For Rob Silverman, assembling the all-star summit of master drummers for his 2020 project Drumology was a dream come true. What he didn’t realize at the time was that it would become a recurring dream. After the success of the first volume, Silverman began to reach out to more of the names on his list of favorites – but more importantly, many of those names began to reach out to him. Soon enough, he had recorded enough material for not one but two sequels.
Due out November 4, 2022 via Autumn Hill Records, the thrilling Drumology, Volume III concludes the trilogy with yet another jaw-dropping conglomeration of percussion virtuosos along with special guest musicians from across the spectrum of jazz, fusion, and progressive rock. As with the first two volumes, all proceeds will benefit the Neil Peart Fund for brain cancer research at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
“This project is deeply significant in my lifelong musical journey,” Silverman says. “It has truly been a dream come true, thanks to everyone involved: my family, my friends and the most inspiring musical heroes of my life.”
The line-up for Volume III boasts a stellar line-up to rival its predecessors: drummers Steve Gadd (Paul Simon, Steely Dan), Dave Weckl (Chick Corea, Mike Stern), Roy “Futureman” Wooten (Béla Fleck and the Flecktones), Gavin Harrison (King Crimson, Porcupine Tree), Gergo Borlai (Scott Kinsey), Glen Sobel (Alice Cooper), and Casey Adams, a lifelong friend and collaborator who has become one of the most in-demand drum teachers in St. Louis; and percussionists Gumbi Ortiz (Al Di Meola) and Jamie Brauner.
While all three albums have focused on the rhythmic showdowns, those drum duets have been sparked by masterful new compositions by the Silverman brothers and keyboardist/producer Jay Oliver (Eagles, Sheryl Crow). Pianist/keyboardist Michael Silverman and bassist Larry Kornfeld (Randy Brecker, Jeff Lorber) form the core band for the project, joined by special guests including Oliver, banjo master Béla Fleck, guitarists Frank Gambale and Jennifer Batten, saxophonist Eric Marienthal, bassists John Patitucci and Victor Wooten, and vocalist/guitarist Paul Molkenbur.
“After the release of Drumology, the project became broader in so many different senses,” says Michael Silverman. “The first volume was really concentrated on jazz and fusion, but our love of rock music became a big part of Volume II, which featured a number of rock legends. Now we’ve added Latin percussion and world music influences that have taken the music to an even higher level.”
Ask any drummer to name the idols they’d most want to share the stage with and nearly every list would include Steve Gadd and Dave Weckl. Gadd is one of the most revered and prolific drummers in history, with the foundational beat to Paul Simon’s “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover” and the showstopping solo on Steely Dan’s “Aja” just two highlights from a career that has included significant collaborations with Chick Corea, Eric Clapton, James Taylor, and countless others.
Weckl is one of the key groovemakers of jazz fusion with tenures in Chick Corea’s Elektric and Akoustic Bands as well as work with Robert Plant, Paul Simon, and George Benson. Silverman brings these two legends together for the explosive album opener “The Alchemist,” with its Middle Eastern-tinged melody setting off a breathless series of drumkit pyrotechnics.
“Jaco’s Dream” pays blistering tribute the influential bass master Jaco Pastorius with Hungarian-born fusion drummer Gergo Borlai and Zappa Plays Zappa guitarist Jamie Kime.
Another wish fulfillment track is “Fibonacci Pie,” which reunites three quarters of the Flecktones: banjo maestro Béla Fleck, bassist Victor Wooten and his brother Roy “Futureman” Wooten on percussion and Zendrum, the hybrid drum-guitar that he helped conceive.
“Falcon Nine” is a more pared-down and intimate affair. Longtime St. Louis friend and colleague Casey Adams returns from the original Drumology to join the Silverman brothers on a soaring prog-pop tune.
The funky “Sevenish” features the trademark intricate rhythms of King Crimson and Porcupine Tree drummer Gavin Harrison, while “Talk of the Town” provides an epic arena rock finale with Michael Jackson guitarist Jennifer Batten and Alice Cooper drummer Glen Sobel along with Eric Marienthal’s sinuous sax.
You can feel the breeze in your hair as you listen to “Sailing,” an anthemic ode to cruising the open waters with a vocal turn by guitarist-songwriter Paul Molkenbur (backed by Shaina Adams) and percolating Latin rhythms from longtime Al Di Meola percussionist Gumbi Ortiz and Jamie Brauner.
The release of each of Silverman’s Drumology albums has become a can’t-miss event for drum aficionados and music lovers in general. Volume III doesn’t disappoint, with an elite cadre of drummers playing propulsive, memorable new songs – and all for a good cause.
Rob Silverman on the web:
Official Site: https://www.robsilvermandrums.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robsilvermandrums/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3hA2N_XBB_bIj3sfdBgbBA |
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