Steve Gadd's "mistake" at Aja 4:57`
Tsevis
tradition of the great drummers.
I cannot imagine how anyone thinks the drumstick-click at 4:57 on "Aja" is a
mistake. It's called art, improvisation, and it's exciting because it is
unexpected. It doesn't interrupt time, it fills in a space that may have been
given a half-rest.
The only thing I miss on the new Dan album is adventurous drumming, but I also
know that this wasn't the album for that (just as it doesn't need Larry
Carlton, Steve Khan or Rick Derringer---all fantastic guitarists). In many
ways, it's a return to a simpler way of presenting material, and the material
is outstanding.
Now if I want to hear a great piano solo, I go to "Sign in Stranger"...a great
guitar solo "Third World Man"...etc.
I am glad the album is not over-arranged.
P.S.: I LOVE Walter's guitar work!
David
ILoveSteelyDan
said "there is no such thing as a wrong note. It all depends on how you
resolve it." I would say that Steve Gadd resolved that click, pop, beat..
whatever you want to call it, I would say he resolved it quite nicely.
Eric
Jake O
It's no mistake, just perfect.
Jake
Tsevis <tse...@aol.com> wrote in article
<20000414014324...@ng-cd1.aol.com>...
> I'm a professional keyboardist, not a drummer, but well-schooled in the
> tradition of the great drummers.
> I cannot imagine how anyone thinks the drumstick-click at 4:57 on "Aja"
is a
> mistake. It's called art, improvisation, and it's exciting because it is
> unexpected. It doesn't interrupt time, it fills in a space that may have
been
> given a half-rest.
> David
>
Martin Stender
> Steve grew up as a rudimental drummer and stick clicks are part of that.
> It's no mistake, just perfect.
> Jake
Legend has it that Mr. Gadd sightread the entire Aja track, top to
bottom. The version on the album, is his second take...
So that stick click might just have been written in there from the
start.
Martin
Wilhelm Parker
But I meant to do that.
And I resolved it with a fist punch in the air.
I'M A GENIUS!
WP
On 14 Apr 2000 05:43:24 GMT, tse...@aol.com (Tsevis) wrote:
>I'm a professional keyboardist, not a drummer, but well-schooled in the
>tradition of the great drummers.
>I cannot imagine how anyone thinks the drumstick-click at 4:57 on "Aja" is a
>mistake. It's called art, improvisation, and it's exciting because it is
>unexpected. It doesn't interrupt time, it fills in a space that may have been
>given a half-rest.
John Bird
Tsevis wrote:
> I'm a professional keyboardist, not a drummer, but well-schooled in the
> tradition of the great drummers.
> I cannot imagine how anyone thinks the drumstick-click at 4:57 on "Aja" is a
> mistake. It's called art, improvisation, and it's exciting because it is
> unexpected. It doesn't interrupt time, it fills in a space that may have been
> given a half-rest.
> The only thing I miss on the new Dan album is adventurous drumming, but I also
> know that this wasn't the album for that (just as it doesn't need Larry
> Carlton, Steve Khan or Rick Derringer---all fantastic guitarists). In many
> ways, it's a return to a simpler way of presenting material, and the material
> is outstanding.
> Now if I want to hear a great piano solo, I go to "Sign in Stranger"...a great
> guitar solo "Third World Man"...etc.
> I am glad the album is not over-arranged.
> P.S.: I LOVE Walter's guitar work!
> David
I'll have to listen to the track more closely.
Many years ago, I saw Peter Erskine playing with the Maynard Ferguson Band in
Toronto. (1978) During one rather full on tune (Stella By Starlight ....I think)
I saw no less that 3 shattered drumsticks go flying across the back of the stage,
yet everytime I looked at Peter, he still had two sticks in his hands and never
missed a beat. You have to marvel at the professionalism.
On a footnote...earlier in the day, I had the chance to do a clinic with Maynard
in playing the trumpet in the high range. Two hours later and I thought my
diaphram was going to explode. You have to admire the musical "freaks" in this
world.
I think one of the great things about older albums is the fact that sometimes,
one can pick out minor flaws, owing to the fact that there were real people
playing those tracks and not a pile of electronic gizmos, as seems to be the norm
these days.
Cheers
Ron Spiegelhalter
your years, whatever those may be.
ron
Tsevis <tse...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20000414014324...@ng-cd1.aol.com...
Snow2iger
>bottom. The version on the album, is his second take...
I've always heard it was his first take.
Mark Biering
where I heard or read this, could be completely unfounded)
that the "click" in question was Mr. Gadd's stick hitting
the rim of the drum instead of the head, whether by accident
or not. Either way, it sounds cool, and obviously D&W
thought it was good enough to leave in. For me, it's always
been an integral part of the most incredible piece of
drumming ever recorded.
During the '94 tour, I was thrilled to see Dennis Chambers
recreate the moment by clicking his sticks together above
his head, where the audience could easily see what he was
doing.
Steve Smith
Raoul Duke
> It's a drumstick click, purposefully done. The guy is good....!
Indeed...the 'guy is good.'
This is arguably one of the finest drum solos recorded. What is not
arguable is the fact that it was recorded in one take.{B & F interview}
Steve Gadd is not a drum machine. He makes mistakes. I heard the 'click'
years ago <when the record was released>..the very first time I listened
with headphones. Note that it was a 'record'. I checked my vinyl and
satisfied myself that the sound was not an artifact. It was obviously
a mistake in an otherwise flawless performance. It made me smile...then
I got over it.
Steve Gadd is an inventive , brilliant drummer. The idea that he would
intentionally place a solitary click (that sounds exactly like an
accidental click) at this particular spot is difficult (read that as
impossible) for me to accept.
A 'single take' drum part is analogous to a 'live' performance. If one
listens to 'live' performances, one hears the occasional mistake. It is
no big deal.
Is there any possibility that it was intended? Sure. Could it actually
be a microdot secret message? Sure. If you start the song 4 seconds
after Dorothy clicks her heels together in "The Wizard Of Oz", you'll
hear Aja at the same time your watching the movie.
razorboy
wrote:
>Is there any possibility that it was intended? Sure. Could it actually
>be a microdot secret message? Sure. If you start the song 4 seconds
>after Dorothy clicks her heels together in "The Wizard Of Oz", you'll
>hear Aja at the same time your watching the movie.
I thought that was "Dark side of the Moon".
--
razorboy - Bristol/UK
enmb...@u-v-y-y.arg - rot13
Ron Spiegelhalter
> Steve Gadd is not a drum machine. He makes mistakes. I heard the 'click'
> years ago <when the record was released>..the very first time I listened
> with headphones. Note that it was a 'record'. I checked my vinyl and
> satisfied myself that the sound was not an artifact. It was obviously
> a mistake in an otherwise flawless performance. It made me smile...then
> I got over it.
>
> Steve Gadd is an inventive , brilliant drummer. The idea that he would
> intentionally place a solitary click (that sounds exactly like an
> accidental click) at this particular spot is difficult (read that as
> impossible) for me to accept.
Why is that so difficult to accept? It's not even all that unique; I could
name a few great drum solos where stick-clicking is used as an ironic
puctuation in this fashion. Gadd's click does not sound the least bit
accidental to me, in fact it sounds very much planned. It's perfectly in
time, it seems like a very fitting end to that fill, I just don't see the
problem. If Gadd is so inventive and unique, which I agree with, why is it
so inconceivable that he would use this very cool technique? It was good
enough for Buddy Rich...
I get the feeling that until we can find a quote from Gadd or D&W about it,
we're all going to have to agree to disagree. For as impossible as some
find it that it was intentional, others (I among them) find it preposterous
to suggest it wasn't. So go figure.
ron
Ron Spiegelhalter
site:
"I was stunned. No one had ever done anything like that before. I couldn't
believe it." -Donald Fagan of Steely Dan, after Steve Gadd had sightread the
entire chart to "Aja" flawlessly (including the solo) all by the second
take.
This does not sound like a comment someone makes about a performance with
such an obvious screw-up in it, leading me to believe that it is not a
screw-up at all. Obviously, the word "flawlessly" above cannot be
considered to be canonical, as it follows the actual quote. But consider
this hypothetical: Gadd sight-reads the whole damn thing in only two takes.
Awesome, but there's this one glaring mistake in there. Why wouldn't they
do a third take? They couldn't have been pressed for time, Gadd just nailed
the piece in record time; if anything they've now got time to spare. Surely
if he got it that close in two takes they would have gone for a third. And
yet they didn't...
ron
Lotion Charlie
Supposedly, Steve Gadd read the chart and nailed it the first
take. Then of course, Donald wanted him to "do it again." Steve
Gadd obliged and at that "magic moment" he clicked the sticks
while staring into the studio control room at Donald, Walter et
al. as if to say "take that." ...and they
did!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
* Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet's Discussion Network *
The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet - Free!
Marc Ziegenhagen
really is no such thing as a "mistake." Sure, you're hearing the music in
your head and attempting to execute it as accurately as possible, and
sometimes you fall slightly more than short of that. But is that a
mistake?
Or let's say that you play a note (or a drum head) that you didn't mean to
play. Is THAT a mistake? I don't think so, primarily because there's
nothing to compare it to. If you give me a piece of music written on
paper, and I don't play what you've written, now THAT is a mistake. But
when you're soloing, you are the music and whatever you play is simply
that - what it is. There's no right or wrong way to play it because
you're creating it in that moment, and that moment is yours to do with as
you are able.
No mistakes in improv, is my point. Kinda what Art Tatum was saying, but
a little different take on it is all.
My thoughts,
MZ
--
Email: substitute "dude" for "nospam".
Marc Ziegenhagen
<r...@mk.bfd.rules> wrote:
> Why wouldn't they
>do a third take? They couldn't have been pressed for time, Gadd just nailed
>the piece in record time; if anything they've now got time to spare.
Remember, he was flown in at tripple scale, no less....or was that his clone?
Michael H.
And I'm sure he resolves it well!
Because...
He is a genius.
And a dope fiend. Yes that's right!
Anybody know the real Aja story?
When I mentioned this magic moment a on 4/3/00 in the GA flaw thread it was
to make a point that what we perceive is what we get. Why not perceive
perfection?
--
Peace
Michael H.
"Wilhelm Parker" <wt...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:38f793a...@news.se.mediaone.net...
| Whoops, I farted.
|
| But I meant to do that.
|
| And I resolved it with a fist punch in the air.
|
| I'M A GENIUS!
|
| WP
|
|
|
|
| On 14 Apr 2000 05:43:24 GMT, tse...@aol.com (Tsevis) wrote:
|
| >I'm a professional keyboardist, not a drummer, but well-schooled in the
| >tradition of the great drummers.
| >I cannot imagine how anyone thinks the drumstick-click at 4:57 on "Aja"
is a
| >mistake. It's called art, improvisation, and it's exciting because it is
| >unexpected. It doesn't interrupt time, it fills in a space that may have
been
| >given a half-rest.
Klaus Diepold
Maybe that's unique to Aja. Actually I have never checked the Pink Floyd
thing either.
Klaus
razorboy schrieb in Nachricht ...
Wilhelm Parker
wrote:
>Steve Gadd is not a drum machine. He makes mistakes. I heard the 'click'
>years ago <when the record was released>..the very first time I listened
>with headphones. Note that it was a 'record'. I checked my vinyl and
>satisfied myself that the sound was not an artifact. It was obviously
>a mistake in an otherwise flawless performance. It made me smile...then
>I got over it.
>
>Steve Gadd is an inventive , brilliant drummer. The idea that he would
>intentionally place a solitary click (that sounds exactly like an
>accidental click) at this particular spot is difficult (read that as
>impossible) for me to accept.
Well said, Raoul...you've nailed the answer perfectly. This thread
MUST be over .
WP
Snow2iger
>where I heard or read this, could be completely unfounded)
>that the "click" in question was Mr. Gadd's stick hitting
>the rim of the drum instead of the head
That's wood on wood, not wood on metal.
Snow2iger
>believe it." -Donald Fagan of Steely Dan, after Steve Gadd had sightread the
>entire chart to "Aja" flawlessly (including the solo) all by the second
>take.
>
>This does not sound like a comment someone makes about a performance with
>such an obvious screw-up in it, leading me to believe that it is not a
>screw-up at all. Obviously, the word "flawlessly" above cannot be
>considered to be canonical, as it follows the actual quote. But consider
>this hypothetical: Gadd sight-reads the whole damn thing in only two takes.
>do a third take?
Although I agree that it most likely wasn't a mistake, I don't think it's
glaring at all. So, hypothetically, if it was a mistake, D&W, perfectionists
that they are, may not have thought it was flaring either. I'm not sure the
casual fan would pick it up. Only Dan fans and those who pay attention to
detail would. But like I said, I think it's there purposely.
Snow2iger
From: snow...@aol.comstayaway (Snow2iger)
Date: 4/16/00 7:45 AM Pacific Daylight Time
Message-id: <20000416104500...@ng-cn1.aol.com>
>"I was stunned. No one had ever done anything like that before. I couldn't
>believe it." -Donald Fagan of Steely Dan, after Steve Gadd had sightread the
>entire chart to "Aja" flawlessly (including the solo) all by the second
>take.
>
>This does not sound like a comment someone makes about a performance with
>such an obvious screw-up in it, leading me to believe that it is not a
>screw-up at all. Obviously, the word "flawlessly" above cannot be
>considered to be canonical, as it follows the actual quote. But consider
>this hypothetical: Gadd sight-reads the whole damn thing in only two takes.
>Awesome, but there's this one glaring mistake in there. Why wouldn't they
>do a third take?
Although I agree that it most likely wasn't a mistake, I don't think it's
glaring at all. So, hypothetically, if it was a mistake, D&W, perfectionists
that they are, may not have thought it was glaring either. I'm not sure the
Snow2iger
Raoul Duke
Klaus Diepold wrote:
> I hear about the same thing. Only the four seconds dealy are new to me.
> Maybe that's unique to Aja. Actually I have never checked the Pink Floyd
> thing either.
>
> Klaus
>
> razorboy schrieb in Nachricht ...
> >On Sat, 15 Apr 2000 11:49:58 -0700, Raoul Duke <rd...@funtv.com>
> >wrote:
> >
> >>Is there any possibility that it was intended? Sure. Could it actually
> >>be a microdot secret message? Sure. If you start the song 4 seconds
> >>after Dorothy clicks her heels together in "The Wizard Of Oz", you'll
> >>hear Aja at the same time your watching the movie.
> >
> >I thought that was "Dark side of the Moon".
> >
> >
Sorry..
This was an intended to be dry humor. I don't believe Mr. Pink or Mr. Floyd
actually intended their record to be played while watching a movie.
Yes...this is also a joke. I know that Mr. Pink left the group (he's touring
the U.S. this summer) ;-)
Michael H.
--
Peace
Michael H.
"If our measurements and readings are an illusion also,
one could find oneself materialized inside solid rock."
Spock - The Cage
"Raoul Duke" <rd...@funtv.com> wrote in message
news:38F9F0BC...@funtv.com...
Michael H.
I'll keep it!
--
Peace
Michael H.
"If our measurements and readings are an illusion also,
one could find oneself materialized inside solid rock."
Spock - The Cage
"Lotion Charlie" <jml2621...@acs.tamu.edu.invalid> wrote in message
news:0c5ddce2...@usw-ex0104-026.remarq.com...
Tom Mc Dermott
means that
a 'guide chart' with the cymbal pushes and phrases was presented and he
improvised
the 'blanks' around them with what is surely one of the best pieces of drum
improvisation
recorded.Walter Becker has said that he told Steve to 'Drum like mad' on
that section
and I believe that it was done in two takes and more than likely the best
parts of the two were
spliced together at some point but that is a speculative guess on my part
and might not
'hold up in court' As for the 'stick clicks'...well only Steve can answer
that! as it may have been
intentional or a 'nice' accident. I tend to believe it was played
intentionally as it falls right on the
'and' quaver beat and drummers with a rudimental or military training do use
this
stick click in snare drum solo's, and Steve is from such a school,so this
might explain it!
Anyway it sounds great and doesn't matter one way
or the other if it was planned
or not.By the way has anyone noticed at the build up to the second drum
passage at 05:13 through 05:14 a long vocal D note crescendo which sounds
like Fagen crossed with a tenor sax!
Another little touch of the unexpected!......There's only one Steely Dan!
Snow2iger <snow...@aol.comstayaway> wrote in message
news:20000416105616...@ng-cn1.aol.com...
Martin Stender
Here is a snippet from modern drummer '92:
<snip>
"Aja is the most popular of all the Steely Dan recordings. Four of its
seven tracks were radio hits with a broad spectrum of appeal. Musicians
had a field day with the title track, which had powerful solos from
Wayne Shorter and Steve Gadd. Gadd, it seems, was the ultimate foil for
the Dan's demanding assault on a musician's psyche. For 'Aja' he
sightread the entire seven-minute chart perfectly, solo and all, by the
second take. An article at the time quoted Fagan as saying, "I was
stunned. No one had ever done anything like that before. I couldn't
believe it."
<snip>
But I'm not sure about the fills and stuff in the outtro -that sounds
improvised to me.
Martin
Marc Ziegenhagen
Stender) wrote:
>But I'm not sure about the fills and stuff in the outtro -that sounds
>improvised to me.
It *was* improvised, which is why the argument (made by some) that there
could be a "mistake" is bogus. There *are* *no* *mistakes* when you're
making up the rules yourself as you go along.
Thanks for the quote from MD.
LLan...@yahoo.com
the rim. However, the point at which the mishit occurs just happens to
make it one of the coolest sounding fills EVER. Regardless of whether
he meant to do it, it became classic, and the practice of finishing off
a nasty, intense drum solo with an incredibly understated little click
is widely imitated (at least poorly imitated i my basement!).
In article <38F8B9D6...@funtv.com>,
Raoul Duke <rd...@funtv.com> wrote:
>
>
> > It's a drumstick click, purposefully done. The guy is good....!
>
> Indeed...the 'guy is good.'
>
> This is arguably one of the finest drum solos recorded. What is not
> arguable is the fact that it was recorded in one take.{B & F
interview}
>
> Steve Gadd is not a drum machine. He makes mistakes. I heard the
'click'
> years ago <when the record was released>..the very first time I
listened
> with headphones. Note that it was a 'record'. I checked my vinyl and
> satisfied myself that the sound was not an artifact. It was
obviously
> a mistake in an otherwise flawless performance. It made me
smile...then
> I got over it.
>
> Steve Gadd is an inventive , brilliant drummer. The idea that he
would
> intentionally place a solitary click (that sounds exactly like an
> accidental click) at this particular spot is difficult (read that as
> impossible) for me to accept.
>
> A 'single take' drum part is analogous to a 'live' performance. If
one
> listens to 'live' performances, one hears the occasional mistake. It
is
> no big deal.
>
> Is there any possibility that it was intended? Sure. Could it
actually
> be a microdot secret message? Sure. If you start the song 4 seconds
> after Dorothy clicks her heels together in "The Wizard Of Oz", you'll
> hear Aja at the same time your watching the movie.
>
>
--
&&&&&&&&&&&&
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
Raoul Duke
"Michael H." wrote:
> What about Syd?
> --
> Peace
> Michael H.
> "If our measurements and readings are an illusion also,
> one could find oneself materialized inside solid rock."
> Spock - The Cage
>
> "
Syd Pink or Syd Floyd ?
"Dammit Jim...I'm a doctor..."
Raoul Duke
"Michael H." wrote:
> That I like!
> I'll keep it!
>
> --
> Peace
> Michael H.
> "If our measurements and readings are an illusion also,
> one could find oneself materialized inside solid rock."
> Spock - The Cage
>
> "Lotion Charlie" <jml2621...@acs.tamu.edu.invalid> wrote in message
> news:0c5ddce2...@usw-ex0104-026.remarq.com...
> | I've read a version of the rumor that Martin explained.
> | Supposedly, Steve Gadd read the chart and nailed it the first
> | take. Then of course, Donald wanted him to "do it again." Steve
> | Gadd obliged and at that "magic moment" he clicked the sticks
> | while staring into the studio control room at Donald, Walter et
> | al. as if to say "take that." ...and they
> | did!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
> |
> | * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet's Discussion Network
> *
> | The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet - Free!
> |
Me too. Sounds right.
Snow2iger
From: mar...@pib.dk (Martin Stender)
>Snow2iger <snow...@aol.comstayaway> wrote:
>
>> >Legend has it that Mr. Gadd sightread the entire Aja track, top to
>> >bottom. The version on the album, is his second take...
>>
>> I've always heard it was his first take.
>
>Here is a snippet from modern drummer '92:
>
><snip>
>"Aja is the most popular of all the Steely Dan recordings. Four of its
>seven tracks were radio hits with a broad spectrum of appeal. Musicians
>had a field day with the title track, which had powerful solos from
>Wayne Shorter and Steve Gadd. Gadd, it seems, was the ultimate foil for
>the Dan's demanding assault on a musician's psyche. For 'Aja' he
>sightread the entire seven-minute chart perfectly, solo and all, by the
>second take. An article at the time quoted Fagan as saying, "I was
>stunned. No one had ever done anything like that before. I couldn't
>believe it."
><snip>
>
>But I'm not sure about the fills and stuff in the outtro -that sounds
>improvised to me.
>
>Martin
Michael H.
Anybody know the real Aja story?
--
Peace
Michael H.
"If our measurements and readings are an illusion also,
one could find oneself materialized inside solid rock."
Spock - The Cage
"Raoul Duke" <rd...@funtv.com> wrote in message
news:38FB7222...@funtv.com...
Michael H.
|
| > What about Syd?
"Raoul Duke" <rd...@funtv.com> wrote in message
| Syd Pink or Syd Floyd ?
The Crazy Diamond...
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PFArchives/websites.htm#Syd
| "Dammit Jim...I'm a doctor..."
"I'm a doctor, not an engineer!"
"Now you're an engineer."
McCoy and Scott, "Mirror, Mirror".
"Mr. Spock, the women on your planet are logical. That's the only planet in
the galaxy that can make that claim." -- Kirk (Elaan of Troyius)
Michael H.
--
Michael H.
"If our measurements and readings are an illusion also,
one could find oneself materialized inside solid rock."
Spock - The Cage
"Raoul Duke" <rd...@funtv.com> wrote in message news:38FE941F...@funtv.com..."
| "Dammit Jim...I'm a doctor..."
"I'm a doctor, not an engineer!"
"Now you're an engineer."
McCoy and Scott, "Mirror, Mirror".
Michael H.
"If our measurements and readings are an illusion also,
one could find oneself materialized inside solid rock."
Spock - The Cage
Thank you for the correct quote. I was actually quoting one of the 'bots on MST3000 who was paraphrasing the above quote.
Michael H.
Check out this whore. Yea I said it TBA! ;-)
She followed me to rec.music.makers.percussion where if you would like to
you follow the thread you can...I started it on 4/19 with the relevant topic
and got a pile of shit from some of the "drummers" there.
She claims to know what I live on....oh how little she knows but yet had to
stick her mindless comments in with a few of the low end of that NG.
Oh yea...
And that this topic is a dead horse.
So...
Per Lizzie...
Drop it OK? ;-)
----- Original Message -----
From: "shudehill" <parad...@earthlink.net>
Newsgroups: rec.music.makers.percussion
Sent: Friday, April 21, 2000 11:49 AM
Subject: Re: Steve Gadd / Aja drumstick-click at 4:57
> Katy lies, you could see it in her eyes. But imagine my surprise when
> Robert Schuh <rsc...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> >I would to find this choad and take a dump in his pie hole! :-)
>
> Please Robert, this git lives on conflict. I'm familiar with his
> charming ways from alt.music.steely-dan (in which this particular
> subject has become a recent dead horse flog-a-thon). Along the line
> someone gave him the idea that his abrasiveness and pretentiousness
> were witty. May I suggest plonking?
>
> take care,
> Liz
I think this Liz thing just needs a good night with the old Steely Dan and
maybe .... just maybe she'll chill a bit! Ploink? Kill Files are for wimps.
But hey she qualifies.
And hey...That bass players comment assumes that you are in enough control
of your instrument to recreate the "mistake". Gadd I say .... I declare...
is such a man!
However this Liz will I'm sure, continue to make the same mistake over and
over again completely unaware and out of control.
Peace
Michael H.
--
"See these guys are all the same, they take one fall in an argument and they
throw in the towel"
Archie Bunker
"Chris Smalt" <sm...@nedernet.nl> wrote in message
news:B530FEBE...@i0510.vwr.wanadoo.nl...
| Mime-Version: 1.0
| Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
| Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
|
| >>I cannot imagine how anyone thinks the drumstick-click at 4:57 on "Aja"
is a
| >>mistake.
|
|
| A bass player I used to play with said: whenever you make a mistake in a
| song, just Do It Again in the next verse/chorus/whatever, and call it an
| arrangement.
|
|
| Chris
|
|
shudehill
>She followed me to rec.music.makers.percussion where if you would like to
>you follow the thread you can...
I didn't follow you there, I'm a regular there. I didn't really
appreciate the tone you took with the others.
take care,
Liz
studio...@gmail.com
> >Legend has it that Mr. Gadd sightread the entire Aja track, top to
> >bottom. The version on the album, is his second take...
>
> I've always heard it was his first take.
Scott Hammond
Still sounds good though.
studiowizard
> It was a mistake. He admitted it in a drum clinic in Dublin.
> Still sounds good though.
The old geezer
TOG
Mark Mathias
16-page chart. One take. Spread the word.
https://ultimateclassicrock.com/gary-katz-steely-dan-aja-interview-2022/
You're welcome.
studiowizard
studiowizard
As a studio owner, engineer/producer and session drummer, I can say that something has been lost in making records today vs the way they were made in the 70's mostly, but the 80's as well. I'm referring to the way producers direct musicians to play. These days, there's so much control placed over the musicians by telling them what to play, then editing the hell out of their tracks to create something that only resembles what was played, but loses the essence. That is just one of the ingredients that made Aja such a good record. Hiring the right voices to do what they do to bring the compositions to life. Today, session players are hired more like delivery people who "deliver" a sound and somewhat of a concept that then is hammered, manipulated and forged into something completely different. That's not to say that there isn't some great music out there.... there is, and the latter mentioned technique is a valid technique, even if it moves more toward the heartless approach. But, in my opinion, it doesn't come close to the beauty and soul of songs that are created when musicians are allowed to do what they do. The onus then is on the writers/producers to bring in the "right" team to achieve that goal.
Just my .02!
On Monday, April 4, 2022 at 5:40:46 AM UTC-7, Mark Mathias wrote:
Klaus & Rooster
> I'm a professional keyboardist, not a drummer, but well-schooled in the
> tradition of the great drummers.
> unexpected. It doesn't interrupt time, it fills in a space that may have been
> given a half-rest.
> The only thing I miss on the new Dan album is adventurous drumming, but I also
> know that this wasn't the album for that (just as it doesn't need Larry
> Carlton, Steve Khan or Rick Derringer---all fantastic guitarists). In many
> ways, it's a return to a simpler way of presenting material, and the material
> is outstanding.
> Now if I want to hear a great piano solo, I go to "Sign in Stranger"...a great
> guitar solo "Third World Man"...etc.
> I am glad the album is not over-arranged.
> P.S.: I LOVE Walter's guitar work!
> David
Hi David,
recently, there was a discussion on Twitter about Steve Gadd's famous drumstick-click. Among the participants was a person, who claimed to be a personal friend of Steve Gadd. He told us that Steve Gadd confided him that the click was actually a mistake, which the production decided to keep, as it fits so nicely into the groove.
best Regards
Klaus (Rooster still sleeping)
studiowizard
There are lots of examples of great tracks that have little drumming mistakes on. I grew up listening intently to my favorite drummers and was fascinated when I would hear something starting to go awry then I'd hear the genius way they slipped out of it.
So, Gadd's drumstick click is in time, it's musical, but it missed the mark of whatever he was aiming for. I'd be so lucky to have my mistakes hotly debated as being intentional or not. Truly a master musician Gadd is.