I went to a masterclass held by Nate Smith at the West Hollywood Guitar Center, he had so much praise and credit for Steve and it really shows in Nate’s playing
Love them Both , Jordan's foot work on that solo was AMAZING ... i must have watched it at least 3 times ... all i can say is re watch jordan and keep a eye on his beater ... INSANE !!! , Thank you for sharing .
Tough question: LOL. Let's see: Nate Smith, the agent-style drummer, a mix of jazz/funk/r&b/soul, Mr. Smooth with it. He has a prim clean-cut way about his drumming, yet he allows just as much dirt in his drumming compared to Steve Jordan. His [the former] solo was tasteful, moved with grace and a deep grove, a vibrant motion of water. It's more technically involved than Steve Jordan's solo, lends the theme but also builds illusions around it [the 1 a.k.a downbeat isn't all simple to follow]. Smith's impeccable control on manipulating rhythms and initial time feels is what sets him a part from many. He does it in a musical way. Also the sort of linear style expression he does with his funk background has interesting crossovers with jazz and certain metal drummers alike. Tomas Haake and Tony Williams come to mind for me. As for his influence from Elvin, it seems to show most when he exudes the mathematical relationship between accents and ghost notes. There's more to Nate's solo but in a nutshell, he's of a different time than Steve Jordan, which makes this parallel concept all the more intriguing. Steve Jordan: He's funky too, and damn sure crispy about drumming. It's more simple tones, openness and directness with him. I'd say I enjoyed his solo more because of it's directness. Something about beats being played directly has always been more musical for me. To that extent, Jordan's individual expression of "having soul" is a meal you know you're going to enjoy the moment you hear the first note. But let's also look at his display of old school drumming stacked with high energy. He plays in a way that makes one think of marching, tradition, hardship, hard work, and smiling. When drummers can make anyone smile then the ball is in their park. Technically, he's no joke up there. Once he began to interchange between the open hi-hat with alternating single strokes I saw the beginning of rock again. I mean that I heard the blues. A happy sad song. I was just coming out the crib, older, able to see the sun for the first time with my own stance, no assistance needed. Indeed, a kid again. Yeah...drums. Nice video.
I agree that Jordan's solo was more direct. With Smith's solo it's impressive how he keeps switching the accent but at the same time I get tired of it and it's disorienting. I think if you do that stay in the switch for longer. I think he has better solos than what's here. I like some of his off kilter grooves more than what he's doing here playing more typical funk beats but keeps switching the accent in tricky ways
Comparing art is pointless to me. I love both of their unique styles. Nate even dedicated a piece to Steve on Pocket Change 2. I am thankful that they decided to share their wonderful music with us. My heroes can coexist in my mind, but I have to say that Nate shaped me like no other. He's always going to be the maestro of maestros to me. I can only laugh when people say one player is "better" than another player at that level though. I am so glad it doesn't work like that.
Steve Jordan resonated with me the most. Sorry Nate, I love ya too, but Steve has me on the "better" solo (as if "better" is something that exists). At this level with two AMAZING drummers, there is no "better", just different taste.
I like both but for me it's Jordan. Experienced, yet rough rugged, raw, the embodiment of the original meaning of funky. You know that he can go to any gig with any band at anytime and totally kill it. Nate tho comes across like he'll only want to perform with a band if he's practiced for it and got the performance perfect lol. His execution is phenomenal but he seems like more of an exhibition type of drummer. Where as Steve just wants to play!
Steve Jordan is BUNK. I don’t know what all the fuss is about him. Emperors new clothes. He has the worst drum sound too. Nate, on the other hand is a genius.
@@sat1241 He’s more than good on the guitar too. He’s brilliant and his musicianship and phrasing, riffs etc. are exceptional. A real artist on that guitar.
@@sat1241 If his vocals were better, I would put him in the top 100 song writers of all time. It’s just that they are bad. Really bad. Not just being out of key. When he sings with guests or fellow musicians, his harmonies are horrible. His accentuations are horrible. His vocal riff ad libs are horrible Very easily cleaned up in post editing but if you’ve ever seen him live, he’s really disappointing Sometimes a whole tone out of key and very ‘un self aware’ of his vocal limits. There are a number of musicians like this. They are brilliant song writers and so they write in their head for the way they hear the vocal sounding like in their mind, yet the execution of the vocal is off and John can hear the vocal he wants in his mind, subsequently playing along exceptionally on his guitar to that perceived vocal in his mind, yet the actual vocal falls very very short It’s also hard to teach. My sister was a vocal coach and worked with some top musicians. There are some exceptional musicians that she mentioned, ‘sing along’ to amazing songs they write and don’t hit the vocal mark, yet when they get vocalists in to sing the songs they have written, it’s a hit. I believe John is one of these talents.
@@poeravaI can't completely agree, but I can acknowledge and respect the depth of your view. I'll say, as a Mayer fan, he does have his awesome moments singing-wise (the Nokia theatre performances from forever and a day ago. Good love is on the way lives rent free in my head.). And then he's got some not so great ones. His Who did you think I was song was sung multiple times, and they've generally been hit or miss. So I kinda like his singing when he gets it right (and he does have times when he does), but I understand where you're coming from because he's not too too consistent. I do think he's a better singer than you're giving him credit for tho (not to throw shade). Vultures, City Love, Neon, and his performance with Ed Sheeran are some examples.
@@Six3rdy Well said Yeah I’ve heard enough, to know he’s woeful vocally To be pitchy is one thing (meaning that you have one a slight variance from being right on key, to slightly towards a semi tone off key). Mayer has been a complete tone off, especially when harmonising. Even just for moments and then self corrects. I’ve got vocal coaches and musicians in my family, so we were always told when we were even slightly off key. Perhaps I’m hypersensitived to it. I just know that I’ve heard various musicians perform live, even with random spontaneous songs that they have either just heard or are singing with a person from the crowd and they haven’t even been pitchy. To be a whole tone out of key, means that you’re a whole 2 steps on the keyboard, off key. Yeah it’s bad. Really really bad. That being said, some of the worlds best song writers were pitchy and someone as bad at singing as him, is recognised as the worlds best song writer of all time. And that is Bob Dylan. Also woeful vocalist. That being said, it’s not the vocals that make great music or musicians or song writers. It’s the song. And in that respect, John is one of the greats in my books. (And this reflects the calibre of his song writing to be such a horrible vocalist and still attain world leading success with your songs).
I went to a masterclass held by Nate Smith at the West Hollywood Guitar Center, he had so much praise and credit for Steve and it really shows in Nate’s playing
Love them Both , Jordan's foot work on that solo was AMAZING ... i must have watched it at least 3 times ... all i can say is re watch jordan and keep a eye on his beater ... INSANE !!! , Thank you for sharing .
Tough question: LOL.
Let's see: Nate Smith, the agent-style drummer, a mix of jazz/funk/r&b/soul, Mr. Smooth with it. He has a prim clean-cut way about his drumming, yet he allows just as much dirt in his drumming compared to Steve Jordan. His [the former] solo was tasteful, moved with grace and a deep grove, a vibrant motion of water. It's more technically involved than Steve Jordan's solo, lends the theme but also builds illusions around it [the 1 a.k.a downbeat isn't all simple to follow]. Smith's impeccable control on manipulating rhythms and initial time feels is what sets him a part from many. He does it in a musical way. Also the sort of linear style expression he does with his funk background has interesting crossovers with jazz and certain metal drummers alike. Tomas Haake and Tony Williams come to mind for me. As for his influence from Elvin, it seems to show most when he exudes the mathematical relationship between accents and ghost notes.
There's more to Nate's solo but in a nutshell, he's of a different time than Steve Jordan, which makes this parallel concept all the more intriguing.
Steve Jordan: He's funky too, and damn sure crispy about drumming. It's more simple tones, openness and directness with him. I'd say I enjoyed his solo more because of it's directness. Something about beats being played directly has always been more musical for me. To that extent, Jordan's individual expression of "having soul" is a meal you know you're going to enjoy the moment you hear the first note. But let's also look at his display of old school drumming stacked with high energy. He plays in a way that makes one think of marching, tradition, hardship, hard work, and smiling. When drummers can make anyone smile then the ball is in their park. Technically, he's no joke up there. Once he began to interchange between the open hi-hat with alternating single strokes I saw the beginning of rock again. I mean that I heard the blues. A happy sad song. I was just coming out the crib, older, able to see the sun for the first time with my own stance, no assistance needed. Indeed, a kid again.
Yeah...drums. Nice video.
this was a nice read!
I agree that Jordan's solo was more direct.
With Smith's solo it's impressive how he keeps switching the accent
but at the same time I get tired of it and it's disorienting.
I think if you do that stay in the switch for longer.
I think he has better solos than what's here.
I like some of his off kilter grooves more than
what he's doing here playing more typical funk
beats but keeps switching the accent in tricky ways
Your description of Jordan´s playing matches my own perfectly. His simplicity and focus makes all of my days : )
2 of the worlds best drummers 💯🐐🐐
Both are amazing!
beautiful!!!
Comparing art is pointless to me. I love both of their unique styles. Nate even dedicated a piece to Steve on Pocket Change 2. I am thankful that they decided to share their wonderful music with us. My heroes can coexist in my mind, but I have to say that Nate shaped me like no other. He's always going to be the maestro of maestros to me. I can only laugh when people say one player is "better" than another player at that level though. I am so glad it doesn't work like that.
Steve Jordan resonated with me the most. Sorry Nate, I love ya too, but Steve has me on the "better" solo (as if "better" is something that exists). At this level with two AMAZING drummers, there is no "better", just different taste.
I like these 2 drummers they have their personality
I like both but for me it's Jordan. Experienced, yet rough rugged, raw, the embodiment of the original meaning of funky. You know that he can go to any gig with any band at anytime and totally kill it. Nate tho comes across like he'll only want to perform with a band if he's practiced for it and got the performance perfect lol. His execution is phenomenal but he seems like more of an exhibition type of drummer. Where as Steve just wants to play!
❤
Steve is just so poisonous!
Steve Jordan is BUNK. I don’t know what all the fuss is about him. Emperors new clothes. He has the worst drum sound too.
Nate, on the other hand is a genius.
Terrible take
Well dang. Lol. What did Steve do? 🤣🤣🤣
It's hard to not like him. He's kinda goated. What's the qualm, if ya don't mind me asking?
Mayor is a great song writer. Horrible singer and performer
you don't thinks he's a pretty good guitarist?
@@sat1241
He’s more than good on the guitar too.
He’s brilliant and his musicianship and phrasing, riffs etc. are exceptional.
A real artist on that guitar.
@@sat1241
If his vocals were better, I would put him in the top 100 song writers of all time.
It’s just that they are bad.
Really bad.
Not just being out of key.
When he sings with guests or fellow musicians, his harmonies are horrible. His accentuations are horrible. His vocal riff ad libs are horrible
Very easily cleaned up in post editing but if you’ve ever seen him live, he’s really disappointing
Sometimes a whole tone out of key and very ‘un self aware’ of his vocal limits.
There are a number of musicians like this. They are brilliant song writers and so they write in their head for the way they hear the vocal sounding like in their mind, yet the execution of the vocal is off and John can hear the vocal he wants in his mind, subsequently playing along exceptionally on his guitar to that perceived vocal in his mind, yet the actual vocal falls very very short
It’s also hard to teach.
My sister was a vocal coach and worked with some top musicians. There are some exceptional musicians that she mentioned, ‘sing along’ to amazing songs they write and don’t hit the vocal mark, yet when they get vocalists in to sing the songs they have written, it’s a hit.
I believe John is one of these talents.
@@poeravaI can't completely agree, but I can acknowledge and respect the depth of your view.
I'll say, as a Mayer fan, he does have his awesome moments singing-wise (the Nokia theatre performances from forever and a day ago. Good love is on the way lives rent free in my head.).
And then he's got some not so great ones. His Who did you think I was song was sung multiple times, and they've generally been hit or miss.
So I kinda like his singing when he gets it right (and he does have times when he does), but I understand where you're coming from because he's not too too consistent.
I do think he's a better singer than you're giving him credit for tho (not to throw shade). Vultures, City Love, Neon, and his performance with Ed Sheeran are some examples.
@@Six3rdy
Well said
Yeah I’ve heard enough, to know he’s woeful vocally
To be pitchy is one thing (meaning that you have one a slight variance from being right on key, to slightly towards a semi tone off key).
Mayer has been a complete tone off,
especially when harmonising. Even just for moments and then self corrects.
I’ve got vocal coaches and musicians in my family, so we were always told when we were even slightly off key. Perhaps I’m hypersensitived to it. I just know that I’ve heard various musicians perform live, even with random spontaneous songs that they have either just heard or are singing with a person from the crowd and they haven’t even been pitchy.
To be a whole tone out of key, means that you’re a whole 2 steps on the keyboard, off key.
Yeah it’s bad.
Really really bad.
That being said, some of the worlds best song writers were pitchy and someone as bad at singing as him, is recognised as the worlds best song writer of all time. And that is Bob Dylan.
Also woeful vocalist.
That being said, it’s not the vocals that make great music or musicians or song writers.
It’s the song.
And in that respect, John is one of the greats in my books.
(And this reflects the calibre of his song writing to be such a horrible vocalist and still attain world leading success with your songs).