Karl Steven presents part two in his Secret Life of the Orchestra series on Music 101 this week, with a focus on percussion.
In celebration, the Radio New Zealand Music 101 team have pulled together some of our favourite drumming and percussion clips.
Mine first.
I’ve stuck to drummers I’ve seen in person, starting with the most jaw dropping – Tatsuya Yoshida aka Ruins Alone.
I saw Tatsuya from the cold concrete floor of bar Medusa in Wellington in 2010, when he was touring as part of the Audio Foundation’s yearly alt music series. One of the most memorable parts of his performance was when he drummed along to a series of prepared medleys: hard rock, prog rock and, as illustrated in this clip, well-known classical pieces. In this clip he starts with Dvorak, moving quickly through Musorgsky, Beethoven and Satie in a matter of seconds, before things get a lot heavier.
The Roots’ percussion duo ?uestlove and Frank Knuckles were last over here in 2005. I made the trip up from Dunedin especially, and remember being in awe of how playful they were able to be in the midst of these seriously heavy rhythms.
The internet is seriously impoverished when it comes to clips of local drummers. I spent more time than I care to divulge looking for a live video of Shapeshifter circa 2001, with Redford Grenell behind the kit.
This turned up though – Wellington’s ever inspiring Anthony Donaldson, who has been involved in the jazz and improv scenes around here for decades.
And a quick couple I wish I’d seen – the Boredoms playing as part of an 88 strong ensemble, Karen Carpenter and at any opportunity, Stevie Wonder.
Nick Atkinson – Host of The Music Mix
From his early days playing for the Hutt Intermediate School Band, Chris O’Connor has become one of the most accomplished drummers in the country. Often found trailblazing within the local avant-garde scene, O’Connor is also in demand from the country’s top pop musicians. Don McGlashan, Sean Donnelly and Andrew Keoghan all rely on O’Connor’s dexterity, mastering everything from an authentic soul feel to spicing up a tune with an unpredictable gong polyrhythm lassoed with a clave ostinato. Here he is laying it down live for Keoghan at the Q Loft in Auckland.
Zen Yates Fill – Rotate Producer
A firm favourite among New Zealand’s soul selectors – Donny Hathaway’s 1970 hit The Ghetto became a party anthem during the early ’90s.
With its hypnotic handclaps and off kilter chants, this infectious slice of conscious soul could send an unsuspecting crowd into a rapturous frenzy when dropped without warning.
But it’s Hathaway’s 1972 live recording that is percussive soul personified… check Earl DeRouen running hard on the congas. from 6’31”
Brazilian percussionist extraordinaire Airto Moreira established his career with jazz legend Miles Davis before becoming a protagonist of the ’70s jazz fusion movement as a member of influential group, Weather Report. Celebration Suite conjures the spirit of carnival with the frenetic energy of the Batucada laced with the subtleties of the samba.
Sam Wicks – Music 101 Senior Music Producer
These are the breaks.
Hannah Griffin – Co-producer Jazz Footprints
Jojo Mayer is very technical while also being extremely musical. He’s got an individualistic approach inspired from a jazz and drum ‘n bass/electronic background and in short, he’s one-of-a-kind!
In contrast, here’s something much heavier. Not your usual 4/4 metal band with polyrhythms, crossed rhythms and distorted time signatures. I was told Meshuggah write their songs separately and make it as messed up as they can with time signatures, and then they come together and try and play what they wrote before recording it!
I watched it ages ago and to watch it again made me crack up - …the drummer is at the wrong gig!
