Vinnie Colaiuta

[jonescrusher]

Some cool stuff here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USTJz5FHuHM

[sshu]

Maybe people have already seen this from awhile back, but his work on Seven Days with Sting is awesome.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=920BnH5bRJk

Steve

[sshu]

Some cool grooving by Vinnie with Akira Terao - Re-Cool ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2cdgo86Hzo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPli_1AaLSs

Steve

[jonescrusher]

Some cool grooving by Vinnie with Akira Terao - Re-Cool ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2cdgo86Hzo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPli_1AaLSs

Steve


Great music, with or without Vinnie. Why don't we get music like this on UK TV channels?

[sshu]

Great music, with or without Vinnie. Why don't we get music like this on UK TV channels?

Agree it's great music with or without Vinnie. We don't get enough of this in the States either. I think I'll have to move to the Pacific Rim. :)

Steve

[Gibbersticks]

Well first off sorry about my language in my last post, I shouldn't have done that. Sorry. Basically I didn't like what he had to say. From what he said about hating people asking him how he came up with this, and how do you do that. Calling most drummers today "lazy and non-musical" and that all anyone wants to see or hear is "razzle-dazzle". Yet he talks about himself as having an outlook on drumming that is "very visceral and conceptual and wide". I though he came across as narrow minded and self absorbed. Yes a lot of music today is the same ol' rehash of something that happened 20-30 years ago and is sterile as all hell, but if you don't like it then don't listen to the radio. I don't. I happen to think that there are a lot of crazy talented "musical drummers" out there that make me work harder and harder to be the best that I can. Some of them have forums on this website and they are more than happy to help you with questions about certain concepts and you never get a response like "figure it out for yourself" or "your going to get what you get out of it". For someone who is considered an "innovator" who is complaining about the state of drumming today he isn't doing very much to change the problems he sees other than to complain about it. Doesn't sound very innovative or original to me.

[jonescrusher]

Well first off sorry about my language in my last post, I shouldn't have done that. Sorry. Basically I didn't like what he had to say. From what he said about hating people asking him how he came up with this, and how do you do that. Calling most drummers today "lazy and non-musical" and that all anyone whats to see or hear is "razzle-dazzle". Yet he talks about himself as having an outlook on drumming that is "very visceral and conceptual and wide". I though he came across as narrow minded and self absorbed.


Well, if almost any other drummer had said that, i'd agree, but Vinnie.... The fact that many other drummers and musicians place him on a pedestal, and that he's clearly a very intelligent person anyway I think sometimes contributes to an, at times, aloof image. That said, many major players have the problem of not being able to analyse the chops they come up with, that's the beauty of their improvisational ability.

Anways, I won't be treated to that MD issue over here for a couple of months at least, so i wait in great anticipation.

[Gibbersticks]

Well I'm sorry, I'd hate to spoil the surprise for ya!

[Womble]

From what he said about hating people asking him how he came up with this, and how do you do that. Calling most drummers today "lazy and non-musical" and that all anyone wants to see or hear is "razzle-dazzle". Yet he talks about himself as having an outlook on drumming that is "very visceral and conceptual and wide".

Sounds like a totally accurate appraisal of the current drum scene. Well said Vinnie.

[Gibbersticks]

Drumming scene or music scene? Music these days is Pro-tooled to death. The drums probably being the most affected by the digital era. In my opinion it all comes down to what you listen to. And it really isn't any different than it has been for the last 20-40 years. Every era has only had a handfull of really special players. I kinda prefer it that way because those guy get to really shine. And it has been awhile since Vinnie did anything really special. I did however agree with what Vinnie said about drumming becoming a sport and guys walking around with their Drum-o-meter. What the hell is that? WFD??? Who cares.....well obviously someone, but you centainly don't have to pay attention to it.

[Gibbersticks]

And Vinnie also said "you have to play for the song". How many times have we all heard that? Yet when we do play for the song, drummers everywhere jump all over you for not having chops! A drummer can only do so much for a song. If you play and show your chops your over playing, if you lay back and only play what a song needs you have nothing to offer. I don't get it.

[vadrum]

well, although his words may be a bit brash, if one person has EARNED the right to call it as he sees it, its vinnie. vinnie doesnt need to do anything spectacular, he knows his playing speaks for itself, which i believe is his point. also, why should he give up a secret or allow another drummer to cop a lick w/ a five minute lesson when it took him the better part of his lifetime to be able to play the way he does? i know its very tempting to ask players of that caliber how to play this or that but one day the young drummers out there are going to have to learn to do things the old fashion way....sit w/ a record, tape, cd, or video and put in the hours necessary to find out how NOT to play their favourite lick before they figure out how to play it. when jeff watts is asked "what are you playing?" he usually replies w/ a very cryptic "5's and 7's." this, to me, is a respectable answer. he didn't get the opportunity for a short cut, he put in a lot of work to develop his sound and he had to experiment to get there and once you do the same you will see how much his answer truly relates to the way he plays. dont deny yourself the opportunity of learning thru trial and error......remember its not about the end, its about the journey.

[Womble]

Yes, Vadrum, YES. If everyone thought like this maybe we'd be spared all those "How did you get such a fast foot?" questions. "Because I practised a lot, you idiot, what do you think?!?!"

[Gibbersticks]

I completely agree with the whole trial and error thing BELIEVE ME I KNOW!!! I have 20 years of trial and error ( mostly error ) under my belt. But then if that is the only way learn things and get a little respect from your peers then why would anyone bother to take lessons? Is that being lazy and un-musical too then? Shouldn't we all help cultivate and educate the up and comming to creative and musical? I'm not saying give them all the answers but whats wrong with a little hint or clue. For someone to say "I'm playing 5's and 7's" well thats great!! Your not laying it all out for them but putting them in the right general direction and chances they will come up with something similar but different. And I hate generalizations that all drummers are lazy and un-musical. Are you?

[Gibbersticks]

Now yes that falls under lazy and dumb!!!!

Yes, Vadrum, YES. If everyone thought like this maybe we'd be spared all those "How did you get such a fast foot?" questions. "Because I practised a lot, you idiot, what do you think?!?!"

[jonescrusher]

I don't think its fair to suggest he's lazy or apathetic in teaching his ways to others - some are better than others in explaining clearly their techniques and approaches. Check out his website - he provides a great and simply laid out approach to implied metric modulation; buy the Unreel Drum book for further insights into his playing. The complexity of his playing, and the apparent fact that he's not a natural born educator means that the majority of drummers probably wouldn't benefit from him imparting his knowledge.

[wy yung]

I think he's probably far too busy recording or touring to devote much time to education. Were I in his position, those would be my highest priorities.

[NUTHA JASON]

i think vinnie has contribited enough to drumming education just playing on CDs. if he gives us any more its a bonus.

do you know who Larry Finn is? some do a lot of drummers don't...why? becaise he is a great drum educator without huge vinnie like fame. his strength is transferring ideas as well as drumming. check out his DVDs. how many people really knew tommy igoe before the DVDs? not that many.

j

[vadrum]

I completely agree with the whole trial and error thing BELIEVE ME I KNOW!!! I have 20 years of trial and error ( mostly error ) under my belt. But then if that is the only way learn things and get a little respect from your peers then why would anyone bother to take lessons? Is that being lazy and un-musical too then? Shouldn't we all help cultivate and educate the up and comming to creative and musical? I'm not saying give them all the answers but whats wrong with a little hint or clue. For someone to say "I'm playing 5's and 7's" well thats great!! Your not laying it all out for them but putting them in the right general direction and chances they will come up with something similar but different. And I hate generalizations that all drummers are lazy and un-musical. Are you?

i wouldnt pay for a lesson w/ vinnie to ask about a lick. id take a lesson w/ vinnie to discuss approaches to practicing or playing, technique, or concepts of playing. further, if i were interested in one of vinnies licks, then i would at least attempt to pay the man for his knowledge. i wouldnt expect him to respond when hes never met me b4 and now suddenly im in his face at the club begging for a peek at his tricks.

see the real issue here is that we have students out there trying to find the secret to having a fast foot or playing like vinnie. or they think that the secret to being successful in music is playing all of the flash. but there are no secrets truthfully. its all laid out for you to play it out. you just need to be able to go out there and figure it out. to me thats the real purpose of a teacher. when youre my student, my goal is to get you to the point where you are able to figure things out for yourself. then you can shape your own sound and take music in your own direction.

to me, it sounds like vinnie is running across folks that he feels are focusing on the wrong thing and he meets folks that dont want to put the time in to figure things out for themselves. if you want to get a handle on one of his licks, skip the lesson and dont talk to him about it, go to the club and get a seat right next to the drums and stay there, watching, every night until the gig is over.

[syoshii]

Yes, Vadrum, YES. If everyone thought like this maybe we'd be spared all those "How did you get such a fast foot?" questions. "Because I practised a lot, you idiot, what do you think?!?!"

I totally agree with you. Vinnie has been practicing real hard. Even now he is saying like "I need to practice paradiddle more!" His play is based on the basics which many of us are practicing as well, just like 26 (or 40) rudiments, Stick Control for the Snare Drummer , 4 -Way Coordination: A Method Book for the Development of Complete Independence on the Drum Set, or Patterns.
And all those are a kind of "scale practice" for drummers. Drummers need to play "music" based on those things. I guess Vinnie wants to talk about music.

[Skitch]

Well, if almost any other drummer had said that, i'd agree, but Vinnie.... The fact that many other drummers and musicians place him on a pedestal, and that he's clearly a very intelligent person anyway I think sometimes contributes to an, at times, aloof image. That said, many major players have the problem of not being able to analyse the chops they come up with, that's the beauty of their improvisational ability.

Anways, I won't be treated to that MD issue over here for a couple of months at least, so i wait in great anticipation.


And there is a difference between a great drummer and a great teacher. Some drummers are both and, sadly, some of the greatest drummers, because of their lack of ability to communicate, will take everything to the grave with them.

Mike

http://www.mikemccraw.com
http://www.dominoretroplate.com


http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=drummermikemccraw

[jonescrusher]

Some drummers are both and, sadly, some of the greatest drummers, because of their lack of ability to communicate, will take everything to the grave with them.

Mike

http://www.mikemccraw.com
http://www.dominoretroplate.com


http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=drummermikemccraw

But what you see and hear is what you get on the multitude of recordings and video footage of the man. There's no unfathomable secret to his playing that he's refusing to share....

[X22]

And a perfect example of this thinking is right at our fingertips. Read the majority of posts in this forum (or any drum forum) and it's all about speed or someone trying to find a short-cut to "improve" their playing.

The people most offended by Vinnie's criticism are those types of drummers.

Sounds like a totally accurate appraisal of the current drum scene. Well said Vinnie.

[X22]

Drummers jump all over you for not having chops? They do? I wouldn't. Jeff Porcaro wouldn't. Vinnie certainly won't. An experienced drummer won't do that. What does chops have to do with making music? I find Vinnie's playing on "Fields of Gold" every bit as good (if not better) than the hundreds of solo clips that everyone puts up.

And Vinnie also said "you have to play for the song". How many times have we all heard that? Yet when we do play for the song, drummers everywhere jump all over you for not having chops! A drummer can only do so much for a song. If you play and show your chops your over playing, if you lay back and only play what a song needs you have nothing to offer. I don't get it.

[KzSgDrummer]

I read Vinnie's interview with glee that he was standing up and stating the truth. Bravo.

[X22]

Bingo. Vinnie isn't hiding a thing. I think 99% of us don't get it and wouldn't get it if he explained it to us.

Given enough time, any of us could master the technical skills required to play what Vinnie plays. There are dozens of drummers that have already mastered this. Probably hundreds. Probably thousands.

It's not about chops. It's about how to use chops. When to do this, when to do that and when NOT. There's also what he brings to the drums that can't be taught or practiced. It was something he was born with. He was born with the ability to be "very visceral and conceptual and wide". That's the ticket right there.

There's no unfathomable secret to his playing that he's refusing to share....

[Gibbersticks]

And a perfect example of this thinking is right at our fingertips. Read the majority of posts in this forum (or any drum forum) and it's all about speed or someone trying to find a short-cut to "improve" their playing.

The people most offended by Vinnie's criticism are those types of drummers.

Well if you think I'm offended because I'm looking for a short cut your dead wrong! I have been playing for 19 years and I practice everyday for at least 2hrs. I'm not anywhere near as gifted as someone like Vinnie and no I don't consider myself to have all my chops in order. But I happen to think that Vinnie was making a very big generalization when he that statement. Ya sure there are a lot of drummers looking for the easy way (along with guitar, bass, etc, etc, etc) but there are just as many people I'm sure who are passionate about their instrument and music and take the time to learn everything they can. That is what offended me. And there are some absolutely amazing drummers out there right now and Vinnie's comments in MD made me think "Are you living in a hole somewhere?" So who cares if someone wants the "secret" to this or that, let them waste their time trying to find it. So you'll have to excuse me now, I have all day to play my brand new drums.

[JayDVee009]

The drumming for Megadeath was kinda boring, for metal drumming, but I agree about the Kick the Chair riff...cool.

I saw him on TV with Faith Hill. Perfect Rhythm drumming ;-)

Good morning fellow drummers,

I just wanted to say that Vinnie is an absolute Legend! And also that his drumming on the Megadeth album is excellent aswell! I would never have expected him to do a metal album and it's just blown me away! I'm a huge fan of Frank Zappa & Chick Corea and I'm also a metal fan among other things.

The thing is, metal drumming doesn't have to be fast and complex to sound awesome.

There are many metal bands that play slower, chunkier style music and the drums might be slower but they can sound groovy, powerful, and very cool! (eg. Soulfly, Sevendust)

Vinnie's drumming on "The System Has Failed" is a real treat... to hear a drummer of his quality and capabilities and high level of skill playing hard hitting groovy beats to some fine metal riffs is very cool to say the least and he does it with absolute class and style!

Very cool drumming on a very cool album.

[Gibbersticks]

I just borrowed "The System Has Failed" from my guitar player but haven't listened to it yet. And I completely agree that metal drumming doesn't have to be crazy and fast all the time. Besides a lot of metal drumming falls into what has been discussed in the thread of late. I personally find blast beats and straight 16ths/ 32nd note double bass boring as hell. There is no imagination or color to it.

Sorry wy yung if I seem to be picking on you. Your comment last week or whenever was the latest one regarding chops and I was getting tired of reading about that stuff all the time. Just venting!!! LOL. Anyway I understand what Vinnie was trying to get across after seeing everyone elses interpretation of his article.

[wy yung]

I

Sorry wy yung if I seem to be picking on you. Your comment last week or whenever was the latest one regarding chops and I was getting tired of reading about that stuff all the time. Just venting!!! LOL. Anyway I understand what Vinnie was trying to get across after seeing everyone elses interpretation of his article.


Oh no need to be sorry. I tend to agree with you. ;-)

[fat in the middle]

The word Groit [sp] is a term used to describe a type of musician in africa. They mimick sounds of their environment, and tell stories,,The whole topic of chops etc and the analogy of sport Vinnie used, resonated with me. I feel it must be frustrating for someone like him to be bombarded with chop based questions, when he is so inside the music, and feeling it from an artists point of view. That said, i am not a fan per se of him, only because i haven't been that exposed to him. These guys have the ability to pull time bending things off, with the help of a great band in full support.

[wy yung]

The word Groit [sp] is a term used to describe a type of musician in africa. They mimick sounds of their environment, and tell stories,,The whole topic of chops etc and the analogy of sport Vinnie used, resonated with me. I feel it must be frustrating for someone like him to be bombarded with chop based questions, when he is so inside the music, and feeling it from an artists point of view. That said, i am not a fan per se of him, only because i haven't been that exposed to him. These guys have the ability to pull time bending things off, with the help of a great band in full support.

Perhaps it's more a matter of people forgeting their beginngs once they've become so advanced. I am sure as a youngster Vinnie would've spent a lot of time working on chops. Now of course he's moved beyond chops to a more conceptual level. Perhaps he would prefer more conceptual type questions. But it's hard for people who are not at that level to ask these questions. A person can really only ask a question based upon their own limitations.

Oh well, history has shown that gods rarely have patience when dealing with mere mortals. ;-)

[jonescrusher]

The word Groit [sp] is a term used to describe a type of musician in africa. They mimick sounds of their environment, and tell stories,,The whole topic of chops etc and the analogy of sport Vinnie used, resonated with me. I feel it must be frustrating for someone like him to be bombarded with chop based questions, when he is so inside the music, and feeling it from an artists point of view. That said, i am not a fan per se of him, only because i haven't been that exposed to him. These guys have the ability to pull time bending things off, with the help of a great band in full support.

fyi - griot (gree-o)

[wy yung]

I read the Vinnie interview in MD recently and I was really impressed by it. I know elsewhere it has caused some controversy within sections of the drumming community, but I thought it was right on the money; and it brought to mind the following quotation.

"Beware, all thieves and imitators of other people's labour and talents, laying your audacious hands upon our work"
Albrecht Duerer

[X22]

Absolutely dead-on accurate. The people that are going to be offended are the ones he was talking about.

[dawg]

when vinnie speaks,you gotta listen. when the world's greatest drummers express their opinions,you don't have to agree, but we should listen(or read.) i think vinnie's interview was very hearfelt and passionate about the state of music today.

[druid]

i wouldnt pay for a lesson w/ vinnie to ask about a lick. id take a lesson w/ vinnie to discuss approaches to practicing or playing, technique, or concepts of playing. further, if i were interested in one of vinnies licks, then i would at least attempt to pay the man for his knowledge. i wouldnt expect him to respond when hes never met me b4 and now suddenly im in his face at the club begging for a peek at his tricks.

see the real issue here is that we have students out there trying to find the secret to having a fast foot or playing like vinnie. or they think that the secret to being successful in music is playing all of the flash. but there are no secrets truthfully. its all laid out for you to play it out. you just need to be able to go out there and figure it out. to me thats the real purpose of a teacher. when youre my student, my goal is to get you to the point where you are able to figure things out for yourself. then you can shape your own sound and take music in your own direction.

to me, it sounds like vinnie is running across folks that he feels are focusing on the wrong thing and he meets folks that dont want to put the time in to figure things out for themselves. if you want to get a handle on one of his licks, skip the lesson and dont talk to him about it, go to the club and get a seat right next to the drums and stay there, watching, every night until the gig is over.

I have to agree....alot of what he said too about flash over substance in playing....made me think likewise. I think people need to realize theree are no short cuts to becoming a great player....but I would attribute this to the short attention spans of people sometimes also. You also need to relaize that it is not about ripping off someone's licks and using them...it is about working your own tail end off and discovering your OWN playing...just taking someone's licks always comes across as simply stealing or borrowing with no genuine artisrty behind it....just my opinion.

[Gibbersticks]

Absolutely dead-on accurate. The people that are going to be offended are the ones he was talking about.

Well I hope you weren't refering to me, and someone else said that to regarding one of my comments. I though a few of his comments were "generalizations" and ya someone in his shoes would probably see it a lot more than I would having people come up to him constantly asking stupid questions about how did you get so fast, how did you do that, blah blah blah....

What I was trying to say for example, regarding what he said about drum clinics and how everyone just wants to see razzle-dazzle and flash. Well not me. I accually get bored watching drum solos, everyone always does the same ol' stuff. I would rather someone come and demonstrate a concept that you can take home, practice, and add to your "toolbox". And since Vinnie says that he thinks "very visceral and conceptual and wide" when it comes to his playing, I would love to have him elaborate on that in a clinic setting.

All his talk about "sensationalism" kinda struck me as strange. Was he saying that regarding just drummers? Hello, that would be more accurate if it was a statement regarding the state of the world we live in. Everything is sensationalized! Why does he sound so surprised? Being a world traveller such as it is that should be pretty obvious.

And as my final statement to this thread (cause the topic lately is getting old), Has anyone looked at Vinnie's artist page? All this talk of sensationalism and razzle-dazzle and flash, if you look at those clips thats all thats there! Or might there be another name for what he is talking about? Entertainment!!!

[n2xlr8n]

And since Vinnie says that he thinks "very visceral and conceptual and wide" when it comes to his playing, I would love to have him elaborate on that in a clinic setting.

I would too, it just isn't what the majority wants today. I think Vinnie was stating his worry about the future of drumming; I just wish he had taken a more tactful approach. Instead, he came off as bitter. I hate that for him. I hate that for us. I hate that for the kids that worship him, and have no idea what they're hearing beyond the eleventy-billion beats per nanosec.



All his talk about "sensationalism" kinda struck me as strange. Was he saying that regarding just drummers? Hello, that would be more accurate if it was a statement regarding the state of the world we live in. Everything is sensationalized! Why does he sound so surprised? Being a world traveller such as it is that should be pretty obvious.



I agree. WTTL.

SRJ

[Womble]

I just wish he had taken a more tactful approach. Instead, he came off as bitter.

See I didn't think he sounded remotely bitter. What's HE got to be bitter about? It's not like he's losing work because everyone else sucks.

People seem so worried about causing offence these days, like it's this major crime that will scar people for life. What happened to telling it like it is? Mingus once hit someone in the face because they stuffed up a part!

[X22]

1) His approach is that he looks at the big picture of a song and his playing fits how he sees that picture. I think he feels he's able to get into the mind of the other musician(s) and play exactly what they think they want to hear.

2) Vinnie didn't post those clips. It's possible that Vinnie wouldn't post any audio/video of himself. (Psst, look at his own page.)

And since Vinnie says that he thinks "very visceral and conceptual and wide" when it comes to his playing, I would love to have him elaborate on that in a clinic setting.

And as my final statement to this thread (cause the topic lately is getting old), Has anyone looked at Vinnie's artist page? All this talk of sensationalism and razzle-dazzle and flash, if you look at those clips thats all thats there! Or might there be another name for what he is talking about? Entertainment!!!

[Gibbersticks]

Vinnie didn't post those clips. It's possible that Vinnie wouldn't post any audio/video of himself. (Psst, look at his own page.)

I have looked at his web page, but thats not what I meant. Vinnie's playing (from my perspective) is razzle-dazzle and flash even when he is laying back to play for the song. Am I saying that it is wrong? Hell no! He is at a level that quite frankly none of us can touch. So when he is laying back and "serving the song" he is still razzle-dazzle compared to what you, I, or anyone else would play. He may not see it that way, but from the eyes of mear mortals?

[X22]

The style of music he is playing in those videos is such that it allows him to play that way.

Did you ever get a chance to see Vinnie play with Sting? Two entirely different approaches to playing the gig.

[n2xlr8n]

See I didn't think he sounded remotely bitter. What's HE got to be bitter about? It's not like he's losing work because everyone else sucks.


LOL. Right!



People seem so worried about causing offence these days, like it's this major crime that will scar people for life. What happened to telling it like it is? Mingus once hit someone in the face because they stuffed up a part!

To clarify: I understood his meaning, I'm just not sure his approach would be understood by the majority of young drummers today (at least those consumed with all things BPM).

I think had he explained his reasoning for not doing clinics in more lay terms, rather than the intellectual-esoteric, it would have been easily understood.

SRJ

[Womble]

I'm just not sure his approach would be understood by the majority of young drummers today (at least those consumed with all things BPM).


I don't know what approach would get through to these young speed freaks. I doubt anything written in a magazine would manage. I think the best hope is for them to be reached early by a good teacher who can introduce them to true drumming/musical genius.

[glen thomas]

I read the recent Vinnie article in Modern Drummer and loved it. He's being honest and really, the big picture is that he is a hired gun and only has to impress the people he's working for. Also, he's making a living at it and in my opinion, has nothing to prove.
Sometimes we fans put these pros on such a high platform that it's almost taboo if they slant left or right of popular opinion. That's kinda our fault in a way. Vinnie can play it simple are stretch it to the limit. That's not a fault, that's a gift. There will always be people that believe less is more or more is greater but if you can do it all, (and Vinnie can), no one should have a hang up with what he said in that article or how he plays on recordings or live. That issue of Modern Drummer has to be my favourite in a long while.
An interview with a bit of edge is far more enjoyable than the fluff MD has been printing lately. ;-)

[Green and Mean]

When I first saw Vinnie(Weckl, Gadd, Colaiuta soloing), I was not so impressed."Good drummer,nice technique" etc. THen I saw his videos on youtube, playing with Jeff Beck. I started to like him more and more. FInally I decided to download his Zappa albums like Joe's Garage and Shut Up Play Yer' Guitar. And he changed my thinking about drums...
I've never thought that someone could do something so diffrent, his drumming on albums is incredibly intresting. When I had listened those albums about 15 times, I started to analyze each and every song. Concluison, my new favourite drummer. Then I asked from my drum teacher(he is a very good drummer and super teacher!) "how is it possible to play something like that"? He said "his echniqual abilty allows him to play everything in every way." This has made me thinking music in diffrent way.

Thanks Vinnie, that you chose drumming!!!

[wy yung]

I just wish he had taken a more tactful approach. Instead, he came off as bitter.

I agree. WTTL.

SRJ

Hello SRJ.

I used to write for drum magazines. With this in mind I feel it important to mention the editing process. I doubt that what we read in any interview is word for word. I only realized later when editing an interview for the first time how easily it is for one's words to say something other than what was meant. The writer may not even be aware of how the editing may affect readers until after. I tend to take them with a grain of salt and certainly never personally.

My interpretation of much of what was said is that drumming is being denegrated to the level of sport by those running the 3 minute drumming mile. I wholly agree 100%. These people, in my own opinion, are doing an artform a great disservice. It gives us a bad name as non musicians. Something we have always had to battle against since the riverboat days.

[syoshii]

Hello SRJ.

I used to write for drum magazines. With this in mind I feel it important to mention the editing process. I doubt that what we read in any interview is word for word. I only realized later when editing an interview for the first time how easily it is for one's words to say something other than what was meant. The writer may not even be aware of how the editing may affect readers until after. I tend to take them with a grain of salt and certainly never personally.


Exactly. I'm a drummer and also a Jazz critic, and I once did an interview with a Jazz piano player for an issue of PLAYBOY Magazine Japanese edition, featuring the guide of New York City for tourists. I had a lot of limitations regarding with the number of pages, theme of that issue's feature, etc. so I had to "edit" his words quite drastically. Actually I had to cut the most interesting and deepest part of his talk - it was his opinion about educating younger musicians - because it didn't have a direct link to the theme, i.e. the tourist guide.
I think in many cases what the media wants to publish or broadcast and what the interviewee wants to say is quite different.

[fusssion]

I'll have to admit when I first read the article I said to myself...."what a jerk!" Then I kept reading,...and tried to realize where he's coming from,...and I wound up enjoying it, and agreeing with most of what he said.

I do believe though that there were times that he didn't need to sound so 'harsh' I guess....but other than that, I can see where he's coming from.

[X22]

He's paid his dues. He owes nobody anything. He can be harsh if he chooses. Listen to the message, not how it's delivered.

I do believe though that there were times that he didn't need to sound so 'harsh' I guess....but other than that, I can see where he's coming from.

[PHIL2007]

This guy is the one to watch,man! his phrasing is awesome!

[cantstandyourfunk]

I can't believe there are SO MANY guys out here actually critiquing Vinnie's playing. If any one of 'em played quarter-way close to what he does, I'd listen in...and probably be devoted...but hey, whatever.
It's Palladium, all the way....

[caprisun3484]

This guy is the one to watch,man! his phrasing is awesome!

yea Vinnie does have amazing phrasing
that's probably one of my favorite parts about his playing

[jonescrusher]

I uploaded this a couple of weeks ago, here it is before i forget again:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCg6bQiE_RY

An absolutely exquisite cross-sticking groove from the man (@1.01), for me the epitome of musical voicing. I nearly wet myself the first time i saw this.

[toteman2]

I uploaded this a couple of weeks ago, here it is before i forget again:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCg6bQiE_RY

An absolutely exquisite cross-sticking groove from the man (@1.01), for me the epitome of musical voicing. I nearly wet myself the first time i saw this.

Vinnie is God. It's as simple as that.

[lastditch]

Vinnie practcally has a patent on the word groove and plays in the pocket like no other.Sure there are more progressive and faster guys but for a gnasty lick...Vin can dish.

[Mook]

Was listening to 'Now you see it now you don't' from Zappa's 'Tinseltown Rebellion' album - it's like he's taking Drumming into high art or something - incredible stuff.

[jonescrusher]

Mook, how did you get on with the Token of my Extreme part? I've been giving it a go as well since i got hold of the transcription - those 32nd note bits are nasty....

[Mook]

I've had a go at the bits I was most interested in, however I've barely played this year & when I have - it's been in the context of a band. I'm not really one for playing songs the whole way through - I prefer to adapt beats/chops & play them in my own way - which is partly down to laziness. I did manage the 32nd notes (playing them on my knees & the floor) - they're not easy though - I'd put 'Token of my extreme' up there in my top 5 or 10 drum tracks of all time, amazing stuff!

[Gibbersticks]

Well I just had been listening to Megadeth - The System Has Failed and I have to say that although I though a lot of the songs were kind of lame the drumming was unreal and beautiful all at once. So clean and precise with great feel.

[Ian Ballard]

I've had a go at the bits I was most interested in, however I've barely played this year & when I have - it's been in the context of a band. I'm not really one for playing songs the whole way through - I prefer to adapt beats/chops & play them in my own way - which is partly down to laziness. I did manage the 32nd notes (playing them on my knees & the floor) - they're not easy though - I'd put 'Token of my extreme' up there in my top 5 or 10 drum tracks of all time, amazing stuff!

I had to transcribe the thing. "Token" is crazy and smooth, at the same time. "Five, Five, FIVE!" on Shut Up and Play Yer Guitar, is some of the most brilliant 5 work ever. And I think the 19/16 grooves "Keep it Greasy" defied logic at times... in a good way.

Vinnie + Zappa = Musical Singularity.

[Mook]

This thread is so much more enjoyable when people are discussing what they enjoy about Vinnie's playing rather than the 'Gadd own's Vinnie in that drum battle' or 'you suck ass if you think Vinnie is faster than Buddy Rich' type stuff. I love so many drummers & their work for so many reasons & think it's so much more important than to bring it down to that level...

[jonescrusher]

I've had a go at the bits I was most interested in, however I've barely played this year & when I have - it's been in the context of a band. I'm not really one for playing songs the whole way through - I prefer to adapt beats/chops & play them in my own way - which is partly down to laziness. I did manage the 32nd notes (playing them on my knees & the floor) - they're not easy though - I'd put 'Token of my extreme' up there in my top 5 or 10 drum tracks of all time, amazing stuff!


Haha, a man after my heart. I've never had much concentration to play through transcriptions end to end, but Token has such great parts that i've made a commitment to see it through lol
Awesome track awesome Vinnie.

Nice to see Ian Ballard make a return too

[syoshii]

I had to transcribe the thing. "Token" is crazy and smooth, at the same time. "Five, Five, FIVE!" on Shut Up and Play Yer Guitar, is some of the most brilliant 5 work ever. And I think the 19/16 grooves "Keep it Greasy" defied logic at times... in a good way.

"Keep it Greasy" is one of my top 10 favorite drum tracks of all time. Really unusual, and still sounds so natural and smooth...I was just blown away when I first heard it!

[dawg]

yes! AND ALAN DAWSON'S LEGACY SHOULD BE KEPT ALIVE! RIGHT ON!

[Laurent]

Vinnie's awesome.... I really like him when he's in a "soft groove" mood... The recordings on Kenny Pore's "Sessions Vol I" and "Sessions Vol 2" are fantastic (smooth/contemporary jazz).

I love his work on Gino Vanelli's "Nightwalker" and, of course, on Karizma's "Document". I think that some of Vinnie best works are found on David Garfield/Karizma's recordings. The things he played on those Creatchy Records albums - for instance for Brandon Fields, Steve Tavaglione and Larry Klimas - are really really good.

I personally never understood the comparison between Colaiuta and Gadd or Weckl. All three of them have different styles and they are all brilliant.

[Ian Ballard]

I noticed at the beginning of the thread, that "Nutha Jason" wrote that he didn't like Vinnie "as a person", to paraphrase.

I wonder what that's all about.

[Ashbash]

Must confess I didn't really like the way this guy played, thought he was a bit too choppy (not that I am anywhere near as good as him... anywhere...), but just this tuesday I heard him play with Herbie Hancock.

He's a freaking legend.

He was really tasteful, plays what works, and really well too. Seems like a modest bloke too. It was pretty cool how he wore his black singlet in front of a black background, you saw his arms flailing about like they weren't attached to anything :p

I had no idea he'd be there, luckily managed to get tix for Herbie on the day (!!) and doubly bonus, turns out he was playing!

On the downside, no more concerts till August... my parents have been forking out the dough.

So yeah. New found respect for Vinnie. Anybody else see him on the tour?

[karmadharma]

YYou're also right in his playing. It's so frickin' subtle yet so amazing. Would I have ever thought of playing a 4/4 pattern in my right hand and a 5/4 or 7/4 pattern in my right? It's so unnatural but when he plays it, it's SO natural that you don't even notice it until someone points it out. And the groove is just so solid. I remember when I first figured it out and went "Duh, that's too easy." Then I sat down and tried to do it. Good God.

hahahahaha, I couldn't have put it better, the other day I was like 'hey, I've been listened to seven days so many times, why don't I ever trying playing it? it sounds like a pretty easy groove'... yeah, right...

[trumvirvel]

Hi there,

I have a question for those of you who recognize Vinnie's (and Katchés) playing - who plays on which track on Stings "Brand new day"? Been looking all over the net for info, but haven't found it. Anyone who knows?

All the best,
M

EDIT: Later the same day I found on a Wiki page that he is supposed to play on 3 tracks on "Brand new day" - the question still remains which though...

[Miron]

He is one hell of a drummer...really so much rythmic knowledge...but lately I get disappointed by him...I watched him with Jeff Beck and that was very strange playing...he was playing so complex and unnecessery phrases...Evene Beck himself was so confused during Vinnie's fills...just listen track Stratus!
For me Vinnie's playing is the best on Sting's album...I mean Seven Days, and other tracks are just amazing...I would like to see him again with Sting!

[the skin man]

There are some very interesting questions and answers on the Vinnie webpage:


Question: Has yours or Steve Gadd's head ever exploded on stage? - ( - 1/23/2006 )

Answer: Once, I think that my head actually 'imploded' and went through a wormhole and back, BEFORE it even happened in linear time, so thankfully nobody noticed! Whew!


Question: Hello Mr Colaiutta: My wife is pregnant ( I think this is the best gift from god for a couple in love like Maria (my wife) and me) and I make my wife listen great music (karizma - document my favourite included). Do you think it is good for the child? I want him to be a musician because I think music is the most wonderful art. Which age do you think is good for children to get involve in music? Thanks a lot. - (Tito Julio - 5/12/2005 )

Answer: Congratulations! And, amen. Yes, I think it is good for the child to be exposed to great music during pregnancy, and always. I think that exposure to great music and art immediately is a good age. And, I would have he or she tell you whether he or she wants to be a musician. I wouldn't force it, but I certainly would foster it.


Question: This ist more a prophetical question :-)
Is it possible to book you for some drumlessons when we are all in heaven? I think in the heaven there will be a drum department, harp playing is not my bussines. - (Beat Kunz - 3/7/2005 )

Answer: :-) Maybe then The Lord will give us ALL more lessons!
Bless ya!


Question: How and when did you give your life to the Lord JesusChrist? - (Cristian Borneo - 3/3/2005 )

Answer: Around March 10, 1998. Amen!


Question: My question is very simple, Vinnie: what's on your mind when you are playing? - (Akira Jimbo - 11/3/2000 )

Answer: Not much, if anything. It also depends somewhat on the circumstances - as they are all different, yet similar. The most important elements in playing music are to trust and surrender with developed discernment.


Check out the page: http://www.vinniecolaiuta.com/faqs.aspx


And keep 'em comin'.

[mind_drummer]

I found out just recently that Vinnie recorded "The System has Failed" from Megadeth and I'm astounished by his playing. Vinnie may very well be the most versatile drummer out there.

Thumb's up Vinnie !

[webstercat]

He is just one of those guys that you just can't argue about. I love his playing, but it depresse me to listen to him. He is just that good.

Don't be depressed, be inspired! I have the Unreal Book and even thought it is totally over my head I was able to pull one phrase out of the Jestson's solo here on drummerworld and incorporated it in my playing. I think of Vinnie's solos as paragraphs. I can't remember and play the entire paragraph but I can pull a word or two out and learn from them. There are only so many Vinnies in a lifetime, remember your friends need you as a drummer, Vinnie is not you competition. Have fun with drums!

[webstercat]

Ok ok i admit....
love him with Sting (enormous)
love him with labouriel at backed potatoe
love him in joe's garage (zappa)
love him with pianist randy waldman
love him with chaka khan
but i can't stand him with karizma (dunno why but that is)
T

I can understand that. While I believe Vinnie is a genius on his instrument I also don't enjoy his playing with karizma. To me it is chops for sake of chops, just a personal taste thing. I find his playing with Randy Waldman beautiful. Seems like he taylors his drum sound to the music he is playing. That has always been an issue with me for Gadd. No to critize his playing, just never like the wet sound in a jazz setting but it wasn't an issue for those who hired him so what do I know?

[aegir77]

For me he's one of the best, I dunno why i forgot to mention him on earlier posts, but he's amazing. His playing fits perfectly to every song he's played on, no matter the style.

HE MAKES YOU WANNA PLAY THE SONG everytime.... Extremely tasteful. ( except karizma, where he kinda throws everything he knows)-... Great drummer

[aydee]

Originally Posted by DR.WHOO View Post, with minor changes..
Ok ok i admit....
love him with Sting
love him with labouriel at backed potato
love him in joe's garage (zappa)
love him with pianist randy waldman
ok with him on chaka khan
but i absolutely love him with karizma (dunno why but that is)

[webstercat]

I got in a bit over my head when I purchased that Unreel book covering his playing.

oops...maybe in 10 years I'll be able to work out of that book.

stu

Me too when you try to understand his time concepts, but still there is a wealth of information to get from the book. I just listen to the CD and when I hear something that makes me grin I find the page in the book and learn the part, even if it is two measures out of sixteen. I don't worry about learning it all, I can't, and even if I did I don't have a place to use it. One of my favorite fills is My Favorite Things 5:55 to about 5:58. It goes by so fast I would have never figured it out on my own. So I'm glad I bought the book and it will keep me busy for the remainder of this life.

[Laurent]

Originally Posted by DR.WHOO View Post, with minor changes..
but i absolutely love him with karizma (dunno why but that is)

Because that is the best band that ever came out of L.A. That's why! :-) I am a HUGE Karizma/Los Lobotomys and David Garfield fan.

Did you hear "Tune For Tony" from David Garfield's "Giving Back". It features double drumming by Vinnie and Bissonnette. Superb!

[aydee]

Because that is the best band that ever came out of L.A. That's why! :-) I am a HUGE Karizma/Los Lobotomys and David Garfield fan.

Did you hear "Tune For Tony" from David Garfield's "Giving Back". It features double drumming by Vinnie and Bissonnette. Superb!

This band absolutely, positively kicks butt!

Its a band that does'nt play safe, goes after the truth, has superb musicianship.

Garfield, Stubenhaus, and omygod, Landau are up to Vinnies beautifully strange and incredibly gifted headspace.......

No, Havent heard Tune for Tony, will check it out......thanks

[Laurent]

This band absolutely, positively kicks butt!

Its a band that does'nt play safe, goes after the truth, has superb musicianship.

Garfield, Stubenhaus, and omygod, Landau are up to Vinnies beautifully strange and incredibly gifted headspace.......

No, Havent heard Tune for Tony, will check it out......thanks

Vinnie is also superb on other Garfield releases such as Brandon Fields's "The Other Place". Check out www.creatchy.com for more info.

One of Vinnie's best recordings IMHO is Karizma's "Document". I've seen the band twice on that tour and they were amazing. Stubenhaus is my favourite bass player ever. He is absolutely amazing and deserve much wider recognition. He's without the shadow of a doubt in the same category as Stanley Clarke or Marcus Miller.

[aydee]

Vinnie is also superb on other Garfield releases such as Brandon Fields's "The Other Place". Check out www.creatchy.com for more info.

One of Vinnie's best recordings IMHO is Karizma's "Document". I've seen the band twice on that tour and they were amazing. Stubenhaus is my favourite bass player ever. He is absolutely amazing and deserve much wider recognition. He's without the shadow of a doubt in the same category as Stanley Clarke or Marcus Miller.

Yes, Document is fantastic. Vinnie is one of the few guys-i'd-love-to-see-live, that I have not. Someday, hopefully...

[slingerland755]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=BCzdKdajEIc

Vinnie with Jeff Beck (Scatterbrain). It's a bit rushed but still vinnie.

[syoshii]

I just knew that Chick Corea is going to start a new project with John McLaughlin next year, and Vinnie will be on drums. Chick referred to that project in the interview with a Japanese Jazz magazine. Here's the musicians;

Chick Corea (p)
John McLaughlin (g)
Christian McBride (b)
Vinnie Colaiuta (ds)

[caprisun3484]

that line-up sounds sweet

what'd you guys think of Vinnie's work on Herbie Hancock new album River

[Vinnysimmo]

what'd you guys think of Vinnie's work on Herbie Hancock new album River

Is that a statement or a question?

[the baz]

I must say that although I wouldn't rate Vinnie as my favorite drummer, I do think he is so far the greatest drummer to have lived on earth. He is just able to do everything with such taste and flare and seem to put his stamp on the stuff he plays without getting in the artists way.
His work on Eric Marienthal's "Upside Down", as someone mentioned previously, is insane. He is all over the place and yet you wouldn't change a note. I woodshed to that tune for a while and gave up. Vinnie is a true master with a bag of tricks for every occasion. He seems to put so much into his playing that at times he looks almost unco, then he rips some impossible fill like he's waved his hands over the kit and the sticks just go where they are supposed to.
The Steve Vai Frank Zappa sushi story tells it all.
The reason he is not my favorite is I guess his playing is hard for me with my ability, (lack of), to identify with, or think of myself ever playing like that. Having said that, I have never heard Vinnie do anything I haven't really liked. While there are a million great drummers out there, and I am not one to think of music as competitive, if Buddy Rich was considered to be the best ever, then I think that status should now be passed on to Vinnie.

Baz

[the baz]

I just remembered something I wanted to respond to a previous post re Vinnie playing on Gino Vannelli's Nightwalker. I love that song and the drumming on it is fantastic. I looked that up ages ago and couldn't find the drumming credit for it. I have the video clip and it has Mark Craney playing, (miming) drums on the clip. If it is Vinnie, it just shows how versatile he is. It is rock solid and the fills are great while still being quite simple.
Did Vinnie definitely play on this song?

Baz

[mlaponsky]

I absolutely love Vinnie. Definitely one of my favorite drummers of all time. His sense of time and groove is superb. And I love his philosophy on music and drumming which he briefly described in a Modern Drummer interview a while ago. Just mind-blowing: both what he plays and what he says.

I didn't even realize this when I saw it, but he was playing with Jeff Beck at Crossroads last year. I knew I recognized him at the concert but I couldn't put my finger on who it was. And then a few weeks later they posted the band line-ups online and turns out I saw him live without even knowing it! Great experience. I definitely think everyone needs to see him live at some point.

[Funky Crêpe]

i think hes coming to the jazz fest in cork this year....cant wait to see him....a simply brilliant drummer!

[Paul Quin]

I just remembered something I wanted to respond to a previous post re Vinnie playing on Gino Vannelli's Nightwalker. I love that song and the drumming on it is fantastic. I looked that up ages ago and couldn't find the drumming credit for it. I have the video clip and it has Mark Craney playing, (miming) drums on the clip. If it is Vinnie, it just shows how versatile he is. It is rock solid and the fills are great while still being quite simple.
Did Vinnie definitely play on this song?

Baz

No - it was Mark Craney, one of the best and most feeling players who is rarely mentioned except by drummers. He is missed . . . .

Paul

[Guz2]

Heheh, how many great drummers are called Vinnie? Vinnie Appice, Vinnie Paul and Vinnie Colaiuta xP

[eldowns]

I'm trying to get my Vinnie education on. Can someone help me out? I know Vinnie's a killer in whatever situation, but can someone suggest a discography of his most potent (if you will) stuff?

Or maybe I can just prep it like this: What are everyone's favorite Vinnie albums?

[LinearDrummer]

What are everyone's favorite Vinnie albums?

Alan Holdsworth Secrets
Jing Chi Crazy House is a killer song.
Sting Ten Summoner's Tales
Karizma Document

I'm not into Zappa's music but the drumming is rediculous....also check out some Jeff Beck albums....

[aaajn]

I'm trying to get my Vinnie education on. Can someone help me out? I know Vinnie's a killer in whatever situation, but can someone suggest a discography of his most potent (if you will) stuff?

Or maybe I can just prep it like this: What are everyone's favorite Vinnie albums?

Joe's Garage.

There is more to the story than meets the ear.

[Hal]

I love Vinnies playing on Hancock's "Mitchell" and Megadeth's "The World Needs a Hero" I think that those albums talks about this guy AMAZING versatilty.

[cantstandyourfunk]

Hi there,

I have a question for those of you who recognize Vinnie's (and Katchés) playing - who plays on which track on Stings "Brand new day"? Been looking all over the net for info, but haven't found it. Anyone who knows?

All the best,
M

EDIT: Later the same day I found on a Wiki page that he is supposed to play on 3 tracks on "Brand new day" - the question still remains which though...

I have been wondering about that for a while, but never really found out. however, if you are into sounds, I'd think that on the opener, A Thousand Years and Desert Rose it's definitely manu, especially in the way he comes in on Desert Rose. If it's otherwise i'd be surprised. Also, Ghost Story is pretty much Vinnie all over; just listen to the outro, you can't miss that ride. I am not so sure about Perfect Love Gone Wrong, but that and Tomorrow We'll See are probably Manu as well. I'd like to think After The Rain Has Fallen as Vinnie's, again, because of tones and the hat work just the overall feel. Does anyone actually play on Big Lie Small World? The time-sig veers towards Vinnie Territory hahaha. God, I love both these guys with Sting, man; it's taste to the max!

[Mateus B.S]

Hello!
Anyone know tell me what the name of a show that had to do with Africa or Apartheid something. Concerts a fund-raising show those who met several artists like Madonna, Cindy Lauper etc. He played the entire show in the 80s or 90.
Bye!

[ptrack]

[QUOTE=Buddha;153086]If the audience was full of drumming guru's then they would've cheered all of the drummers just about equally.

When it comes to Vinnie's lack fo creativity I'm talking specifically about his solos. For the most part I hear a continuous pattern of quick rolls all over the place. I cant hear many note variations or a strong use of other rudiments in his solo's.....little diversity I guess is what i'm trying to say. Maybe you have a better ear than I do and there are subtleties in Vinnie's solo's that I dont notice, but I still don't like the way he plays.

The difference between Gadd's and Vinnie's solos are that Gadd solo's have a oddity to them while maintaining a sound "feel", they're actually somthing I can internalize and admire. With Vinnie, I just cant really admire his style of soloing like I can with most other drummers. So I guess we are arguing a difference of tastes. And i'll admit that like everyone els, I can be biased towards things I dont like:-)[/QUOTE

Obviously, Vinnie is over your head....I say this because you dont even noticed the blushdas,the flam taps,the flamaddiles,and all the other insane rudiments that he is playing....albiet fast as hell but still musically significant....As for the whole vinnie repeating himself well buddy you dont have a any idea about the construction of drum solos...and the idea of soloing over a form without accompaniment.If you did you would know that his "fours" were based off what Steve and Dave played before him.I love Gadd and Weck but Gadd has been playing the SAME solo for YEARS with the same licks and all..Currently however in defense to Mr.Gadd he has reunited with L'Image (a jazz fusion group from the seventies) I had the chance to see them in NYC last year....And Gadd kicked major ass all over the place and he NEVER resorted to any of his stock licks .He played like he was twenty again.

Again I understand that everyone has different tastes and I respect that but please be INFORMED!!!

[Thaard]

One of the main reasons i play drums is because of Vinnie. The stuff he did with Zappa was miles ahead. Same goes with Alan Holdsworth and vinnies solo-cd.

[jonescrusher]

Some great footage here, also very interesting hearing him speak afterwards:


http://flam.tv/rare-vinnie-colaiuta-in-the-studio/

[mutant]

Heres audio of Vinnie playing Mo's Vacation with FZ live in Poughkeepsie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4QqyuWQ7-s

[Cuban]

Could anyone tell me when in the 90's Vinnie switched to Gretsch?

Another question is, does anyone know what the 22" large bell ride was that he used to play?

Also, has anyone got any good photos of his Yamaha or Gretsch kits from the 90's, especially looking for any bird's eye views?

Finally, I keep reading about the Baked Potato video and have seen a few clips and see a couple of tracks have been officially released, but is there anywhere I could get the full show on video / dvd?

Sorry for all the questions and thanks in advance!

[aydee]

I guess the hardcore Vinnieites know this about his sight reading skills, but here is an excerpt from a Steve Vai quote:

“I’ll tell you a really great Vinnie story. He’s one of the most amazing sight-readers that ever existed on the instrument. One day we were in a Frank rehearsal, this was early ’80s, and Frank brought in this piece of music called “Mo ‘N Herb’s Vacation.” Just unbelievably complex. All the drums were written out, just like “The Black Page” except even more complex.

There were these runs of like 17 over 3 and every drumhead is notated differently. And there were a whole bunch of people there, I think Bozzio was there.”

“Vinnie had this piece of music on the stand to his right. To his left he had another music stand with a plate of sushi on it, okay? Now the tempo of the piece was very slow, like “The Black Page.” And then the first riff came in, [mimics bizarre Zappa-esque drum rhythm patterns] with all these choking of cymbals, and hi-hat, ruffs, spinning of rototoms and all this crazy stuff.
And I saw Vinnie reading this thing.

Now, Vinnie has this habit of pushing his glasses up with the middle finger of his right hand. Well I saw him look at this one bar of music, it was the last bar of music on the page. He started to play it as he was turning the page with one hand, and then once the page was turned he continued playing the riff with his right hand, as he reached over with his left hand, grabbed a piece of sushi and put it in his mouth, continued the riff with his left hand and feet, pushed his glasses up, and then played the remaining part of the bar.”

“It was the sickest thing I have ever seen. Frank threw his music up in the air. Bozzio turned around and walked away. I just started laughing.”

- Steve Vai


...

[Paul Quin]

Great story! Did anyone see Vinnie playing with Jeff Beck and Tal Wilkenfeld at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary concert. Anyone watching (and listening) would instaneously know why Vinnie is THE first call drummer.

Paul

[jake_larson]

Hey guys, i have a question. What do you think are some of Vinnies best recordings? I am starting to study him and really only know the zappa and megadeth stuff he did.
Thanks

[mutant]

Hey guys, i have a question. What do you think are some of Vinnies best recordings? I am starting to study him and really only know the zappa and megadeth stuff he did.
Thanks

Everybody knows Vinnies legendary playing on Joes Garage was stunning and his kit sounded so cool.

But also, on Zappa's Shut up and pLay yer Guitar. I always thought that stuff contained so many different drum ideas in just any given few seconds of all the jamming, that you could listen to it almost like a million times over and still dissect new drum ideas each time, to practice for years to come from just the wealth of all the complex stuff he was laying out. I think of it as a kind of Vinnie drum Bible.

[joseisfreshhh]

In my opinion, Vinnie Colaiuta is the best drummer like ever
Better than Weckl, Gadd, Chambers. He's just always been ahead lol.

[andSometimesY]

I for one cannot think of any drummer EVER that is/was as technically proficient as Vinnie. I saw a Jeff Beck concert with him on drums and he managed to play impossibly difficult grooves and fills the whole time and it rarely (only during solos of course) sounded like he was overplaying. Though he is the best (as far as I know), my "favorite" drummer would still have to be Danny Carey.

[FunkItUp]

Hey guys, i have a question. What do you think are some of Vinnies best recordings? I am starting to study him and really only know the zappa and megadeth stuff he did.
Thanks

Check out Jeff Beck's "Live at Ronnie Scotts." Vinnie put some great stuff forward in that show, and his brushwork on "Cause We've Ended As Lovers" off of that album is superb.

[Adam8]

His solo album is incredible as is Alan Holdsworth Secrets and many many others. He's played on thousands of albums. Does anyone else agree that he is the greatest all around drummer ever - or at least alive today?

[sttp118]

I have been wondering about that for a while, but never really found out. however, if you are into sounds, I'd think that on the opener, A Thousand Years and Desert Rose it's definitely manu, especially in the way he comes in on Desert Rose. If it's otherwise i'd be surprised. Also, Ghost Story is pretty much Vinnie all over; just listen to the outro, you can't miss that ride. I am not so sure about Perfect Love Gone Wrong, but that and Tomorrow We'll See are probably Manu as well. I'd like to think After The Rain Has Fallen as Vinnie's, again, because of tones and the hat work just the overall feel. Does anyone actually play on Big Lie Small World? The time-sig veers towards Vinnie Territory hahaha. God, I love both these guys with Sting, man; it's taste to the max!


Ghost Story is actually played by Manu, and to me is the best drumming on the disc.

[A-customs]

Some great footage here, also very interesting hearing him speak afterwards:


http://flam.tv/rare-vinnie-colaiuta-in-the-studio/

Great link.Thanks.Saw him one time with beck a few years back.Me and my son.In like the 5th row back at house of blues.His drumming blew us away.amazing chops.........

[Swiss Matthias]

Some great footage here, also very interesting hearing him speak afterwards:


http://flam.tv/rare-vinnie-colaiuta-in-the-studio/
Thanks for the link - Vinnie is just the man!!!

[higgins]

I've got a question re: Vinnie and his standing as far as past MD awards.

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

Wikipedia's page on Vinnie cites....

Colaiuta has won a total of 18 Drummer of the Year awards from Modern Drummer Magazine's annual reader polls. These include 10 awards in the "Best Overall" category.

While wiki content doesn't necessarily have to be true, it seems a bunch of other internet sites reference wiki's above stat, while I can't find anywhere on the MD site whether this is actually true.

For the record, I happen to be a big Vinnie fan, and was just curious how he's done in these polls over the past decades compared to his contemporaries -- has he won more MD readers poll awards than anyone else?

Is there a MD or alternate legit site (not wiki) that lists this information?

TIA.

[vinngadd]

Hey Folks,

Does anyone have any idea what kind of snare drum Vinnie used at the 2000 MD Festival? I know it's a Gretsch, and I'm assuming that it's a 5x14 chrome over brass. Anybody out there know for sure? That snare is killing! And has the nastiest crack! I want that sound!

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

[skreg]

Here's an unreleased goodie featuring Vinnie!

Michael Landau, Vinnie Colaiuta, Steve Tavaglione, and Larry Klein

Dog Cheese

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ygSs7a--xA&playnext_from=TL&videos=LCrdjS93eFU

I LOVE this kind of music!!!

[smacks11]

That track is sweeet! Anyone know where to get the album???

[Thaard]

Some new videos on youtube that I haven't seen before, with Patitucci and band.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWRnm0LWLx8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWo1qzzdccA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MyP2psFKlE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qz9v11Fut_Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0y-pVLKBP0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPddOnEoH4w

[Swiss Matthias]

"new" videos, haha:).
Thanks anyway, great stuff ............Vinnie's da man!!

[Thaard]

"new" videos, haha:).
Thanks anyway, great stuff ............Vinnie's da man!!

New in terms of when they were uploaded :P

[Swiss Matthias]

by the way, when was Vinnie with Yamaha??

[Thaard]

by the way, when was Vinnie with Yamaha??

Up until the late 90's I believe.

[DrummingApril]

I love Vinnie Colaiuta's drumming. I have him with Sting, Herbie Hancock, and Alan Holdsworth. My dad even has him with Paul Anka. It's silly to say anyone is the best though. If you say that, you're turning music into a sport and a trade skill. It's not either of those. It is art. Musical art. Ability has no place here. Only creativity and sound. So to say someone doesn't understand Vinnie's drumming when it's not their cup of tea, is stupid. Music is not about understanding what someone is playing. If that were case drummer's like Virgil Donati, Dom Famularo, Marco Minneman, Jojo Mayer, and Thomas Lang would be at the top of the music world. They play the fastest, most complex things I have ever heard on the drumkit. But, Musicians avoid those drummers like the plague. When was the last time you heard about one of these guys playing a week at a famous club, or being on a great recording? You haven't, because music is not their priority. Drumming is. Playing 7 in one hand, 5 in the other and 32nd notes on the kick drums has no place in music. It doesn't matter.
I'm a student at Manhattan School Music. Where drummer's talk about music and people such as Adam Nussbaum, Jeff Watts, Steve Jordan, Brian Blade ,Bill Stewart, Gadd and Vinnie Colaiuta.
Still Vinnie is not the best. There is no best. If you think there is, you're not a musician and you don't get the art of music.

[Ekim]

DrummingApril, that's just silly.

Would you call Mike Keneally a non-musician?

I used to think Marco was JUST a chops monster.

He's not. The dude can groove a rock tune just fine. Check out his work with Paul Gilbert on dang-near pop-tunes.

I will admit Vinnie is probably the sickest, most versatile drummer out there. To go from Zappa to Faith Hill (?????) and sound perfect in every context is amazing.

But don't go assuming things about the chops guys, cuz in at least this one instance, you're dead wrong.

[Swiss Matthias]

It's silly to say anyone is the best though. If you say that, you're turning music into a sport and a trade skill. It's not either of those. It is art. Musical art. Ability has no place here. Only creativity and sound.
No, ability has a place here. To be able to express yourself properly, you have to be able to do so. If you wanna make amazing music in various styles, you have to work hard on your abilities (besides having some talent, which is another topic), as Vinnie did and does. Your creativity doesn't take you anywhere if you don't know how to translate it onto the instrument.
So to say someone doesn't understand Vinnie's drumming when it's not their cup of tea, is stupid. Music is not about understanding what someone is playing.
If that were case drummer's like Virgil Donati, Dom Famularo, Marco Minneman, Jojo Mayer, and Thomas Lang would be at the top of the music world.
I always get irritated when people start to put a bunch of drummers all into one box. Those are 5 individual drummers!
They play the fastest, most complex things I have ever heard on the drumkit. But, Musicians avoid those drummers like the plague. When was the last time you heard about one of these guys playing a week at a famous club, or being on a great recording? You haven't, because music is not their priority. Drumming is. Playing 7 in one hand, 5 in the other and 32nd notes on the kick drums has no place in music. It doesn't matter.
I strongly disagree. First of all, what is the top of the music world? Being known by as many people as possible? Playing at venues as big as possible? Making as much money as possible?
Second, you possibly contradict yourself: What if you just don't "understand" the drummers you mentioned?
Third, you do absolutely no justice to some of those 5 if you say music wasn't their priority. To be where they are, they have already played music for as long as your entire life probably.
Forth, why doesn't your beforementioned exercise have any place in music? Who says? Maybe in your music? And if not the exact exercise, then of course many other things that are based of 5 or 7 note groupings or both at the same time. Ask Indian musicians! Don't think music=western pop music!
Last, what's the difference between drumming and music? Who defines if "drumming" equals "music" or not?
I'm a student at Manhattan School Music. Where drummer's talk about music and people such as Adam Nussbaum, Jeff Watts, Steve Jordan, Brian Blade ,Bill Stewart, Gadd and Vinnie Colaiuta.
Then what? You seem to have forgotten to write the main part of your sentence.
Still Vinnie is not the best. There is no best. If you think there is, you're not a musician and you don't get the art of music.
There it is again: You say music is not about understanding what one's playing, but someone to whom Vinnie is the best doesn't get the art of music?

Important thing: Music is a language! Or better; music is a great bunch of languages! So it's certainly possible to "not understand" someone's music, because that certain language doesn't appeal to you, it doesn't touch you, maybe it doesn't even reach you.
By the way: there are some parameters which can enable us to discuss which drummers are "the best", in these parameters, or in what they do.

[Swiss Matthias]

Or, to summarize my big post...: What Ekim just said :).

[Drumbob]

I agree with April on this. Matthias, you're automatically out of the game when you say properly.I musically disagree with everything you wrote back to April. I bet Vinnie would too.

There is no "proper" in music. Are you going to tell me Steve Jordan is proper? Jack Dejohnette? Paul Motian? I can go on and on. I agree with April in the sense that you're putting all these rules on music as if it IS a sport. She hit it right on the head. Who are you to say who's expressing themselves properly? No one can say that and have a point. There are no rules in music, just like April said.

Did painter's "understand" Picasso? No. Did everyone love Picasso? NO. Was he a genius? Yes. To form an opinion on an art form, you do not have to understand what is going on. You only have to hear(or see) the outcome. In music we hear the outcome. Then decide if it strikes a chord with us, or not. If someone says they don't like Vinnie's drumming, it's a point of view that is different than yours. It's not because they don't understand something. It's almost as if you think the whole world should think like you. There are hundreds of thousands of musicians that prefer a different approach. Vinnie has one sound, and one approach. Just like other greats. Not everyone likes everyone.

I agree with you about April putting them all in one box. In reality though, these drummers are known for their physical abilities. So that does put them in the same arena. In my opinion, none of them have a particularly great feel, which is why I think they are not in music. The world of drum education is not the world of music. The same way Lewis Nash, Kenny Washington, Carl Allen and Billy Drummond are all in the same musical box of straight ahead jazz drumming. Sure they all do it slightly different, but that's what they do. The drummer's April mentioned in that box are all primarily clinicians. I understand what she's saying.

I also agree with her on best. Best applies only in a competition. Your music to language analogy is too literal. When speaking a language the idea is communication with another human being, so you have to be articulate and clean. If you're not, then you can't communicate. If this were the case in music, Elvin Jones would be musically illiterate. Steve Jordan would know only 4 words, and Jojo Mayer would have constant verbal diarhhea. Speaking an actual language and playing music are two very different things. They're only similar in the sense of conversation pertaining to jazz improvisation. But even then, you're actually creating words sometimes, and in a spoken language that would sound like gibberish. So again, it doesn't really apply.

I disagree on the point you made with regards to Indian music as well. There's a huge difference between a clinician at a drum clinic playing different meter's in each limb just for the sake of challenge and difficulty, and a musical culture that's 200 or more years old. That was just a silly comparison on your part. The rates and groupings in Indian music serve the music. They are organic, and were created for the purpose of serving the music. They do not stand alone.

April I totally agree with you. I feel that fanatical drum fans like Matthias are attempting to turn music into a physical skill with pre-set requirements for what is good. You have to have a certain amount of chops, you have to know every beat in every style, you have to play to a click, you have to, you have to, you have to...it's all BULL...The real artists in the art of music are much more open than this, and they create music. The most influential musicians of all time were all original, and did not have all of these required "skills" you put on music. They were creative and focused on music, not on who can play the smartest and fastest.

Matthias, even the way you categorize music is weird. Western pop? Most pop music in the world comes out of Brazil and Scandinavia. The biggest pop culture sensation this world has ever seen was British.
And really, a great artist can be anyone from Muddy Waters to John Zorn. 2 completely different musicians with exactly the same goal.

At the end of day, I don't care who can play the most styles, who can play the most complex and who can play the fastest. In the world of skill, that means something. In the world of art, that means nothing. Music is art.
I don't want to listen to music that I have to analyze so I know it's good. I like hearing something beautiful that touches me without having to think. I want my soul to be satisfied. When Vinnie Colaiuta plays, I think. I can also figure out what he's playing. When Elvin Jones plays, I hear colors and ocean waters. I feel a flow that reminds of waves. Elvin is not transcribable. No one knows what he's playing. Ever wonder why certain drummers have tons of clones? Because they're easy to figure out. You really don't see any Elvin Jones or Jack Dejohnette clones out there. Its impossible to copy them. But the Vinnie clones are everywhere. What does that tell you?

To you numbers on a schematic may be art. To me Van Gogh is art. Pablo Picasso is art. And drummers like Elvin Jones, Brian Blade, Levon Helm and Jack Dejohnette all possess this type artistry on the drums.

April, I'm so happy to see young music student have a real understanding of music. Best of luck with Manhattan School of music

[Swiss Matthias]

I agree with April on this. Matthias, you're automatically out of the game when you say properly.I musically disagree with everything you wrote back to April. I bet Vinnie would too.
Maybe you misunderstood me. To express this thought to me, you had to properly set some letters and words together in order get it across properly. Voilà. I said properly because April stated that music consists only of creativity and sound.
There is no "proper" in music. Are you going to tell me Steve Jordan is proper? Jack Dejohnette? Paul Motian?
Yes, very much so!
I can go on and on. I agree with April in the sense that you're putting all these rules on music as if it IS a sport.
What rules did I put to music?
She hit it right on the head. Who are you to say who's expressing themselves properly? No one can say that and have a point. There are no rules in music, just like April said.
Well, April quite bashed some drummers, or a category of drummers she meant with it. Although she can speak for herself, why has she a point then?
If someone says they don't like Vinnie's drumming, it's a point of view that is different than yours. It's not because they don't understand something. It's almost as if you think the whole world should think like you. There are hundreds of thousands of musicians that prefer a different approach. Vinnie has one sound, and one approach. Just like other greats. Not everyone likes everyone.
You have to stop there, you're interpreting a whole book of clichées on me!! Where did I say anything like you implied I did?
Do I really have to recap what the point was? Ok:
April says: Vinnie is not the best. If someone thinks he is, he doesn't get the art of music.
Me says: Although you (April) just said music isn't about understanding, does someone who thinks Vinnie is the best not get the art of music?
That's all I said.
I agree with you about April putting them all in one box. In reality though, these drummers are known for their physical abilities. So that does put them in the same arena. In my opinion, none of them have a particularly great feel, which is why I think they are not in music.
There you go and categorize what music is and what music isn't, too. Doesn't that quite contradict your whole big post? By the way, I would be interested in what you particularly know of those drummer's works.
The drummer's April mentioned in that box are all primarily clinicians. I understand what she's saying.
I understand too. But I don't agree. By the way, you know them as clinicians. Most of them were around before clinics.
I also agree with her on best. Best applies only in a competition. Your music to language analogy is too literal. When speaking a language the idea is communication with another human being, so you have to be articulate and clean. If you're not, then you can't communicate. If this were the case in music, Elvin Jones would be musically illiterate. Steve Jordan would know only 4 words, and Jojo Mayer would have constant verbal diarhhea. Speaking an actual language and playing music are two very different things. They're only similar in the sense of conversation pertaining to jazz improvisation. But even then, you're actually creating words sometimes, and in a spoken language that would sound like gibberish. So again, it doesn't really apply.
Maybe whe interpret the analogy in different ways. Of course I don't mean it as literal. Notes ≠ letters. I mean it in a more intuitive way. If you say Steve Jordan knows only 4 words - besides not really doing him justice - you reduce what he's "saying" to his bare drum parts, too. But you have to consider the rest of the instruments that are playing with him, too, and you also have to consider his big thing, his sound choices. That's what all makes the language. Some people will dig it, some won't be touched. Hope you get what I mean now.
I disagree on the point you made with regards to Indian music as well. There's a huge difference between a clinician at a drum clinic playing different meter's in each limb just for the sake of challenge and difficulty, and a musical culture that's 200 or more years old. That was just a silly comparison on your part.
I only reacted to April's statement "Playing 7 in one hand, 5 in the other and 32nd notes on the kick drums has no place in music." I don't like it when someone comes and says to me what music was and music wasn't. And at the same being quite as dogmatic as I'm being accused of. And so I tried to put it into perspective.
I feel that fanatical drum fans like Matthias are attempting to turn music into a physical skill with pre-set requirements for what is good.
I get really pissed of by that **** you say there, sorry!
.The real artists in the art of music are much more open than this, and they create music. The most influential musicians of all time were all original, and did not have all of these required "skills" you put on music. They were creative and focused on music, not on who can play the smartest and fastest.
I'm sorry, I just don't know anything to say. Either I completely failed to get my thoughts across (in a foreign language to me, anyway), or you're just not reading well, and again turn all the bad clichées on me. I am really not about what you're accusing me of to be.
Matthias, even the way you categorize music is weird. Western pop? Most pop music in the world comes out of Brazil and Scandinavia. The biggest pop culture sensation this world has ever seen was British.
Well, April - American young music student - talked about playing in a famous club as a good indicator for making music, so I believe she is talking about popular western music. I don't categorize that, that's already been done. I didn't say western music was the largest music culture, or did I?
Scandinavia and Britain are Western in my book. I don't mean western USA, hehe.
At the end of day, I don't care who can play the most styles, who can play the most complex and who can play the fastest. In the world of skill, that means something. In the world of art, that means nothing. Music is art.
Well, although I disagree that in the world of art it meant nothing, I'm all with you. I don't know what all the fuss is about actually, I'm just pissed of from all these accusations. And I almost can't believe you disagree with everything in my previous post.
I don't want to listen to music that I have to analyze so I know it's good. I like hearing something beautiful that touches me without having to think. I want my soul to be satisfied.
Good for you. Me too.
No one knows what he's (Elvin) playing.
?
Ever wonder why certain drummers have tons of clones? Because they're easy to figure out. You really don't see any Elvin Jones or Jack Dejohnette clones out there. Its impossible to copy them. But the Vinnie clones are everywhere. What does that tell you?
You hear Elvin and Jack influenced musicians all around. You hear "clones" of Vinnie as you hear of all the influencial drummers, but noone sounds like Vinnie, noone thinks like him, and noone makes up music like he does. Because only he is Vinnie, as only Elvin was Elvin and Jack is Jack.
To you numbers on a schematic may be art. To me Van Gogh is art. Pablo Picasso is art. And drummers like Elvin Jones, Brian Blade, Levon Helm and Jack Dejohnette all possess this type artistry on the drums.
For the record, two things: a) For a mathematician numbers on a schematic are art.
b) I love Elvin's, Brian's and Jack's playing. Don't know about Levon Helm.

And by the by: Your painting allegory isn't that adequat either. Music is momentary art. Music is heavily related to time, it functions in a time axis. So a musician has to organize the sounds he produces a certain way in time in order to i.e. make it groove. A painter can do his thing in 2 seconds or 2 centuries, whatever he pleases.
...edited my post because it was too harsh, sorry. (in case you already read it)

[Thaard]

You can´t fight here, this is the Vinnie thread!?

Seriously though, stop trying to interpret and insult each other and talk about Vinnie instead. This is the Vinnie-thread right? Not the "I KNOW MUSIC BETAR THAN YOU!!" thread?

[Swiss Matthias]

You can´t fight here, this is the Vinnie thread!?

Seriously though, stop trying to interpret and insult each other and talk about Vinnie instead. This is the Vinnie-thread right? Not the "I KNOW MUSIC BETAR THAN YOU!!" thread?
Haha, point. :) I'm quite guilty of producing oversized posts here, which I don't like reading myself.

Sorry Vinnie...

[aydee]

Vinnie's nickname in the music industry is 'The Alien'.

Does that paint a picture?

....

[Boomka]

This is what Vinnie has to say on this topic:

"First of all, you have to want to play for the song. Then you'll start seeing musical value and fulfillment in that. You won't even think,"I could have done this really cool lick there." That is defeatist, non-musical thinking...

Anytime you strike the drums, you have to be aware that you're creating a musical event. If you think of it as something more or less technical, you're thinking reductionistically.

What I see happening a lot within drumming is a microcosmic example of what's happening in society, which is sensationalism...but now, if it's not sensational, its value is diminished. That kind of mentality contributes to short attention spans...

There's nothing wrong with personal development through playing an instrument, but what happens when it's treated as a sport? If you want razzle-dazzle...if you want to beat somebody up, be a boxer. All this time I thought drumming was art.

There are a lot of guys out there with skills who have not contributed to the evolution of the instrument. It's about more than that...it's an emotive language, an aesthetic. Skill is an aspect, but it's what you do with that skill, or say with that skill, that matters."

"You must show respect and compassion towards the other musicians, and at the same time try to guide things along. I think this is most important. Obviously, you need the capacity and the skills, but technical skill alone is not enough."

--Vinnie Colaiuta

[DrummingApril]

Wow Bob, thank you! I'm not here to argue. Matthias is back pedaling. It's not like I think he's totally off or anything like that. I like the Vinnie article. Matthias if you read that article a bit closer you would not use phrases like 'the best'. Can't you hear what the man is saying? He's your idol, listen to him! lol

[Swiss Matthias]

Wow Bob, thank you! I'm not here to argue. Matthias is back pedaling. It's not like I think he's totally off or anything like that. I like the Vinnie article. Matthias if you read that article a bit closer you would not use phrases like 'the best'. Can't you hear what the man is saying? He's your idol, listen to him! lol
What does back pedaling mean?
You mean read the Vinnie-article a bit closer? I'm all with Vinnie of course! The man isn't just a musical genius, he is a very profound thinker as well, I always love to read his thoughts or listen to what he says.
Yes, I never meant to say there is one best drummer. But I stick to my opinion that there are certain parameters to measure how "good" one is. But then the question is good for what as well. Depends on what you want from a musician.
Yeah, one of my idols, I got several :). Steve Jordan and Bill Stewart being two of them too, by the way!

[Swiss Matthias]

By the way, if I may that bold, there is a nice double quote on the "better" topic from the Ginger Baker bashing thread:
I've talked to a lot of older musicians about this better is all subjective thing, and they just look at me like I'm nuts. One of them told me How do I hire the better drummer when I can't tell what better is?
LOL. Classic. Sometimes I log on here and wonder if I am living/playing in some alternate universe where there actually IS a difference between a 6 year old drummer after his first lesson and a seasoned player with 33 years of experience. Clearly, reality must be wrong.
Although one must be careful indeed with the word "better" and "best", the guys do make a good point.
Oh, and I'm generally not here to argue, either :).

[Thaard]

Wow Bob, thank you! I'm not here to argue. Matthias is back pedaling. It's not like I think he's totally off or anything like that. I like the Vinnie article. Matthias if you read that article a bit closer you would not use phrases like 'the best'. Can't you hear what the man is saying? He's your idol, listen to him! lol

We all know Travis Barker and Joey Jordison are the best drummers of all anyway. The way Joey blasts those double-bass pedals constantly is way more gratifying than listening to anything of Vinnie's playing. And don't get me started on Travis. The way he bashes those cymbals is just poetry man!

[jonescrusher]

Matt Smith's anecdote down their makes a good point - people at some point must be making qualitative judgments on Vinnie as a drummer; the producer/artist listens to his playing and other peoples' opinions and decides that he's the 'best' man for the job.
That doesn't contradict Vinnie's own thoughts own the issue, it's just that there's a distinction to be made between chops and artistry. It is possible to be a superior artist.

[Gethsemane]

And don't get me started on Travis. The way he bashes those cymbals is just poetry man!

You are so right! Especially when he remixed "Crank Dat Souja Boy"!!!!1!!1!!1!!!1111!!! That is pure skill. It probably took him weeks to figure out the prerecorded beat for that song.

Those two drummers aren't even worthy of setting up Vinnie's drum set.

[Swiss Matthias]

I actually like Travis Barkers drumming with Blink 182. He had some pretty cool ideas.

[aydee]

..

Talking of cymbal bashing, Vinnie usually 'ices' his hands after a gig, because he hits his cymbals so hard.

So I guess its never the technique, its always the player

[Thaard]

..

Talking of cymbal bashing, Vinnie usually 'ices' his hands after a gig, because he hits his cymbals so hard.

So I guess its never the technique, its always the player

I think it´s more due to his insanely hard rimshotting. No pun intended.

[aydee]

I think it´s more due to his insanely hard rimshotting. No pun intended.

Thaardy, he does bomb the rimshots, but this is something he has said himself. The reason is cymbals.

...

[Thaard]

Thaardy, he does bomb the rimshots, but this is something he has said himself. The reason is cymbals.

...

If you say so. I can't remember getting any kind of pain while bashing cymbals though. Snare on the other hand.

[aydee]

If you say so. I can't remember getting any kind of pain while bashing cymbals though. Snare on the other hand.

( 4:39 onwards ) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEsQ_DWhEeo

his reason is tremendous throw and power from very short distances

[DrummingApril]

Yea, I'm not saying I don't think VinColaiuta is brilliant. He has definitely added to the history of the instrument. I just KNOW there is no best in art. Just opinions. I saw Steve Hass last night with Manhattan Transfer. Not at all a forum for displaying originality or technical skill. He did anyway. I was impressed again. After seeing him with John Scofield where he was creative, then again with this group where it was restricted, I got to see what playing in a box is like. I don't know if I could do it. But it seems like if you're going to make money, you have to play in a box sometimes. Still he had some double bass drum work going on. I wonder if Vinnie felt like he was in a box with Faith Hill or Sting. Faith Hill? Rubbish music. Sting is great though. I wonder how I will make a living a sometimes. I'm going to school for music, but I really like drummers that are artists, not so functional in the contemporary world. Even Brian Blade plays rock. I wonder.

If a drummer has to ice their hands, it means the vibration from the stick is injuring them, so they're not using moeller properly or at all. I guess Vinnie doesn't apply this technique. If you use moeller you can play very hard and loud without any impact on your hands.

[Thaard]

If a drummer has to ice their hands, it means the vibration from the stick is injuring them, so they're not using moeller properly or at all. I guess Vinnie doesn't apply this technique. If you use moeller you can play very hard and loud without any impact on your hands.
Actually, I think it's called the free-stroke, and moeller is for triplets and fast accents? Anyway, let's steer clear from technique stuff and get back to vinnie :P

I downloaded this awesome clinic from Smuget in Oslo. It's from 1989. It's awesome! If anyone want it, I could perhaps upload it?

[Swiss Matthias]

Well I'm coming back to language and playing "properly" here: Unlike paintings, music is mostly made by several people simultaneously. So there is no absolute freedom, compromises and decisions have to be made. If you are hired by a blues guitarist, you have to play the "proper" language, which does put you in a box of course. But then I believe you have to put yourself in a certain "box" anyway if you play. You can't just always play everything that comes to mind no matter what. But that doesn't have to be a bad thing, does it?
By the way I don't mean technically correct or always on the spot in a robotic way by being "proper". I just mean fitting the circumstances.
This is the reason why I like to be in different bands or projects at the same time, i.e. a jazz band, and a rock band. So in the rock band I'd try to make my parts fit the riffs, the melodies, the songs, and make it rock. I don't have to be sad for not getting to shred or whatever, because I know I'll be in the jazz band some days later where I can display a whole other side of me. That's a cool thing. And that's a thing Vinnie does very, very classy :).

[Drumbob]

I agree with some and disagree with some SM.
Thaard that's incorrect. Moeller is a single-multiple stroke technique. Whether it's a single stroke, double, triple, or even 4 notes in a row per hand. And April is right, if you use Moeller, there should never be any impact on your hands. He probably has tendonitis which is common in drummers. Hence icing to keep the swelling down. Unfortunately even Moeller can't prevent tendonitis. Drummers that practice constantly always seem to develop this. Like Dave Weckl, Vinnie Colaiuta and many others.

[Thaard]

I agree with some and disagree with some SM.
Thaard that's incorrect. Moeller is a single-multiple stroke technique. Whether it's a single stroke, double, triple, or even 4 notes in a row per hand. And April is right, if you use Moeller, there should never be any impact on your hands. He probably has tendonitis which is common in drummers. Hence icing to keep the swelling down. Unfortunately even Moeller can't prevent tendonitis. Drummers that practice constantly always seem to develop this. Like Dave Weckl, Vinnie Colaiuta and many others.
I´ve found that warming up and stretching out prevents/helps this, but enough of that. Saw some videos of Vinnie with the 5 piece band. Was pretty cool.

[Swiss Matthias]

Were did you find videos? Is there an official dvd or something, too? I got the double cd.

[Thaard]

Were did you find videos? Is there an official dvd or something, too? I got the double cd.

Youtube, bootlegs etc.

[Swiss Matthias]

I got the Jeff Beck dvd "playing this week" :D!

[ProDrummerAustin]

it's hard with guys on tour. they get moody. I met weckl once and he was really nice. I met him a second time and he was a prick. Vinnie i met 3 times and every time he was really cool. I just heard him playing big band with paul anka. Pretty nice. The man can do it all.

[Alain Rieder]

Vinnie in session with Richard Page

http://vimeo.com/12926810

Cheers
Alain

[jamest]

Vinnie in session with Richard Page

http://vimeo.com/12926810

Cheers
Alain

Cool vid thanks for posting. It's really interesting to see top players like these at work in the studio!
__________________

"When the going gets tough, the tough get going!"

http://www.excellent-offers.com/gravy1.jpg

[Mr. Fanzy Pants]

This is just so Vinnielicious.
The whole band sounds excellent but Vinnie is really killing it!
The groove is sooo laid back and cool.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvQyl65DUZU

Greetings from Norway

[Thaard]

Anyone heard of this? Vinnie and Landau had this fusion band called Dog Cheese. Pretty neat stuff!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ygSs7a--xA&feature=recentlik

[aydee]

Anyone heard of this? Vinnie and Landau had this fusion band called Dog Cheese. Pretty neat stuff!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ygSs7a--xA&feature=recentlik

V cool Thaardy... thats one of my favorite guitar players too!

[keep it simple]

Anyone heard of this? Vinnie and Landau had this fusion band called Dog Cheese. Pretty neat stuff!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ygSs7a--xA&feature=recentlikThanks Thaard, I've never heard this stuff before. Now that's what I call rock of the soul. Great guitar sound & presence. Great find!

[Thaard]

Thanks Thaard, I've never heard this stuff before. Now that's what I call rock of the soul. Great guitar sound & presence. Great find!

yea man, it's pretty chill. You should check out Jing Chi if you like this.

[Schatzm89]

Hey Fellows!

Question: There once was a clip (on Youtube) from the MD-Festival 2000, where Vinnie was explaining the "I'm tweaked"-Groove...

Does anyone now if this clip is still around??
Thaanks!
M.

[Swiss Matthias]

I own the dvd. Whadda ya wanna know :)?

[drumming sort of person]

No more Gretsch drums for Vinnie? Can it be?

[bermuda]

Heard an interesting/exciting rumor about that... :)

[mrmike]

Heard an interesting/exciting rumor about that... :)

Ah come on.....don't leave us hangin'.

Let me guess....deedubya.

[aydee]

..

A RARE ONE OF KARIZMA ON THE TUBE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnBmZ6njbqk


...

[radicus]

http://vimeo.com/36124489

[aydee]

thanks radicus!

Here's sex on toast. A simple rock beat on the surface and a tsunami underneath..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7EOb-KeMLM&feature=related

...

[RobertM]

Ah come on.....don't leave us hangin'.

Let me guess....deedubya.

My guess is that Vinnie may be going to Ludwig, especially since some folks have reported seeing Vinnie hanging out at the Ludwig booth at NAMM.

[Anurdrums]

The guy who can record any song in one take, make some money and go home. One of my favourites.

[Pat Petrillo]

Vinnie was NOT hangin out at the Ludwig booth at NAMM..and I was there a bunch...I don't think this is happening..although I would love for him for comin over! :)

[MusiQmaN]

Yesterday played his sig Gretsch with Sting:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7uqVqf2NwI&feature=player_embedded

(what a master...)