I think, James Gadson is my favourite drummer - he plays his ass off when he needs to, and is the best lay back drummer of all when not. Fantastic feel and sound. A quite brilliant drummer.
The artist is my friend Paulie Cerra/vocals Sax and keys, along with my friends James Gadson, Gary “Scruff” Davenport on bass, Sam Meeks on Guitar and Bill Steinway on keys. The tune is ‘Momma’ an original by Paulie Cerra.
All of the twitching and head jerking is him feeling the groove. Sometimes he’s catching himself push or pull. Great musicianship and he’s very supportive of the music vs. flashy chops
It was called a Heritage Series 22” ride by Supernatural Cymbals. I sold it back in 2011. James was cool enough to test drive it on some tunes at a gig he had.
Went to see Johnny at DBA, a hole in the wall club on Frenchmen St. in New Orleans (my hometown) with my son and my cousin, who Johnny replaced as the drummer for Lenny McDaniels and The New Era (circa 1968). During a break, Johnny came and set with us and autographed a pair of drumsticks for my son, who still has them. My son also took lessons at Johnny's house. Besides being one of the greatest drummers on the planet, Johnny is New Orleans through and through, a gentleman, and the coolest cat I ever met. You might want to check out one of his students, Brian Blade.
Yup Johnny allowed me do video him casually talking drums etc. while we were both playing on LRBC a total all day night long blues music cruise. I know Brian and Brady Blade and use to see Brady sit in once in a while at a place when I lived in Nashville. Both amazing drummers.
@Carlos Danger Thanks for the tip. I'll pass that along to my son. We also saw him years ago at Maple Leaf Bar off Carrollton Ave. where he mixed in some of his poetry with his drumming.
Johnny is the best what I saw him I stopped everything I was doingI didn't know who he was I stared into the window at DBA on Frenchmen Street and was in awe then somebody told that was Johnny v you don't know Johnny v.
Went to see Johnny at DBA with my son and my cousin, who Johnny replaced as the drummer for Lenny McDaniels and The New Era (circa 1968). During a break, Johnny came and set with us and autographed a pair of drumsticks for my son, who still has them. My son also took lessons at Johnny's house. Besides being one of the greatest drummers on the planet, Johnny is New Orleans (my hometown) through and through, a gentleman, and the coolest cat I ever met. You might want to check out one of his students, Brian Blade.
Good God....Gadsen is something else! This man, along with Steve Gadd, is on another level. I mean no disrespect to the "so called" super drummers like Weckl, Colaiuta, Lang, Donati etc...but they just don't have that earthy soul when they lay down a groove...it's more mechanical. Gadsen makes you feel his groove. He is like the pop/funk version of Elvin Jones.
