Guitar Center's Drum Off 2011 grand finalist, Devon Taylor, performing his drum solo at the grand finals held at Club Nokia in Los Angeles on January 14, 2012. For more information on Guitar Center or Drum Off visit www.guitarcenter.com
JP Bouvet's solo was a technical masterpiece, a fantastic showing of independence and coordination, but this is a much more musical and exciting solo, deserved 1st place
Let this be a testament to ALL drummers looking to make it big: You DO NOT need the GCDC to make it. This dude lost to JP but now is on a WORLD TOUR with Justin Bieber. Let that sink in. He LOST........only to won in ways that the GCDC couldn't even guarantee. Not everyone who wins these competitions makes it with major artists. He literally auditioned for JB after hearing that the original drummer wasn't gonna be able to make the tour, and BAGGED IT. I tried out for the GCDC and didn't make it but went on my 1st tour shortly after and made it in DRUM! Magazine. My point? Don't limit your abilities to this competition because when on stage with a real artist, NONE of this matters. It's pocket all day. THAT'S what gets you hired! The knowledge of this business is everything. EVERY. SINGLE. THING. Y'all be blessed and stay safe! 💪🏾🔥
Yo! where is all this hate coming from? We're drummers, man! We've built up a reputation for being one of the most humble, friendly, and supporting groups of musicians to ever walk this earth. Don't ruin the rep man. JP deserved to win. And, Devon Taylor is a sick drummer. He could win any year.
Music isnt about competition. Who cares who won, lots of amazing musicians came to do the thing they love and share with others and learn. Everyone wins.
WTF, this dude is so much.....'better' than all the champions vidoes I've watched. His dynamics ae everywhere, but still dead consistent, he's dead on the beat, his time-keeping is amazing, he can groove like you never see these days, his chops are on part with anyone els but he makes them groove, and he doesn't spend time playing around with nonsense like a splash on the snare. I think a lot of drummer can learn from this guy.
A little before 0:30........best fill composition ever! And excellent rim integration on the fill at 3:36!! Great solo over all man, it kept me watching! jeremiahseilhymer
No matter who the judges deem as the winner, people always complain that somebody else should have won. JP's solo accomplished more than this guy's solo did. He displayed more versatility, his sections flowed better, and his playing was deeper and more dynamic. There's a reason that he won.
Dude, YES. You summed up my thoughts precisely. I think a large percentage of the people who use the "didn't tell a story" argument don't know what they're talking about. Another thing that sets this above JP's solo is the flow. My Lord, it is soooo good. JP's solo had very awkward choppy transitions when compared to this.
I think everyone is missing the point. If youve entered the drum-off or even attended one. you'd you what they're judged on. one being showmanship, two being creativity, and three being originality. people can be creative but not original. using the left foot cowbell was something i hadn't anyone else really do at the drum off. as far as who's better? they're all different drummers with different styles and strengths. apples and oranges. this is about #s in a column that add up to the highest #
Well put! This all goes to show that things can get a little ugly when some subjective and artistic is made into a contest. Since no one can prove someone else's opinion wrong people will feel cheated.
JP is a beast. Devon is a beast. I preferred Devon Taylor's solo more, but i am sure that if he won, there would people saying that JP's solo made Devon's look like a joke. They are both great drummers. Check out some of JP's other stuff besides solos. It is hard to judge a drummer by a solo. Still, both solos were pretty sick in my opinion!
Damn. I'm not a JP hater because I've seen him on the Berklee Chops videos and the Roland contest, but this guy really did have a better solo. This is really amazing drumming.
if you back the last few years and watch all of the solos, the majority are just like this. JPs solo was different, maybe thats what they are looking for. these things come down to what the judges want to see. and you can say its about showmanship, but the judges arent local hacks like at the store level competitions, these judges are legit, accomplished musicians. the person they choose as the winner is like putting your stamp of approval on it.
Even tho I liked this performance better I think JP deserved the win because his solo was innovative. Since Eric Moore every winner has had amazing chops and catchy grooves but JP was doing stuff we'd never seen in example the doubles between his left hand and left foot while playing hip hop grooves with his hands. That was unique and creative. People forget that technicality is only 20% of what they judge you on where as originality creativity all that stuff accounts for like 60% of it.
I'm glad that you found his independence impressive yet i am disappointed you didn't see all the other aspects of the solo that made him come out as winner.
Both are great drummers. At this level of the Drum Off, it's not really up for debate that any of them are necessarily better than the others because every drummer in the championship is obviously incredible.
Devon played in 7 at the 1:06 mark though so how can you say he only played in 4/4. he also played with much more feel and the solo flowed very naturally.
Music isn't about comparing musicians... The judges must have had a hard time choosing the winner and i'm sure they had some specific criterias to choose who will win. And JP Bouvet matched with those. It's as simple as that. You can't really say that any of the finalists are "better" than JP or Devon, you can say you prefer one in particular but that doesn't mean this one should have won. I think it was fair that JP won, but that doesn't mean he is better than Devon (and the other way around)
