Drummers on Drumming (Jan 2024, Published Dec 2024) - Travis's Contribution
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"Note: although this is what I turned in for Mr. Hilzinger's book, the preliminary question was omitted from the published version. I felt it worthwhile to include for added context."


DoD: Ok, first of all, what was your mindset and/or plan of attack when creating this list?

Travis: I endeavored to chronologically list—as well as my memory served—choices that were obvious to me. Such that, if you were to hear or view my playing today, you'd be able to identify and extract portions that are attributable. A difficulty that emerged due to my venture into solo music: are these specifically 'drummer influences', or comprehensive compositional/musical influences? It's probably impossible to ascertain, so I picked four 'no-brainers' and one that includes both an impactful performance as well as a musical hero; criteria that fall into the comprehensive.

#1
Album - ...And Justice for All
Artist - Metallica
Release Year - 1988
Key Track(s) - One / The Frayed Ends of Sanity
Drummer - Lars Ulrich

I can still vividly recall seeing the video for "Enter Sandman" on MTV upon Metallica's self-titled/'Black Album' release. The unforgettable density and swagger of those tunes were further impressed upon me, riding around with my dad in his humongous truck in the months that followed. It was the loudest, heaviest music that had infiltrated my 8-year-old sensibilities. For whatever reason, the drums didn't strike me or vie for my attention - all of the components seemed to be strictly in service of the riffs and delivery of the vocals.

I saved up some money, and explored the 'M' aisle under cassettes at one of the stores in the mall. '...And Justice For All'? Whoa, this looks rad. Although the "One" video either was—or eventually became—a staple of airplay on MTV, I can't recollect seeing it, so this was an impulse-purchase.

I wish I could remember how I felt after my first listen-through; all I'm left with is my impression. I'm not sure how many months that cassette took up residency in my boombox. My junior-high friends and I destroyed several thousand brain cells head-banging to the sextuplet-climax riff in "One," and I'd furiously bang along on anything within sight.

Speaking of, this record is the sine qua non for my path to drumming. Never before had I articulated the motions of playing the drums sans kit—less (or more?) elegantly referred to as 'air drumming'—until getting this masterpiece deeply under the skin. I had aimlessly beaten on things, drummed on desks in grade school, but this transfigured a seemingly intrinsic drive, impelling a desire and passion that became all-consuming. I don't know what I'd be doing without it. It is my Favorite Heavy Metal Record.

#2
Album - Serious Moves (VHS)
Artist - Dennis Chambers (John Scofield)
Release Year - 1992
Key Track(s) - Trim
Drummer - Dennis Chambers

It's 1996, and I've been playing for less than a year. I had some money burnin' a hole in my pocket and ventured to a local instrument store. I may have had an inkling that such a thing as instructional drum videos existed, as I frequently perused (read: ardently fantasized about owning every piece of gear) instrument catalogs, but it didn't exactly sink in until I was staring at a glass counter with an assemblage of 'em. On an absolute whim, I bought Dennis Chambers's 'Serious Moves,' which also featured most of the 'Blue Matter'/'Loud Jazz'/'Pick Hits' band: John Scofield, Gary Grainger, and Jim Beard.

My parents were not enthusiasts of jazz, much less jazz-rock/jazz-fusion/electric jazz (pick your favorite sub-genre nomenclature), much less the freakish tornado that was John Scofield's band at that time. As a result, not having been exposed to such music, along with the sheer fact that it was astronomically above my head, you'd think there was a chance I'd be turned off. Primo negative.

Although touted as instructional, 'SM' was mostly a performance video interpolated with an interview with DC, wherein he recounts stories and anecdotes of seeing other drummers live, tips and techniques, etc. There was another vid available—'In the Pocket'—of which I've only seen portions, featuring the same band (DCI probably booked a studio for a couple days and shot a full set), but it didn't contain as adventurous material.

From the outset, "Trim" is performed. Angular yet flowing, DC deftly navigates the arrangement with undeniable brio. Towards the end, there's a drum solo over a vamp. Yes, there are tasty orchestrations and absurd chops abound, but in particular there's this one groove that he lands on—playing the ride—that is so gutbucket and GREASY it invariably induces stank-face. It's one of my all-time Favorite Drum Performances.

I suppose it's fair to say that there is a variety of drummers, including 'superdrummers'; DC was my first exposure to such an extraordinary breed of player. Coupled with the fantastic music and aid of a visual component, it rendered the VCR as a fixture in which only ’SM’ was to be played. I'd even make my friends sit through it!

#3
Album - Soul Vaccination: Tower of Power Live
Artist - Tower Of Power
Release Year - 1999
Key Track(s) - Soul Vaccination / So Very Hard to Go
Drummer - David Garibaldi

It was either 2000 or 2001—I'm leaning towards the former—and audio-file sharing is widespread and rampant. Admittedly, my favorite platform was Audiogalaxy: cue up as many songs as you'd like (conveniently organized per genre) and the service did the work for you. I'd come back later in the day and have a full record ready for recreational listening. This is an open admission, for I would subsequently purchase the CD if I enjoyed the material. This live ToP record was one of those very downloads/purchases.

By now, I had several years of practicing, reading, and general craft-honing under my belt. I was familiar with 'funk' drumming, but this record is another level. Garibaldi is a wizard, and nonpareil. His blending of 16th-based funk playing and afro-cuban rhythms is unimpeachably delicious. The ghosting, the bouncy bow/bell ride patterns... Studying and playing along to Garibaldi imparted to me the importance of ghost notes and giving those morsels their proper subdivision-worth, rather than peppering them in with nonchalance. Okay, enough food references.

To boot, this record is superbly engineered and mixed. The performances of each track became so indelible that it was actually tough for me to retro-listen to the original, respective recordings and appreciate them.

Interesting footnote: many years later, I saw some footage of Chambers filling in for Garibaldi, and had an epiphany. Of COURSE he's a fan!

#4
Album - Serious Young Insects / Universe
Artist - On The Virg / Planet X
Release Year - 1999 / 2000
Key Track(s) - Native Metal / Alien Hip-Hop / Clonus
Drummer - Virgil Donati

I was first subjected to Donati's inscrutable playing via the 1997 Modern Drummer Festival Highlights VHS. A friend and I would pop it in and marvel at guys like Tempesta, Royster (who was prepubescent and absolutely furious), et al. When Virg came on, it was as if a semi-opaque curtain dropped over the television; much head-scratching was induced, we could barely understand what he was playing let alone how he was executing it all - AND with traditional grip. This guy's a magician from another planet. Probably another galaxy. But the protean adolescent mind took over, and I didn't do any further investigation.

Skipping ahead to around the same time as the live ToP record, the memory becomes a tad hazy. I can't recall if I downloaded and/or bought one of the above. By then, I had become inured to going to the local FYE and special-ordering some of the more obscure records I was consuming, or finding them on Audiophile Imports. But surely, being exposed to one of the aforementioned records prompted me to purchase the other. It was simply in such quick succession that I found myself loving both concurrently, thus my dual pick.

I have retained two specific memories of each: I remember the sonic onslaught—superlatively transmitted through my PC's Klipsch speakers—of the SYI record, especially whilst cranking "Alien Hip-Hop." And I remember my tired commute from an old job, throwing on 'Universe' for needed revitalization.

Although he became a firebrand in the drumming community after that MD Fest performance, I recall more press around him at that time. I'd gobble up any interview or piece of media I could uncover, and became—frankly—kinda obsessed with the guy. He possessed a work ethic and ascetic lifestyle that matched the one I had myself begun grooming, being a massive fan of Henry Rollins. But HR wasn't a drummer. And if you've got even a kernel of that kind of passion looming inside, Virg will draw it out.

Another memory has presented itself: hearing Meshuggah's 'Nothing,' and thinking, "Oh, this is like what Donati's doing, except 'metal'." Later on I'd do my homework, learn about them and listen to more of their discography, but it's interesting that such sophisticated, rhythmically complex music that bore resemblances to each other was being produced simultaneously, and one form caught my attention (read: enraptured) before the other.

Anyway, I've done much gushing about Virg both online and in person, and there is still much gushing to be done. The expressiveness and sheer grandeur of his playing can't be grasped within a couple of records or a handful of video clips; chances are you're seeing just one side or just one period of his growth, which is apparently endless. He's my Favorite Drummer.

#5
Album - Joe's Garage
Artist - Frank Zappa
Release Year - 1979
Key Track(s) - Catholic Girls
Drummer - Vinnie Colaiuta

I really can't imagine a more illustrious start to a career than this: Colaiuta's first big gig and only second (according to the discography on his website) record. But let's back up for a moment.

My father mostly listened to 'classic' rock, i.e. the pop/rock music of his heyday. He had a couple of Zappa records, and I'd giggle along at the lyrics when he'd play them. He'd draw an arbitrary line in the sand at some point though, commenting, "with some of his stuff you need to be on acid or somethin'." In my early twenties, I took the plunge and began buying up FZ's disco on my own - basically plucking anything that looked interesting (which proved, along with the amount of available titles, to be formidable). 'Joe's Garage' was a very early purchase, perhaps the first.

I fell deeply in love with the music: the songs, the playing, the story, everything. It's all still so intoxicating. I could've picked any track as the 'key track', "Catholic Girls" merely jumped out because I think it'd appeal to a casual listener or someone new to FZ. Colaiuta is slinky and tasteful throughout, somehow exhibiting the sort of aplomb only a seasoned vet could (remember, again: second record in his career). I find his drum sound particularly intriguing: fairly idiosyncratically devoid (maybe it's what Frank wanted) of his later tones, but rich, vibrant, earthy.

Volumes have been written on the genius of Mr. Zappa, so I'll just touch briefly on what he impressed upon me and my own feelings. Frank taught me to compose fearlessly, and to hold in esteem the dichotomy of not taking yourself seriously, but doing what you do with utmost conviction. I find myself missing him at times as if I'd miss a family member or an old friend. 'Joe's Garage' is my you've-got-a-gun-to-your-head-and-you've-gotta-pick Favorite Zappa Record.

DoD: Would you like to highlight your honorable mention? You also mentioned:

Album - California
Artist - Mr. Bungle
Release Year - 1999
Drummer - Danny Heifetz

Travis: Something memorable from watching MTV as a child was the video for Faith No More's "Epic." In my twenties, I finally sated that intrigue and bought all of their records. It's some of my favorite alt/rock music and I became a de facto fan of Mike Patton. His own discography being a monolithic, prolific, rabbit hole of amazingly unusual music, I'd occasionally peek inside that myriad and grab up a few items of interest. In 2010, all of the Mr. Bungle records were pinpointed with said interest.

Just last year (at the time of writing this), I decided to roll the dice on YouTube's copyright rules and cover/re-interpret "Ars Moriendi" from 'California.' So far, I'm winning. At the risk of being redundant, I'm closing with a quote from my own video description. Thank you for reading.

"Mr. Bungle’s ‘California’ is one of my all-time favorite records. It’s built atop the earmarks established in the two preceding records: an eclectic, assaulting mélange of genres (often in the same song); a penchant for film-score idolatry; and a lethal dose of humor, while featuring a headier blend of world-music(s) influence—even employing session musicians in furtherance of authenticity—and an overall streamlined approach to the songwriting. The inscrutable, terrorizing nature of ‘Disco Volante’ and the turpitude of the debut were dialed down, but it still caroms between experimental and radio-friendly until it’s a kaleidoscopic smear of some of the weirdest rock music you’re likely to hear - with some intensely gravid lyrics. This record blasts me off to the firmament. It’s transcendent, atemporal; a collective triumph." Back to Web Logs