It's hard to argue that anyone was ever any better than this. He's got the melodic sensibility of Max, the control and speed of Buddy, the unbending conviction and seismic groove sense of Elvin, and the imagination of Philly Joe...plus every intangible that makes him the peerless Tony Williams. Truly, you can divide creative timekeeping into "before Tony" and "after Tony" - he truly turned the whole thing upside-down and shook out the pockets- and at like 17! Once in a generation talent, a soul on the long eliptical orbit a comet takes, shining so brightly when visiting Earth, and gone too soon.

@DrGray_Drummer

5 жыл бұрын

I agree with everything you just mentioned, except the speed of Buddy. I never found Buddy's playing super melodic, but for speed, and accuracy idk about that

@johnrehfeldt6102

5 жыл бұрын

AGREED 100000000% The Game changer

@ambroulard

4 жыл бұрын

Jay Breen Tony’s one of my favorites ever- BuT- his playing changed-. I like his earliest work with Jackie McClean and Miles Davis,, I even like his early fusion work right up to his band with Alan Holdsworth but beyond that I started losing interest in his playing- he became such a heavy hitter,, as if he was competing with Billy Cobham which in fact rumors had it he was- and I recognize believe me how much energy it takes to play those single strokes around the toms seemingly forever!! I guess I wish he’d used all that energy to continue carving out the path his earlier efforts suggested-- he was such a phenomenal player in those early years.

@jamesblace5761

4 жыл бұрын

Jay Breen joe morello? Alan Dawson?

@thenel2162

4 жыл бұрын

@@ambroulard phenomenal player all the time!

Never seen or heard anyone else play singles so artfully.

@RonaldWilliams-qh7zc

5 ай бұрын

Check out Billy Cobham from the mahavishnu orchestra nobody could touch him back then not even Tony Williams that dude was the Jimi Hendrix of drums Billy Cobham was no joke in those days don't get me wrong I like Tony Williams too but he is no Billy Cobham I'm just being honest

@brianpatterson7332

Ай бұрын

​@RonaldWilliams-qh7zc You know who disagrees with you? Mahavishnu Orchestra 's John McLaughlin. For him, Tony Williams was the greatest.

Sounds like rhythmic raindrops falling. Beautiful.

@rixvspinner

2 жыл бұрын

That's an excellent description i think. His stick control was superb. When you hear one strike after the other, the nimble control he had. I liked him better than Jack Dejenette who was no slouch for sure. I had the pleasure of seeing the best drummer play live twice in the same week, two different venues. Then i got to meet him after one of the shows. This was 1983, the drummer was Buddy Rich.

I saw Tony at one his rare clinics, and had brief verbal contact with the man. He was one of the most gracious and generous people I've ever met. His drumming performance was, to be sure, awe inspiring. I'm still absorbing his melodic approach. When people refer to drummers in general, many names come up. I always refer to Tony as one of the big three. He's been gone over twenty years, and the rest of us are still playing "catch up" to his genius. A copy of TRIO OF DOOM is a "must have". Tony was a musician who played the drum set. BRAVO!!!

ABSOLUTELY---I have recognized that parallel since the 70s. Like Bruce Lee, Tony was a conduit through which something of great magnitude, depth, and tremendous vital energy expressed itself. Artists with gifts like Bruce Lee and Tony Williams come along once in a very great while, maybe every few generations, and serve as an inspirational reminder of what true human greatness looks like in action.

The most ingenious tuning of toms I've heard

@bigtay522

4 жыл бұрын

I was just fixing to post that exact same thing. I didn't think a drum kit could be so perfectly tuned.

@liamdrumz641

4 жыл бұрын

Yeah man he’s singing with those drums. Minor pentatonic tuning. And I think that low Tom is the low flat third. Soulful man

@robertmorrisey2317

4 жыл бұрын

I agree. toms are singing !!

@Meanstoend

3 жыл бұрын

I heard an interview with Tony and he used black dots on both sides because no matter how hard or soft he hit them they kept the tone.

@Meanstoend

3 жыл бұрын

@@williamperri3437 he did go to DW at the end there. But at this time, 1982 I believe, he was a Gretsch man.

There only comes one every lifetime

I have the privilege of playing with drummer Willie Smart from Cincinnati. He understood Tony's approach to his set. In the 70s, we played Tony's music. I will never forget those times.

I think a purple jump suit is probably the only real choice with a yellow drum kit.

@jhardycarroll

6 жыл бұрын

the jumpsuits were a thing. I saw jack DeJohnette in a blue one once

@adamdiss

6 жыл бұрын

It's the only way, man. Tony was ahead of his time.

@sethcashman1011

5 жыл бұрын

I'm hardly one to disagree.

@marshalllsmith2095

5 жыл бұрын

The phrase (bad'mu'dha'fah'cua) was coined after a "badazz-kat" like him. "CAN-YOU-DIG-THAT"

@spookybaba

4 жыл бұрын

You've never seen his yellow one, then? Perfect match 😊

probably the best solo I've ever seen, such a legend

Absolutely beautiful.

Tony was and is the most unique and creative drummer I've ever heard no one like him like a volcano ready to erupt and carry whomever shares the music with him to yet unknown heights.

Tony was the Bruce Lee of the Drums (y)

@bradlloyd6261

3 жыл бұрын

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

The man was the "King of limb separation"!!!!! Without a doubt!

Hey, purple and yellow are complimentary colors. Tony put some thought into this. ....just always a pleasure to listen to tony Williams. Mastery of rudiments are rare!

Tony's Legendary polyrythemic at its best.... Unsurpassed.. Unchallenged.

Jag hade i min ungdom själv spelat trummor för brinnande livet. När jag upptäckte Tony Williams var det som jag hittat hem. Älskar honom och hans musik.

this is so inspirational; i miss you tony

Tony always amazing. Those flams and singles. Lullabies! Love the shirt and beard too!

I have to say that Tony Williams is the best thing that's ever happened to music, best drum soloist,incredible hands and feet just genius.

SIMPLY INCREDIBLE....THE ONE & ONLY TONY WILLIAMS!!!!! RIP

Tony Williams recorded 20 albums with Miles, starting with Seven Steps To Heaven. He was 17 I think right? Mile stated he was his favorite drummer. Imagine your Tony Williams and Miles says that, unreal. Tony played with so many greats, Miles was one of them.

The drums have such a natural sound. I really miss hearing drums sing.

What a gift!...Thanks so much for sharing:)...Happy drumming everyone

Yeah Elvin was the truth too. The stuff that he did with Trane was outstanding. He probably was one of the first cats to use a lot of the poly rhythmic stuff. I remember listening with amazement to Out of this World where Elvin seemed to be all over the place and right in the middle at the same time. I always felt like he was part of Tony's inspiration since Tony was some younger. Thanks for the response.

Awww God Damn! Was there anybody any better than Tony when he was doing his thing. If there was I didn't hear them. He was a genius at creating controlled polyrhythmic chaos. Cobham, White, DeJohnette and the others just filled out the trail that he blazed!

Totally a master Love his dynamics

Tony was the King of of making solos musical. The young generation drummers should pay attention!!!!!!!!

A very good solo by Tony. He was a genuine master who's work has been overtaken by others in recent years. I silently and humbly remember the tribute concert I watched when the Second Great Miles Quintet reunited for a concert tour a few months after Miles passed away. On trumpet? Wallace Roney.

As soon as you see those yellow Gretsches on the video thumbnail you just have to watch it. Although he’s gone over 20 years now, his playing is still relevant and more importantly, truthful. The sign of an artist is surely to be their own voice and no one plays like Tony Williams. Sadly missed.

I love the music, harmonics, and melody of this. The theme. I hear the struggle, the pain, the understanding, the acquiescence, the acceptance - that we all face - "when there comes a time."

He means every note. It might be rudimental in parts, but he means to switch dynamics and orchestration. This is a drumming legend.

That man..... It s just like a superior force, guiding his playing, I ve never seen that deepness or conviction in any drummer, ,another wonderful qualities ? For sure, but that thing that Tony had... He was the Drummer.

Most memorising drum solo for me

effin a tony we miss you

Absolutely love it. !!!

tony swag never changed

When this was recorded Tony's outfit was as hip as his playing...... and while fashions may have changed Tony's unparalleled greatness remains. He was always the eye of the storm from which everything and everyone else was moved with unstoppable force. To see him live, especially up close, was to witness something superhuman and larger than life.

Genius.

Thank you! And thanks again for this excellent upload.

Damn Tony Williams was so good. The only interest I had in playing traditional grip was watching him. It is hard!

Thanks for the post

Incrível musicalidade 😃👏👏👏👏

Total control, awsesome.

It amazing that he did this with mixed yankee doodle and tympani grips.

Gotta love the soundcontrol sound.

Absolutely #Brilliant!

Eita q solo lindo 👍🎶☕ muito bom

Nice solo. Great purple outfit. And a very fine tone from the guitarist w/ the Gibson Les Paul.

Wow. Just great. :)

Tony Williams Tom Grant Bunny Brunel Todd Carver Bruce Harris

Bad ass and so original.

Thankfully, the late, great Tony Williams didn't throw his life away into any kind of addiction that we know of. It's good that today's drummers are cleaner, healthier, and more health conscious. Virgil Donati, for example, takes Ivengar yoga and jogs every morning.

@AllisterCooper2008

8 жыл бұрын

K. R. Yep, really :). Check out his website. I don't know about the cookies. Peace!

Shit this guy was amazing.

Un genio....una Potenza

Now I know why he had three floor toms, great !

Nice work here!

amazing

His floor toms sound great 👍

The King, The Master, The Eye of The Hurricane.

Tony!! the best EVER

phenomenal.

Such Musicianship!

Tony Williams was the Bruce Lee of the drums and was like water: 'Water can flow, or creep, or drip, or CRASH...be water my friend!' - Bruce Lee

Holy shit.

a Casio Digital watch was so cool back then. I had mine too.

I forgot how good he was

Гениальный барабанщик!!! Он играет Музыку!!!

Tony doesn't play beats, he plays DRUMS. RIP, Tony!

@TrillionaireAssetz

6 жыл бұрын

Ferdinand Wang Exactly, there's a difference! People these days with saying "making beats"!!!

those glasses 😍

Legend Hero

Yeah! The Master!

wtf ??? just awesome

such a pretty solo. so melodic

Genius

The Bruce Lee of the drums.😊👍

..you all forget he played with miles at 17 yrs old.the dude was a force in the jazz scene..an left us too early also

Yes

He once told Miles Davis that he (Miles) should practice more! I think he (Tony) was in his teens at the time. This is per Miles on the liner notes of one Tony's CD's. 🤩

This should be the halftime show at a Lakers game

A lot more sustain on the toms, than we see today. The open sound was more popular back then.

@pierrepetry5734

7 жыл бұрын

Not really!Williams had this special sound because of soloing i think!these cs drumheads have a special clear and percussive sound!and jazz drummers always have an open sound!

the best

Wow.....spooky sounding toms...Impressive...must....practice.....now......

There never came a time for one person

nice approach

I don't care if it was John Waters' Easter party. I still miss Tony every day.

wowowowowowo

生で聴きかったなあ。

Tony is like Buddy. Ir's him and then everyone else.

@wpdoyle

6 жыл бұрын

Elvin may have something to say. :)

I miss his "dad" 2-Alan Dawson. It all comes from Alan first. Tony 2nd. All good. People should love teachers!

Amazing footage. Where can I find the rest of this video?

@casj.burner

3 жыл бұрын

kzread.info/dash/bejne/fY1r0Y98g7Orh7w.html Stay blessed

So that's where Terry Bozzio got the melodic drum influence from....

@NickHolum

7 жыл бұрын

I was a Bozzio clinic where he talked about Tony for a bit... was one of Terry's biggest influences coming up.

@jds9405

7 жыл бұрын

Terry loves Tony Williams. You can tell that he also digs Billy Cobham.

@kapalin846

5 жыл бұрын

Ginger Baker too.

@tipasoneinthisone9498

4 жыл бұрын

Tony dug missing persons too!!

@ 1:10 T looks at the camera and is all like" aright, enough fuckin around "...that is THE sickest control ever !!!!

やっぱ、「天才」やね～♪

Another great solo was his intro to "Power" by Stanley Clarke 1974. Check it out!

control is unreal

💚🌼🌱🙄

Interesting comment!

🌾💙🙄🌱

Jeez…