Very occasional quote of the day: simpler ways of playing

“You have to see the truth in the simpler ways of playing. That was a real challenge to me. I realized that technique doesn’t mean a s* if you can’t play a back beat in a place that fits, and lock it in. 

I had never thought about that before, mainly because I didn’t grow up playing rock. I grew up playing bop. I heard kids who didn’t have my technique but they could lay down a back beat that would kick ass. I started practicing playing uncomplicated things and solid time. 

To play as simply and as unnoticed as I could became as challenging as playing at a high energy level. They’re still both equally challenging to me.”

– Steve Gadd, 1978 Modern Drummer interview with Aran Wald

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