Showing posts with label RandB. Show all posts
Showing posts with label RandB. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Chris "Daddy" Dave

Chris Dave is dangerous, plain and simple. When he was finally on the cover of Modern Drummer magazine in February 2010, I braved the seven inches of snow St. Louis got that given day and made it to Drum Headquarters to buy it. I put it on the counter and told the dude working that I'm glad Chris Dave is finally getting some of the credit he deserves. He replied that he'd never heard of him and asked who he's played with. I flipped open the magazine to page 46 and showed him.
"Robert Glasper, Kenny Garrett, Mint Condition, Mary J. Blige, Pat Metheny, Toni Braxton, Me'Shell Ndegeocello, Erykah Badu, Kim Burrell, Ron Blake, A Tribe Called Quest, Mos Def...he just recorded with Maxwell and is currently on tour with him."
Chris Dave's resume speaks for itself. Then you actually hear him play. That's when the word "dangerous" will come to mind.
I first heard of Chris Dave after seeing him perform with Mos Def on Letterman in 2009. The way he played completely blew me away, and I spent the next three days scouring the internet for information about him. At that time, he didn't even have a page on DrummerWorld.com, but he did have tons of videos on YouTube. I found every single one and then hit the practice room for the next three days after that.
Chris Dave grew up in Texas. Like many other great drummers, he got his start playing in church when he was only six years old. However, he personally describes his discovery of jazz as the beginning of his education. His music loving father played Miles and Coltrane albums constantly. When it was his mother's turn to choose what was played, it was gospel music. His brother was into funk. With all that music in the house, Chris Dave gained an appreciation and ear for all types of music, and most importantly, learned what it meant for music to groove. The recording that was most influential on him in those early days was Miles Davis' landmark "Footprints." The legendary drummer on that was of course none other than The Tony Williams. After that, Chris spent hours and hours every day simply listening to jazz recordings and digesting what it was that Tony Williams, Elvin Jones, and Philly Joe Jones were doing on the drums.
He studied with Craig Green and Sebastian Whittaker. He mastered every exercise and pattern in the book "4-Way Coordination." He got into J Dilla beats and learned those (as impossible as that may sound. And if that means nothing to you and you're a drummer, set aside some time and look that dude up. J Dilla is one of the greatest and most innovative hip-hop producers that ever lived). He became an expert sight reader. He studied at Howard University. Then he landed the gig with Mint Condition.
Since then, Chris Dave has been around the world and back again, impressing and blessing jazz lovers, hip-hop heads, and soul aficionados with his innovative playing. He has the innate and unmatchable ability to drop ridiculous polyrhythms into any beat. He can be playing in 5, switch to 7 for a few bars, and come right back in on the down beat like it's nobody's business. He can metrically modulate anything and never lose it. He has crazy fast chops and seems like he gets faster every time I hear something new from him. Most recently, he recorded on Maxwell's 2009 platinum selling album "BLACKsummers'night," which won two Grammy Awards including Best R&B album. I haven't even mentioned his set up (currently, it's five snares, a bass drum, 18 inch hi hats, and an assortment of cymbals that changes by the minute). Whether you're a drummer or not, whether you're a musician or not...when Chris Dave plays, you'll listen. It doesn't matter what he's doing. He could be playing the simplest 6/8 ballad groove or soloing over a jazz tune. His playing will make you listen. You might not get it, but he will hold your attention and never let it go. He is dangerously pushing the envelope and changing drumming on a daily basis.


"Humility isn’t just shown in your attitude. It’s also shown in the way you approach the kit. Do you have enough respect for the instrument to really learn it? How much time do you put into learning the history of the drums and how drumming got where it is now? All of that matters."
- Chris Dave

That's absolutely true. You've got to learn the rules if you want to break the rules. And if you ever want to come close to Chris Dave, you've got to master the rules. Now go practice.




On your disc:
1. Quiet Dog – Mos Def
2. Bad Habits – Maxwell
3. Cold – Maxwell
4. Pretty Wings
5. Help Somebody – Maxwell
6. Stop the World – Maxwell
7. No Worries – Robert Glasper
8. Yes I’m Country (And That’s OK) – Robert Glasper
9. Think of One – Robert Glasper
10. Delta Bali Blues – Kenny Garrett
11. Happy People – Kenny Garrett
12. Fellowship – Me’Shell Ndegeocello
13. Good Intentions – Me’Shell Ndegeocello
14. Sometimes – Mint Condition
15. Raise Up – Mint Condition

Selected Discography:
BLACKsummers'night - Maxwell
Double Booked - Robert Glasper
Happy People - Kenny Garrett
Simply Said - Kenny Garrett
Standard of Language - Kenny Garrett
Definition of a Band - Mint Condition
Life's Aquarium - Mint Condition
Livin' The Luxury Brown - Mint Condition
From the Mint Factory - Mint Condition
Comfort Woman - Me'Shell Ndegeocello
The Spirit Music Jamia - Me'Shell Ndegeocello
Ali Shaheed Muhammad- Shaheedullah and Stereotypes
Mary - Mary J. Blige
Sonic Tonic - Ron Blake
Try Me Again - Kim Burrell


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Friday, September 11, 2009

Terreon Gully


Although Terreon Gully plays jazz with Stefon Harris and Christian McBride, to call him simply a jazz drummer would be as diminishing as to call Albert Pujols a good hitter. Terreon Gully is an amazing all-around drummer. He can lay it down for R&B and pop as well as he can rip it on straight-ahead. He can do more than just hold his own in Afro-Cuban, fusion, and gospel too. There's no box to put him in. After growing up in St. Louis, Terreon attended the University of Houston where he studied percussion and got his Performance degree. Terreon's playing is full of creativity and attitude. His solos as well as his time playing show his incredible chops and solid pulse. Although he keeps very busy with touring, recording, producing, writing, and arranging, Terreon has been Professor of Drumset and Jazz History at the University of Manitoba in Canada since 2008. Those Canadians are lucky to have him.


ARTISTS - Stefon Harris, Christian McBride, Geoffrey Keezer, Joe Locke, Javon Jackson, Russell Gunn, David Sanborn, Common, Charlie Hunter, Joshua Redman.


What's on the CD:
1. Nothing Personal – Stefon Harris
2. [Untitled] – Stefon Harris
3. The Lost Ones – Stefon Harris
4. King Tut’s Strut – Stefon Harris
5. Technicolor Nightmare – Christian McBride
6. Boogie Woogie Waltz – Christian McBride
7. Say Something – Christian McBride
8. Out Jam / Give It Up or Turnit Loose – Christian McBride
9. In This Corner – Javon Jackson

Great albums with Terreon:
African Tarantella - Stefon Harris
Evolution - Stefon Harris
Grand Unification Theory - Stefon Harris
Live at Tonic - Christian McBride Band
Vertical Vision - Christian McBride Band
Live in Seattle - The Joe Locke/Geoffrey Keezer Group
Have You Heard - Javon Jackson
Smoking Gunn - Russell Gunn

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Adam Deitch


When Adam Deitch is the drummer on any given project or record, you know what you're going to get: solid time, funky driving beats, creative fills, and just a great sound from the drums. The drums are always in the forefront of any song Adam plays on, though he's never a distraction from the rest of the music. Having attended Berklee, his playing is heavily rooted in funk and r&b with a jazz mentality. He's the drummer for Lettuce and The John Scofield Band, and has also played with Average White Band, Ledisi, Raphael Saadiq, Eric Krasno, and many more. Adam's playing is very active and conversational. His breakbeats are unbelieveable. He has also produced for many hip-hop artists, such as Talib Kweli, Jurassic 5, 50 Cent, and Snoop Dogg. Currently, Adam has put out recent records with Lettuce and Ledisi and is performing with the Eric Krasno (guitarist for Soulive) led band Chapter 2 as well as his own band called Break Science. He is also on the associate faculty at the New School in New York City.

ARTISTS - Lettuce, The John Scofield Band, Ledisi, Average White Band, John Medeski, Talib Kweli, Raphael Saadiq, Eric Krasno, Anthony Hamilton, Big Daddy Kane, Christian McBride, Roy Hargrove, Lauryn Hill.

Here's what's on the CD:
1. Thikhatali – John Scofield Band
2. Uberjam – John Scofield Band
3. Watch Out For Po-Po – John Scofield Band
4. Freakin’ Disco – John Scofield Band
5. Every Night Is Ladies Night – John Scofield Band
6. Acidhead – John Scofield Band
7. Ideofunk – John Scofield Band
8. Jungle Fiction – John Scofield Band
9. Express Yourself – Lettuce
10. Outta Here – Lettuce
11. Soon the New Day - Talib Kweli feat. Norah Jones
12.Knockin’ – Ledisi
13. Say No – Ledisi

Albums to check out for Adam's drumming and production:
Uberjam - John Scofield Band
Up All Night - John Scofield Band
Rage! - Lettuce
Outta Here - Lettuce
Live at Blue Note Tokyo - Lettuce
Eardrum - Talib Kweli
Turn Me Loose - Ledisi

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Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson



Questlove is one the greatest drummers today and a legend in the making. He has an uncanny and unique way of combining the new and the old, and is able to play the simplest 4 beat and the most complex break beat. Clearly influenced by classic jazz drummers such like Elvin, Philly Joe, Tony, and Max, it's obvious that he also takes alot of influence from R&B drummers like Clyde, Jabo, and Benny Benjamin. His feel is almost unmatchable. The grooves and beats that he lays down are second to none, and are so flawless and so solid that most people think they're listening to a programmed beat - a machine, a computer. That says it all. When a musician is so perfect in his playing and his sound that he can fool a listener in to questioning if he's human, that's a testament like nothing else. Something worth mentioning is Questlove's knowledge of a drum's sound. The quality of the tuning and sound coming from his drums gives him a distinct sound for each song, album, artist, and style. Not to diminish his masterful playing, but part of what gives him his own sound is his choice of drums and the quality of his tuning. Aside from drumming, he's a great producer and bandleader whose skills include singing, rapping, and some piano and bass. Questlove is the perfect example of everything an amazing drummer can and should be -- an outstanding musician.


"Whatever the average drummer is doing, I'm trying to do the exact opposite." - Questlove


ARTISTS - The Roots, Al Green, Erykah Badu, The Philadelphia Experiment, Erykah Badu, Common, Joshua Redman, Pharrell

Here's what's on the CD:

1. Put It In Your Pocket – Joshua Redman Elastic Band
2. Philadelphia Experiment – The Philadelphia Experiment
3. Ain’t It The Truth – The Philadelphia Experiment
4. Call For All Demons – The Philadelphia Experiment
5. The Seed (2.0) – The Roots
6. You Got Me – The Roots
7. Here I Come – The Roots
8. The Next Movement – The Roots
9. Mellow My Man – The Roots
10. Doin’ It Again – The Roots
11. Booty – Erykah Badu
12. Window Seat – Erykah Badu
13. The Light - Common
14. Definition – Black Star
15. Lay It Down – Al Green
16. You’ve Got the Love I Need – Al Green

Here's some other songs to check out that are good examples of Questo's versatility:
"Untitled (How Does It Feel)" - D'Angelo
"Playa Playa" - D'Angelo
"Chicken Grease" - D'Angelo
"Break You Off" - The Roots
"Rising Up" - The Roots
"Do You Want More?!!!??!" - The Roots
"What They Do" - The Roots
"Lle Lfe" - The Philadelphia Experiment
"Trouble Man Theme" - The Philadelphia Experiment
"No One Like You" - Al Green



VIDEOS:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D671znPDOCU&feature=channel_page

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EOBI-SpdTA&feature=channel_page

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIVzt_vGyr8&feature=channel_page

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_6p6fbdxF4&feature=channel_page

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZh9Ngjg71E

http://www.okayplayer.com/news/Video-The-Roots-Public-Enemy-Bring-The-Noise-Live-on-Late-Night-with-Jimmy-Fallon.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgMiGqA6xtA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgMiGqA6xtA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s11XaUKsMU8



LINKS:
http://www.drummerworld.com/drummers/Ahmir_Thompson.html

http://www.myspace.com/questlove

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Questlove


Questlove's Advice for Bands = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85tyZNiSyTk&feature=channel_page

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