Weckl's achieved what you only see a few times in a lifetime: total transparency on his instrument. When he *thinks* of something, he can play it, and there is no time or processing in between. He has total access to his creativity. Tons of players have insane chops. But look at this performance -- it has a zen quality, like he's watching himself play. This goes beyond chops. How incredible is that?
+wewewewewe man, you've just said EXACTLY what I was about to write. Dave's musicality and swing are just like a whole range of vocabulary of human talking: silence, distance, hue. The guy whispers, then talks out loud; he buzzes, then screams and then grooves. Certainly one of my favourites.
Ghost notes? no, no... People can' realize yet what Weckl real secret is. There is an actual ghost playing with him every time with his ghost sticks. You can't see it, that's why he sounds as two drummers together.
Its absolutely incredible to see how positive is the comment section. Dave weckl put so much effort in drumming and musicality that he makes everyone agree.
Never a mis-timed stroke, never an accidental rim, never anything that wasn't meant to be. I'll bet he could play for 6 straight hours and that would still be the case. I also think if he was to just sit down on any kit it would still be the same story, Never complaining that a cymbal isn't at the proper angle or the snare is in the wrong spot, Just perfect the way it should be. I just can't imagine him not being perfect.
In my opinion, Dave Weckl is probably the best drummer in the world. Now, everyone is gonna have their own opinion on this matter, and their views are obviously no less valid; everyone has their natural tendencies towards appreciating different genres and styles. But in terms of what happens in my own brain, no other drummer makes me feel as excited about drumming as this guy. The way that he plays... it's like it just flows out of him like percussive gold, just effortless (without undermining the amount of effort he's obviously put in), natural virtuosity. People may prefer their Buddys, Taylors, or Travis Barkers, which is absolutely valid and legitimate, but for me, if someone asked me who the best drummer in the world is, it would be Dave Weckl. It really is the most concise way I can express in words my love for the way this guy plays drums.
yup i agree, the first time i saw a video of him, was the one where dave pattatucci is showing how to play 2 3 clave and all the latin grooves, i heard weckl play and i was like wow, beast! his stick are awesome as well!!!!
dmcdarkknight You would have to define groove, because the man can groove. Otherwise he wouldn’t be hired as much as he is. The people he plays with don’t waste time on any musician that cannot “groove”.
Even after all these years of outstanding performances, Weckl continues to learn and grow. Truly a master at work here, and worthy of respect for the talent, skill, and effort he's put into it .
Drumming can be compared to speaking any language... if you got a limited vocabulary then people will get tired of listening to you pretty quick. If you got attitude then some might be dazzled by your personality and not really listen to what or if you are saying anything understandable... and then there are these guys with endless resources of knowledge where they speak with finess and can articulate... something that will piss some people off and start calling the person a snob simply because they don´t understand what they are talking about.... so... try and listen to what the person is saying.. not just the way he or she is saying it and you will perhaps find substance in both places and that is usually when you get a really nice experience out of the whole thing.
Every time I watch Dave play I find myself shaking my head and exhaling through my teeth in joy and disbelief. If you can call anyone a master drummer it's him.
I've listened to so many drummers and I have never heard/seen a drummer as versatile as Dave. In my opinion, what MJ is for basketball, Roger Federer for Tennis, or Maradona for football, that's Dave Weckl for drumming. His playing is insanely technical and yet so musical and fluid. As far as I'm concerned, Dave's the best and most complete drummer ever. :) btw, who the hell managed to dislike this video?!?
Hopefully there comes a time when people don't feel they HAVE to say Buddy was necessarily the greatest. Obviously that's always open to debate, but I think Weckl has surpassed him in terms of dynamics and versatility. Just an opinion, of course.
First, it looked like he was just tappin' a few skins and cymbals, testin' out the sounds. Couldn't even tell when he started rippin' the solo when all of a sudden I fell in a psychedelic trance for about 5-6 minutes, eyes probably dilating. Next thing I know, the video was over :(
I find myself coming back to watch this video over and over again. Dave's drumming truly remarkable. An absolute master of his craft. His calmness and fluidity as a drummer is simply incredible. Legend.
Yes. Me too. So cool in the video too, everything about this is perfect. The lighting, filming, playing, how he's dressed, the kit sound... Oh, and the ridiculous playing. Fluidity like nobody else.
Only Dave knows what's going on here... ❤ Maybe Buddy would even admit this. The ideas are interstellar and perfectly executed. Incomparable. Listen without watching - amazing.
***** I say Buddy Rich is the best ever. But there are so many different styles of drummers now it is just an opinion of who the best is today. I say Tony Royster
TheMrJones1994 Yeah but for me Dave is the best/perfect mix of all! You know; technique (better than Dave is imposible), knowledge (he's one of the finest composers out there), groove and feel (those 2 can't be explained..) But luckily, we don't all think the same. :)
Giuseppe Raffa I don't find technique 'play more notes in a minute than someone else' or 'as polyrhythmic as possible is the best' kind of technique that interesting (don't know if you meant that though). All I know is there is writter a drummers book. The most complicated book there is. Dave was a student of that book. It was based on 4 limbs. arm 2x foot 2x. If you could play the whole book from beginning to end, you could name yourself the best of the best. Dave has done it with 5 limbs. (His voice). This isn't made up, it's a 99% true story. Maybe this version isn't exactly what it has been, but this is what I've been told. I admire Dave a lot you know :D Rock on
casper van helvoirt I say technique as the level of difficoult of the parts played. Certain drummers will be able to play these Weckl's parts, but i'm quite sure that nobody can play the poyrhtmic parts of Will Calhoun, if you like better Weckl is a matter of taste, I'm just speaking from a technical point of view, (technical = level of difficoult involved)
Some will hate me (which I dont really care) but I think Colaiuta is waaaay overrated, Weckl is the real deal and much better than Vinnie... In my personal opinion.
I personally disagree. Both have their own take on the art form of drumming. Both have their respective strengths and weaknesses like any other musician/artist in the business.
Cameron Alidor I respect your disagreement, in fact, I like what you said and I can´t say you are not right, but as I said before, that´s my personal (and humble) opinion... Cheers, have a nice day.
To truly grasp Vinnie....you need to listen to his work with Allan Holdsworth on the Secrets album as well as some of the boot-leg recordings floating around from touring he did with Allan in 1988. Also, digesting the 20 or so boot-leg recordings of his late 80's drum clinics would be somewhere to start with Vinnie. That was really the peak of his vocabulary on the instrument. Dave Weckl is amazing, but his rhythmic vocabulary utilizing subdivision and polyrhythmic concepts is very limited compared to Vinnie. If you think Vinnie is overrated, i question your understanding of the vocabulary that Vinnie has achieved on the instrument.....he has gone deeper than any drummer learning the language and applying it to the drums. If you don't get, you don't get it.
The Latin section in the first half of this video is so advanced its hilarious. I tried to laugh but all I could do is stare at it with a straight face.
The Buddy Rich of our time. There is no more technically gifted drummer on the planet - period! An absolutely flawless touch and he just gets better over the years, especially now he's minus mullet!
+Eric E Gutierrez I have the crash with the holes in it, and literally every time I hit it, I feel happy. It's the "Chinese" trashy crash I couldn't find among Zildjians or others.
Hi Eric! You seem to know about these cymbals! I checked out the evolution pack. Thanks for that piece of information. But do you by any chance know what the rest are? The one on his far left for instance... I love the sound of that but have no clue what it is! Thoughts?
I think this the most musical drumming performance i have seen, and the fact they recorded it with mostly overheads mics makes it even more musical and natural 👌🏼
When I was first starting out when I was fifteen, my dad found Dave Weckl's "Back to Basics" at a pawn shop on VHS. When I saw him running the double strokes, my fucking head exploded. Weckl always stands out to me as the pinnacle of technical and artistic emergence behind the drums. I still can't touch him, almost twenty years later.
Dave Weckl left hand only roll on traditional grip is something I could never do no matter how hard I tried. That thing is both insane and mesmerizing to watch.
Eric Bailey That's people taking camera phone videos or whatever at concerts though. He obviously has no problem with professionals filming him. He did a video for Paiste recently which is essentially the same idea as this, demonstrating a product.
I never get bored listening to this man play. Also I love the pure unadulterated recording letting the natural sound of the drums and the room take the stage instead of being overly produced. It sounds like I'm the room with him.
With so many great drum teachers you can watch for inspiration for me he's been the main catalyst on how to become a better drummer from explaining not just technique but what to play that fits the music that your playing
No matter how many amazing metal dudes, gospel guys, old time masters like Buddy etc. make your jaw drop over the years, you can always rely on Dave to amaze you with his flawless chops and second-to-none articulation
The BEST DRUMMER ALIVE. His Time Technique and precision is not from this era or from this planet period. This guy came from the future to give us a glimpse of things to come. AMAAAZING. WOW!!!!
This is going to probably get alot of hate, but, I just don't like cowbells. I know, i'm weird. I just don't like the sound. It isn't appealing to me. Just an opinion. But that doesnt mean this video is terrible. I love this solo. I could watch it all day.
Hehehehe...! I can't speak for everyone, but I sure don't hate you for that. Even so; I actually like cowbells in a drum-kit. What I hate most is too much use of cymbals. Maybe you hate me now? :-)
yes and i appreciate his abilities, but he doesnt carry a beat like jojo. I love weckl when he plays with a band like, "just groove with me" by oz noy. But i like jojo better when hes alone
i understand that this is technically amazing and it has elements of a great solo, but honestly just listen to it, its sounds so scatted, random and pointless, theres no rhythm, it would be impossible to dance or move your body to this, its just notes showing off technical ability. i dont find this enjoying able to listen to, its like a workout or test, not self expression or freedom, i know people are gonna flip a bitch but thats just how i feel
I kind of agree, but that's the point of this solo, to show off technical ability. You don't dance to a drum solo, you just sit there and listen to it, and maybe bob your head or stomp your foot to it.
During solos, especially showing funk and fusion roots, drummers don't always follow specific rhythms. It's more contemporary and free style. I understand what you're saying, and if you don't like it that's fine by me, but it's really just Dave Weckl's style. He doesn't maintain a pattern and endlessly repeat it like the base of many solos. The reason it sounds random and scattered is because Weckl uses a TON of off beats and interestingly placed rests. It's just the style he likes to play. I think it's cool and fun to listen to.
If you're looking for a drummer with groove, energy, and with Weckl-level chops, definitely check out Jojo Mayer. Probably the most exciting and musical soloist I've ever seen.
polishfish my favorite solo of all time, micheal shrieve, soul sacrifice, live at woodstock, its a classic that lets you move and is also technically amazing, again thats just my opinion
Dave Weckl is the one drummer I cant get over. He is so good at drumming that he will get you hooked on his massive drumming vocabulary. I practice hard but it wouldn't be possible for me if I never saw anyone do it like Weckl does.
Dave Weckl is one of the drummer who got me into drumming in the first place. I've got a video with him and Mike Stern in Warsaw in 1997 or something. A great concert. But we are 15 years later and... This solo for me is very technical, dense, fast an amazing, and that's it. Hew does not build it up, does not play with air space and dynamics, there isn't any melodic concept, just switching between flicks and grooves. There is hardly any musical story, no tension and release, no compositional concept ( well only just towards the end...). We should be all amazed, but that's not the point for me. I am far from comparing drummers, but after Dave I discovered Peter Erskine. There is same performance spotlight from him on YT and the solo is just nicely built up and composed.
who knows man. Maybe he just wasn't into it that day. I'm disappointed too, though. Music is about the feeling. it seems like all my favorite drummers are getting old and losing some of their feeling. Maybe they get stressed out from doing so many clinics, all the producing, recording, etc.
All of this is based off rudiments, but it's how Dave applies them to the kit, adding in accents in different places, deciding where to play each roll etc
great playing, as usual, but what really strikes me here is his sound. So nice and open! Really digging this sound of Dave over the 80's fusion-elektric band-era. Seems to suit his style more.
Ho Lee Sheist his improvisational solos are musical masterpieces (as is the rest of his accompaniment / playing). Makes you elated & depressed at the same time.
I love that this appears to have been recorded with only three mics (one on the kick and two overheads). I think I prefer the sound of drums this way over close mic'd. It sounds more the way I hear them when I play, which makes dynamics and tuning so much more part of the equation.
Perhaps the one drummer of all i have ever heard during my 41 years on earth, that i truly belive can play anything. No delay at all. He just plays whatever he feels like. Does not matter the difficulty, feel, or whatever. He can just play anything and beyond that too. Period. The master.
Killer chops , smooth and soulful. A hell of a nice guy. I hade the chance to meet him and was back stage at a clinic in LI. I got a chance to chat with him for a while. He's an inspiration. I was honored being able to talk to him..
The balance, poise, melodic aspects and finesse are to be noted, admired and serve as one of the many pleasures one may derive from listening to a rhythm master such as Dave Weckl.
I've followed David 4 over 20 years and although he was amazing back then he's the only drummer I know who has allowed himself to develop so much more and loosen up compared 2 all the other greats. I think somewhere in the past he's allowed himself 2 indulge in different genres but much later than others and its enhanced his drumming so much more.
