Off Topic how to stop worrying and love drum solos

[T-bone]

I have one word for you boyz.........Jazz.

Am I the only one to come to a drummers defense? We're bass players. We lock in with drummers and create pockets so deep you need an extension ladder to climb out.

To me, a well timed drum solo enhances most any show. And when you throw in other percussion - wow. Some of those latin grooves are all about the percussion.

Go listen to Keith Carlock (drummer for Steely Dan) and the solo he does during Josie. Absolutely blows me away.

Break it down boyz.

tbone

 

[J Romano]

I have one word for you boyz.........Jazz.

Am I the only one to come to a drummers defense? We're bass players. We lock in with drummers and create pockets so deep you need an extension ladder to climb out.

To me, a well timed drum solo enhances most any show. And when you throw in other percussion - wow. Some of those latin grooves are all about the percussion.

Go listen to Keith Carlock (drummer for Steely Dan) and the solo he does during Josie. Absolutely blows me away.

Break it down boyz.

tbone

Nice, spot on!

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I was going to say the same thing: in the context of a jazz band, solos are an integral part of improvised music. I especially like it when the drums trade fours, eights or whatever with the other instruments.

In a standard rock or pop song, I think that only short little flourishes of drum or bass is okay. In most cases, I am not a fan of long drawn out solos. I'd prefer to listen (and play) a good groove.

 

[stu42]

I grew up listening to the Grateful Dead. Been to probably 15 live shows. I know, blame the hippie parents.
Everyone in the audience, at every Dead show, expects a 20 minute DRUMMMMZZZZZ solo by Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart, and the boys never disappointed.

Nearly every Jazz trio I have ever listened to or played in will have solo breaks for each instrument. That's again, expected.

So within the context of the music and expectation of the audience, a drum solo can fit very well. However, when not within the context, or not contributing to the completeness of a song, a drum solo can be very disruptive at best, and at worst really lame.

Well said!!

I will add something that was mentioned in the OP. I do think that a drum solo is probably better appreciated in a live context - or through a well-produced video recording of a performance. Regardless, once I've seen or heard it a few times I'm probably going to skip it in favour of the next song most of the time.

On the other hand... I have a video recording of Jeff Beck playing live at Ronnie Scott's and I just love watching Tal Wilkenfeld's bass solo in "'Cause We've Ended As Lovers". To me, it's really well done and not overly long so I'll watch it every time. In that context, I don't see it as being much different than listening to Jeff Beck's solos. Hey...it's instrumental music so if you took out the solos what would you have?? Thank God there's no stupid drum solo though!! That would totally wreck it!! Hahaha.

I love Vinnie Colaiuta but a guy can only take so many drum solos!!

 

[drTStingray]

I don't really think of that bit as a solo. It's not an interruption to the song...

I'm afraid I totally disagree - it's as big a solo as any I can think of - up there with guitar solos etc etc. V strange in a two minute pop song as well from 1966 ish as well - but not the point of this thread, being about the 20 minute epic solo - a very 70s thing I think.

I agree with the yawn factor of long long long drum solos - when they're on albums (and I can think of several I have) I've probably played them once out of curiosity but generally skip them subsequently. I'm thinking Tank by Emerson Lake and Palmer, Moby Dick by Led Zep (but that riff is SO good, it's almost worth hearing the drum solo over and over to hear the start and finish riff) etc etc. They can be good live though - I remember seeing Ric Lee of Ten Years After do one, and with a good light show, it was pretty awesome - and Buddy Rich also.

I much prefer people like Vinnie Colliuta playing short breaks these days (say 2 or 4 bars etc) - and what a drummer he is!