The way you play it makes it look so effortless which is inspiring. Very fluid. You are Gadd-like. Also, good camera angle so we can see exactly what you are doing.
I would so much rather hear a guy like this play who "simplifies" a few things but nails the feel and sound the song needs, than a perfect note-for-note transcription with no sense of feel or tone. Great job.
Amazing...nice job man! I cannot imagine the looks on Fagen's and Becker's faces when Steve nailed this on the first take. Gadd is a force of nature...the premier drummer of his generation.
As a life-long Steely Dan fan, who has listened to this track zillions of times, I gotta say this is totally awesome. It's amazing to watch someone getting so close to recreating Gadd's 35-year old original performance...you make it look almost straightforward. And you even got the stick-clash in....Thanks so much for taking the time to get on top of it and film it.
Anybody that has played the drums knows how Technically difficult that track is to play I went to one of Gadds Drum clinics and even he could not replicate the exact shuffle lick from the original track; this guy has done it perfectly and it's great to see it played on video with matched grips. Fantastic playing and made it look effortless
I have wondered how the drums were played in Aja for three decades. And there they are!. Excellent job. Thanks very much for showing us how. Truly enjoyed it.
Thanks everyone for kind comments. I appreciate all of them. Yes, the closing ride pattern has been simplified from Gadd's version. I had other things going on in my life and needed to wrap this up.
Absolutely excellent. Even Gadd said in a recording that he couldn’t say what he had played exactly and went on to explain the “types” of fills he had used. Loved the single stick click to establish the break. Edit for spelling, yes spell check I wanted to say “head” used not had.😊
I must've listened to this track several thousand times (II kid you not); I'm also a wannabe Steve Gadd, but you my friend, nailed it. You're an amazing drummer, great fluidity in your style.
Great job. Hard to combine that signature pocket feel of Steve Gadd with the "looseness" that is required to perform Aja using that matched grip, but you pulled it off.
I'm not a drummer, but have always been mesmerized by Gadd's drumming on this piece. Watching you play it makes it seem so pedestrian.....it a great way! I look forward to seeing more of your work.
Fantastic!! This is very difficult and the timming was perfectly fluid ..i know how hard it is to put all those notes togeather in the timing of the bars..you nailed it!! Wow!
Wow. Just found this video - Aja, my all time favourite Dan track and fave track of all time . If I could only choose one song, that would be it. You nailed that drum cover with such ease and fluidity. Fantastic.
Killer, man. So good. I've been trying to play this song since it came out, although I've never really sat down and went through it part by part. Just not sure Im good enough to nail it.
Bravo. One of my fave S.D. songs and of course Dr. Gadd. I loved playing this in the 70's when I had a kit and i miss those days even more after watching this. Great job!
Awesome! That's a great effort. Well done. Listening to Aja this way, after so many times hearing the original recording, it's an ear opener to hear the many subtleties of this tune. Nice sounding kit too.
Great Job! I was just in the mood to hear this song, and found this. Not too many people have the balls to cover Steve Gadd, but here you are, and as far as I can tell, you nailed it! You are Mr. Smooth behind that kit! You are a pleasure to watch.
I had only been playing for two years before I went to college and could only play in the winters and summers since I can't bring my set with me. Inconsidered giving up. You playing like that has inspired me to one day, in a few years, be where you are. Keep up the great work.
@drummingnuts ....thanks Randy - that's very kind of you. I got into kit drumming after my drum corps days - a late start at 20. I'm now 49...and you sir, serve as excellent inspiration to keep moving forward and raising the bar. Many thanks for the kind words - really enjoyed your solo work...top notch..! Cheers....!
very nice man...I am a drummer who hasnt played in 3 years but now getting back into it..I have always loved the drums in this song but never have seen a cover..very impressive...the drums in this song our so crisp and you play it very nicely
Yes I am Randy. I marched way back in the mid sixties with minor Drum Corps in the western New York area. Still, I attribute my rudimental knowledge and prowess to those early years. I have since then always applied them to my set playing. To further my opinion of your Aja clip--that's one heck of an accomplishment! Gadd is and has been a huge influence on my playing as was Buddy, Louie, Joe, Tony, and a host of others. Drumming is my "young pill!"
Man that was great. I must have practiced to Aja a hundred times when I started playing. I love how you even got the stick hit in which I always thought was a mistake on Gadds part but worked so well. Well played sir...
That's the closest I've seen yet. That includes the drummers I've seen who have toured for Steely Dan. (To be fair, those guys didn't attempt a not perfect performance, so I was bound to be disappointed.) For me, that drum outro at the end is one of the greatest recorded pieces ever, You captured the feel of it which is just as hard as the technique. Bravo, sir...!
Nice, job. I play in a tribute act and know what it takes to nail a part...every part,, on forty songs. The concentration and timing are the things. You nailed this.
Wow,... you nailed it to the wall,... very a nice groove and chops,... I've tried this song on drums only to give up. I'll watch you and try again. Thanks for posting and I'm a new subscriber of yours!!! Also a DW player,... Rock On!!!
Know how you feel and what your are going through. Me too, a couple of years ago. Lost a lot but kept al lthe drums. Playing a lot now and traveling nationally seasonally. Hope you get up and running soon. Best of luck. New door opened, man.
I am extremely impressed with your playing in this video and the rendition of AjA that basically looks like you played it note-for-note...Very Well I Might Add 👍.. I'm a drummer of 30-plus years and consider myself and my peers also consider me a very good drummer... I'm able to reproduce all of the cover renditions of thousands and thousands of songs throughout my career... I have to tell you brother with total honesty.. I'm still trying to figure out the phrasing and timing of each fill.. now separately... I can play each one of the separate licks that make up the solo.. however I'm still struggling with the phrasing and timing of it all.. I'm there but it feels like I'm trying to remember the details of a Dream from the previous night it's there but it's not totally clear get it..lol.. with all that being said.. I want to thank you for uploading such a fantastically executed drum cover of AjA.. Everything from your Timing, your Phrasing, your accuracy, and all the cymbal swell nuances.. the Comfortability and Relaxed approach are all on display...Fantastic Job My Drum Brother!! 👍🔥.. I've often thought this to myself every time I think about or hear this song.. "It's Easy Until It Gets Hard" 😲Thank you for doing this song justice.. And I hope Gadd has seen this. 👍 🔥♥️
The way you play it makes it look so effortless which is inspiring. Very fluid. You are Gadd-like. Also, good camera angle so we can see exactly what you are doing.
Carey, thanks very much..!
It pisses me off
;)
Yeah, i was going to say the same, so relaxed and focused. Brilliant performance!!!
well put, it did look effortless.
Incredible. I keep watching this every couple of months to see what good playing looks like. Thanks again. Inspirational
Wow, thanks!
Me too. Inspirational. Smooth
I would so much rather hear a guy like this play who "simplifies" a few things but nails the feel and sound the song needs, than a perfect note-for-note transcription with no sense of feel or tone. Great job.
agreed.
Porce no los dos?
Watching you do this so smoothly as others note, really makes me want to play this differently than I am now, to relax.
Amazing...nice job man! I cannot imagine the looks on Fagen's and Becker's faces when Steve nailed this on the first take.
Gadd is a force of nature...the premier drummer of his generation.
As a life-long Steely Dan fan, who has listened to this track zillions of times, I gotta say this is totally awesome. It's amazing to watch someone getting so close to recreating Gadd's 35-year old original performance...you make it look almost straightforward. And you even got the stick-clash in....Thanks so much for taking the time to get on top of it and film it.
At last, after decades of being in awe of this performance, I get a chance to see the man himself at work...Inspiring...extremely...Thanks
Most relaxed drummer on the internet. Excellent playing.
Anybody that has played the drums knows how Technically difficult that track is to play I went to one of Gadds Drum clinics and even he could not replicate the exact shuffle lick from the original track; this guy has done it perfectly and it's great to see it played on video with matched grips. Fantastic playing and made it look effortless
I have wondered how the drums were played in Aja for three decades. And there they are!. Excellent job. Thanks very much for showing us how. Truly enjoyed it.
Thanks....it was a fun project. You're welcome..!
Just an interpretation? You totally nailed it!
Thanks everyone for kind comments. I appreciate all of them. Yes, the closing ride pattern has been simplified from Gadd's version. I had other things going on in my life and needed to wrap this up.
The groove was still great! Amazing job on the cover!
I’m thankful for what you did! You did as well as Gadd! Smooth and impressive!
Wow! So clean but still rhythmic and melodic. And you play so relaxed you make it look easy!
Wow, I am impressed, clicked on this by accident and stayed for the whole performance!!!
It's nice to see that after imagining it in my head for all these years.
Wow, this is excellent! Great work! I think Steve would be impressed!!!
Well Done Sir! A great master class in relaxation as well. Laying back on the groove but nailing it!
Absolutely excellent. Even Gadd said in a recording that he couldn’t say what he had played exactly and went on to explain the “types” of fills he had used. Loved the single stick click to establish the break.
Edit for spelling, yes spell check I wanted to say “head” used not had.😊
My favorite Steely Dan song! Beautiful job! 👏 👏 👏 Bravo!
Incredible!!! My favorite Steely Dan song because of the drums and sax.
Thank you for this amazing cover of Aja in which every note and lick are played effortlessly yet with so much feel.
I must've listened to this track several thousand times (II kid you not); I'm also a wannabe Steve Gadd, but you my friend, nailed it. You're an amazing drummer, great fluidity in your style.
Great job. Hard to combine that signature pocket feel of Steve Gadd with the "looseness" that is required to perform Aja using that matched grip, but you pulled it off.
I'm not a drummer, but have always been mesmerized by Gadd's drumming on this piece. Watching you play it makes it seem so pedestrian.....it a great way! I look forward to seeing more of your work.
Nicely done! I've always loved Steely Dan. You make it look effortless.
a torrent of great sounds from a payer who's not only a sensational virtuoso but who has a wealth of creativity and the ear of the finest of artists
Needed a short break during my work day - I wanted to hear a Steely Dan song - came across this video - superb - thanks for posting. Loved it.
What a ride, what a journey! You did make it look so easy! Thumbs up!
Thanks..!
That was exquisite!
Fantastic!! This is very difficult and the timming was perfectly fluid ..i know how hard it is to put all those notes togeather in the timing of the bars..you nailed it!! Wow!
Glad you liked it!
Wow. Just found this video - Aja, my all time favourite Dan track and fave track of all time . If I could only choose one song, that would be it. You nailed that drum cover with such ease and fluidity. Fantastic.
I have to come back to your video periodically and watch. Masterful. Making it look so easy.
Thank you! Cheers!
Wow, this was phenomenal
Wow! I have listened to this song a thousand times and the ending is one of my favorite pieces of any song ever. Very very nice. Thank you.
Fantastic cover buddy. Love the stick click too. 100% kudos to you. Well done.
so smooth. Love your easy-going style.
Very well done and very helpful, I've always bluffed this track but will be doing an SD tribute soon and this is just what I needed - THANKS!!!
Killer, man. So good. I've been trying to play this song since it came out, although I've never really sat down and went through it part by part. Just not sure Im good enough to nail it.
Bravo. One of my fave S.D. songs and of course Dr. Gadd. I loved playing this in the 70's when I had a kit and i miss those days even more after watching this. Great job!
My favorite Steely Dan album and song, nicely done. Very fluid, controlled, and compact effort. Love the cymbal work.
Amazing! You think you know a few things, and then you watch somebody who's really put some scholarship into it. Humbling.
Simply beautiful... brought a tear to my eye, it was that flawless !
my eye too
Beautifully played version of an all-time classic. And what a stunning set of drums. Top marks.
That was FANTASTIC! Love how you even got that one stick click in there during those wonderful drum fills!
That's superb work my friend. You have serious talent and I thank you for sharing it with us.
Awesome! That's a great effort. Well done. Listening to Aja this way, after so many times hearing the original recording, it's an ear opener to hear the many subtleties of this tune. Nice sounding kit too.
Great Cover, I have always loved the drums on this song and you did it perfectly:)
Great Job! I was just in the mood to hear this song, and found this. Not too many people have the balls to cover Steve Gadd, but here you are, and as far as I can tell, you nailed it! You are Mr. Smooth behind that kit! You are a pleasure to watch.
I had only been playing for two years before I went to college and could only play in the winters and summers since I can't bring my set with me. Inconsidered giving up. You playing like that has inspired me to one day, in a few years, be where you are. Keep up the great work.
@drummingnuts ....thanks Randy - that's very kind of you. I got into kit drumming after my drum corps days - a late start at 20. I'm now 49...and you sir, serve as excellent inspiration to keep moving forward and raising the bar. Many thanks for the kind words - really enjoyed your solo work...top notch..! Cheers....!
Fantastic player... inspiring work here. The feel, just awesome.
Fantastic! This not only speaks to the brilliance of the original part, but your own abilities, as well. Really well done!
Great job. Very clean and musical. Thanks for the post.
Thank you very much!
Really nice job. Love the way your drums sound. Thanks for sharing your talent.
Have to comment - absolutely excellent and very musical. Loved this track since 1977 or whatever, and you have really done it justice!
Economy of motion. Tight and clean. Nice.
Beautiful drumming. I wish I could play like that. God bless you.
Thanks so much...!
Wow!! Nice, nice job Pal!!!! One of the most famous solos out there and you did a fantastic job!!!!
I don't normally comment on TH-cam videos but this was just awesome. Totally nailed it! and I tip my hat to you sir :)
Great ! Merci from France … i'm a SG Fan and a Steely Dan Fan also … since 1985 !
Wow,brilliant !!!! Wish I was that talented!!!!thoroughly enjoyed it
An excellent tribute. You make it look easy.
This is just sensational. Thanks so much for posting.
very nice man...I am a drummer who hasnt played in 3 years but now getting back into it..I have always loved the drums in this song but never have seen a cover..very impressive...the drums in this song our so crisp and you play it very nicely
That was so smooth and effortless! You inspired me, bro..
Well done, very similar. Aja fills are the highlight of pop drums! Long live Steve Gadd
Yes I am Randy. I marched way back in the mid sixties with minor Drum Corps in the western New York area. Still, I attribute my rudimental knowledge and prowess to those early years. I have since then always applied them to my set playing.
To further my opinion of your Aja clip--that's one heck of an accomplishment! Gadd is and has been a huge influence on my playing as was Buddy, Louie, Joe, Tony, and a host of others. Drumming is my "young pill!"
Very cool. Note for note, fill for fill. Thanks!
Wow.. that was superb. You made it look so effortless. You have such a deft touch.
Very nice! Ive been playing a long ass time and this has always been one of my favorite drum tunes and one of the toughest to play.
Cheers!!
Man, you make this drum solo look so easy!
I'm in awe! That is just fantastic. You really do make it look easy and it's NOT easy to play!
Man that was great. I must have practiced to Aja a hundred times when I started playing. I love how you even got the stick hit in which I always thought was a mistake on Gadds part but worked so well. Well played sir...
Yes you do make it look so easy, very nice ! one of if not my favorite drum solo pieces.
Thanks very much..!
What really impresses me is how effortless it is for you. Great playing. You're KILLER dude!
Thanks for watching....I appreciate that..!
Spectacular and cool handling!
Excellent job! extremely hard drum track to cover, well done
Thanks for listening
With the stick click and everything.
We'll done.
Love your kit and your playing! Well done!
Such a great job and pretty technically sound...great touch!
fantastic performance
That's the closest I've seen yet. That includes the drummers I've seen who have toured for Steely Dan. (To be fair, those guys didn't attempt a not perfect performance, so I was bound to be disappointed.) For me, that drum outro at the end is one of the greatest recorded pieces ever, You captured the feel of it which is just as hard as the technique. Bravo, sir...!
nice flow and super tight. well done.
J'ai toujours adoré cette partie de batterie et je te félicite car ta production est excellente ! Bravo !
Frank...you are THE best drummer i have ever worked with...mind boggling...
Thank you, Tom...! Means a lot...!
very nice effortless.....love the Dan Love Mr Gadd....Well done...
Nice, job. I play in a tribute act and know what it takes to nail a part...every part,, on forty songs. The concentration and timing are the things. You nailed this.
Man!That was tight, that is a hard track to play
that was so solid.................wow
Incredible work. It looks so fluid! Very well done!
That was awesome. You imitated it nearly perfectly. Bravo.
this is the best cover i have seen since steve gaad. u rock brother!!!!!!!!
All around great [sound, technique, etc.] smooth as silk.
Wow,... you nailed it to the wall,... very a nice groove and chops,... I've tried this song on drums only to give up. I'll watch you and try again. Thanks for posting and I'm a new subscriber of yours!!! Also a DW player,... Rock On!!!
Light and Precise! Very Nice! Great job , brother!
Know how you feel and what your are going through. Me too, a couple of years ago. Lost a lot but kept al lthe drums. Playing a lot now and traveling nationally seasonally. Hope you get up and running soon. Best of luck. New door opened, man.
I am extremely impressed with your playing in this video and the rendition of AjA that basically looks like you played it note-for-note...Very Well I Might Add 👍.. I'm a drummer of 30-plus years and consider myself and my peers also consider me a very good drummer... I'm able to reproduce all of the cover renditions of thousands and thousands of songs throughout my career... I have to tell you brother with total honesty.. I'm still trying to figure out the phrasing and timing of each fill.. now separately... I can play each one of the separate licks that make up the solo.. however I'm still struggling with the phrasing and timing of it all.. I'm there but it feels like I'm trying to remember the details of a Dream from the previous night it's there but it's not totally clear get it..lol.. with all that being said.. I want to thank you for uploading such a fantastically executed drum cover of AjA.. Everything from your Timing, your Phrasing, your accuracy, and all the cymbal swell nuances.. the Comfortability and Relaxed approach are all on display...Fantastic Job My Drum Brother!! 👍🔥.. I've often thought this to myself every time I think about or hear this song.. "It's Easy Until It Gets Hard" 😲Thank you for doing this song justice.. And I hope Gadd has seen this. 👍 🔥♥️
Thanks so much for the kind words...!
You earned them 👍
Fantastic job. Great feel. I waited for the outro. Not easy to do. Awesome!!
Thanks that was fun. I met Steve a couple years ago. It was a treat
That my friend, was absolutely awesome. Thank you!
Wow! What a great cover. absolutely amazing.