Here’s a video of Milton Banana, one of my favorite Brazilian drummers, performing near the very end of his life. I don’t know how much he was slowing up chops-wise at this point, but the fundamentals of his musical approach are all seemingly intact. It’s a great lesson in how to play form, and how not to get locked into just playing a Bossa Nova beat when playing Brazilian styles.
You can’t really hear what he’s doing with the bass drum— the very open, hands-oriented things he’s playing certainly don’t feel constrained by having to fit with the standard repetitive bass drum rhythm.
Great clip. Milton Banana is new to me. Love his playing. Visually, he plays as if he's sitting at the drumset for the first time. But if I close my eyes and just listen – Milton Banana is playing fresh, musical ideas – with a sense of humor and risk taking.
Thank you.
Scott K Fish