Why is Steve Gadd's Drumming SO HARD?! 

the thing I think that makes Steve Gadd ....well.....Steve Gadd is how he grew up. Check out Rick Beato's interview with Steve. He grew up in and around music....even as child going to a nightclub a family member owned to see the "Greats" play. As you saw from the Mickey Mouse piece, Steve started young and LIVED playing drums up to and including going to Eastman. My dad was the "Other" drummer in the US Army Studio Band when Steve was in the Army (they would trade seats back and forth, between set and percussion). Steve, probably because he was playing IN the Army, was playing pretty straight forward; but if you listen closely, you can still hear what's to come. Steve was also Steve, because of the choices he made in his life. He wanted to play with people like Chic Corea and Chuck Mangione (he grew up with Chuck), so he chose to stay on the East coast (and moved to NYC after the Army). He cut his teeth with those kinds of guys, and it pushed him even further. He surrounded himself with the Best and it shows. The last thing I'll say on Steve and his sound is his "Feel". Steve, very often, would/will put EVERYTHING he had into his playing. His entire body is used when he's playing, not just his hands and feet. On a side note, one of the things that made Steve almost invaluable as a "Studio" musician is his ability to READ music. All that time in school bands and the Army, sitting down and having to play what was written, but with his own sound/flair, is what got him so many recording gigs.

He's got time. His time. Like when you're in the zone😊

My favorite drummer! So smooth and right on. Thanks for honoring him!

Some of the OGs from my city (Baltimore) mention how some musicians that know how to dance tend to have unique feels behind their instrument. Steve is one of those musicians. He knows how to Tap Dance (literally, theres clips of him tap dancing)

Steve Gadd is a master indeed. I grew up hearing him on the radio. His 50 Ways groove is brilliant and his work with Steely Dan was some of the best drumming I have heard. Great video.

A superb celebration of Steve Gadd, Stephen!

The thing that I noticed when I saw him play either last year or 2 years ago was how precise deliberate his ghost notes were.

Steve Gadd can make the drums sing and the most difficult part sound like a summer breeze.

steve is for me the father of modern drumming

stephen: you are a gifted person! a great musician and a great instuctor! God bless you! Charles in New Orleans LA!

Listen to John Tropeas album from 2010 with Will Lee on bass . It was released in Japan . He plays a variety of styles . Not that many drummers can do that .That's why he is one of the great ones.

By far the craziest thing I’ve ever heard him do is that cross stick/hihat paradiddle lick he did in one of his solos.

Yes!! Steve Gadd is an Illusionist!! He’s the magician of drums!!

To paraphrase The Blues Brothers: "We're on a mission from Gadd."

Go check out Leo Sayers "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing" - Gadd plays an incredible groove here and some parts, that only he would play in an Pop / Disco type of thing song.

Fantastic! Thanks again, Stephen! ❤

Thanks for this. Gadd is great. Do an analysis of studio drummers such as JR Robinson or Keltner..Heroes of the industry that are not the “flavor of the month”.

Also…. He’s the nicest person on earth too.

I have been playing a long time and still can't get that gadd flutter.

Have you learned Lenore yet? LOL

The dr*gs had to have unlocked a portion of his brain, thus breaking down the “rules”. It’s the only way I, a big dumdum, can make sense of his genius playing 🤣 He’s absurdly talented!