It's a crying shame that so many more of Jeff's sessions weren't filmed like this. To see the man in action is a true joy & inspiration to anyone who's ever played drums.
Except.... Man, the more I watch that right hand; the more I'm convinced that was a God-Given gift he had, and I'll never come close!!!! I mean.... Daaaaang!
I agree but you don't need to have it on film to appreciate his talent, the performances are all on the original cuts. Go and buy the albums, the body of works is vast. I have a fair few but still a drop in the ocean of what he recorded.
I don't think I could ever grow tired of watching this...feel, flow, razor-precise, intricate fills, and just pure passion in the moment. He is SO missed by us musicians!
There are very few who are still spoken of, with such reverence 30 years after they've gone. Marty Robbins is another. That's the true mark of one who has left a huge mark on history.
I miss him so much. The King of groove and studio sessions. So many iconic drum parts and grooves that just were perfect. Never overplayed, musically perfect!
It's why we still speak his name. That, and if he wasn't cutting a tune, he would CALL a pal, "Bail me out...". Keltner has said as much! Humility speaks, folks.
I love the slight roll of his right shoulder when he's playing time. Such an incredible feel. None like him! G.O.A.T. You have to wonder how anyone could 'dislike' this clip. Freaking gold!
I've looked at a couple of these videos where you see Jeff playing a rehearsal and then hear the final take. One of the interesting things is that the final take is always simpler than the rehearsal; less busy fills and slightly stripped down groove. That says a lot about Jeff as a drummer and what his priorities were. A great lesson!
I watch Jeff, across the room live on f.m.in '74 w Steely Dan..he would stand up sometimes! 2 drummers on 'reelin..' I've stood behind Ginger B on stage that's a groove also, w sloshing hi-hats Alohas
I watch Jeff, across the room live on f.m.in '74 w Steely Dan..he would stand up sometimes! 2 drummers on 'reelin..' I've stood behind Ginger B on stage that's a groove also, w sloshing hi-hats Alohas
@@Mackie337777 I don't. Lol. But, Jeff has been a big part of my own formative years...even back as a piano player when I was 10. I am 50. Been hearing that cat for that long. My "Me Too" was in agreement that JP is my fave drummer all time. I saw Sinon with Toto in 2013, and he rocked the HOUSE, but my musical chops were coloured by Jeff's own.
I've been a fan of these guys since that first album in 78. When I was learning to play bass in the 80's I copied so many bass lines from David and Mike P, I consider them my first bass teachers. And then there is Jeff... There was always SOMETHING about his playing that was magnetic, even before i knew what the hell I was doing. If younger players ask me about pocket and groove, Jeff Porcaro is THE GUY I bring to their attention.
His grooves, shuffles, licks and fills as a young drummer in the late 70s and early 80s are what i strived for. Yes i love Bonham, Peart, Copeland, but Jeff was my hero!!
The way he moves!!! Taking in everything and really feel the music and enjoys it. And awesome feeling his hits of the drums and cymbals!❤❤❤ A natural pro! So missed! 😢
It took me years to understand how he could perform perfect time with the hi-hat. Programing the left foot to be the metronome all the while doing so many different dynamics in perfect rhythm. He was truly the master of hi-hat techniques. Conditioning the mind to become one within the music and feel as if you playing each instrument was the best advice he would give and it shows. Thanks Dean!
Scott Murray Thanks mate. He really was the master and I really like that mindset! I’ve only noticed recently how much he changes the sound of hi hats by easing the tension and applying more pressure with his foot.... (I think I’ve always spent most of my time just listening to his colossal grooves!!!). I’m going to start paying more attention!! 😁👍
@@bobdobalina692 Exactly! 1) Great Composition. 2) Great Drummer!!! 3 Great microphone placement & recording technique. 4) Great mixdown using VERY expensive, analog outboard effects, including gates, compressers, limiters, downward expanders and tons-o-verbs! ALL in that order. BCRadio
The vibe, the groove, the energi, the enormous charisma of this guy... This is so great! Thanks a lot for uploading this. Thougt I had found all Jeff-related material on RU-vid.
The Porcaro's dominated the music industry... together with all the other Toto members over the years.... all the albums they played on.. as one remarked here you can easily pick out a Luke , Mike , Jeff.. Dave off of any album... be it Michael Jackson, Airplay, Steely Dan... omg the list goes on.... amazing ....
@@morbidmanmusicIt looks like the take we are hearing is not the take we are seeing. What's crazy is that some of the fills match up exactly. Some don't.
watching footage of him is so surreal. what a groove and skill that he had ,, and the way that he would show and give tutorials shows how down to earth he is!!! such an inspiration on the drums. so so sad that he is gone. ALWAYS PLAY MUSIC LIKE IT IS YOUR LAST DAY ALIVE!! GIVE IT YOUR ALL!!
Absolutely Kevin!! He played a similar fill using semiquaver triplets during a live performance of Africa once.. I almost fell off my chair!!! Stunning!! 🙂👍
Notice the way he moves while he nails his part. Very relaxed almost dancing motions in his upper body which transfer directly to the kit. His hihat- work is such a trademark, very inspiring.
Dr. Tim Schurig I’ve spent a great deal of time watching the way drummers move while playing and wondering how much physical movement (as well has touch and technique) does transfer to the kit. I do think that Jeff’s ‘dancing’ must have been a major contributor to his amazing feel. 👍
@@deanstevens3071 Thanks for your response. Talking about motions: I like the energetic way Chat Smith pounds out his grooves: relaxed almost swinging motions but maximum energy. It is good to know that others focus on motions, too. Greetings from Germany.
I'm subribed to Dean, I see..nice channel! One thing Joe taught us, and I only used twice in Hawaii, is (the same reason I walked outside when we opened for Van Halen in '74 (small kine) Drummers who can 'bounce' at a concert volume (no mikes) made me sick, till Joe taught us the 3rd Buddy Rich technique, 'fingers' learning to open the fingers then using the bounce as we close the grip, for a ride crash, a ton, a ride..🙃 and what about the left hand even Ringo did it (very loud and foot pounder-like Me) I'm old now, But the groove and ghost notes, and thanks for pointing it out, Is probably Jeff using left hand Fingers..no fear of dropping da Stick, eh? 🤙 Alohaz guys thanks for the memories!
@@mikeraz594 I could play that.... but, it wouldn't SWING as hard. We're not talking difficulty. It's straight-ahead 4. We are talking "feel". Jeff was the worlf's best at sboving a click around. He could be on top of it, ahead of it, or waaaay behind it. There is his personal swagger in this tume that makes it what it is.
@@RaincloudmusicTFS6 yeah it's not that hard and stating someone was "the best" at anything is a bold statement. there are so many great drummers who never got out of dive bars. Pocarro's success was pretty much base on his father's success. Pocarra was an average drummer within his peer group IMO.
randyedward1 You’re welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for your comment. I thought it was nice to hear what he was hearing and watch how he reacted to the music. 👍
He had lots to say and did it with Confidence Charisma and Caress. His right hand was magical followed by left handed powerhouse grooved punchlines mixed to meet the music head-on. He along with Michael and Dad JoPo left to us admirers a wake of greatness. Had the pleasure to learn from them personally. Respect.
Been drumming since 95. In my short time on Earth, I have very few people I look up to nowadays for many particular reasons. Jeff is one of those people that, even in his death, he still continues to captivate many, including me. What a gentleman, and a legend. Rest in POWER, Jeff! We love you! Hell, the WHOLE Porcaro family is a gift to us!
I have never heard this song before played by Jeffrey. The way he feels this incredible groove and effortlessly adds his signature fills. The precision of time, feeling the emotion of his own style just add up to musical perfection.
This overdub matches very well with the video footage here, and if this isn't video of the drum take used on the album, then you need to appreciate how precise Jeff's drumming ability was. For the video to have matched the final audio, it looks like his part was composed, or at least thought out. These fills are sophisticated, the notes he hits are on point, and he was probably playing consistently over at least two or more takes of his drum track.
Thank you so much for sharing this video🥰. Jeff was not just a musican, to this day I keep trying to figure out his uniqness, diversity, his special taste, literally like every time he touched the drums, the music turned to gold. I hate to say it, but Toto wasn't the same band without him.
Hey @jp. I totally agree! He had something really special and I‘ve also spent many years trying to work out how he did what he did. The only thing I can come up with is that he was born with that ‘golden feel’! I could listen to his grooves and fills all day!! 👍
Dean Stevens Yeah I seen a pic of him behind his brownish finish USA kit before that he supposedly secretly tracked with maybe not on everything but he did use them in the studio.
@@Monsterdrumma If you look at his hot licks instructional video even his Pearl Kit appears to have silver sealer on the inside of the shells. I wonder if Pearl assembled him a one off kit using the jasper gumwood/maple shells from the Gretsch factory combined with Pearl hardware?
You’re very welcome Sergio, I’m glad you enjoyed it. Jeff Porcaro is one of the greats and I enjoyed putting such rare footage to such a great recording! 👍
Dean Stevens thanks for sharing with us this rare footage, it was great. Yes my two favourite drummers of all time are of course, Jeff Porcaro (he may rest in peace) and Steve Gadd.
Only have just started getting into Jeff’s playing. He’s pretty amazing isn’t he? Lot of his fills remind me of Bonham. He’s got a great feel, kickass drummer. Glad I discovered him, thanks for the video!
Nice one Chris. Yeh, I’ve heard him mention Bonham in some of his old videos so he was obviously inspired by him. Yes, absolutely, he was a monster!! 👍🙂
Man... he makes it look so easy!!! Just seemingly effortless precision, groove, timing, phasing, and style.... and those fills... holy crap, Almont nobody back then was pulling off stuff like that... maybe Simon Phillips, Barriemore Barlow, and a handful of other giants in the drumming world... but VERY few had that kind of chops and still managed to keep a tight-a$$ groove locked down... Jeff was the whole package... an absolute stud in every aspect of the game... not a lot of drummers even today could hold a candle to him.
Totally agree @maineexport13 Isn't it incredible the amount of drummers that just don't 'get it' and comment with things like "What he's playing isn't that hard, I could do that!" 🤷♂
I've always tried to feel the rhythm like Jeff here in all I've played. It's in the body an internal metronome guided through notes but done with such a natural understanding. Damn.
God, he had a style. I can't describe it - not crazy technical, but always confident and powerful. Sometimes I listen to his fills and think, "Really?", but in truth they were always perfect for the music. RIP, Mr. Porcaro. I learned so much from you, but not enough.
Damn Man!! It's LITERALLY like being in the background checking out the Maestro behind the Drum Kit. Make sure you tell Toto THANX for allowing me to get intimate view of Recording Studio!! :}
Q-Tipz Gomez It does feel like we’ve been allowed to see a secret studio vid doesn’t it? I’ve watched this too many times now! He was such a monster wasn’t he?!! 👍
Talent that sadly got dropped on the floor, and shattered into a billion pieces. Thank God for tape recorders so that this man's life work could be preserved. We miss you Jeff, in this age of drum machines. Give me a human with two drumsticks, everyday.
Great job Dean! Always insightful to see Jeff in action as it’s rare!.... easy simple fills unlike today, where a lot of drums don’t musically converse, they play a million notes a second, to a point where there is no conversation musically-shame!!! COME BACK JEFF!! WE NEED YOU!!!
Guy Richman Ah, cheers Guy and you’re so right; this 1000 miles per hour drumming isn’t for me. Sometimes it sounds like a drum solo through a pop ballad!!!! 😬 (I always think that I might be too ‘old school’ these days!). J.P always played for the music and it was stunning!! 👍
Dean Stevens I’m so with you bud! No you’re NOT old school, the new breed are just sheepish and not individual-Less IS more!! Space in music is to be cherished...
Indeed, even many classic rock drummers sat high...Stuart Copeland/Police, Neil Peart/Rush, Bev Bevan/ELO, Anton Fig/Letterman...even Ringo Starr sat fairly high! Few sat low...JEFF, Gina Schock/Go-Go's & Roger Taylor of Queen; half the time, you could barely see Taylor's face, from a center stage shot! BCRadio
I am 5ft, 4in. When I set up my kit here at home; I set up so that I was comfy. That meant sitting pretty low cause ...I'm a short chic. 🤣. I get it. Ya want to be able to still play and reach the floor....!
drummaman1 Ha, so true. So many drummers do that one the fade out. I think it must be because they relax and just ‘let loose’! (And maybe they start thinking about which type of coffee they’re going to buy on the way home!!). 😂
Awesome!!!! Jeff was the man, nothing else to be said! I knew that was Luke on the guitar as well. His sound in very recognizable. His bends and vibrato are out of this world. Thanks for the upload!!!!!!!
