You are a lucky and blessed man, Rick. Your interactions with Mr. Morello have obviously made a lasting impact on you and your phenomenal playing every day. The apple didn't fall too far from the tree, as they say. Thanks for sharing your reminiscences and for the joy of playing and teaching you continue to share with us.
I believe it’s the same studio that I used to have my lessons with Joe, many… years ago. There was a bar next to it that Joe invited me once to go while we waited for Ms. Gene Morello come back from church. I sat down a bit shy and ordered a Coca Cola; Joe looked at me and ordered a beer and a tequila. That was it, I was never shy again hanging with Joe!
WOW! this video was amazing..any and all stories we can document about the great masters of the past is a gift to every single musician of the future. THANK YOU!!!
To me Joe Morello wassuch a great drummer ( Take 5, Castillian drums live at Carnegie Hall, etc.). And you were lucky to meet him personnally over many years, aswell as a teacher and as a kind and friendly man ! ☺️thxs for sharing 👌🏻
I had taken some lessons with Glenn at his school also years ago. Loved the drum room downstairs. I could see Joes teaching room also next to Glenn’s. I even talked to his wife at one point and was going take lessons with him but sadly that never happened. Great memories though and learned a lot.
I was fortunate enough to have two lessons with Joe Morello in 2002 and 2003. I used to live in PA and made the drive over to Orange City. My first lesson was two hours and for the first hour it was just talking and listening to stories and then the lesson began. Just all technique and rudiments. I took all that back with me and worked on it. Took the second lesson about nine months later. More rudiments and technique which is exactly what I wanted to learn from him. I’m still using all of the stuff I learned from him to this day. Wish I could’ve studied more from him but I moved to Wisconsin in 2004. He was great drummer and a really nice and humble guy. One of my favorites. Barry
Enjoyed hearing your story about meeting and working with Joe. Glad I subscribed after watching your snare drum review. Always look forward to your videos. Thanks very much from Chris in San Francisco.
Hey Rick - glad you used that Joe M sound bite I shared with you. Sums him up so nicely. You’re right - watching him play and being in the same space was something special. Great memories. Thanks for telling your story. Laughed when I heard your comment about him always being late! The guy had a perfect sense of musical time, but keeping appointments was another story! Thanks again !
This is awesome stuff, Rick. This is how the younger people get to know generations they would never get to know. Next time video with a cup of coffee or a beer. Great stuff!
Hi Rick, My name is Vince and I've lived in NJ my whole life. I think we are about the same age. I was surprised to hear that you lived in Edison. I'm wondering if you were familiar with Lou Rose Music and their drum teacher Charlie Tappan. I studied with Charlie a short time and like you my dad would drive me to Edison from the Jamesburg area. Like you I considered myself very lucky that my dad would sacrifice that time for me. Just curious if you knew Charlie.
Hi Vince Yes, I knew Charlie a little bit. I had some high school friends ( J.P Stephens High) who studied with him. It would have been late 70's into the early 80's. I remember going into Lou Rose on Rt 27. Is it still there? They had a set of Red Flame Rogers drums I really wanted, and I got my first snare drum, a Dynasonic, there.
I had one lesson from Joe as he left his display he told me to act like there was water on the tip and flick it off bringing the wrist all the back,NO CHARGE.
Absolutely amazing and incredible. My love with the drums started with hearing Joe Morello on Take Five, and I have always admired him and will always admire him. Just from his instructional videos I guess he must have been the greatest guy, and the thought of chatting with him, walk the dog with him and go and have a drink with him boggles my mind. Thank for sharing this!!!
Buenas tardes, le escribo desde Argentina. Sigo sus videos, son muy instructivos y de gran nivel. Felicitaciones. Sería muy importante para la comunidad latina que le agregué la traducción subtitulada. Muchas gracias, Un Abrazo !!
Wonderful vid, and great stories! Like a lot of jazz musicians, I listened to Brubeck just for Joe and Paul Desmond. I still love listening to some of the features Brubeck gave him, like "Shortnin' Bread" and Castilian Drums. He was just such a master. Wish I could have studied with him.
Thank you so much for sharing this AMAZING story Rick! I remember takin a lesson with Norman Grossman in 1980 to learn how to play take 5 for my HS Jazz band and really getting into Joe Morello. I moved from Astoria to South Brunswick NJ and one of the things on my bucket list was to take a lesson with Joe but regrettably that never happened.
Great recollections! Joe Morello was my first drumming hero. My parents listened mostly to classical music, but my Dad had the record of “Time Out”, and I pretty well wore it out!
Wow! Thank you for sharing this story. Joe has always been my favorite drummer and you have been so blessed to have spent so much time with him and share your experiences. I am so glad to hear another story about how warm and positive Joe has always been towards other musicians.
Great to hear this account. I studied with Joe for about a year and a half when he was teaching at Dorn & Kirshners. I was also the last lesson of the day - not at 9pm. I was 19 years old at the time. I had been studying with Sonny Igoe for a few years before. Joe completely overhauled my technique for the better. I use to drive him home after the lessons, but like you mentioned, we would often hit his local bar for a drink on the way. He had great stories to share. He was very supportive and came to quite a few of my gigs at The Three Sisters and Gullivers' in West Paterson, NJ. I miss him still. I feel so fortunate to have had the time I had with him. Thanks again for sharing this. It brought back great memories for me.
Great stuff !! I always watch your videos and lessons your one of the best in studies My dad studied with Henry Adler in Manhattan in the 60s along with Sonny Igoe These guys all knew each other You probably know the music store yourself in Manhattan West 46 street It was next to Performing Arts High School which I attended in 1984 for drums
Was it the Joe Cusatis Modern Drum shop? That's what I remember being on 46th street near Broadway. I'm not sure Henry was still teaching by that time.
