Just pure art form of a solo

http://cdn-w.drummerworld.com/Videos/Videos/lennywhitereturnforever.mp4
I'm thinking if this is as far as returning to RTF?
I hope not.

There is so much to learn from it, I think.
No hype, overplay, throwing in the kitchen sink sort of speak but just pure art form of a solo.
Hope you enjoy it as I did.

Post-Lenny-ism


Pre-Lenny-ism:

Bummer, I can't play mp4's.

I can't play mp4's.
D

I uploaded that file at home, using my Mac. But at my shop, I have a PC that seems to play some mp4's. How that happen there are free down loads for Quick Time which has a Mac converter file (Mac to PC bridge). I'm not sure how a window popped up one day asking that I would download their hardware, so I did.

Hope you can do this. You would surely enjoy that video of RTF in their later years with, of course, Lenny White doing an incredible yet artful solo using a brush and stick technique in the intro.

rac

Rac, that video is from the last reunion tour of RTF and is available on their DVD of same !












Peace, TED

Ahaaa yes my friend - that RTF sound was just one of a kind among all else there ever was. I will always cherish such a great band, especially Lenny.

I'm aware that as far as Lenny, Clark and Dimeola wanting to reunite for more concert dates, it was Chick that stalled and eventually discarding the whole idea to ever continue.

...RIP,


rac

that's not quite true. Lenny, stanley and chick did a trio tour after the RTF tour earlier this year.

and RTF will be touring either later this year or early next year with the three of them and a new guitarist. And it won't be Al.







Peace, TED

Word is Al's head no longer fits through the doors of any performance venues.... If that's true, that's really too bad. Personally I never cared that much for Al's style of play anyway. And even though I totally love what Al did on the tune "Maiden Voyage" (I think he is a much better acoustic player than electric) I've always believed that original guitarist Bill Connors was was a much better match with the band.

That's just me though.

D.

Here are two cuts from Bill Connors' brilliant CD "Double up".

He does some of the best trio projects ever.

"Out by twelve"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhukgT9jY18&feature=related

"Subtracks"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiS6kU8yQeo

Tom Kennedy: Bass

Kim Plainfield: Drums

I've always believed that original guitarist Bill Connors was was a much better match with the band.
D

That's new information to me D. Conners never enter my mind in terms of being the original guitarist for RTF.

Thanks,
rac

Man! Lenny sure made that look easy.... Thanks for posting, Rac.

Ur very welcome D.

Lenny sure made that look easy
D

Yes for sure. I notice a significant difference in his recent expressions while playing that he may be in pain or simply slowed a bit like we all do with age. Never the less, he is still a fantastic drummer to say the least. I love his performance even more now than before. Again, it's that old analogy of fine wine in the aging process.

Glad you enjoyed that as I did D.

rac

That's not quite true. Lenny, stanley and chick did a trio tour after the RTF tour earlier this year.
And RTF will be touring either later this year or early next year with the three of them and a new guitarist. And it won't be Al.
Ted

Yes, you're correct my friend, thank you.
I probably was refering back in an early interview with Lenny - this was a segment of it 'prior' in Chick's decision to finally give in:

Corea was the lone holdout in recent years. While Clarke, Di Meola, and White had been lobbying for an RTF reunion, the three were unable to persuade Corea to take up the cause, until now ... "
Article writer


Rac

Ted E. Bear wrote:Rac, that video is from the last reunion tour of RTF and is available on their DVD of same !
Peace, TED

Thanks Ted. Because you made me aware of it's sales, I actually ordered that video and waiting for it's arrival any day soon.

Again, thank you my friend,

rac

Rac, I was speaking of the clip from 74.
I still have not seen the mp4 you put up.

Last I heard him play, Lenny had lost a bit
of his edge due to rotator cuff surgery.
To me he's not sounding as strong as he
once did and it's something I personally
hope he regains.

Yeah D, now that you've mentioned Lenny's injury It confirms my observation of possible physical ailment being an hinderance to his performance. What I did was play the video without seeing and just listen and do notice a weakness. But never the less, I still like his playing in spite of it.

I Googled rotator injury and says that depending on the person's length of injury 'untreated' may be near impossible to repair. Being that these are muscles that stretched to the point of tear needs immediate therapy. That along with age are determining factors to the success of the person's recovery.

We know that all things are possible in Christ Jesus who strengthen us.

rac

Thanks Rac,
It's a great clip,i've always loved Lenny .Romantic Warrior is my favourite,i hope to see them one day in Paris!Peace,Stef

Paris? Do you reside there sir?

rac

Yes Rac,
I was born and live very near Paris, but my roots are in Martinique, a lovely french caribbean island .Peace,stef

For those who are fans of RTF, most here are, please if you've not seen their last performance in 2008, then you must get this video. It's only sold for $12.-$14 bucks. This is history folks you can't just let go of. It needs to be on your collectors shelf. It is just incredible to say the least and under-priced. So do check it out ASAP.

http://www.hotmoviesale.com/p183244/Return-to-Forever-Live-at-Montreux-2008.html

Aloha,
rac

Just can't stop listening to Lenny's soloing. Even better one on the RTF concert I've mentioned earlier.

Aloha,

rac

D. Slam wrote:Word is Al's head no longer fits through the doors of any performance venues.... If that's true, that's really too bad. Personally I never cared that much for Al's style of play anyway. And even though I totally love what Al did on the tune "Maiden Voyage" (I think he is a much better acoustic player than electric) I've always believed that original guitarist Bill Connors was was a much better match with the band.

That's just me though.

D.

I like Al, and to me that cat can really cook, it is just to bad that behind some things going on with Lenny, that fire is not, or can't be there anymore. Or what I should say is, that the fire is there, but, projecting it, is the problem. Taking nothing from him as far as being a fine top notch musician. But when I saw them 2 years ago, I said to my friends that were with me, what is wrong with Lenny. But Ted talked to Lenny. But Lenny ain't saying exactly what it is, but I wish Lenny all the best, because he has been a big inspiration to me all these years around 1976 I think, so I wish him all the best.

There's no time like the present to learn from Lenny White
Guess I'm hearing differently in terms of Lenny's performances regardless of possible physical issues may be. I won't even mention those issues but rather that Lenny remains a tasteful and highly skilled player regardless. I'm not looking at youthful vigor, brute power or what was in deliverance. But more so in what remains, which is a lot, of his ability in expressing what's left in ways that are conceptually impressive, staying in context of the music at hand. These attributes are powerful in it's own right. Now mind me - there are times, like all of us, having those days but never the less he remains a craftsman of his instrument and he will always remain a heavy weight in my estimate of measuring and there is a wealth to gain from.

Filters of the eyes: a stumbling block to see
Again, if you take time in listening to a solo re-interpreted (may have been Romantic Warrior) on that last RTF concert video, you may see different - that is if you're aware what to look for and what 'not' to assume what was happening in the Lenny twenty, twenty five years ago. The problem, I think, is that we tend to filter our views through the lens of past performances over the reality of the present. We need to approach this like a professional photographer who changes lenses to accommodate different environments to reveal the 'unnoticed' beauty in them. This way we learn to appreciate where the artist has arrived to and how he utilizes or channels, if I may, what musical environment he is to work with - and Lenny White, as you know I'm an advocate of, proves to more than just suffice an atmosphere of pure artistry in his delivery of difficult concepts, but beautifully excels in them as he matures in musical vocabulary. And finally people remember, it's no longer just to impress us with 'our' expectations to mere brutal strength of pre-Lenny-ism but rather to see now how time and the variables of experience couples for the perpetuation of an art form we come to know as being....music.

I will not be on the defense if provoked because there is no need to. But, I feel I've conveyed what my topic is really all about. And by now, needless to say, you know it's not about the chop but the music...the music....the music.

Aloha,
Rac

And yes Spanky, Al is not that great on electric but on acoustic (classical-Spanish technique) he is a monster by respected right!

For some reason I have never seen soloing as a strong thing for Lenny. I've never been inspired by his solos, though he obviously has a great right foot. I remember his solo from a concert with his own band back in CT in the 70s. He had great admiration for Tony. Somehow he doesn't seem to have the soloist mind-set others have.

But, I mean, that all depends on what someone considers sound concepts for soloing. Lenny is the king of smooth and calm in doing really intricate stuff in his time keeping. I love watching old vids of RTF and what he pulls off like it is nothing.