@@musopaul5407 I think he was amazing with Chick and also with Allan. Wish I had seen him with Bob. I have no need to compare/contrast. But hey, that's cool.
IN SOME WAYS BUT IF YOU TALKING ABOUT REAL HARDCORE BLAST BEAT THAT'S A DIFFERENT STORY. I'LL LIKE TO COMBINE GARY NOVAK WITH KERIM KRIHM/GEORGE KOLLIAS
He was around 21-22 years old on this tour. I saw this show in his hometown Chicago and Chic gave him this solo spot in the first song. Standing ovation for 5 minutes 🔥
I saw it in Copenhagen. Fantastic concert with my since that night, favourite drummer on the brink of going nuclear. OK I knew im from recordings but it's never the same as live performances. Never as powerfull. Allways with room for a little mistake here and there. But a more real/true picture of the musician's talent.
If you've not heard 'The Sixteen Men of Tain' album by Allan Holdsworth then give it a listen - it will confirm that Novak is a monster drummer and thoroughly underrated.
A keyboardist friend invited me to go along with him to see Chick corea at a club in hickory North Carolina back in the early 90s. It was an amazing experience. Even more amazing was the drummer, who I'd never seen before that night. He was absolutely astonishing! Almost 20 years later, I recognized him on a RU-vid video, playing for a Chick corea. It was that same long-haired guy from back in the '90s with that unmistakable power and astonishing technique! I've never heard anyone like that in a live setting before or since! I'm glad I finally know his name. Gary Novak is an absolutely astonishing drummer.
I went to college with Gary and he is a natural. Extremely musical. And if you think he is underrated as a drummer, check out his dad's (Larry Novak) piano playing. talk about underrated. Great musicians, and the nicest people you'd ever want to meet.
Saw Gary Novack play with Tom Scott in Palm Springs at Pete Carlson's while working on a tennis tournament for Radio Tennis. ....the dude is simply an amazing drummer. The thing about drummers is that they always seemed to be judged by the dreaded drum solo....but when I watch Novak...I watch for the little instinct things he does....the guy had a few little moves that I have never seen before. It just flows out of him...so instinctive yet based on solid drum fundamentals. Forget all the drum solo footage of him...watch him blend into a band. One of the best drummers I have ever seen.
No question anybody’s favorite and yes he could hold his own among the very best and always plays for the music first! And gives back to the drumming society with his lessons and teaching and approachability
oh my days I'm a massive gary novak fan. What I love is how deep he's thinking about rhythm and form when he springboards from the keyboard stabs into pure solo. This is brilliant.
What always amazes me is that typically drummers go from singles to doubles-roll when they play fast, Gary goes full blown singles. Sounds like thunder.
First heard him on Holdsworth's Sixteen Men of Tain album and was blown away by that. But THIS? Forget about it. Those perfect lightning fast single stoke rolls all over the kit are something else. The guy is a fucking monster.
I saw this exact line up in London, I'd say around 1994 maybe 1995 - and to this day swear when GN first came on stage, twirling his sticks, he stared only at me !
I evidenced his soloing sitting right next to his drumkit for his several concerts both with Chick Corea Electric band and Akoustic band .... he has amazing big fat and grounding sound. Unforgettable
IF GARY HAD THE FEETS OF KERIM KRIHM ALONG WITH HIS GRAZY HAND CHOPS (DO NOT GET ME WRONG THIS GUYS TECHNIQUE IS AWESOMELY GREAT) BUT THEN AGAIN THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT STYLES OF PLAYERS BLAST BEAT DEATH METAL AND JAZZ ROCK FUSION THEY DO HAVE THE POTENTIAL OF BLENDING IN WAYS GARY CHOPS ARE TO LIVE FOR.
Amazing Drums ! Like a oil painting, many Ideas, delicate controls, dynamism, so to speak wavelets in the storm. I'd like to see with Mike Miller, more!
Much like Gregg Bissonnette, Gary is one of the most underrated and complete drummers ever. Weckl's fluidity and control, Emory's chops, Vinnie's syncopation and power and plays every style at the highest level. Just a beautiful player.
There was a period in the 90’s where drums sounded highly resonant. I noticed a similar result from Chambers playing with McLaughlin during the same time
When I first heard “Paint the World” I just couldn’t get a grip on the drumming. I was floored; for several years.. 🤣 IMHO Gary is right at the very top among the best in the world.
Saw him once as a kid in a tiny little jazz bar in Prague with Michael Landau, actualy not realising it was him. After like half and hour of calming smooth jazz/rock/blues flow Gary played like one and half bar of a chop and I remember myself instantly going like "who the heck is that guy". I didn't know by that time that he was (and in my opinion the best) Elektric band drummer
After watching thousands and thousands of drum solos by so many absolutely mind blowing motherfuckers, this is still by far the best one ever. Nothing tops that.
I went to high school with Gary. Played football with him. He is an awesome person. I remember him telling me that he didn’t like rock ‘n’ roll music because he thought it was boring. I always respected that. It’s not until now that I understood what he was talking about.
Insane!! Just goes to show, you don't need to be famous to be a genius on drums. I know he's known in the drum world but nowhere near compared to so many other famous drummers. My goodness.
@XDrummerSteve 1993 ... novak was 24 years there ... he´s definitely best drummer and drum chops thinker ever !!!!!!!!!!!! everything in his play is original
I'm fortunate to see/hear Gary Novak perform at The Baked Potato frequently with Michael Landau Group. He's got way less hair now, however the drumming is fantastic! :D
Are they still playing there? Will they ever quit coming to Studio City? I hope not since I haven't been there yet and I wanna go sometime to see all the LA studio guys out there. Especially Mike and Vinnie. :)
Yes. Often. Michael is doing two nights in November at Potato. Haven't seen Vinnie there for years though. www.thebakedpotato.com/Calendars/11Nov/November16.html
OneMetaphysician Just saw Mike and Gary Novak in Europe. Wanna see those cats in LA though. The Baked Potato is a place of mystery and history to me. May they be around for many more years to come.
He's doing this all the time. :D I love Chick for his sense of humor and for his (facial) expressions and gestures. He just always makes me laugh or smile. :)
Met him early 90s gave me his # for lessons was never able to get one. Seen him play probably a dozen or so times around LA over the years. Alot of killer players in LA!
Novak está en mi top 10 de todos los tiempos! Sin orden alguno Weckl Colaiuta Novak Greb G Harrison Mayer Phillips Bissonette Ameen Rosenblat Y si yo sigo me caen arriba....
Gary Novak is mind blowing! If ever I thought that to be good enough to play the drums, I had to be as good as he, I would never even think of picking up the sticks. It's almost a consolation to know that almost nobody is THAT good so there's still room for cats like me (although I do work at getting better every day, Novak is a drumming genius!)
