The amazing Virgil Donati

Asaph,

Just so you know, none of that was directed at you!
with that, I'll just leave it there and move on.

"I remember like it was yesterday
how people were not on the Billy
and Tony plane. I remember so
many times hearing that they were
"too loud" or "too rudimental" and
that they made the music bend to
them and they - not to the music." Pete

Perhaps the difference between music critics and general music lovers and drummers? I don't know. I never heard anything negative about Billy. Most drummers back then simply felt Billy had to keep up with the energy of the music and did so amazingly.

"The common people heard him gladly."

I may be incorrect, but it seems to me Vinnie began the whole beat displacement thing with Zappa, and Weckle came behind quickly with Michael Camillo, then Corea. Then you have to consider their education backgrounds where seeds and ideas were planted, like Gary Chaffee, Alan Dawson, Rick Gratton ideas, etc. Virgil has taken these ideas to other levels, as have others in the "independence" field.

Virgil, Lang, Minneman, Mangini ... I find them all metronomic in nature. It isn't generally pleasing to my ears, much like the music those guys are generally involved in.

I am reminded of a truth spoken by Max Roach - Everything a drummer does is based on one stroke, two strokes, or three strokes.

Everything is genetics and practice. The Pro body builder spends hours a day working out. Pro drummers can spend the same amount of time on their craft with education and sweat work. Virgil has obviously put in a great deal of time and it shows in unique ways. On the other hand Buddy once said he plays what he feels. Obviously Buddy would not be worrying about playing on the same stage with any of those guys. Buddy was not a rock drummer. Virgil is not a big band/jazz drummer. That was my basic point.

Funny, if Virgil were reading this he'd probably say - Stop. Just stop. No worries, mate.

you're always right mr slam! i just imagine if you were a great drummer...

this is much better Virgil rips it up here with allan much better!
Dynamics it's all there on this one.
https://vimeo.com/52495777

Excellent!

I believe Tony would have loved that rendition of Red Alert. Virgil did all his Virgilisms but kept it flowing, too. Really cool dble bass work towards the end of it.

I loved the little kid at the stage messing around with his ear plugs.

In these different vids of the Holdsworth trio Virgil is playing different drums. Does Pearl have different sets waiting for him in each country? Must be. I wonder how that effects his playing? Does he get excited more on some nights than others by virtue of the finish on the next set?