Dafnis Prieto "New Elephant" Live at the Jazz Standard

[NBC24742]

Dafnis Prieto is an incredible musician.



[TheDice2008]

I like his style. Because he doesn't hit the drums too hard. IT's loud but with sense. Travis Barker..NO SENSE LOUDNESS....PERIOD!!!!!!

[kr3w0804]

his drumming is like death metal jazz hahaha

[nygaard404]

I love the way he uses Jam blocks!!!! Whether it's a nonsense groove or not, it's the sickest thing you can hear!

[weezerfootie]

i always had this belief that when u play dun fkin think.. and just do watever the fk ur soul tells u to do.. bad day good day u love someone u love everyone jus fkin let it out.. otherwise its just a waste of ur own time!

[pascal62]

nice promo

[otherside65]

@jonsilence "this kind of playing has ruined modern drumming" is one of the most ignorant things ive read on youtube. drumming doesnt progress without players like dafnis, who does his own thing, instead of simply imitating tradition. this IS modern drumming.

[otherside65]

His overplaying is part of the crazyness of this song, whoever doesnt see that is an idiot, plus showing off chops is his thing, dont hate on it. "this kind of playing has ruined modern drumming" is the most ignorant comment ever. according to this person, only one type of drumming should exist and thats the type of drumming he likes

[dannyinthenow]

His style is definitely one of a kind, and he takes risks, which I absolutely love. The wall of sound that he creates is just another way to approach the drum set and I think he is out to redefine pocket presence. However, like anyone that lives out on the plank, he goes overboard now and then, but at least he's challenging us. As for this song, I could listen to that hook all day. It is absolutely on fire.

[Drumric305]

@OddMeeter Try listening to other songs and solos of him and you'll see that this really isn't his best work.

[d40g]

I completley disagree, Dafnis has not ruined anything, THIS is progressive jazz which takes a vast knowledge of theory. whoever made that comment about blast beats obviously dosent enjoy progressive music. they are probably a conservative music listener.

[Rajindahouse]

@jonsilence this kind of attitude has also 'ruined' modern drumming. He doesn't represent how every drummer out there plays, everyone has a different style and I think he's good

[wiliscool]

@OddMeeter Well...do you call giant steps musical?

[jonsilence]

To see/hear an amazing modern drummer who has a unique gift in terms of feel and dynamics check out Brit LUKE FLOWERS of the Cinematic Orchestra. This vid on youtube is a good example: "Luke Flowers at Wakefield Jazz Club with Jim Mullen and Zoe Gilby December 2008"

[NecessariusVerum]

@jonsilence Ya but the thing is these are guys that have been playing for years and years and playing the same ol 1 2 3 4 is boring the them, and they know they can play it so they try and improve on drumming so extreme that they have a hard time doing it, but he pulls it off and id like to see you doing something this creative and out of the norm. You probably cant and if you want to listen to some straight time stuff go listen to Avenged sevenfold or linkin park.

[winginater]

Why did the vid cut out? The song he started sounded badass based off the opening groove. Anyone know what it is?

[arobdrummer]

its his song he WILL play it anyway he wants, he may be putting "too many notes" but thats what he feels it needs and wants, he is the only playing this song so its the most correct it will ever be.

[olimann900]

3:10 WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA­AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!?!?!?!?! that shit comes out of NOWHERE

[cincijazzdrummer]

1archer1 i can not thank you enough for recommending his stuff with threadgill! from one music fan to another thank you many times over!

[TOTALITARIO999]

does anyone know what ride cymbal he is using on this video? On the sabian webpage it says he uses the "AA dry ride" but the sound of this bell and the one on the site don't match...

[jonsilence]

Tony Williams would eat this guy in one small bite!

[saianjuma1]

would love to hear David Fiuczynski and Dafnis do something manic and totally nuts together.

[CheezeyWeezey]

@jonsilence I have to disagree. The transitions, while overwhelmingly complex, are also incredibly musical and eclectically inspired. I don't find any of his playing to come off as split up or random. I mean no offense, but like acquired tastes, this kind of drumming is only appreciated when fully understood.

I also think the term overplaying relies heavily on the genre. The music that Prieto plays here is so unique that I don't believe we can hold it to our preconceived notions of overplaying.

[dannyinthenow]

I don't think Prieto overplays in his music. His playing style does involve a bit of ramming notes at times, but then again his style is a totally different approach to the drum set than what you usually see nowadays. The wall of notes that he creates from behind the kit colors the song with a shade that is uniquely his own. Listen to a death metal song and you'll hear just as many notes, but the difference is that everyone does it so it's "cool"

[danielhl22]

this is the drummer Mars Volta deserves so they can "go back" to make more nice music!! plus he is a composer!! imagine the possibilities O_o

[robertocarcasses]

(jonsilence:has ruined modern drumming" Ahhh I guess...that is why "Modern Drummer Magazine" had him on their cover and gave him 12pages interview...right?

[J0B0S0]

Genius.

[jputterman26]

One thing to mention:  much of the music Dafnis plays he wrote himself. That alone makes him a rather unique drummer. His ability to express emotion in his compositions is killin' in itself.

[1archer1]

check him with henry threadgill on "up popped the two lips". his talent is revealed and tapped under the direction of the mature master threadgill better than here or even on prieto's own recordings

[Oblivious333]

my jaw is on the floor

[zachrhea3]

Jesus this is nice. He has that awesome controlled nastiness. I love that. I love to see a latin player that doesn't just play claves and sambas all the time, too. Kinda reminds me of a latin Mark Guliana, just a little bit cleaner. Love the bands sound, too. I've got to get some of his records.

[caseydoddmusic]

Unbelievable coordination. Inspiring!

[Legacyoftain]

I certainly have mixed feelings on this type of "jazz"...I respect it for its technical merit and bravado..but I am not feeling the soul here. Just a fair amount of chops and being really good at math.

[nadirsharav]

You Should listen to his CD: "Taking The Soul for a Walk"

[MrJspowers2]

There are no nonsense grooves in this song. The section where he plays a sparse groove he's breaking up and afrocuban clave while flirting with a straight clave. Everything he does is based on layering or the total deconstruction of the clave. there is no nonsense

[Chase0106]

Shut up! You don't know.

[STIXAHOY]

Dafnis - well, he's got his style. And I must say he plays courageously. ie, he isn't too concerned with being in the mainstream of things. I mean, doing clave with his right hand as opposed to many who play the pattern with their left foot on a gajate bracket. .....his snare technique is quite unique too.....as is his cross sticking technique. All in all, unique........

[playswithpassion]

I say everyone has there own style...whether you think it's crap or not is your opinion...but he has his own voice and that's what matters in my mind as a drummer.

[SolubleSound]

I missed all the parts in your comment where you said "I believe" or "in my opinion."

I totally agree that he plays lots of notes, and sometimes I feel that when he splits up the time it's sort of unnecessary. But I also believe that a lot of his music suits that kind of chaos and craziness. The fact that some of his sounds and decisions are pretty unusual says to me that rather than ruining modern drumming whatever that is, he is on of the people moving it forward. imo

[courtjester86]

i have to disagree, dafnis has been one of the most creative minds in music lately, just listen to any of his albums and you'll hear what im talking abt. He doesn't overplay at all, there may be a few non-smooth transitions but i think this piece is more of an acquired taste blending in different genres. What has ruined modern drumming are the likes of joey jordison and travis barker and kids growing up being influenced by them

[DJTrancenergy]

@courtjester86 I agree on this. One really good sentence I read somewhere was: "Blast beats are the worst thing that could have ever happened to modern drumming".

[NiokaB]

@courtjester86 Travis Barker is awesome its just a funny situation to find a good player. He's good drummer in what is a relatively shit genre

[grahamcastleberry]

the groove at the beginning is so awesome

[BlueDevilsguy]

I had the opportunity to see him at PASIC. Unreal...

[spacitydrummer4JC]

..starting at 0:57 is beautiful

[DancingMonkey12]

he plays very busy.....the keith moon of jazz lol

[XxXxXJonathanXxXxX]

what album is this?? this is the first time seeing him he's amazing!

i go see him in red see jazz festival i think

[hypoclit]

absolute quintet

[DrShrinker]

My favorite drummer of the last 10 years.

He makes me want to play again.

[retsnips001]

this is truly awesome, i love it! he is so talented, i dig his style!

[danielhl22]

next mars volta drummer!!!!! Thomas Pridgen is good but they need some Dafnis!!!!!

[thejohnofsteel]

haha plus he looks like omar

[mabeey]

Very good playing

[winnerbaby44]

how amazing is this?

oO *-*

[drumsaddiction]

Q barbaro.... Yo no se q hace mejor, si tocar o componer!

[marc777danielle]

he's so inadvertently funky.

[martincruzdrums]

que demente!!!! no para jazz latin drummer

[rebusd]

Pure Joy.

[wortizbuff]

prieto...vanguard....

no hay ma na.

what a chops...

[ande1718]

I agree, but its at the Jazz Standard, not the Vanguard. I'm a nerd for caring about that.

[futboler454]

They're very different venues.

[mrTooKanSam]

hes got some really nice chops and flow

[rfx94]

im seeing his drum clinic on wed

[tubbalubs123]

omg he is so amazing and he plays his style amazingly

[TiqueO6]

have you seen him live and or have any albums?

[jayseppie]

And yet your name is OddMeeter.

[mentallyxderanged]

fantastic.

[dairyairman]

he's so relaxed. he looks like he could be brushing his teeth while playing all this crazy stuff.

[wiliscool]

Thats the key to being a great player!

[winginater]

@wiliscool Being Cuban?

[PaulMurphyJazzDrum]

i love to listen as much as i love to play.

paul.

[Nuxunumo]

gawd i cant wait to see him at modern drummer fest

[thek0rovamilkbar]

yea him and thomas pridgen it ought to be great

[TonyBtheEG]

incredible playing!

[guiguedz]

God, I can't even understand what this guy's doing. Mind blowing!

[spacitydrummer4JC]

Wow. This guy Is amazing.

[TiqueO6]

listen to a lot of cuban rumba albums and you'll get some idea. there are lot's of levels there. also it's good to see video of rumba (if the audio is in-sync which is somewhat rare on youtube)

start with Los Muñequitos de Matanzas.

Dafnis was brought up on the stuff in the streets of Santa Clara, Cuba.

Watch the bio of him on vic firth.

[spacitydrummer4JC]

Right on. Thanks. Yeah - I'm loving Dafnis' playing. So much feeling He gives..

Thanks again..

God Bless

[marc777danielle]

this is tooo sick!!!! man he is so smokin it rediculous.

[SomethingWeird42]

I love the part on the ride cymbal and how it goes along with the riffs or whatever it is. It does kind of sound like an elephant.

[MediokrityKills]

what song is this? does anyone know?

[TiqueO6]

He told his story of the Elephant tunes which was about, if I recall, a fear of elephants transformed into something positive. There might have been some dream imagery involved...

He's very sharing with audiences and there's not a hint of ego involved (a trait he shares with with most truly great musicians.)

[MediokrityKills]

what song is this?

[drum789]

havent heard of the guy but hes awesome!!