by 120decibels » Fri Nov 15, 2002 1:01 pm
One other thing that I thought was worth mentioning in this discussion of playing fast. I wanted to make the point that, while playing 64th note rolls and other lightning fast licks is great for solos and fills, it doesn't make the player. What makes the player, in my opinion, is swing, groove, time, whatever you want to call it. If you can play "in the pocket" and occasionally throw down, you can always find a gig. However, I've seen folks that could play faster than I could ever hope to, but they were circus acts because they couldn't swing.
Of course, the aforementioned Gio has both talents. That is what makes him a monster.
My $0.02,
Zach