Virgil Donati

[wy yung]

People who flame Virgil are morons. He was the greatest teacher I ever had and I saw him play many many styles. When any of these idiot flamers play with someone like Steve Vai and Frank Sinatra, maybe then I'll pay attention.

Until then they are just a joke.

Sadly the world is overly populated by try hards and jealous fools. Never mind. They do not matter.

[Swiss Matthias]

Awesome new performance by Virgil in a drum clinic, nicely smooth, powerful, and musical:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHJT4WCnEk0

[Drum-Head]

But for the record, I second: Virgil has great groove, sense of time and sense of musicality. And he has absolutely no problem playing simple 2 and 4 beats, as he states himself, and as he's proven a lot.

May I just add - now that you mention that - one thing people do tend to forget is Virgil's level of mastery in regards to time keeping. He knows how all of his complicated patterns, modulation etc. all relate to each other on a level that I have not see many other drummers display. He can start grooving at a given tempo, modulate all over the place and come back to that tempo he started at. He really excels at this and he does master time in that sense.

[Morgenthaler]

Here are some new videos for you guys:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKwciYRG5O0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hu8D6ozGUh4

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

Cheers, Jeppe
/virgildonati.com

[sonorplayer]

Does anyone know the sizes on Virgil's old double bass kit that he used with Steve Vai live in London in 2003?

It's really the floor toms I was wondering about. I'm guessing that it might be a 16, 18 and 14 to his left.

Anyone know if this is right?

Best

SonorPlayer

[Crazy8s]

Does anyone know the sizes on Virgil's old double bass kit that he used with Steve Vai live in London in 2003?

It's really the floor toms I was wondering about. I'm guessing that it might be a 16, 18 and 14 to his left.

Anyone know if this is right?

Best

SonorPlayer

That was a Premier Genista kit. 10,12, 16, and 18. I think he had a 14 ft on the left side too. Should be 18x22 kicks.

[Morgenthaler]

Does anyone know the sizes on Virgil's old double bass kit that he used with Steve Vai live in London in 2003?

It's really the floor toms I was wondering about. I'm guessing that it might be a 16, 18 and 14 to his left.

Anyone know if this is right?

Best

SonorPlayer

That's right on the money.
And it was a Gen-x kit, not at Genista kit in that particular video.

(In Virgil's 1997 MD Festival video he did however play a Genista kit)

[Swiss Matthias]

There are some new clinic dates from Virgil's website:

Virgil will be on the road again over the next month playing some clinics and festivals around the world.
The first is coming up on Oct 2nd in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Here are all the dates:

October 2nd, 2010 - Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
October 12th, 2010 - California Percussion - San Francisco, CA
October 21st, 2010 - Feedback Rotterdam - The Netherlands
October 22nd, 2010 - Key Music - St. Niklaas Belgium
October 23rd, 2010 - Clinic Rock Tools - Luxembourg

[Morgenthaler]

and here's the latest video from virgildonati.com;
Virgil playing with his band at The Baked Potato.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98ksSyTvjRE

[Morgenthaler]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/300652_10150427252692442_7489112441_10139711_11447 94149_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/302103_10150427252647442_7489112441_10139710_25103 0009_n.jpg

Virgil is taking Allan Holdsworth with him on tour to India this coming week!
Should be a killer show!

[DarrenMcMaster-Smith]

I must admit,I used to love going to The Grainstore Tavern here in Melbourne every Tuesday night to watch Loose Change play.

Have the vinyl record still here.

And a cd of Serious Young Insects which had Simon Hosford tearing it up on guitar.

Love that cd.

He's an institution and a fellow Melbournian and Aussie so I will always love the bloke despite the bugger being light years better than me .

Just enjoy.

He plays for us to enjoy.

That's what it's all about.

P.S. I really love the dynamics he uses with the hihat,the opening and closing and in between.He makes any hats he plays sound lovely.

[marthy]

Well the man is very rare. Can u guys mentioned another metal drummer that plays with traditionell hand grip instead of match grip?

[Swiss Matthias]

Virgil is touring Europe in 2012 with Allan Holdsworth and Jimmy Haslip!!

http://www.virgildonati.com/msgboard/showthread.php?t=7578

[JME]

He's like a percussive computer! Although I reckon he needs more sunlight............

[Dre25]

I can't believe some of the comments I've read in this thread.

Virgil is god.

[Ekim]

I love Virgil, but I can see why many don't.

It's all just taste anyway.

I can't imagine anyone else ripping on the kit in Planet X, though. I just wish they'd tour more, I haven't seen them live in A FREAKING DECADE!!!!!!!!! (That was an awesome show, too!)

[DangerousDave]

A friend sent me a youtube link of Southern Sons and that was it. I became a fan instantly. The music was so good and the fact that made it better was that Mr. Donati was at the helm :) To bad they split.

[Arky]

I've ordered his "Double Bass Drum Freedom" and can't wait for it to arrive!

EDIT
I have it now. Haven't started working on it yet but I've read one third of it - great material for countless practice hours. Really tricky stuff the more you progress into the book. I like his symmetrical approach to the feet, encouraging to practice left foot lead, but also switching between main and x-hat / cross-handed vs. open style. Exactly to my taste.

[Pocket-full-of-gold]

A friend sent me a youtube link of Southern Sons and that was it. I became a fan instantly. The music was so good and the fact that made it better was that Mr. Donati was at the helm :) To bad they split.

lol. This brings back memories. Saw them twice......never cared for the band or their music, but couldn't wait to see Virg do his thing on both occasions. It's rare I go to see any band I'm not into just to see a single member, but that is the drawing power of Donati I guess.

And to think I was reading in another thread recently where someone said he was too complicated to just "lay it down"......obviously they never saw Southern Sons. :-)

[DrumDoug]

Hey guys. I'm the one that put in the other thread that Virgil "couldn't lay it down." That was not my opinion, I was just relaying what a guitar player that had played with Virgil a few times told me. That was his opinion. That was also a long time ago. Virgil would have been in his 20's at that point. Just like the rest of us, I'm sure he overplayed when he was younger. I don't think I've ever heard Virgil play anything other than little solo clips on YouTube. I don't have an opinion on his groove playing one way or another.

[Pocket-full-of-gold]

Hey guys. I'm the one that put in the other thread that Virgil "couldn't lay it down." That was not my opinion, I was just relaying what a guitar player that had played with Virgil a few times told me.

Fair enough. I just reread the post. I note he was talking in the context of a country gig. Never heard Donati play country so perhaps he was unsuited. Can't imagine it as he's a pretty well rounded player.....even back then. Was sought after on the local scene for many years before he cracked it internationally because of it.....much of it around the time frame your guitarist was talking about. But still, I wasn't there so who am I to doubt him.

But yeah, lay it down simply he can certainly do. I've heard too many recordings of Oz artists where Virgil played the sessions to believe otherwise. Straight 4/4, top 40 pop/rock....not a polyrhythm or other complicated pattern to be found. :-)

[Morgenthaler]

For some decent references to Virgil's groove abilities, see these Tina Arena videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7Muez2Z8xo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOTx_h07sGM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5KHzyuzlwA

[Morgenthaler]

Virgil's first "instructional" video ever, filmed in 1986. Now up on YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpalFZs5rg4

[Arky]

I can't believe some of the comments I've read in this thread.

Virgil is god.
+1
It's a shame such a superb drummer is bashed - and in his own thread. Why don't those grumblers just save their time & energy and stay away from this thread?

He's playing at a level 99.9 % of us will never be. Arts - and music being an element of it - is always subjective. It's just so pointless to elaborate in detail why person x doesn't like what person y does. Go find drummers you like more and praise them on the respective threads.

If I were Bernhard I would apply a firmer hand. He shows A LOT of patience with some guys here.

[uniongoon]

Forgive me, I have been playing drums most of my life, I am 48 now. I dont think I have heard Donati play, unless maybe the bootleg Steve Vai tape I have is him. I have read he is 50 years or so old, and still commits to an insane practice schedule. Sounds like he traded his life for the pursuit of the instrument which is the ultimate sacrifice. I just reserved to tickets, Mar 26/2012 for his drum clinic and Mar 27/2012 for a band show with holdsworth and haslip. It is at cosmo music in Toronto and i think it is a venue which only seats about 250. So this is going to be unforgettable and intimate. I have been a Holdsworth fan since Metal Fatigue, (mid 80's???). I heard of this on this site around New Years and the store just announced it now, I phoned and reserved faster than an exlax induced bathroom run. So now I have 6 weeks to gather some Donati material and get familiar with his playing.

[JohnW]

To Uniongoon:

You've opened up the floodgates; I think you're going to get more material on Virgil than you bargained for :)

And to the thread in general:

It's a dangerous area to tread whenever the term "Greatest Drummer in the World" gets bandied about. And this isn't in response to anyone on here specifically, it's just my own thoughts. But in the pantheon of Greats, Virgil has his place.

He takes it to another level, not just in complexity, but in depth of feel while he's playing those complex patterns. I would love to see a trio with Virgil, Vinnie and "Smitty" Smith trading fours.

-John

[Morgenthaler]

Forgive me, I have been playing drums most of my life, I am 48 now. I dont think I have heard Donati play, unless maybe the bootleg Steve Vai tape I have is him. I have read he is 50 years or so old, and still commits to an insane practice schedule. Sounds like he traded his life for the pursuit of the instrument which is the ultimate sacrifice. I just reserved to tickets, Mar 26/2012 for his drum clinic and Mar 27/2012 for a band show with holdsworth and haslip. It is at cosmo music in Toronto and i think it is a venue which only seats about 250. So this is going to be unforgettable and intimate. I have been a Holdsworth fan since Metal Fatigue, (mid 80's???). I heard of this on this site around New Years and the store just announced it now, I phoned and reserved faster than an exlax induced bathroom run. So now I have 6 weeks to gather some Donati material and get familiar with his playing.

Hi there!

I met Virgil back in 1996 and since 2000 I've been involved with his website. He's a great guy, really down to earth and I think you'll have a great time seeing him for the first time. Be prepared to catch your jaw :).

If you have 6 weeks, I'd recommend the 2 Joel Hoekstra albums 'Undefined' and 'The Moon Is Falling', Virgil's own On The Virg 'Serious Young Insects' and Planet X 'Moonbabies' to get to know him a bit. Joel has put all his stuff on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/joelhoekstravideos

Serious Young Insects can be heard here: http://www.last.fm/music/On+the+Virg/Serious+Young+Insects

and Moonbabies is on Amazon.

Have a good time!
Regards, Jeppe Morgenthaler
/virgildonati.com

[uniongoon]

Thanks, After reading the previous 7 pages, I gathered you were an involved fan of Virgil. I only watch videos on my work computer because we are on a wireless service at home and it is too easy to go over our allotted usage, criminal internet providers, but I will check the links and Virgil's site and let you know how it hits me.

[Morgenthaler]

There's a live streaming of Virgil's Long Island Drum Center clinic tomorrow. Details here:

http://www.moderndrummer.com/site/2012/03/virgil-donati-live-stream-clinic-event/#.T2W8_WLj61o

[richkenyon]

Virgil is a real pioneer on the drums. If there is a criticism I've heard it's that he can focus on showmanship to the extent where the playing suffers - a drum student of mine (that I respect) told me of a gig he went to where Donati lost the beat because of showmanship antics.

It's a shame because it gives people the opportunity to overlook what a massive talent he is. I was knocked out by his playing when I saw him with Vai.

[uniongoon]

Well I caught Virgil last night with Haslip and Holdsworth and the night before by himself in clinic. I liked the clinic, but after seeing him in the band context, the clinic was mediocre at best. Virgil killed it, he and Alan were a little crotchety because the on stage mix I guess was not doing for them, but they overcame it and put on one of the best playing performances I have ever witnessed. It was sold out in a very small auditorium, 300 people maybe? If you judged each guys performance by audience response, Virgil stole the show. I am not that familiar with his history other than what I browsed on youtub, but it seemed he was consciously trying to avoid heavy double bass playing, which I expected to be everywhere judging what I had seen of him. Also, his physical fitness blew my mind. I would give my left nut to have that kind of stamina.

I have followed Holdsworth over the years, have heard much recordings, bootleg etc. to hear how different players approach his music, and no disrespect to Gary Husband, who probably will read this, but Virgil seemed to fit better than any player I have seen. He smoothed out the jagged edge that I have often noticed in his songs, really flowed nicely. Jimmy Haslip was cool to watch too, the guy is a giant.

[Swiss Matthias]

I'm so looking forward to seeing the trio live in Switzerland in May :D!
Virgil is one of my absolute favourite drummers. He just kills big time,
especially live. Also, I've never seen Holdsworth live, so it will be really
great seeing them play together.

[Swiss Matthias]

Virgil Donati 1982: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5i_yf9yFnx8&feature=related

[Morgenthaler]

Some very recent Virgil Donati highlights from a Ken Stanton Music clinic. Mind boggling.
Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkbnZH4zoGI

[DangerousDave]

lol. This brings back memories. Saw them twice......never cared for the band or their music, but couldn't wait to see Virg do his thing on both occasions. It's rare I go to see any band I'm not into just to see a single member, but that is the drawing power of Donati I guess.

And to think I was reading in another thread recently where someone said he was too complicated to just "lay it down"......obviously they never saw Southern Sons. :-)

He plays so simple and straight just to serve the song. And then comes a bridge in the song or something and then you realize you don't mess with Virgil :D There are a lot of moments like that that come totally unexpected and blow you away.

[uniongoon]

My experience watching him with Holdsworth, way technical, super busy and complex whilst remaining solid in the groove at same time. It seemed too he was consciously staying away from heavy double bass drum work too, which seeing his you tube stuff I expected to see a barrage of double kick.

[Morgenthaler]

20 minute montage of Holdsworth, Donati, Haslip.
The Proto Cosmos vamp holds some stellar stuff.


http://vimeo.com/42024695

[Swiss Matthias]

20 minute montage of Holdsworth, Donati, Haslip.
The Proto Cosmos vamp holds some stellar stuff.


http://vimeo.com/42024695

I tried to start a separate thread for that line-up :). http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=90791

[richkenyon]

Wow.... love Virgil's playing with Holdsworth on the video. Inspirational.

[Morgenthaler]

Wow.... love Virgil's playing with Holdsworth on the video. Inspirational.

Cram this one up, too:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X86YNdkqNoI Monstrous stuff! :)