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From: Cheeseford
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  • I wish I could like this harder

  • Long ago I studied with a book called "Stick Control". Every good jazz drummer I talked to said it is the bible. EVERY DRUMMER!. Morello's control no doubt comes from that classic book.

  • The amazing left-hand roll!

  • To compare the likes of a Joe Morello to these cookie cutter rock drummers is pointless. If you like rock drummers,you should blog about 'em on a ROCK drummer's youtube post. These pop and rock musicians for the most part,only have to keep time,hidden behind a fifty drum battery,where they flail about trying to excite their fans.It's easy to see why they like Rich. If he had been raised in the sixties,he probably would be another Keith Moon wannabe. JAZZ drummers are not rock players,Get It?

  • @mrperryjthomas

    So if Rich was raised in the 60s, he'd be worse than Keith Moon... all he could do was keeping time... that's why the rock guys like him... you know what, screw you moron.

  • FFS, Rich was fast and knew his rudiments. He liked to challenge other drummers and play alongside them just to show off. However, he NEVER had the balls to take on Morello, cause he knew this pudgy, thick-glassed little guy could wipe the floor with anyone. Morello was incredibly smooth, musical and innovative, and his flawless technique enabled him to craft mindblowing solos like this. Probably the all-time best. RIP.

  • genius

  • Does it get any better than this?

  • lightening fast.... lightening... they don't make drummers like this anymore

  • @mrobar113

    actually drummers now a days (at least in metal and stuff) do nothing but play fast. however its very repetitious stuff and sounds more like background noise then drumming. What they don't have anymore is speed with a sense of melody or able to change timing or just sound good. now a days all the good musicians are left behind for someone that could just look flashy and sell records not really have exceptional talent. (there are good ones out there!) but to bad there's not many.

  • So melodic, something incredible, mind-boggling = Joe Morello

  • I'm very sorry that the man had to die and I had to read about him in the latest issue of "Modern Drummer" to discover his genius. I am BLOWN AWAY. This man was a master on the level of Buddy Rich, and that's just about the highest compliment I can think of for a drummer.

  • @grovelandman lol Well not close at all. I was just getting into playing jazz then and I am a rock/funk drummer trying to play good jazz still. He took me well beyond what I thought I could do as a player as far as technique, facility, and coordination. Joe didn't try to make you into him. He tried to make you into the best player in the style of music you wanted to play and stressed originality. Sitting next to him every lesson I was always in awe of his talent. His ability was unreal.

  • MAN THAT'S JUST PLAIN BAD! ......U CAN FELL THE GENIUS IN THIS JOE'S DRUMMING.

  • this is the ONLY video in my favorites... and my only video response.

  • I attended a concert of Roger Humphries. We talked drums and his first point was that losing Joe Morello touches every drummer. I mentioned to him that like Roger, himself, the rather undersized drum set up always baffled me, since it would sound like he had double bass' at least 4 rides and a collection of toms. Joe Morello was the classic example of genius is best shown through maximum use of talent, not hardware. Long live Joe Morello! I am sure he will!!

  • Tears are shed for the monumental loss of a true artist and an ever present inspiration.

    Rest in peace Joe, the endless solo is yours.

  • Only just found out we lost him at the beginning of the month. This solo says it all. What a great musician. RIP Joe you absolute legend, in every sense of the word.

  • These guys were so cool. They all looked IBM employees or CIA agents with their skinny ties and dark suits.

  • admire serenity

  • You are my favorite drummer Joe. RIP.

  • Us mortals can only dream about playing like this. *sigh

  • RIP

  • God Bless you joe ,we will miss you.

  • RIP Joe Morello passed away on March 12

  • I Really enjoy how Joe phrases the head (main melody) at the beginning of his solo, this is a technique that is rarely used anymore, which is a shame as it captures the true musicianship of the drummer.

  • RIP Joe.

  • Rest in peace, Joe.

    You are the Man. You are our legend.

  • Check out the incredible call-and-response lick he does between the snare and tom, then the bass drum at 3:12. It's pure cool.

  • We will miss you, Joe! You will inspire me until the day I join you in drum heaven....

  • Amazing! He makes it look so easy!

  • Rest in piece Joe Morello. My favorite jazz drummer ever, the guy's playing was PERFECT.

  • RIP. Mr. Morello.

  • Rest Easy Joe

  • Mr smooth. R.I.P.

  • RIP Joe... we lost one of the greatest drummers that ever lived today :(

  • Good night Joe the shows over here on earth planet thanks for the great lessons on hand solo tech ill never forget the first time i heard take 5 it changed my whole playing . RIP you were a true drum Angel

  • I studied with Joe on a monthly basis from 1999-2005 and every lesson was a total joy. I got to be very close with he and his wife Jean and I still get a Christmas card every year. If my lesson started at 2:00, Joe would show up about 2:30, we would talk to 3:30, official hour lesson from 3:30-4:30. Then you would go out and the 3:00 and 4:00 students would be sitting there waiting, but nobody minded because Joe was brilliant, and the nicest person you ever wanted to meet. RIP Joe.

  • @MrDrummerboy79 Wow, Thanks for sharing that memory. Wish I could have experienced what you did.

  • @MrDrummerboy79

    Totally shocked to get to know his passing in march, last time I checked he was alive and well. It's nice to be aware of your experience as a student and friend sharing some memories with us. Nothing particularly new to add since everything has been already said, just a big kudo's to Joe, he was and will be one of the greatest for all the times to come.

  • @MrDrummerboy79 If you got to even hang out with this guy every now and then, and watch him play every so often, you could consider yourself life-long lucky. To have studied with and befriended him like you got to makes your life truly special. Man, oh man!

  • @garbobbage Yeah, it was pretty cool to be able to study with him. I'm starting to post some videos here showing the different exercises, techniques, thoughts, and methods I learned working with him over those years. Joe always wanted to make sure his teachings lived on so maybe I can help that a bit.

  • Joe Morello was a drum legend...R.I.P.

  • Peace Out To The Guy!!! Undoubtedly one of my favourite jazz drummers.

  • Thank you Joe for the the greatest drum lesson ever! 8/11/07 It seems like it was yesterday. It was supposed to be for one hour and three hours later the lesson was over. We talked about different drummers, Buddy Rich, Louie Bellson etc... Joe signed a drum head and a few photos for me. He was truly a nice person and one of the greatest drummers ever. Rest in peace my friend.

  • They don't make 'em like you anymore, Joe!---Rest in peace.

    ...Betch-ya got a great big 4 piece in the sky!

  • dam one of my buddies at rehearsal told me that he passed. We just had to jam take five. RIP Mr.Morello

  • RIP Joe Morello. One of the true giants....

  • I'd like to watch this in slow motion. It would be like watching several hummingbirds flying around in slow mo.

  • rest in peace Joe, you were such an inspiration to many drummers and musicians.

  • Desmond is the king of cool

  • RIP Joe. Drummers of your caliber are rare. You will be remembered with the rest of the greats who went before you: Webb, Rich, Krupa, Bonham, Belson, et all...

  • R.I.P Joe!!! Thanks for all this amazing stuff!!!

  • Just love this...

  • The 60s comes across to me as a time where everyone just tried so much harder at everything. Whether that's right or not I wouldn't know but I wish I live din 1960s America. But I also don't cause I'm indian and that would have just been awkward as hell.

  • Thank you and bless you, Joe. RIP.

  • Joe made it look so effortless. What an incredible drummer and inspiration. R.I.P., Joe.

  • R.I.P. thanx for the inspiration!

  • Rest in peace, Joe. You are one of the GREATS!; and you brought much joy to me and millions of your fans around the world.

  • this man produces more sound out of four drums and three cymbals than any of your Travis Barkers and Joey Jordisons of today! all you up and comers take note and learn from one of the masters!

  • Jazz Masters !

  • Terrific music!!!

  • 8 dislikes, are you fucking shitting me? Retards.

  • @RobertCorbett they just missed the like button and accidentally hit dislike, I've done it by accident before.

  • It's like those people in the audience have no idea what they witnessed.

    Damn.

  • How can 8 people not like this? Insane.

  • @jpschubbs they're probably fans of Travis Barker or something...

  • In addition to his crazy hand speed, his right foot is moving real fast at 4:48. Joe's one of the greatest ever. I had the pleasure of meeting him years ago at a Billy Cobham drum clinic. He was so honored when I asked him for his autograph. He's a real nice guy. Billy had 3 bass drums, 25 toms and cymbals. Joe had a basic 4 piece kit and blew everyone away!

  • I can only aspire to be a fraction as great as him when I'm as old as him

  • buddy rich and joe morello.... says it all really. WORLD CLASS

    yes there's millions of good drummers all over the world even today. BUT joe and buddy another fucking league that NO ONE will ever be period. maybe jo jo mayer he's amazing. if i could only do what joe or buddy did on four limbs to their one i'd shit strawberries...

  • the drummers ok but he's no charlie watts

  • @UmbrellaFitzgerald I sincerely hope you are joking.

  • 8 people are gay

  • @zfreak1981 or freakishly stupid.

  • ah, so mellow and laid back, smooth jazz is the perfect end to a day

  • It's all about the melody. He's dancing around it masterfully.

  • Brubeck does his only too wellknown chicken act at the piano.

  • what a hep cat...

  • I remember many years ago my drum teacher wrote out the drum part from the recording at thet time. It's a great excersice in independance learning if you start slowly then build up a bit of speed although i never got those continious triplets with the LH up to the same speed as the recording. Joe was and is one of my idles.Thanks for sharing.

  • @mikebuddy1 I love how Joe performs the LH drum roll while adjusting his glasses and sliding his kit around. Work of a true master.

  • Ignore the troll below me. I hate to see this comment board full of idiotic statements by some Travis loving cunt. True rhythmists KNOW what the deal is.

    Travis who??

  • have you seen travis barekr play ? he can play this ez jazz crap with his fucking eyes closed so dont talk butt wipe

  • @4against1 You are even dumber then I thought.... Beside the fact that you have no clue what you are talking about you can't even spell properly. DUMBASS!!!

  • a noooooooo mas!

  • i've read that this is the tune that caused paul to say to dave it's me or him re; morello. i think they'd long since resolved their differences by the time of this recording and were close friends by the time paul passed but paul was not a fan of drum solos no matter how good they were and as one can easily see here they were very, very good in the classic brubeck quartet

  • Watch the ONE HANDED triplet when he straightens his glasses at 3'55"!!! So casual, so BRILLIANT. You can't hear any change!! I love the MUSICALITY of his solos and the joy in his playing. It wasn't all about technique, which he had in incredible abundance anyway. You can hear EVERY beat. No slop here!! Dave's face says it all at 4'27".

  • @Mrphilharmonic  Right on!

  • @Mrphilharmonic I actually spoke to Joe about this one lesson as when I first saw this solo it is the thing that stuck out to me the most. I said "Joe, I was watching your video and you were playing these fast triplets with two hands and then stopped to push your glasses up but kept the triplets as smooth as ever just with your left hand!" And Joe said "Yeah, I used to have to do that a lot, those damn glasses always kept falling down." He just never wanted to talk about how good he was.

  • @Mrphilharmonic -

    Noticed the same thing.  Incredible.

  • you can hear the song in your head while he's drumming.. this is skill

  • took lessons with joe a few years back, he told me he doesnt even play drums anymore, just taps on the practice pad.one of my favorites for sure!!

  • @noseriouslywhatsup Another song from the album from which this came ode to a cowboy has dave brubeck quoating a cowboy song as far as i know he never played country and western music even though his father was a champion roper had a ranch in stockton california with 3 brothers sounds like the big valley tv series was ripping them off ,maybe he did play some country songs in the army if somebody requested it, this is from the album jazz impressions of the usa

  • Some of the thickest glasses Ive seen!!

    What a great drummer. :)

  • he rules

  • One of the most Musical drummer and a master of technical drummer of all time.

  • @alex23veno Jojo Mayer is playing just as fast.

  • this is the only acceptable time for a drum solo

  • This man could head-butt his ride and I would listen to it.

  • That opening Morello plays is perfect. It's nice to see this kind of appreciation for him, because I think he's been forever underrated. I still think Rich had the most amazing technique we've ever seen, but Morello had some of the more thoughtful solos and knew how to be a great support musician - which is something Rich wasn't as good at.

  • wow

    

  • i had an old premier speed king floor pedal...

    fantastically fast for the 'tap your foot' method of playing... but no good for modern @rolling' style..

    not better or worse just different!... modern players are faster by a country mile, (on the bass)

    but i used to be able to play 'rolls' on my old solid linkage speed king, that was a glorious thing!

  • One of Joe's greatest audio recordings is the song Far More Drums..............go ahead and look the song up on Youtube................for drummers, you will never get the rhythm out of your mind for the rest of your life.

    Dave Brubeck Quartet..............Far More Drums

  • Maybe a little more creative than Buddy if not they're equals. Look at the way he tears up the kit, that solo was the best drum playing I've seen. It's perfection in a cool and subtle way, draws the listener in and rewards him with innovation and a solo that has melodies and polyrhythms.

  • it just sounds more crisp then rich. id wear glasses like that too if i could play like that.

  • 541 people with taste, 8 morons :D

  • @MrBaniboy exactly

  • WHOA! At 3:55ish Joe just casually pushes his glasses up & NEVER missed a beat!

  • For all of his braggadocio, Buddy never even mentioned Joe, never played alongside him. He knew he couldn't keep up. Joe is the greatest technician in the history of drumming. His flawless technique allowed him to do the things he did. Watch his left hand at 3:55, truly the fastest sticking ever. F*%*#n' Amazing!!

  • lOVE THE SOUND OF THE OLDER, SMALLER KITS.

    Joe Morello, Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa--what greats.

    Far more interesting than many of todays drummers, with their monster kits and annoying flashing lights, smoke screens and constant double pedal use.

  • When I was a kid, I was so astonished to hear what Joe Morello did in the Brubeck group. I'm a reed guy, and I'd never before heard a drummer come across as playing melody. Just astonished.

  • better dummer and much more unique sound than buddy rich

  • Gracias Joe por tanta Magia!!

  • It was around this time that I saw him with Brubeck one Sunday afternoon at the Blue Note in the Loop in Chicago. I remember he was wearing the same glasses as in this video. When I asked him for his autograph during the break between sets he didn't see me at first in the darkened club. Morello kind of shocked the jazz world because of his proficiency. I think I remember reading in Down Beat that he was classically trained - a student of a famous military snare drum teacher on the East Coast.

  • @adeduction There was a guy whose books we had to use the HighSchool band..Arsenault. He was a bit older in the photo I remember covering the books and wore a tradition D&B uniform, how hammy was that? His technique however was supposedto be the penultimate. Maybe that was who you refer to.

  • @stephaniefinch98 I remember the name Arsenault from High School too but Joe didn't study with him. So I looked Joe up in Wikipedia & then Joe's web site. His teacher turns out to have been George Lawrence Stone whose name I also remember. Check out his bio in Wikipedia. Learn there that Joe Morello was a child violin prodigy virtuoso who switched to drumming when he realized he could play as well as Heifitz. I think Joe would have been a great Jazz violinist. 'Take five' on the violin!

  • It's really amazing how he gets such a great drum tone. A lot of recordings from this era don't seem to capture the drums to well but his drums here sound better than most modern recordings to me.

  • hello Arizona, Blogengeezer sent me.

    The name is Dawn

  • An amazing quartet. Mr. Morello was a key ingredient to this group of accomplished musicians.

    Larry, Taiwan

  • "Nothing to it "... a true master.

  • You were very fortunate to have that experience with a true drumming legend. Is he still teaching? I know Joe has to be well into his 80's now.

  • Like nuance and creativity, watch Joe Morello, he was the king back in the day. Watch his foot speed on Sound Of The Loop, and that's with a 1960's old technology pedal. Have not seen anyone faster. If so, show me the video. All of these rock drummers of today sound powerful and fast with their three pedals and 100 drums, but none of them are in the same zip code as the innovators as Rich and Morello.

  • As a former student of Joe's - I must agree. He was a great teacher and a phenomenal talent.

  • @dongald

    What a honor it must have been..when were you his student, he seemed to do more classes much later as the quartet was a memory. His traditional stick handling is what seems to have all but disappeared...I am always fascinated by the simplicity of his set. Morrello and Mel Lewis were purists and icons to me.

  • @gmonet46 I agree about Joe and Mel being Purists. Mel is my favorite drummer/musician. It's really sad that he never became the household name like Buddy and Louie. Mel was THE drummer's drummer in every respect, and his bands were second to none.

    As for Joe, what can be said. One of the Classiest drummers of them all. Chops and taste galore, and yes, both of their drumsets were small and pure.

    I am fortunate to have a reserved spot at Joe's Chicago Drum Show Master Class next month ~

  • @MarkR1957 That is so great! I'd love to get near enough to get his autograph..you have it all. I am envious! Enjoy the class.

  • @charliebraxton1

    Ludwig Speed King Pedal

    one of the best pedals that has not changed.

    They go for like 125$ USD on ebay

  • @xenezie I have a WFL Speed king that I have used since high school. Everything else that I have tried have been too stiff.

  • @charliebraxton1 What about Jojo Mayer?He doesn't use double pedal and he is just as good as these guys and just as fast.

  • @charliebraxton1 watch?v=qkAMAg7w6Zk :D

    but that's with newer technology of course..

    but still pretty amazing. Go joe and jojo!

  • @charliebraxton1 Love the zip code thing my friend, very acute, I agree with you, Joe had it all, sonething to aspire to methinks.

  • @charliebraxton1 Absolutely right on the mark w/that comment. And that pedal was a good old Ludwig Speed King !!

  • @charliebraxton1 Lol. I couldn't agree more. My first drum kit came with one of those bass pedals, leather pull strap and all. It was horrible. Anybody who could make that thing work definitely deserves the crown.

  • @charliebraxton1 JoJo Mayer?

    youtube (.) com/watch?v=Kcu4p3B-8yg

  • How can ANYONE give this a thumbs down

  • @CadillacL thats how mowfucka!

    YOUTUBE FIGHT!!!!!

  • Aw, I just realized this. Dig what he's doing at 4:58.

  • And while playing an incerdible solo, Joe finds time to adjust one of the toms and keep his glasses from sliding off of his head.

  • joe morello always looks so relaxed when hes playing, he just sweeps his hands across the drums and rips it,

  • Anyone notice how fast Joe M. is with that bass drum pedal during this solo? Even the best of rock drummers are not even close to his foot speed, and with old technology equipment. One of the most underrated drummers of all time.

  • is there any particular trick to quicken the speed of traditional stick holding?

    its something i want to look into, having watched joe, jazz is the most technically gifted style by far

  • A BIG favorit! Great-Thanks!

  • PLS TRUST lord jesus..im save by him...

  • my friend... i just want you to know n understand we as a human being we really know everything nothing in our life...THINK!

  • just shows you you dony need a 20 piece kit to make a solo sound good

  • Such a cool guy. On his instructional DVD he comes across as such a humble, laid back, humorous and charming man. These qualities shine through his style and wondrous technique.  An inspiration.

  • @alzico Absolutely correct.

  • Look at his expression starting at about 4:50; he was really getting into it.

    But overall, Morello was/is a remarkably efficient drummer; no wasted motions or gesturing for effect, just great drumming.

  • Some of the best left hand work I've ever seen.

  • Morello is a drummer- intellectual, that's what attracts to him greatly along with his amazing 'drumming' merits. I would rather call him a 'musician' than just a "drummer'/

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  • It's just incredible how easy it all looks

  • My late high school band director was an excellent teacher. When I started getting pretty good he called me over one day and said, "I've got you as far as a non-drummer can. Now go study everything a guy named Joe Morello does and you will be fine." Good advice!

  • Great Morello!!!

  • wow, I have even more respect for Morello after watching this.  Paul Desmond was always, to me, THE MAN on alto sax, like Stan Getz on tenor....what beautiful tone they both had!! I always had rated Morello up there because of his abliity to play in difficult times like 5/4, 7/4, 11/8...stuff like that and still be able to swing. It was nice to catch him on this and just cut loose. Thanks for posting this vid. Great stuff.

  • Holy crap, how can anyone do what he's doing with the left and right sides of his body?!

  • Joe the Magnificent!

  • Joe Morello may be the greatest of all time

    playing 4/5 time signatures aint easy for a drummer (unsquare dance)

    This Guy Is Very Good

  • I think you mean 5/4 time signature. There is no such thing as 4/5 time.

  • yes drum teacher you are correct 5/4

    but I think if you could have a4/5 time signature

    Joe could handle it with ease

    Thanks

    K

  • bkeay100,You say the word "IF". That would make the impossible possible. In a time signature the top # is the # of beats in each measure. Bottom # indicates the TYPE of note that gets 1 beat. So, the bottom # of a time signature can ONLY be 1,2,4,8,16,32,64 etc because 1=whole note, 2=half note, 4=quarter note, 8=eighth note, 16=sixteenth note, 32=thirtysecond note, and 64=sixtyfourth note.There's NO such type of note as a "FIFTH NOTE", so it's impossible for the bottom # to be 5.

  • too far. IF you didnt realise, bkeay100 was emphasizing Joe Morello's talent.

  • Lewilt, Duh! No kidding? Tell me something I don't know. Look, in 1959 when I was 5 yrs old, my Dad had this recording. Sounds of the Loop was on Brubeck's Jazz Impressions of the USA. That solo from that song by this drummer is what inspired me to start playing drums and I am a professional drummer to this day BECAUSE of Morello's influence. Words can't describe how incredible Morello is. His talent must be experienced. Thank goodness for these videos as well as his hundreds of recordings.

  • I haven't quite lived a quarter as long as you have, and yet we've been influenced so heavily by the same man. I didn't have any actual inspiration to start jazz drumming, but he really inspires me to work to sound have as swinging as he is. One of the first videos of his that got to me was the Brubeck Quartet playing A Train in Berlin, 1966, in which he traded fours with Brubeck for about three minutes. It's awe-inspiring to say the least. If you haven't seen it, you owe it to yourself to do so

  • ITAT, I would LOVE to see that video. (Where to find it?) Get the book "Off The Record" if you don't have it already. Many of Joe's solos are transcribed very accurately including Sounds of the Loop from Jazz Impressions of the USA 1 of my dreams came true when in the early 70's I studied w/ Alan Dawson the last 2 years he was at Berklee. Alan was playing with Brubeck then, and a great video from that time is here in 2 parts; "Things Ain't What They Used To Be". The drum solo is incredible.

  • It's here on YouTube, of course. Just search, "Brubeck A Train," or any of the other bits of info about that show that work as tags (such as "1966.") This guy, Astrotype, put up what I expect is the entirety of that performance, and every second of every song makes me realize that a group like this is like a comet of music; I probably won't see one like it in this lifetime. Thanks a lot for the recommendations! I hope you enjoy that show as much as I do.

  • @bkeay100 Agreed.

  • 2 Best things about this video.

    1). He plays the melody on the drums

    2). He moves his fucking glasses man. While soloing. He moves. his. fucking. glasses!

    I've been trying to do that for 5 years. The man's a God.

  • Freeze frame 5:30 -Courtney Loves' mother.

  • they're really in to the music!!!! COOL!!!!!

  • the 3 best drummers ever.. my opinion.

    buddy rich.

    joe morello.

    louie belson.

    and joe joe mayer too......

  • After seeing this a few times over the years, I have to say that he's just as good or better than Buddy OR Louie B. They all have their strong points, but Joe is just butter! he gets kudos for being a nerd too.

  • Hmm..My drum teacher studied with Louie B., and he says that while Joe is a GREAT technician, he doesn't quite have the chops that Buddy or Louis had. Still, they're all INCREDIBLE drummers who are better than just about anyone else.

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  • 3:54 He does a single handed roll so he can adjust his glasses! I've never seen that EVER.