Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Big Band drum solo

[rtweber37]

This is great clip - the one thing I LOVE about these old jazz drummers is that (and I don't mean this in a negative way) is that they were so loose that at times it sounds a little sloppy BUT that is what makes jazz such incredible music - no quantizing and trying to be perfect - just throwing it down.

[TaintedBlu]

@rtweber37 He was doing that on purpose, playing within separate rhythms while keeping count of the band's beat. It becomes subconscious after enough jazz.

[MegaBanne]

@rtweber37 Your incredibly wrong, this musician never loses the timing or slows down. The drummer is the most importan player in a jazz band, so keeping the timing is prior 1, build a groove upon that beat is prior 2, to color the piece with acords, melody and such is prior 3.

Don't get fooled by bad old recordings, the timing was at least as good than as any drummer to day if not better.

[MrJoetrix]

Those cymbals are DRYyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy­yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!

[mielke15]

@MrJoetrix uhhh no, it's called an old recording

[Easleytee]

Listen to the the recording Consummation. Mel produces the finest snare drum sound ever.

[vovkin1001]

big band driving it self not a drummer.

[mlcoo17]

This is unique cymbal work

[kingorthy]

Great drummer--always swinging, staying loose and driving the big band at the same time. What a talent!

[chebeiker]

Does anybody know where i can get this video?

[rubberbandsax]

wow is that Joe Henderson sitting in with the band? Check 0:43

[SebCo77]

I think Mel tuned his snare to enhance the sound of the brass instruments, pretty low and throaty. His aim wasn't a high, bright sound.

Add to that the recording technique - only one mic for the whole drum kit (plus bass drum mic), and a lot of room ambience/spill form the mics for the band, and that's the sound you're hearing.

On their studio recordings, you can hear the same sound in a more controlled environmen. Gretsch wood snares also had a sound of their own, unlike Ludwig, for example.

[nkushani]

The lead trumpeter is Snooky Young

[XforkbenderX]

Those are some sweet sounding hi-hats! Whew...

[roccovaselino]

Mel Lewis was one of my early influences. I first heard him with the Stan Kenton band of the '50s. He always had a cool, modern feel to his playing; always tasty and articulate. As a kid, I used to put on "Artistry Jumps" and try to play along. What a great drummer...

[Lengo67]

Most awesome! Mel Lewis plays with finesse, unlike the rockers!

Who else did he play with besides Thad Jones? What albums should I look for? I wanna hear more!

[williamblake]

Mel Lewis is one of the greatest ever Big Band drummers. His articulation, understanding and dynamic response to the band was outstanding. The structure of this solo which is so integerated into the tune is beautifuly thought out and played

[welovematthewlush]

hah hey pa1ntballa365,

YOUR MY BROTHER.

[pa1ntballa365]

lol i just told my grandma some of the comments that you guys left and she got really happy. (mel lewis was my grandfather. for those of you that dont know) and she really really appreciates it.

[MarkR1957]

Them please tell your grandma that there are some people, myself included, who condider Mel Lewis to be the greatest drummer of all time, and his bands, with Thad and The Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra, where second to none ~

[crzhaze]

your grandad influenced me greatly-thanks be to the music he created!

[lemmatt]

GENIAL!!!!!!!

[epasurr]

MY FAVORITE BIG BAND DRUMMER

[BuckshotLaFunke]

Superb solo. I always love Mel because he sounds so optimistically in the back of any group: as if the rhythm doubles. Probably because he lets his left hand always tick along with the right hand that rides the cymbal.

[MarkR1957]

I just got this concert on DVD.

Great to hear the whole set and to see it on a big screen run thru a nice stereo.

"Once Around" is my favorite Thad Jones chart.

One of the best big band charts ever.

This was a superb band, and Mel was unbelievable ~

[alexneciosup]

Hey Mark Where did you got the DVD from.

this is still my favor big band, the compositions and the playing still killing.

-aa.

[MarkR1957]

Actually, I found it LUCKILY on Ebay, from some guy in France who had a copy. Where he got it I do not know. I think I got it for about ten dollars. What a deal!

Yes, this band was absolutely stellar. Mel is my favorite drummer/musician of all time, and so many of Thad's charts are just so great.

All I can say is check out the web every so often for it, and you might get lucky like I did.

[alexneciosup]

I used to have that record when I was living in San Juan PR, gave it to my brother and the record just kept going around,,,what was the name of the first record?please le t me know if you remember..

-aa.

[MarkR1957]

I believe it was TJ - ML "Solid State".

I have it, but I'm just too lazy to go and look for it.

It had some great charts on it.

Once Around, Willow Weep for Me, etc ~

[groovemessenger2407]

The best part of this video isn't the drum solo (which is great), but you can actually hear the horns during the ensemble sections. Very different from some of the more soloistic...and noisy...bid band drummers of the that era. You know who I'm talking about. I could watch this all day. I wish there wher e more videos of this band, especially from this era.

[drummer78]

I wish I had a chance to see Mel Lewis live at the Village Vanguard. I heard he played there every Monday night for many years. He was very opiniated about drums and drummers but he knew what he was talking about.

[lildrumer]

now this is music with talent, not like any of the new main streem music.

[MarkR1957]

It's very sad to me that there are not FAR more people looking at the videos of and commenting on this superb Master Jazz drummer, Mel Lewis.

[Jazzman303]

THAT IS JOE HENDERSON... Awsome.

[dreadtodred]

joe henderson one of the greats

[gregoryburrows]

the best of the best -- thanks for posting that. I've seen that band here in NY many times (post-Thad and they still sound great now, post-Mel).

[rmo52]

Yes, Eddie Daniels was on that band for a while. I see Cliff Heather on bass bone too. What an innovative band.

[jazzdi]

This is September 3, 1969 in Soborg, Denmark.

[tunnelrat1900]

Hey, that's Eddie Daniels on 2nd tenor.

[dreadtodred]

hey aint thad jones elvins jones bother?hank jones too?

[tunnelrat1900]

I think that's Sir Roland Hanna on piano.

[Jazzman303]

Yes... A Very Musical Family... A Family filled with monsters

[killbot6767]

wow, such atmosphere! excellent

[SebCo77]

See Youtube Xy5xSrGHdyE now for the complete track.

[1966gretsch]

Joe Henderson is on the left in the sax section which would put this clip in mid/late 1969. He was not with the group very long, but fortunately there's a great live disc recorded in Switzerland so you can hear him.

[MarkR1957]

The chart is called "Once Around", written by Thad Jones, from their first album. What is represented here is the last half of the chart. Missing are the trumpet, baritone and piano solos leading up to Mel's solo.

[BornToDrum]

Does anyone know the tune's name?

[dharmamark]

total artistry...Great drumming.

[vova47]

That´s real Jazz!There´s not enough Mel videos on You Tube!Thanks!

[stpd1957]

Terrific orchestra, thankfully still going now as the VJO. Great clip.

[GreenPow3r]

This is awesome.