hard to find pop/rock/dance stuff without the drums....sending a dvd full of jazz and latin tracks to producers and MD's in the UK wouldnt do me much good i dont think. I needed to put some groove stuff in.

more feedback would be great. be honest too, i like the criticism, i sure learnt a lot from doing it. would be great to have some feedback from Mr. Erskine and Steve Holmes.

And LDGuy - PM me.

Louie - [img]biggrin.gif[/img] You must have shed and shed and shed to get where you are today, it really is incredible, having watched some of the clips again.

Who did you study with to get your hands together? For example, keeping up the quavers constantly on thhe hi-hat throughout that DnB tune requires great technique. I certainly couldn't do it, my hands would fail after a few bars at that tempo I think!

Just my 2 pence: You have more technique and facility NOW Louie than you will EVER need - trust me!! I would make your goal (as you are doing from the blurb on your site) to play with as many musicians as possible. Get yourself to jam sessions, hang out at music colleges in town and meet as many players as you can.

For me (as you well know!!) It's all about MUSIC. I couldn't touch your technique with a shitty stick mate and I would suggest that for now, to leave all the shedding and concentrate on repetoir, tunes, forms and knowing styles inside out. As you well know, covering Samba for example, is a lifetimes work as there are so many different styles and variations. We have to know all the integral percussion parts and how they work together in order to play it authentically.

Good luck and congrats again Louie, you've clearly been working hard. [img]graemlins/thumbs_up.gif[/img]

thanks darren.

well i believe i have only just begun with technqiue - i started studying with thomas 18 months ago and have had around 6-7 lessons. he sorted my hands and feet out and my ATTITUDE out towards chops and practicing. Those 8th notes on the hats on the DnB tune surely is a very basic thing that would be required on any tune that happens to be fast. If the band leader counts a tune off fast - u have to play fast. simple as i guess. but for that DnB style i have been working on also putting in a group of 3 16th notes on the occasional backbeat or bass drum which requires finger and bounce stuff....that sounds killer - check out jojo for that shit. just good right hand technique, which also applies to upbeat jazz stuff of course.

but you are right dazzler - i have been working less on chops or certainly less ferociously and i see it as more of a long term project, maybe for the next 4-5 yrs, esp with the feet. But i am now working on playing with clicks, reading, chart interpretation, styles, jazz stuff etc.

and i have moved on a little from the dvd, i would approach it differently now. i was using huge sticks which i no longer do (due to the horrible sound u get) and would inject a little more passion and personality into it and make it groove a little more. the solo for example i thought was boring, needed more rhythms and more structure.

Hi Louie,

And great post Darren as always.

You know Louie I do some demo/clinic stuff in France for Yamaha, for my play back I have a good friend of mine, great keyboard player and really good with computer's stuff as partner.
Working together we can do 3 great playback in 3 hours !!!
I start to have a good repertoire...

I'm sure you have a friend with who you could work on some music/playback, I say friend because if it's a friend it will be free...
Now we can have some awesome sound in the computer, believe me my playback are BURNING !!!
Acoustic bass sound are greeat, Fendre Rhodes, piano, electric bass...
My Man does everythings !!!
It's really great.

I just use some standard that I re-arrange like I would like, and I want that they to become entertaining.
Some Weather Report stuff, some Miles stuff that I put in 7/8...
You can do what you want !!!

But anyway, keep your stuff, you are already in the right zone !!!

Cheers.

Great vids LP, great performances.

I can tell you're a jazzer/fusion guy playing rock. [img]wink.gif[/img]

Remember when playing rock, the KISS principle applies. Not the band, but Keep It Simple Stupid. Playing fewer notes make each one stand out more. No one likes the twiddly bits in rock. It's a difficult task to play rock convincingly.

Great playing Louie, keep up the good work. Your passion and dedication are inspiring.

[img]graemlins/thumbs_up.gif[/img]

Jeepers Creepers Louis...I agree w/ Dazzlers initial statement...."JHC"!...Excellent

Wow Louie...just wow. Incredible stuff man, I envy you! [img]smile.gif[/img]

Sounds good! Nice site.

Your jazz playing needs an injection of Elvin Jones(think 1/4 note triplets). I feel like I'm giving a secret away...

This will open you up to some more comping ideas. It sounded like you were playing it a little safe on the slower tune. It was crying for some Elvin...lots of space there.

The slower Jazz tune 'Last week' is probably more challenging than the bop tune. I used to think that bop tunes were harder, but they're not.

Elvin!

Dang. Must be nice to have plugs by Thomas, Mike, and Steve...

Lovely playing Louie. Choppsy and yet controlled.

We must hook up sometime, If you go to my site you can get my contact details, give me a call or mail.

all the best to you

Andy Edwards

These are unbelievably good Louie!!

Love the straight ahead jazz tune.

I have a problem with downloading Out in the Open. Anyone else have the same problem?

yeah i do too always getting an error

Great Playing Louie!!
Jeez i wish i could play as controlled as that! keep up the good work.
Also listen to Dazz his post says exactly what im thinking to take yourself forward, Music is a BUSINESS, its all good and well having chops etc.. but you also need to be a business man! [img]wink.gif[/img]

It would be cool to hook up sometime even though im not living in the smoke anymore i get downsarff pretty regular.

I was hoping to get to see weckl @ Birmingham but im gigging (Business before pleasure) [img]wink.gif[/img]

Stay in touch!
[email protected]

Lovin' it! [img]biggrin.gif[/img]

Hey Louie--

I envy your time and facility around the kit, which is awesome. Your pocket is deep and strong on most of the tracks as well. Kudos; your work ethic is showing as well as your natural talents, which are manifold. This DVD is a great business card of your competence in several styles.

I agree with the above on the jazz assessment--the playing on the slow tune was a little clean and on top. The suggestion of an Elvin injection is an excellent one.

I think it's hard for players to get a good feel on dance styles that are primarily electronic in nature, but you did a great job keeping the groove alive and bumpin' on those, particulary on the "jazz it up" track. The D&B track you held solid; however, I kept hoping you were going to tear the shit up at some point. Given that there is some insane programming in this style, I was itching to see what you could do if you stretched out with the arsenal of chops at your disposal.

My biggest critique is that when you do stretch out your influences may be overpowering your own voice (to my ear)--especially Weckl. Voice is a hard one and many people spend a lifetime refining and allowing theirs to emerge. I think Dazzler's feedback about getting out there and playing with as many musicians as possible is the most germaine to this point. Non-drummer musician collaborators will help you transcend (not shed--just "incorportate without being ruled by") your training, which seems important to this end.

I'm also thinking a close encounter with some earthy, looser players in general could complement the Lang/Weckl perfecitionist thing. Stanton Moore, Steve Jordan, Elvin, Gadd, Ritchie Hayward, could open up some pleasurable and helpful directions. My concern about the whole technical angle is the relentless pursuit of chops & cleanliness. Dazz may be right--you may already have more technique than you will need. Joy, funk, and "puttin' a little stank on it" (as they say in the States) can help keep it fun and help complement discipline. It also gives non-musicians more access to your playing. It's really up to you though.

Best wishes and regards--spaceotter

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ September 18, 2005 01:49 PM: Message edited by: spaceotter ]</font>

thanks for all the critique guys, its great.

i am feeling that too and have been checking out some steve jordan esp. at the mo.

as for the voice thing, that is something i think about alot and have discussed at great length with thomas. i think a lot of the stuff i play i play without thinking - i never ever purposly think "lets play this weckl lick" or whatever - i dont think i play any of his licks as such - i guess its more of an overall style thing - but i've always been a fan so its hard for it not to seep into some of my stuff. i dunno - what hasnt been done yet? seems like there isnt much left playing wise - there always is - but doesnt seem like it sometimes.

thanks for all the input.

I thought it all sounded killer. Playing with other people is the answer to finding your own voice so I wouldn't worry about it too much.