This is an excellent melodic drum solo. Apparently Dennis Chambers and Vinnie Colaiuta are both in awe of this guy. It’s no surprise. Listen to the touch Joey has on the drums with all sorts of percussive rim playing, stick-on-stick, buzzes, mutes, multiple stroke bounces and an amazingly “floppy” tuning on bass drum. The solo is so musical that one easily forgets that this is a virtuoso at work. He makes it look so easy. Damn.

Joey Baron Solo at Mózg in Bydgoszcz, Poland

The title at YouTube claims this to be the greatest drum video ever … and they just may be right about that!

Bernard Purdie is one of the original originators in R&B drumming, right up there with Earl Palmer, Smokey Johnson, Charles “Hungry” Williams, Clayton Fillyau, Melvin Parker, Jabo Starks, Clyde Stubblefield, Zigaboo Modeliste, Al Jackson, James Gadson … all THOSE guys.

If you call yourself a drummer, this is essential viewing.

The Purdie 12/8 Shuffle (Part 1):

The Purdie 12/8 Shuffle (Part 2):

Here they are, the original Headhunters just grooving madly. Mike Clark is just so funky and his grooves are so unique and tasty. He also has a great tone on the drums. Of course, Paul Jackson is no slouch either.

This (both parts one and two) is one of my all-time favourite drum and bass videos. Mind-blowing stuff:

Part 1:

Part 2:

For years, I could never figure out what Mike Clark was playing. But these videos piqued my interest in his playing so I went and bought his drum book. Great stuff with excellent ideas on how he achieves his grooves with grace notes, linear concepts and accents in unexpected places. Check out for yourself, there are some great (and very challenging) patterns in there.

Mike Clark - Funk Drumming: Innovative Grooves and Advanced Concepts