MR

Check out this amazing video of Steve Smith playing with Vic Wooten...

http://youtu.be/eMOQKQ2fduY

Everyone in the band Journey, past and present, has their strengths but damned if I don't think Smith is without a doubt the most virtuosic player of the lineup ever. It's actually hard to believe he was ever in the band Journey considering his career over the past 25 years.

Is that record out yet that Neal made with Steve Smith? That's not his most recent one is it?

Yes. The Calling, Schon's most recent solo release, is the one with Smith on it. I think it is pretty damn good. Not an immediate grabber, but the more I listen the better it gets.

Best comment -

" How did Victors Fodera Yin Yang Deluxe switch into Fodera Monarch tenor bass at 1:42 ?? "

Talk about magic on the bass. Wow.


later~

Steve is a beast on the drums. The man only seems to get better with age. I've seen him 4 times and each time I'm amazed at how great he plays.

Smitty is the reason Journey had swing...

Deen is a great drummer.. just as AP is a great singer...

but there is a world of difference between Smitty/Perry and Castronovo/Pineda

slucero wrote:Smitty is the reason Journey had swing...

Deen is a great drummer.. just as AP is a great singer...

but there is a world of difference between Smitty/Perry and Castronovo/Pineda

I might be in the minority, but Castronovo's drumming does nothing for me. Don't get me wrong he's solid, but he hasn't really done anything memorable. Take Soul SirkUS for example. The debut album the drums are kind of bland and boring with Castronovo on drums, but when they put Donati's drums on the recording the album took a big step forward. I think the only thing that Castronovo's really done that somewhat impressed me in a studio take has been his work with Geezer Butler and the GZR band, but again nothing spectacular.

jestor92 wrote:

slucero wrote:Smitty is the reason Journey had swing...

Deen is a great drummer.. just as AP is a great singer...

but there is a world of difference between Smitty/Perry and Castronovo/Pineda

I might be in the minority, but Castronovo's drumming does nothing for me. Don't get me wrong he's solid, but he hasn't really done anything memorable. Take Soul SirkUS for example. The debut album the drums are kind of bland and boring with Castronovo on drums, but when they put Donati's drums on the recording the album took a big step forward. I think the only thing that Castronovo's really done that somewhat impressed me in a studio take has been his work with Geezer Butler and the GZR band, but again nothing spectacular.

Deen is competent.. he's a basher... which is fine.. but Smitty is from another planet.

The differences in style between Smith, Donati, and Castronovo are like night and day. Each guy has his own specialty. Deen's an amazing "heavy" drummer, and he's probably the best singing drummer in the business.

The others that come to mind, Phil Collins, Don Henley, Kelly from NR...To me, when they play and sing, it seems like their drumming is connected to their singing. Rhythmically, phrasing-wise, it seems like they are singing "on the beat," but with Deen, I've always felt like when he sings and plays, his singing is totally separate from his drumming. Could be because of the material he's singing...But man, it sure takes talent to do what he does.

Jeremey wrote:The differences in style between Smith, Donati, and Castronovo are like night and day. Each guy has his own specialty. Deen's an amazing "heavy" drummer, and he's probably the best singing drummer in the business.

The others that come to mind, Phil Collins, Don Henley, Kelly from NR...To me, when they play and sing, it seems like their drumming is connected to their singing. Rhythmically, phrasing-wise, it seems like they are singing "on the beat," but with Deen, I've always felt like when he sings and plays, his singing is totally separate from his drumming. Could be because of the material he's singing...But man, it sure takes talent to do what he does.

I'm not denying his overall talent because the man has a set of pipes and I'm sure it's quite hard to sing the songs he does while pounding on the drums like he does. He just doesn't impress me much on the drums.

jestor92 wrote:

Jeremey wrote:The differences in style between Smith, Donati, and Castronovo are like night and day. Each guy has his own specialty. Deen's an amazing "heavy" drummer, and he's probably the best singing drummer in the business.

The others that come to mind, Phil Collins, Don Henley, Kelly from NR...To me, when they play and sing, it seems like their drumming is connected to their singing. Rhythmically, phrasing-wise, it seems like they are singing "on the beat," but with Deen, I've always felt like when he sings and plays, his singing is totally separate from his drumming. Could be because of the material he's singing...But man, it sure takes talent to do what he does.

I'm not denying his overall talent because the man has a set of pipes and I'm sure it's quite hard to sing the songs he does while pounding on the drums like he does. He just doesn't impress me much on the drums.

I loved what Donati did on Soul Sirkus. Really filled out the sound nicely. Deen has a good voice and I'm looking forward to hearing what he did with Neal on their upcoming solo album -- as a vocalist -- but as a drummer, he just turns me off. I think he's too simplistic and his sound isn't a good fit for Neal's guitar.

The Calling is a killer album. Smitty and Neal really tore it up and they covered lots of differing musical ground. Smitty's playing is amazing. Technically spot on while also maintaining an organic groove, but I do miss his "machine gun" sound of yesteryear. His rolls have pitched a little too far into his jazz leanings I think. When he opens it up the sound is really engaging. I hope Neal and Smitty find another way to work together again.