Joe Morello on Conan O'Brien - Take Five 

The piano player created the rhythm. Half of drummers do something completely different with this song.

@@redrick8900no, the song was created off of a 5/4 groove joe morello developed. Brubeck did the progression and Desmond did the melody, but it was originally conceived of by morello and wouldn’t have existed without him.

@@elliotglaser1718 BS. The drum beat has nothing to do with the main rhythm of the song.

​@elliotglaser1718 Correct. Brubeck says on a video interview, that he heard a practice that Joe was doing and out of it came this segment of 5/4.

​@@redrick8900Dave Brubeck FULLY explains who did what in a video interview. Look it up.

Wow

Why is Bonham supposoed to be such a great drummer I do not get it.

Last Kayle EUW dumb comment

@@lastkayleeuw6706 power, groove, extremely tight rhythm, ability to do whatever the song needed, the list goes on. try not to be awed at Good Times Bad Times, When the Levee Breaks, live versions of No Quarter, and especially Fool in the Rain. he really was top tier.

@@TheBossWithMoney yeah obviously he is a very good and professional drummer but I seriously think there are many more who push him off of the list of best drummers.

He was blind from diabetes.

what a save! If you weren't watching the video and just listening, you'd never know a mistake happened.

haha epic! why'd he even have them on deck???

CallMeBronco that's absolutely correct! That's skill!

He didn't need that stick anyway.

Jackie Chan doesn't move fast or slow. He moves at just the right time, at the right speed, so it looks and feels effortless.

@@jettaeschroff6924 Very true. Jackie and Joe reduce extraneous movements. Like old tradesmen working on carpentry or plumbing or machining. Allow the (limited) human body energy to be spent purposefully on the task, not haphazardly on nonessential muscle movement(s). "Slow is smooth, smooth is fast" (pistol marksmen). You can actually measure the glycogen/sodium pump/mitochondrial activity in accessory muscle groups and see changes when you attempt to "quiet" some of those muscle groups. Exciting stuff, I'm sure. It'll gain you a Master's degree if you like..:-) All of that notwithstanding, the role of the audience's desire to see fireworks and face makeup is a perfectly valid part of that kind of performance. It's likely that Heavy Metal and Head Banger fans aren't impressed by drummers with economy of movement. On the other hand, the Shoe gazer fans might indeed be moving toward economy of motion, at least from the audience participation side.

@@jettaeschroff6924 so yeah just like Joe

Jackie Chan is an actor. Fighting is also not art.

@@ifeelsick258 I agree, Jackie Chan is an actor. The moves he makes while "Acting like fighting" illustrate the "Reduced extraneous movements" I'm talking about. Joe too is an actor. Both of them are presenting their learned and practiced physical movements to the audience. On "Fighting is not art" - I would argue that at any kind of exhibition level, amateur or professional, it certainly is art. They're not trying to injure or kill each other, they are playing a game with structure and rules and scoring points. Art is exactly that. Play the violin, paint a landscape, dance a ballet, fight 3 minute rounds. It's all the artist exhibiting his/her learned and practiced skills to the audience.

He truly is one of the all time greats.

3:31

And almost blind! How great was Joe Morello!

Yes, that’s the mark of a great musician. If you were only listening, you wouldn’t notice it.

Joe makes himself one with the drum kit when he plays. A true Master!

Gary Strader I

What a great story, thanks for sharing....

My drum teacher, Marshall Maley took lessons from him and spoke fondly of the man.

Great story! Thanks for sharing it! My god, just when I feel old ...:)...I was 7 in 67...I hope you had a beautiful life filled with love and friendship and I hope this comment finds you well and Playing Caravan in a big band...:)

Awesome!! Thanks for sharing!!

Very nice. Up the 'ra.

yeap

His drums sounded great, too. Rock drums playing jazz. Oooh, yeah.

Beautifully done by a true legend. Much respect.

RIP Joe. I'm curious how many people realize he's completely blind.

@@luckyvet.... Joe was Not "Clinically/Medically blind" but was... "legally blind" as he was Partially blind from birth (July, 1928) and remained so until he passed away on Mar. 12th 2011.

But we drummers who continually strive to improve our technique, wish there were such TV shows!

I was thinking that thought 15 seconds into this. Music like that isn't marketable to anyone watching.

Jon Batiste having daily national exposure was pretty cool.

This isn't that sophisticated. It's a really easy jazz standard most competent musicians can play.

@@redrick8900 it's not about who can play it it's about who can write it but cmon don't be a fucking snob, DOMi & JD BECK were on both jimmys' shows and they have more both talent and musical sophistication than everyone here combined

Honestly...as a drummer, that was a crap recovery. Took way too long.

​@@morbidmanmusicnot sure if you're aware of it but Morello was registered blind (hence the dark glasses) so it's not unreasonable for his recovery time to deal with this to be a little longer than an able bodied drummer. Despite his age and disability he knocked it out of the park and never missed a beat. I think given his legendary status in the world of drumming maybe a little more respect is due here 🤷

@@morbidmanmusic I say that for a blind man that was amazing. Let's see how you fare blinfolded.

I think he already is, lol.@@julianyo7072

A similar accident happenned to Chico hamilton at a Paris concert I attended at the Dreher's. A piece of the stick broke and hit Chico in the eye. He unfortunately had to stop the concert... But more fear than trouble at the end for his eye.

Wow ! Lucky you ! There a few saying the same here ! And I have met more said that ! 💜💜💜💜🥁🎵🐉🎤🎶💖💕💞

@diver dave goodbye then

diver dave not with that attitude

how is practice comming along lol

That is awesome! You are 100% correct.

yeah friggin bad@$$.

I didn't even know he dropped a stick, until I read it in the comments. I was listening to his solo, while reading and I didn't notice at all.

Yes a true master of his craft..

@@musshwins412 same

Well said ! You just mention my favourite drumers there !!! I used to waite L. Bellson to come out on late night tv show , it was so exciting like watching a magician ! Lol. I love Harvey Mason ! Ian Paice . And Jon Lee ,my soulmate ! All great ,best drummers !!! FABULOUS. 💜💜💜💜🥁🎵🐉🎤🎶💖💕💞p.s.I don't agree about B.Rich was a bit too much ,though ! That was Buddy Rich's style & I appreciated him very much !

But joe jones his fills were unmatched

who cares who is the best or worse. Man these guys were the best of the best

Morello exceeded Rich in technique. Probably the only drummer at the time you can say that about.

@@andymartin8162 Morello's left hand was probably THE best ever..

I can't imagine this level of musical sophistication on any late-night show today.

Wow

Yes. Wow. That is very impressive.

@@lilybond6485 impressive, most impressive.

Big up to Gary for playing Eugene's notes

For a second I thought that was Conan.

supermeuhmeuh I like the move at 3:31 better. 😆😆

I like when at 3:48 he flips his left hand stick around to have more power for the finale :)

I like when at 3:48 he flips his left hand stick around to have more power for the finale :)

Cra zee

Why would he? Speaking as a drummer. That wouldn't happen unless you were s beginner. Time is in you, not the stick.

@@morbidmanmusicAgreed, I'm no kind of phenom on the drums, but the instances where I lost a stick during a show, I never lost the beat, I mean, ffs, you have one less limb to worry about, it's easier than ever to stay on beat.

+Davis Miller what ^^^^^ said.

yup

agreed!!

after listening to this I cannot argue your point. the guy is an inspiration.

It appears Bonham thought so as well.

amen to that :)

Agree about Morello and Wright. Add in Paul Desmond smooth, musical, exquisitely talented. And then Dave Brubeck. What a great quartet that was!

Well said sir ! Truth !

@@gtnsteve1 best of all time in my humble opinion.

I don’t know shit about drums, I never played that instrument. I do know if I enjoy what drummers play. Certain drummers have mind blowing speed, but What they play is forgettable. The jazz quartets as I watch and listen is essentially rock and roll. Rock subs out the wind instruments for guitars. The electric guitar buried jazz for a while. But I think we have listened to plenty o guitar 🎸 by now. I am really enjoying listening to all the jazz I can lately.

Yes ,mine ,too !!! But ,it's a piece,actually ,not a song ! As there's no vocal ! 💜💜💜🥁🎵🐉🎤🎶💕💞

That bit with the high hat was wonderful to listen to and watch.

👍💜💜💜💜🥁🎵🐉🎤🎶💖💕💞

I love how Joe wore his condo attire to the Conan O'Brien show.

The sax lacked the dynamics of the originsl.

INDEED !💖💜💜💜💜🥁🎵🐉🎤🎶💖💕💞

+Georgemmac i thought he was gonna go for it with that mallet

+FBO ; Never missing a beat in five, ain't bad.

YES!!!

Story of my life, dropping a stick in a solo.

And the guy was blind. Incredible.

That's one thing I would have loved to see happen!

Ignorant gulpins might laugh..real musicians,even those who didn't know him, respect fellow players of differing talents..everyone has to start somewhere...

@@tonymclaughlin2305 Yup. If you didn't know him, the second he held the sticks... you should know he's a legend. He's so damn fluid, it's amazing. Just effortless.

So can that guy from Def Leppard

Ever heard of Buddy rich?

@@robertlavrakas7442 Yes Robert, I have 3 Buddy Rich Big Band albums (vinyl of course). I would rate Buddy Rich as a dynamic driving drummer, Jo Morello as a brilliant technician.

starskimusic ...in 5/4 no less!

Watch more old jazz vids.

This is true 🙏

Wow, how lucky you were!

@@whodathunkitwhodathunkit8532 Yes, sir. I was. Thank you.

MAN CAN THAT CAT RATTLE THE SKINS !!!!!!!!!!!!

He can even do it without sticks. Check out the videos when he does this solo with his fingers and backs of his hands! Wow!

Ron Coyle Paul Motian was underrated in that way too.

Ron Coyle +1'd

Ron Coyle My teacher was hanging out at Gene's house two days before his passing. They were great buddies. I like his style!!

That is VERY cool, Ron

+Ron Coyle ; Awesome man!, I can dig it. I saw Buddy twice and met him once. He was bagging up his cymbals and took the time to listen to a nervous kid. He really dug the fact I was into jazz and stuff. Cool you meeting Gene. That guy is my idol with his big band bombs and such like "Let Me Off Uptown" among many. Carry on man.