Good alternate take on a great jazz/soul classic. Joe and The Cannonball outdid themselves when they laid down this track back on '66. The beauty of music is that it can be transfigured in many different genres, with each having its place. For me, the original usually sets the bar. This is the ultimate call jam for sessions every where, and abounds in many diverse, individual, and collective musical expressions. And when I hear it, no matter the version, I immediately think of the beauty, the spirituality, the gift that is music. Rest in Peace Joe, Julian, Nat. Thank you for all the years, all the music.👑🎹🎷🎺🎶🎼
Fantastic in every way!. Steve is a monster and there is nothing about his playing here that isn't stellar. His support of the band, his fills and hits are all right on. But the entire time I found myself thinking....what makes Buddy better?
I've always thought this arrangement was cute, since I first heard Buddy play it on the "Mercy, Mercy" album. Great job, Airmen of Note, and of course Steve Smith. That was fun to listen to! :)
...apart from being an constant high quality top player for more than 4 decades he ALWAYS has a golden hand/ear by choosing the perfect cymbal setup for his sound/playing.......!
Mr Smith's Talking Drum Grooves are Simply the best any playing situation he finds Himself in, His Drum Conversation is ultimately the Best👏💎👏💎👏🥁🔥🥁🔥🥁🤘💯
Give us one more dvd Steve. In depth look at your techniques, practice concepts, practice ideas, things you practiced regularly coming up, pedal set ups , drum set ups, etc.
Hi, As always phenomenal, i just love Steve's style of playing drums, especially the fills and the rolls. Can anybody be kind enough to let me know what cymbal Steve is using on his extreme right and extreme left right on top in this video. thanks
Damn good playing, BUT I'd much rather hear y'all play a straightforward version of Zawinul's "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" as it could be the best on available out there. It really doesn't need to be all tarted up. :(
Steve Smith is an amazing drummer, but here he's basically a soloist with a backing big band. The song and the overall sound take a back seat to his drumming. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Just a comment.
+vicfirthdrumsticks *Steve Smith knows Big Band.* ;-) For _my_ ideal kit for an Airmen of Note concert, it'd be mostly Pearl® Reference Pure™: Dual RFP2616BX kicks, RFP1816F/RFP1414F/RFP1210T/RFP1007T toms, FTPB1465 center drum. With an appropriate outfit of Avedis Zildjians: Z3 crashes and splash, A series Swish Knocker, A Custom Projection hats, and a K heavy ride. Too bad J. D'Addario & Co, hasn't released the Evans® Heavyweight batter in all tom sizes; dual BD26EMADHW's, BnnHW's across the toms, and SB14MHW top/SS14MH1 on snare would be just the ticket for going the distance under a pair of Vic Firth® SRC Corpsmasters®.
These guys need to go back & listen closely to the Buddy Rich big band playing exactly the same arrangement.I myself have played that arrangement,years ago.
All great players and technically flashy, but, come on, really, this stilted version is horribly over-arranged and totally lacking any of the earthy soul of the Adderley / Zawinul original. Sorry.
True, but this is the exact arrangement recorded by the BR band back in the '60s. It's important to see this kind of arrangement in perspective. For a "traditional" big band to take on a funky, earthy tune like this one at that time was quite forward thinking. So, although the arrangement might sounds stilted to our ears today, it has its place.
Daniel Glass this is a fantastic answer. I feel like you can tell just from everyone’s tone that they weren’t going for some gritty soul. I mean, the sweetness of Steve’s hi hats along gave it away to me. I feel like today this arrangement sounds “corny” compared to the depth of the original, but I often feel the same way about ragtime, but it was hip in it’s day. That being said, it would be great to see a big band kill a more authentic arrangement of a soulful tune like this one.
![Steve Gadd - drumtalk [episode 30]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/6RKdVqKoZhs/mqdefault.jpg)
Thumbs up if you believe Steve is still one of the greats in 2023 ✌
Me in 2022= 👍
Why is it any different in 2022??? I believed he was in 2021 and now in 2023. I still will in 2024!
👍🥁🥁🥁
Good alternate take on a great jazz/soul classic. Joe and The Cannonball outdid themselves when they laid down this track back on '66. The beauty of music is that it can be transfigured in many different genres, with each having its place. For me, the original usually sets the bar. This is the ultimate call jam for sessions every where, and abounds in many diverse, individual, and collective musical expressions. And when I hear it, no matter the version, I immediately think of the beauty, the spirituality, the gift that is music. Rest in Peace Joe, Julian, Nat. Thank you for all the years, all the music.👑🎹🎷🎺🎶🎼
Fantastic in every way!. Steve is a monster and there is nothing about his playing here that isn't stellar. His support of the band, his fills and hits are all right on. But the entire time I found myself thinking....what makes Buddy better?
The "snap" to his playing. Buddy never laid back.
I've always thought this arrangement was cute, since I first heard Buddy play it on the "Mercy, Mercy" album. Great job, Airmen of Note, and of course Steve Smith. That was fun to listen to! :)
I come back and watch this every now and again for the guitar player's faces.
Geoff is certainly a character!
...apart from being an constant high quality top player for more than 4 decades he ALWAYS has a golden hand/ear by choosing the perfect cymbal setup for his sound/playing.......!
I've watched this more than just a few times. I love it!
Mr Smith's Talking Drum Grooves are Simply the best any playing situation he finds Himself in, His Drum Conversation is ultimately the Best👏💎👏💎👏🥁🔥🥁🔥🥁🤘💯
Un'esecuzione incredibile di un brano favoloso. Steve Smith è eccezionale ma tutti i componenti dell'orchestra sono allo stesso livello. Bravissimi.
What a performance, Steve Smith as always, smooth as silk. Beautiful!
I was sitting in about Row 6 with a big smile. That was a great concert; so glad to see this posted!
LUCKY!
Wow! That was happening!
Love the space in this just goes to prove the old adage less is more
The Professor...dude is encyclopedia of music and drums but plays better...rare combo of personality. A life very well lived...dude can do it all.
Steve, as an AF vet and drummer, I appreciate your involvement with the the AON band, thank you, and you all sounded GREAT!!!!!!
exceptional. a big band that still shouts with precision accuracy
One of the coolest tunes of all time...
the guitar player was burning.....Such a great player....!
Great band ,great drummer.
Perfection polished and presented.
This is arrangement played by the Buddy Rich Big Band. Awesome!!
A living legend.
Give us one more dvd Steve. In depth look at your techniques, practice concepts, practice ideas, things you practiced regularly coming up, pedal set ups , drum set ups, etc.
Steve Smith - so good
Steve is a great representer for Buddy! As is Dave Weckl!! These guys pay tribute in the most genuine fashion!!!
Just awesome!
OMG what a gorgeous performance!!!
Gorgeous!
Very good music.and Steve Smith wow.
Steve Smith - the Thinking Man's Drummer!
Look how much fun he have !!!
Steve, just love ya dude, keep the groove! DC 🎶👊🏻👊🏻
amazing!
Superb!!
Open handed, quite some double bass work, traditional grip.... a Steve Smith I don't knew about!!!!!!!
Smooth as silk
Wow I always admired his technique and musicality; an example that technique is not a goal, is a mean to an end.
Cool Stuff Like it!
Sweet.
🌕Genial Steve Smith😎
Go Steve Go!
Well done...classic with some added spice
maestro
this guy.. so pro.
Hi, As always phenomenal, i just love Steve's style of playing drums, especially the fills and the rolls. Can anybody be kind enough to let me know what cymbal Steve is using on his extreme right and extreme left right on top in this video. thanks
It's called the "I used to be good but now I suck" cymbal.
Better tempo than the Weckl version from 1994 on the BFB session.
O cara da batera gente
Did they record more of this? God, this is amazing!
Hand Salute! Soooo Sweeeeet!!!
Agreed 👊
JESUS CHRIST Loves y'all!
best ever, epic, lead trumpet part is a beast, its needs loads of work..
Sounding groovy x')
What guitarish looking instrument is that? And man Steve sure knows how to play!
Inheritor lol it’s just a guitar without a headstock
It's called a "guitar."
USAF and Steve Smith.
I hear you guys
wow
Kicks a big band just fine I’ll say
HOOAH the Flyboys can play
Bitchin arrangement..... and Steve Smith is his usual bad ass self !!!
Matched grip/open handed. Or not. Steve is just toying with us.
SUPER!!!🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
Piece of cake. Like there's nothin' to it.
0:23 TSgt at the top left giving the camera the stink eye haha
1:02 1:51 5:00 beautiful, tasteful, musical, and SEXY fills
What guitar is that?
Feels too funky to not have electric bass, but I loved the performance.
What happened to the F# at the end?
What is that guitar? Nice sound.
I thought it might be an Ovation but not sure.Wonder if it is a custom job made to his own specs.
eventhough Steve was sued by his former band Journey...hes top notch in drumming.
🌸🤔🌱💚
Never seen him switch into "open style"swinging with his left hand, then switching back, as well as matched vs traditional.
It's strange to see, honestly
Mr. Clean
I love Steve and his teacher Gary, but I like Dave's version a little better.
Nice, what was that little bit at the end?
Interesting. A little known fact; Steve Smith was Frogman in Vietnam before finding his way into Journey.
You actually made me look that up you dh. I was thinking he can't be that old but he is a well-rounded drummer so maybe he is well-rounded in general.
Doesn't he mess up in the beginning?
electric zither - wut up!
Damn good playing, BUT I'd much rather hear y'all play a straightforward version of Zawinul's "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" as it could be the best on available out there. It really doesn't need to be all tarted up. :(
Well done everyone. Mr. Steve Smith performing so GREAT I'm almost 'bout to forgive him that double pedal nonsense.
Nah, not really.
This is a great video, but it does not match seeing it in person! #PASIC2017 lol
Agreed. I was in the crowd and it was such a great concert.
Steve Smith is an amazing drummer, but here he's basically a soloist with a backing big band. The song and the overall sound take a back seat to his drumming.
Not that there's anything wrong with that. Just a comment.
Now that is the Steve Smith I know and enjoy, but it really is time to dump the 2 gimmick snares.
Mad Gadd is the best but that was awesome
+vicfirthdrumsticks *Steve Smith knows Big Band.* ;-) For _my_ ideal kit for an Airmen of Note concert, it'd be mostly Pearl® Reference Pure™: Dual RFP2616BX kicks, RFP1816F/RFP1414F/RFP1210T/RFP1007T toms, FTPB1465 center drum. With an appropriate outfit of Avedis Zildjians: Z3 crashes and splash, A series Swish Knocker, A Custom Projection hats, and a K heavy ride. Too bad J. D'Addario & Co, hasn't released the Evans® Heavyweight batter in all tom sizes; dual BD26EMADHW's, BnnHW's across the toms, and SB14MHW top/SS14MH1 on snare would be just the ticket for going the distance under a pair of Vic Firth® SRC Corpsmasters®.
B. C. Schmerker wtf that wouldn't work at all
Heavy weight batters and matching sticks don't do very well in jazz
what
The guitar amp's cover is thumping to Steve's kick, lol
За бились в диком джазе
Mix engineering, drums are way to low for this purpose
I find them to be fine, I listened with headphones though
These guys need to go back & listen closely to the Buddy Rich big band playing exactly the same arrangement.I myself have played that arrangement,years ago.
Neil Strauss is looking old these days
All great players and technically flashy, but, come on, really, this stilted version is horribly over-arranged and totally lacking any of the earthy soul of the Adderley / Zawinul original. Sorry.
True, but this is the exact arrangement recorded by the BR band back in the '60s. It's important to see this kind of arrangement in perspective. For a "traditional" big band to take on a funky, earthy tune like this one at that time was quite forward thinking. So, although the arrangement might sounds stilted to our ears today, it has its place.
Daniel Glass this is a fantastic answer. I feel like you can tell just from everyone’s tone that they weren’t going for some gritty soul. I mean, the sweetness of Steve’s hi hats along gave it away to me. I feel like today this arrangement sounds “corny” compared to the depth of the original, but I often feel the same way about ragtime, but it was hip in it’s day. That being said, it would be great to see a big band kill a more authentic arrangement of a soulful tune like this one.