"AmbA DextrO"

Playing both sides

"WHO AM I?"
Who am I? TWENTY TWO

"Who Am I?" Twenty TWO is a very powerful drummer. With strong poly-metrics and slam-dance musicality, WAI 22 is sometimes over the edge when it comes to restraint and finesse...but that's exactly what I like about this drummer!

Give WAI 22 a listen and we'll start this round with no clues yet...

Shoot all your guesses my way: AMBA
amba


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WHO AM I? TWENTY TWO
Who am I? TWENTY ONE

"Who Am I?" Twenty One is an interesting drummer to watch...WAI 21 has such a deft touch that it almost seems unreal! A very, very musical and solid drummer, WAI 21 has a unique and tasty way of playing drums...

WAI 21 plays almost standing up! With a constant smile and glorious ability, WAI 21 is a great listen...

Have fun...

Shoot all your guesses my way: AMBA
amba

INCIDENTLY...WAI 20 stumped da house...all except corneilius of course...WAI 20, Dennis Chambers always has a unique way to add his two cents worth to any recording...





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WHO AM I? TWENTY ONE
Who am I? TWENTY and BONUS
"Who Am I?" TWENTY plus BONUS

This WAI drummer comes to us by way of our very own Scott Grant...I can't say too much as any hint would give WAI 20 away...but Scott feels and I agree that this WAI will fool most of you as you wouldn't think of this drummer for this music...but then again when you find out...you'll say...of course! This cat HAS IT ALL!

This WAI has preformed with a bevy of "Who's who..." The cream of the crop...a very well known cat...

Good luck!

amba/Scott G.

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WAI 20
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WAI 20 Bonus
Who am I? NINETEEN

"Who Am I?" NINETEEN 

This WAI is a major player in my world...I will not say anymore...to some easily recognized...others...not so...and will be in for a "Billy Big Time" surprise when the answer is revealed...again, send all guesses to me HERE first.


I didn't edit this song down as it's just too cool to do that...so please, if you want it when this WAI is done, buy it!


And now, cudo's to those that played along on our last WAI.

Tommy Campbell was just obscure enough  to throw off you experts...cept of course Corneuilius...who wasn't fooled a bit. You go, Corneilius!

And to the following for thinkin' with their dipsticks, Jimmy...
  • bbunks
  • Billy
  • Kapdrums
  • curiousgeorge
  • fergusondrum

Playing this game actually improves your ability to mate...so play along, yall. 





amba



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WAI 19
Who am I? EIGHTEEN
"Who Am I?" EIGHTEEN

Our drummer for this WAI is so fluid and creative...Has plenty O ammo and lots of musicality to boot...I've offered up two examples of this drummer's playing just so we can all see how well WAI 18 plays in different musical settings.

In keeping with protecting the artist's copyrights, I've edited these pieces down. However, should be plenty of music to get the jist of the WAI 18's style to analysis.

I will tell you this is NOT Billy Cobham, Vinnie C. or Tony W. Those choices are too obvious and you probably won't find those drummers being chosen for the WAI game...

You know the guidelines...email me privately first with your guess... if you are right I keep you in the wings for a while...if you are wrong, I post your answer on the forum.

Good luck!

amba/Michael

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WAI 18
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WAI 18 Bonus
Who am I? SEVENTEEN

"Who Am I?" SEVENTEEN  This drummer is so versatile it astounds the mind...I first heard this drummer in my latter H.S. years...where I was a technique snob..."John Bonham? Ha...wouldn't get caught listening to that simp..." What a complete idiot I was!

Billy made the suggestion for this WAI...but hey Teach, I used a different track!

This drummer has logged so many hours on so many different album projects it makes the mind reel with delight...

Enjoy and have fun guessing...you know the rules...


  • Congrats go to "Slizzaman" for getting our last WAI SIXTEEN Correct, Eric Gravatt
          Special thanks to Mainely for all his expert help and cheerleading...


Thanks to the following for playing:

  • bbunks
  • Notjohnbonham
  • Billy
  • RickK
  • fergusondrum
  • Kapdrums
  • Aaron
  • And Cornelius for the lovely link

You guys make this fun and educational...thank you SO much.


amba



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WAI 17
Who am I? SIXTEEN

"Who Am I?" SIXTEEN 

I  was enjoying my usual evening visit to drummerworld.com...throwing darts and seeing who I came up with...
and ran across this drummer...who I was not at all familiar with.

There are no audio clips of this drummers playing on the page...but there were many artists comments on this drummers intensity and brilliance...and man, did this drummer has some history...so I did my investigating on iTunes and found the following song...WOW!

It didn't take long for me to fall in love with this drummers playing...

I invite you to do the same...no hints at this time...I want pure guesses...and again, if you know who this is, please email me HERE.

Back in the WAI saddle again...my apologies for being away far too long...enjoy, I always do!

amba


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WAI 16
Who am I? THIRTEEN
"Who Am I?" THIRTEEN


WAI 13 is brought to us by our very own New Yorker, (Dig the accent, bro!) Chris AKA "Kdarkcrashing."

Here we have two selections by our drummer...fantastic pieces of music and out of this world playing...

This WAI comes with a stipulation, however...because of the genre and style of this music/drummer, the usual names are gonna fly...(We know who they are...plus it is our hope that by offering a bonus WAI 13 that this might confuse you all a bit...maybe...maybe...Stand down, Navin...!) and as a result, it is very possible that this drummer may...MAY be named early...

so here's the suggestion...we must get at least 6 to 8 guesses (Hopefully more) before Chris and I start to reply...if the guesses are becoming unanimous, then we'll come clean and chalk it up to us being experts.

Also it will NOT be necessary to email me...just post your guesses right away on the forum...

Let's hope that this one gets us all guessing and here's to us...
Again, I have edited these tunes by simple fade in's and fade out's...should be enough to keep us legal.


Congrats go out to bbunks and Billy for their correct answers on WAI 12, Terri Lyne Carrington:
From the album 'Real Life Story' (on the Verve Forecast label #837 698-2)
The track is  'Message True' composed by Terri Lyne & featuring  Don Alias, Hiram Bullock, Grover Washington Jr. , Patrice Rushen & Keith Jones.

Well done, guys!

Thanks to all who contributed:

  • Navin...who taught me the word "Fuzak."
  • Fergusondrum...who I get to meet this month...turn him into a cheesehead, I will.
  • Stixwallah...keep on guessin' Weckl...odds are you'll be right one of these times...
  • Mainely...You and Stix had your antenna the same...
  • New member John Curry with a very novel approach...can you say "Machine?"
  • Martial drum...who turned me on to Adam Dietch...Thank you!
  • BrO MariO...Wackerman...hmmmm...not a bad guess...
  • And of course Billy and bbunks for nailin' it...Thank you to all!
Mostly want to thank our own Yelltempus for such a great WAI! Got "Terri?"

Until next time...

amba




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"Who am I?" 13
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"Who am I?" 13 BONUS
Who am I? TWELVE

"Who Am I?" TWELVE  The following text is copied and pasted right out of the email that yelltempus sent to me....enjoy!

"This drummer is a child prodigy & has backed many jazz greats. You can hear influences from Max Roach to Tony Williams to Stewart Copeland to Vinnie. This drummer knows (or knew) all these people on a personal basis.  With extensive training in rudiments, jazz, rock & composition, this drummer can do it all with blazing chops or real musical sensitivity."---yelltempus

And as always, good luck!

amba and yelltempus

Thanks to all for participating on WAI ELEVEN:
Deen Castronovo
(Steve Vai..."Alien Love Secrets." 1995) in: "Kill the guy with the Ball" (Best reply award goes to bbunks for his "Oh my freakin' god!!!! WHAT WAS THAT?????? Amba on speed?" Reply.)
And bonus track called "The boy from Seattle."
 Thanks to:

  • bbunks
  • Navin
  • Billy
  • Mario
  • fergusondrum
  • Kdarkcrashing (Chris...watch for the new screen name.)
  • Aaron
  • Stixwallah
  • Sea Jolly
  • And the The amazing Mainely for guessing correctly!


You guys make this fun and educational...thank you SO much.


amba



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WHO AM I? TWELVE
Who am I? ELEVEN
"Who Am I?" ELEVEN

This WAI is more in the rockish vein...I felt along with others that if we offer up this type of genre, we might get the involvement of some of the younger cats...

Drummer WAI ELEVEN can flat out kill...or be as soft as rose pedals...and the musicality of a drummer with this much chops is somewhat rare...

I am including two selections from this drummer. The first is about half of the entire song (over 7 mins of killin' it!). The second example shows how this drummer can "play for the song."

Enjoy this drummer...once I started researching WAI ELEVEN, I was flabbergasted as to how prolific WAI ELEVEN drummer is!




Well gentlemen (and ladies)...WAI TEN was a blast! Mainely provided us with an excellent and very tricky selection with  Grady Tate on Quincy Jones' arrangement of "Summer In The City"
Check out Mr. Tate on drummerworld.com.

Thanks go out to these fine forum members for playing:


  • Billy Ward...back from "Nashtucky" fresh off a very spiritual recording session.
  • Yelltempus... who darn near got this one!
  • Navin... who provided info on James Gadson & thank you for the YouTube vid drumming on "Use Me."
  • Stixwallah...getting all excited with the possibility of "Stix" Hooper being the WAI drummer!
  • Fergusondrum...who isn't around Billy's forum nearly enough.

Thank you all for playing...and as usual, I learned much...and am grateful to you all!

amba

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"Who am I?" (eleven)
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"Who am I?" (eleven) BONUS
Who am I? TEN

"Who Am I?" TEN comes to us from our very own "eyes in the sky" Mainely...and it's a good one! This is a drummer who literally is history!

This drummer's distinctive sound has graced hundreds of recordings with world-renowned artists such as...Well... I guess we can't tell you now, can we?

Enjoy this refreshing and lovely track...it's a breath of smooth, fresh air... Best of luck to all.

amba and Mainely

Congrats on those who participated on
WAI NINE.
Excellent guesses from:
  • BrO MariO
  • Yelltempus
  • Mainely
  • Stixwallah
  • Kdarkcrashin
  • Billy
  • And...
  • Congratulations to Navin for knowing how to use Google ...and researching out the correct drummer! (BIG bonus points to Mr. Johnson for restraining himself!)
Record: "The Sounds of Summer Running"
Leader: bassist Marc Johnson
Drummer: Joey Baron
Guitarists: Pat Metheny and Bill Frisell








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WHO AM I? TEN
Who am I? NINE

"Who Am I?" NINE comes to us via our very own esteemed forum pal, bbunks...

When I first heard this track, the drummer was so much a part of the song, that I had to listen to it again so I could pay closer attention to this drummer! What a compliment! The drums are played and recorded in such a high class fashion that I know you will enjoy this very much...

And as we have come to say around here... "and the drummer ain't chopped liver either!"

No hints as to who this player is ... yet...!

Best of luck to you all...

amba and bbunks

Congrat to all who guessed Bernard 'Pretty' Purdie for our
WAI EIGHT:


Song: Christopher Columbus
Bernard Purdie With Dizzy Gillespie
and Toots Thielemans - Live @ Montreux




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WHO AM I? NINE
Who am I? EIGHT

"Who Am I?" EIGHT comes to us from our very own stixwallah. This drummer is history, baby...to listen to this drummer is to love this drummer...to be influenced by this drummer is golden...this drummer has contributed SO much to our world of music it simply cannot be measured!

No hints as of now...again...if you know this drummer FOR SURE...then please, hold off to let others take a shot...Thank you!

Best of luck to you all...

amba and stixwallah


Congrat to all who guessed Ginger Baker for our
WAI SEVEN:
 

Ginger Baker--"Dangle the Carrot."
Ginger Baker Trio
"Coward of the County"
1999 Atlantic Recording Corp.

Thanks Billy Ward for that one! Not many of us thought G.B. could even swing...! It was his tom fills that gave him away!


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WHO AM I? EIGHT
Who am I? SEVEN

"Who Am I?" SEVEN comes from our gracious host, Billy.

Had I not known who this was, all my guesses would have been wrong wrong wrong...this one is going to perplex you all...! Can't wait to see some of the guesses...and please! Guess away...DO NOT FEAR THE REAPER, FOLKS! Nothing but learning here...

Hint...really pay attention to the solo...that's the biggest clue...nuff said...

So come on, BWSSer's...in the words of Rambo..."Go for it..."

Get YE started, yall...

Best and good luck as always!

amba

Congratulations go out to bbunks and Mario (WAY TO GO, guys!) for their correct guesses on WAI SIX:

Album: Doldinger Jubilee '75 (Live)
1975 WEA Records/Warner Music Germany
Drummer: Curt Cress
Sax: Klaus Doldinger
Guitar: Philip Catherine
Keys: Les McCann
Bass: Wolfgang Schmid
Songs: Albatros song/Jadoo




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WHO AM I? SEVEN
Who am I? SIX
"Who Am I?" SIX

Congrats go out to BrO MariO L. for his correct answer on "W.A.I." FIVE. ("Old Hammer Himself."...)
Well done, my friend! Your intuition regarding the accents and Jeff Beck did it for you...good ears!

W.A.I.SIX/Bonus are from an album I listened to bunches when I was at Lawrence University...in the Music Conservatory...

I felt like I was being devious by listening (and seriously grooving to) to this stuff... as our music theory study was Beethoven theory...lots of rules (Imposed by the church at the time...of course...don't get me started...a rant for another time.)
No consecutive octaves...no parallel 5ths'...etc... (Maybe that's why Beethoven wrote his most famous symphony..."Beethoven's Fifth," Just to piss off the church...you go Ludwig...!)

Because of these imposed rules, when we would get our assignments, sometimes an 8 bar figure could take us a couple days to complete it. In some ways, that sucked...in other ways it was awesome.

This music is very close to me and means a lot...plus the cat on sax was one of the first contemporary players to settle into my soul...forever...and the drummer...whoa...I feel this player really made me wanna break out and rip it up...I love this player...ahead of his/her time...for my ears at least. My first real introduction to odd accents grouped into polyrhthms...got me so lost at times!

First person to correctly name the drummer will receive a copy of the entire album. A most worthy "prize."
I know you don't want this to be a contest, Billy...but I just love giving out prizes...maybe it's some kind of weird psych issue...Ok...I'll bring it up my next session...

Good luck, gang...I'm rooting for you!

Much love,
amba

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"Who am I?" (six)
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"Who am I?" (six) BONUS
Who am I? FIVE

"Who Am I?" FIVE is a drummer that comes unexpectedly...a very talented and gifted musician, this drummer has influenced me in oh so many ways...of which I will impart upon you all later...when we find out who this is!

Enjoy this drummer's power and sense of groove...If I say any more...explain why I chose this drummer...I will simply give him/her away...

Best of luck to you all...

amba




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WHO AM I? FIVE
Who am I? FOUR

"Who Am I?" FOUR is a sentimental favorite of mine for personal reasons...of which you can bet I'll let you all in on it when the time comes!

Enjoy this drummer's impeccable technique and feel...I do...oh, and the sax player aint so bad either...

Best of luck to you all...



Congrats go out to Billy, llabarge and MobyNickt for their correct answers on W.A.I.THREE:


Tune---"Ode to the living tree"
Artists--- Trio 3---Andrew Cyrille-Drums, Reggie Workman-bass and Oliver Lake-sax.
CD---"Encounter"---year and label: 2000 Passin Thru


W.A.I. THREE bonus:
Tune---"Bright Mississippi"
Artist---T.S. Monk
CD---"Monk on Monk" year and label: 1997---N-Coded Music






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"Who Am I?" (FOUR)
Who am I? THREE


Congrats go out to Brian F. for his correct answer with Mr. Earl Palmer...good sleuthing, my friend!

O.K. guys and gals...the Earl Palmer "Who am I" (TWO) was a bit of a toughy...but that's good...I learned a great deal from you all in regard to the logic behind your guesses...

Since you're all quite sharp and well versed in music history, I'm going to choose "Who am I?" THREE to be a touch out of the mainstream...still a wonderful feel on the instrument...grace...finesse and restraint.

I've also added a bonus "Who am I?" (THREE). I won't say much about this drummer as some of you will recognize the tune and will be able to figure it out from there...oh dear...I believe I've said too much yet one more time...

Good Luck!

amba

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"Who am I?" (THREE)
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"Who am I?" (THREE) BONUS
Who am I? TWO


Excellent job on knowing and recognizing Chick Webb, Navin...you ain't so tough.

Poor man was constantly in pain...he had a rep for being a testy fellow...I suppose I would be too if I had his conditions.

This next "Who am I?" is a must for drummers to emulate and know about. I won't say much more than that...I'm counting on Billy to get this one right away...and no...it's not Steve Gadd...

Good luck...mental hugs waiting to be dolled out...

amba

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Who am I (TWO)?
Who am I? ONE


I'm sure some of you will guess this right away...I find it incredible how much this cat swings...and how inovative he/she was for this time...especially in his/her setup...

Have a listen and take a guess...

Just some fun and games and a little Jazz history...

Best to you all as always...and see you in Chi-town next month...


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Who is this?