I studied with Alan at his Lexington, MA home beginning Oct. 1974-1981. Wonderful, kind, dignified absolute musical genius. He could be a stern taskmaster when necessary and I will always consider him my second father. He often schedule my lesson last, so we could go out back and play in his corral with his three Alaskan Malamutes; Kiska, Simba and Juno. Other days we would drive around town. He liked my sports car and enjoyed taking it for a spin after my lesson. Not enough time or space here to say everything but I can tell you not a single day passes without me thinking of him and stll, a week never goes by without my shedding a tear in his memory. A wonderful teacher of both music and life.
That’s incredible! You’re very fortunate to have had such a great friend, and mentor. Watching him play gives me that “oh shit” feeling still, which is HIGH praise.
I live in Wyoming and know multiple guys that studied with Alan. It's amazing how many drummers around the country have spent time with him and have shared his wonderful teachings and humanity to the rest of us. Awesome you had that experience.
He was also a cyclist and I think he liked me because I rode from Boston for my lessons with him. And, his standards were so exacting that when you mastered something and were able to go to the next rudiment or other exercise ,it felt like a true accomplishment. Getting through all sections of the lesson with time left to play a duet with him on vibes was a great incentive too !!
I studied with Alan for five incredible years. This really brought up some great memories. He was all that has been said about him. Humble, generous, strict when needed, and a fantastic mentor. RIP Alan, and thank you for everything.
I studied with him for 10 years. One (of many) great things about him was that no matter how well you played he always made you feel good about yourself, & would always show you one little thing uou never thought of - & that one little thing made you a better player. I miss him, terribly. None like him!!
When I was young, i pretty much only knew about rock drummers. I would watch them and think, I get it, I can work that out. I went to see Alan Dawson at a clinic. I stood on the side, I could see everything he was doing. I couldn't believe it. I swear to you, I had no idea that someone could play that good! A lot of people talk about Bonham, and he was great. But people should listen to who he was listening to when he was learning.
I'm ashamed to say that despite playing drums for about 18 years, this is my first exposure to Alan Dawson. Where have I been?! This man is unstoppable, incredible, joyful playing and what technique!
If you listen to the recordings which Sonny Rollins made on a European tour, there's plenty of Dawson. The music (3CDs-worth) has recently been reissued - genius: Rollins, Henry Grimes, Dawson...
I love his playing for the rhythms complexity and melodic sound. He's not too loud. Some drummers, play too loud, and Dawson has the right feel to pull it off.
Holy @#$%!!!! This is my first visual of Alan Dawson. I can see where Tony Williams influence came from. Incredible. I'm going to be busy digging up everything I can concerning Alan Dawson. Bravo & Thank you.
Look for his work with Booker Ervin,Prestige Sessions ,Freedom Book,etc. for starters. My first visual on AD,too. Amazing hands and a loose supple groove, yet always "in the pocket".
Such a HIGH BAR to attempt. Many drummers with chops probably can play TO this song. But Alan stays true to the spirit of the song, solo, while putting his own heart and vision into it and all the while being sooooooo smooth Bravo!
Alan Dawson embodied the very rare combination of someone who is a great player, great teacher, and most importantly - a great man. A truly dignified gentleman of the highest order. I was very fortunate to have met him and studied with him all too briefly.
alan dawson was a very underrated drummer that in the downbeat vernacular,was talent deserving wider recognition.his work with jaki byard was brilliant.
He’s so well connected to his instrument and brilliantly hip. The rhythmic development alone was exciting to listen to but you could also FEEL the intensity of the drums themselves. Meanwhile, Brubeck is grinning like a kid in a candy store.
This was truly an amazing, superlative solo beyond words can say. That was lightning captured in a bottle; the director and technical director ruined this experience by all of that panning and zooming of the cameras.
This is from "We're All Together Again for the First Time" live record, probably I have listened it hundered times; I know every second of the solo. It is amazing to watch it after all these years; thanks so much!
claps. geesus that was fire. the ideas and construction. his own voice and never repeated himself. genius right there . beautiful Alan Dawson. lemme go practice got his R R Book.
As a kid, I use to “listen” to him every Sunday morning in the Boston area on a talent show called “Community Auditions”…..he was the “house” drummer……can you believe that??
Crazy, After watching this solo I see some movements and phrases that I also notice in Brian Blade. Maybe its just a coincidence. What an amazing drum solo! I have only head legends about this great drummer and great to see this video... thanks for sharing !
@@JonnyJayJonson I was a student of Blade when he was at the global institute at Berklee and he never mentioned Dawson. I know that Terry-Lyn Carrington did. Blade studied with some cats in New Orleans... I have to look up his name again but that guy was or is a legend in that scene. But after watching this I am sure Dawson must have been an influence.
@@kesivan I know Brian checked out Ernie Elly in new orleans, studied with Johnny vidacovich and was no doubt influenced by many of the other great new Orleans drummers such as herlin riley, Shannon Powell etc...
Got to sit right in front of him when he was with Ludwig in the early 80’s….wow! Serious technician and a great teacher. Humble, musical and the “ritual” is both hard and an excellent system!
I studied with Bob Gullotti, who studied with Dawson. Its wild that after 30 years, at times I hear these guys bubble up in my playing and it’s like I’m being played as an instrument ; that the drums aren’t the instrument, I am. I think we all are threads woven into a inconceivable or even ineffable composition. But I do hear those echoes of Bob. Every once in a while. And I’m smiling.
Saw Bob at Cafe No in Portland ME. He was insane. I studied with Les Harris Jr who was a disciple of Alan Dawson. Les is one of the best and feel lucky to study with him.
Making Roxbury proud! Al grabbed joe morello's solo and added an exponent by showing the importance of rudiments in soloing. This is why tony williams had an obsession with quality control in playing.
One of the best drum teachers as well. He taught tony williams they’re both Boston guys Tony was 17 and got called to play with miles and I hear alan’s playing in his. Dawson decided TOny did it need or want to learn to sight tread perfectly he just needed freedom to be himself
Question to all the drummers here.. This is what i think happens: Alan Dawson faked coming back at 3:54 after his awesome solo so the rest can rejoin. But he adds an extra drum part instead that surprises the team and made them laugh. Any change i caught this right? :P
It feels like one of those moments when you come out of a solo and the band doesn't get the que right. So he just kept playing, to not keep soloing would have made it obvious that they missed it. I think they were to mesmerized. Beautiful solo.
I studied with Alan at his Lexington, MA home beginning Oct. 1974-1981. Wonderful, kind, dignified absolute musical genius. He could be a stern taskmaster when necessary and I will always consider him my second father. He often schedule my lesson last, so we could go out back and play in his corral with his three Alaskan Malamutes; Kiska, Simba and Juno. Other days we would drive around town. He liked my sports car and enjoyed taking it for a spin after my lesson. Not enough time or space here to say everything but I can tell you not a single day passes without me thinking of him and stll, a week never goes by without my shedding a tear in his memory. A wonderful teacher of both music and life.
That’s incredible! You’re very fortunate to have had such a great friend, and mentor. Watching him play gives me that “oh shit” feeling still, which is HIGH praise.
I live in Wyoming and know multiple guys that studied with Alan. It's amazing how many drummers around the country have spent time with him and have shared his wonderful teachings and humanity to the rest of us. Awesome you had that experience.
He was also a cyclist and I think he liked me because I rode from Boston for my lessons with him. And, his standards were so exacting that when you mastered something and were able to go to the next rudiment or other exercise ,it felt like a true accomplishment. Getting through all sections of the lesson with time left to play a duet with him on vibes was a great incentive too !!
You are a fortunate man to jave studied with him… i see him as THE CONSUMMATE DRUM SET TEACHER…
I studied with Alan for five incredible years. This really brought up some great memories. He was all that has been said about him. Humble, generous, strict when needed, and a fantastic mentor. RIP Alan, and thank you for everything.
Closest I’ve come is practicing the ritual every day.
I studied with him for 10 years. One (of many) great things about him was that no matter how well you played he always made you feel good about yourself, & would always show you one little thing uou never thought of - & that one little thing made you a better player. I miss him, terribly. None like him!!
I knew about him as a clinician but not as a performer
Superb
Unique, melodic and some showmanship too
When I was young, i pretty much only knew about rock drummers. I would watch them and think, I get it, I can work that out. I went to see Alan Dawson at a clinic. I stood on the side, I could see everything he was doing. I couldn't believe it. I swear to you, I had no idea that someone could play that good! A lot of people talk about Bonham, and he was great. But people should listen to who he was listening to when he was learning.
You must have had played his whole paradiddle thing he wrote which is a landmark piece. Also one of the craziest things i’ve seen or moreso heard.
Do not even compare this solo! It is what it is! ….all it is….genius performance.
Dave Brubeck was really enjoying Alan Dawson’s playing. May they both Rest In Peace.🎼🎶🎵🥁🎹
And he sure knows a great drummer when he sees one : He had Joe Morello in his band before.
I'm ashamed to say that despite playing drums for about 18 years, this is my first exposure to Alan Dawson. Where have I been?! This man is unstoppable, incredible, joyful playing and what technique!
Me too man, flipping heck, amazing......
@@geminirhythmspirit2573 me to. Never heard of him. Call my self a drummer 🤷♀️
th-cam.com/video/1tbSyrmXo60/w-d-xo.html
8 years drumming and I just discovered him today also !
If you listen to the recordings which Sonny Rollins made on a European tour, there's plenty of Dawson. The music (3CDs-worth) has recently been reissued - genius: Rollins, Henry Grimes, Dawson...
I was so transfixed by this solo that I only just now realized that AD is rocking out a badass clear acrylic kit here.
HUGE... love it. Fun to hear this "take" on Take Five.
I love his playing for the rhythms complexity and melodic sound. He's not too loud. Some drummers, play too loud, and Dawson has the right feel to pull it off.
Every time I see/hear Dawson, I think: Dude is different, special, one of the best.
I must have been living under a rock. This is simply amazing drumming! Some of the very best soloing I've ever seen.
Holy @#$%!!!! This is my first visual of Alan Dawson. I can see where Tony Williams influence came from. Incredible. I'm going to be busy digging up everything I can concerning Alan Dawson. Bravo & Thank you.
Bluesette by Hank Jones is a fucking masterclass in brushwork, check it out bruther
Alan dawson and Tony williams, Roxbury's finest
Look for his work with Booker Ervin,Prestige Sessions ,Freedom Book,etc. for starters. My first visual on AD,too. Amazing hands and a loose supple groove, yet always "in the pocket".
I studied with Alan at Berklee for 2 years and I still aplied what he learn me. Excellent teacher and friend
Such a HIGH BAR to attempt. Many drummers with chops probably can play TO this song. But Alan stays true to the spirit of the song, solo, while putting his own heart and vision into it and all the while being sooooooo smooth Bravo!
Its not a song
@@007EnglishAcademy And it's not a symphony.
I would argue that it was Alan Dawson who had a HIGH BAR to overcome with his predisessor Joe Morrelo
Obviously Dawson jumped that Bar to his own beat and landed just fine 🙂
On the one! Never off of it which is difficult in 5/4.
Alan Dawson embodied the very rare combination of someone who is a great player, great teacher, and most importantly - a great man. A truly dignified gentleman of the highest order. I was very fortunate to have met him and studied with him all too briefly.
alan dawson was a very underrated drummer that in the downbeat vernacular,was talent deserving wider recognition.his work with jaki byard was brilliant.
He was rated exactly where he belonged.
He's not underrated at all, his work as a teacher is well known in Europe too, and he is considerated one of the greatest drums teachers of all times.
@@toothnail605 as he should be.
He’s so well connected to his instrument and brilliantly hip. The rhythmic development alone was exciting to listen to but you could also FEEL the intensity of the drums themselves. Meanwhile, Brubeck is grinning like a kid in a candy store.
Alan Dawson and Joe Hunt were my drum teachers at Berklee. It was an honor to be one of their students. I will never forget them..
Joe Hunt? What years? I was there in 1975 & Alan had left around that time. Joe Hunt real character….
Simply told: for me the best drumsolo ever in history of music. I first heard it in 1980, and til then i heard them all, but this is the best. Period.
You talk about smooth! Alan was an incredible musician!
And he stayed loose and relaxed, as not to drain energy
Great lesson ergomomics
Loving the nod to Morello in his opening….
Brings tears to my eyes.
Fantastic solo and version of this track.
sensational solo, one of the best I've ever seen in this song
that camera director really loves to zoom out
The director was a complete ASSHOLE!!!...🙄😡🖕
This was truly an amazing, superlative solo beyond words can say. That was lightning captured in a bottle; the director and technical director ruined this experience by all of that panning and zooming of the cameras.
that was an awesome solo. I’m surprised at how good those acrylic drums sound. Especially with no reso head on the Tom!
Unreal. So fluid, so free. Incredible. I only saw him live once.
Holy Moly - My teacher - Dale school of music (1961) - Thanks
This is from "We're All Together Again for the First Time" live record, probably I have listened it hundered times; I know every second of the solo. It is amazing to watch it after all these years; thanks so much!
Absolutely amazing!! How does he get those doubles so smooth and even and what an amazing feel. Brilliant!!
Practice
A work of art!
Cant get over how many zooms out there are
claps. geesus that was fire. the ideas and construction. his own voice and never repeated himself. genius right there . beautiful Alan Dawson. lemme go practice got his R R Book.
Genius. Sheer brilliance and flawless execution. I learned a ton from his book and consider it a staple of my journey.
great drummer alot of heart and soul in this drumming
Awesome drumming! Very creative and swinging!
So musical, so tight, just amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!
Superb and musical solo by Alan, truly one of the greatest drummers! It´s also nice to see one of my heroes, Gerry Mulligan enjoying Alan´s solo.
This is what I call a crazy performance.
As a kid, I use to “listen” to him every Sunday morning in the Boston area on a talent show called “Community Auditions”…..he was the “house” drummer……can you believe that??
I grew up watching that Dave Maynard show as well. I didn’t realize he was the house drummer. Crazy kool. Thanks for that bit of info!
Star of the day, who will it be?!?
@@bourgkul yes, Dave followed Gene Burns in 1965…..🙂🙂
Crazy, After watching this solo I see some movements and phrases that I also notice in Brian Blade. Maybe its just a coincidence. What an amazing drum solo! I have only head legends about this great drummer and great to see this video... thanks for sharing !
Yes, totally agree. Did Blade study with Dawson?
@@JonnyJayJonson I was a student of Blade when he was at the global institute at Berklee and he never mentioned Dawson. I know that Terry-Lyn Carrington did. Blade studied with some cats in New Orleans... I have to look up his name again but that guy was or is a legend in that scene. But after watching this I am sure Dawson must have been an influence.
@Kyle Cholewinski it’s not?
same school of drumming
@@kesivan I know Brian checked out Ernie Elly in new orleans, studied with Johnny vidacovich and was no doubt influenced by many of the other great new Orleans drummers such as herlin riley, Shannon Powell etc...
Got to sit right in front of him when he was with Ludwig in the early 80’s….wow! Serious technician and a great teacher. Humble, musical and the “ritual” is both hard and an excellent system!
Really dig the bombastic tones of those drums.
Alan Dawson you are the man!
Magnifico.😭
Superb Alan Dawson and Dave Brubeck
I studied with Bob Gullotti, who studied with Dawson. Its wild that after 30 years, at times I hear these guys bubble up in my playing and it’s like I’m being played as an instrument ; that the drums aren’t the instrument, I am. I think we all are threads woven into a inconceivable or even ineffable composition. But I do hear those echoes of Bob. Every once in a while. And I’m smiling.
Saw Bob at Cafe No in Portland ME. He was insane. I studied with Les Harris Jr who was a disciple of Alan Dawson. Les is one of the best and feel lucky to study with him.
Just heard about AD now. I am 50. Weekly, Famularo and others all get mentioned but not this guy?! He is incredible.
Pure bliss for the appreciative. 👍
He was very special, the style of playing very unique 👌
Thank you so much for posting this!!!! Really appreciate it.
You're welcome
Oozing with FUNK !!!! SOOOO GOOOD
Fantastic solo, I love Alan Dawson's style.
He’s so slippery, incredible.
Wow.....so tasteful and technical. Perfectly suited to the piece.
Simply awesome, so clean and creative
Incredible! I love it!🙏👏👏👏🕉👌
Amazing! Wonderful!
Alan on a fibes kit.......WOW!!!
Master!!❤️🔥❤️
absolute madness
10/10 great vibes
Exllent piano 🎹 and drums synchronisation beautifully
muy bueno ❤❤❤
Alan is terrific!! One of my favorites.
Freaking incredible!
Best solo ever
BEAST MODE!
Incredible master
Respect.
MUITO BOM, ESSE É O JAZZ QUE AMO, PORQUE AQUELE FISION DEUS ME LIVRE, BAGUNÇA DO CACETE E UM SACO.
..and all this with a kit that makes Charlie Watts look like Carl Emerson. Brilliant
Best ever version
smooth flow, happy energy
Awesome Dawson
BRAVO!
Now, that's a star shower!!
And that's how the drums are played.
So creative!
Genius
love it!!
Fibes!!!
best they've ever sounded!
@@charlieandpamnickrenz5687 BR gave away his fibes but kept the snare, voiding his contract with Slingerland
espectacular,impresionante
Genius!!
Making Roxbury proud! Al grabbed joe morello's solo and added an exponent by showing the importance of rudiments in soloing. This is why tony williams had an obsession with quality control in playing.
Alan ,also Played the whole Melody on Drums . Take 5
Go Alan. So suprb
めちゃカッコイイ👍
3:35 WHAT! so smooth
He really has a wonderful technique
EXCELLENT BEAUTIFUL AMAZING SUBLIME INMORTAL 🎼 🥁 🎶 🎵
So superb great
Talent
Brubeck's pants are the real star here
Funny how the whole band just stops to watch the show with everybody else, lol
Alan is a beast.
it is meant for them to stop during drummer's solo
Awesome
Very impressive. Good use of something called "dynamics" Drummers, take note.
👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
One of the best drum teachers as well. He taught tony williams they’re both Boston guys Tony was 17 and got called to play with miles and I hear alan’s playing in his. Dawson decided TOny did it need or want to learn to sight tread perfectly he just needed freedom to be himself
He also taught the great Clifford Jarvis among others!
Funky. Love Brubeck pants
Damn!
AAAMMMMAAAAZZZZZIIINNNNGGGGG!!!!!!
Question to all the drummers here.. This is what i think happens: Alan Dawson faked coming back at 3:54 after his awesome solo so the rest can rejoin. But he adds an extra drum part instead that surprises the team and made them laugh. Any change i caught this right? :P
It feels like one of those moments when you come out of a solo and the band doesn't get the que right. So he just kept playing, to not keep soloing would have made it obvious that they missed it. I think they were to mesmerized. Beautiful solo.
I don't think they wanted the solo to stop!
❤
♥️♥️♥️👍👍
A master drum solo in a video ruined by a novice director. Focus on Alan and end it. Amazing...
as someone who has watched a LOT of drum solos, I was kind of feeling that shit
Over 40 years of watching music, 99% of videos/film have always been done this way....
Videography has come a long way since this video was shot.
@@mknaylor amen to thatt!