Just a follow-up note: I never meant to imply an argument based on the premise that "he is too complex for you to understand." I was not really trying to "defend" Stewart from the point of view of a mad Stewart fan; rather, I was concerned about the reckless attacks being made about his ability and playing. Whether you like him and his comments about jazz or not--or whether you take offense at his joking use of arrogance or not--I do not think you can just use this as an excuse to unload a bunch of venom on Stewart's playing, style, contribution to drumming, and his variety of music, which is what I saw Mm do with his flat-out claims of Stewart being "average." That claim is just opinion, not analysis, and it reminds me of some of my more reckless students who say things like, "Andy Warhol--that's not art. That's crap. Anyone can do that." To pass off this opinion on others so domineeringly and condescendingly, which is how I interpreted the ensuing fierceness of Mm's tone (which is, additionally, why I think Dogbreath warned him), seems just as brow-beating on an audience as Stewart's misguided jazz remarks. It is an uninformed and unprovable claim, really. It is just Mm's opinion. And if you are familiar with Stewart's total body of work, you know that to call his playing or musical ability "average" is untenable. He pioneered a unique style of playing with The Police, has very good chops, has written several ballet scores, operas, film scores, and has incorporated a wide variety of world music and classical music into a lot of his post-Police work. The evidence is there to show that he is a well-established, well-respected musician. Do not confuse a person's ridiculous remarks with her or his ability or place in music legacy.
Very well said.
I am just curious. Lets talk about some drummers that, maybe not legends or Greats, or maybe indeed they are.
The thing is, forget about Copeland, lets say, we are going to mention some others, that can be identified by their playing, immediately when heard. like " That is x", or, " I know who that is playing the drums, that is x's sound".
Just to see if or not, that should be considered when calling a drummer average.
Lets say Peart, for me one of the Greatest Inspirations in my young years to play drums, and remember, I am not making comparisons with Copeland here, I said , lets forget Copeland for a second.
Peart is, IMHO, one of the few drummers that, by his sound and playing ,can be identified as the one drummer playing, his 8" and 10" toms are tuned high in a way, not many drummers tune theirs, plus, the chops, accents, style and overall sound, lets one to actually know that he is the one playing.
Alex Van Halen,forget about the chops, double bass, washy crashes, lets talk about his trademark snare sound, that sound has remained the same for years, and is one of the few, one can identify very quickly, with the drummer in question, That is Alex, eyes closed.
Bonzo, that snare sound is a trademark that one can actually tell in seconds.
There are not many like that, I just mentioned a few. I am not talking about technical expertise, chops, mechanical ability, or the ability to solo.
I am talking about sound. And maybe some feel! But mostly sound!
Is that a quality that can be qualified as average, even if the drummer is not the most technical or fast?
That is my question.
I think uniqueness is a quality in the drummer that needs to be respected, because from the multitude, its not easy to stand out only by your sound, to create such a unique sound that actually its easy to be identified, only by your playing style or sound.
That has to count for something.
I do not know if Alex qualifies as a Master, legend, or Great, I only know that his snare drum sound is unique, an identification mark, you know that is him.
More examples are welcome, but I just mentioned some that will be easily recognized by most.
Are those players average?
Now, lets bring Copeland back, his snare sound, unique, a trademark, you know that is him.
How do we qualify that? It doesnt have to be part of a solo, or complicated roll or fill, just a stroke, you know right there who is it.
Uniqueness, does that count as the Quality of the Greats, or at least can be qualified as a legend, or a legendary sound? Or still one can be unique and average? It may be.
Comments welcome.
The Ryctor!