Is Questlove a Great Drummer?

He's a good, solid drummer! Dunno about what hype though!

 

Listen to "The Philadelphia Experiment" and your opinion may change. He's not a chops drummer, per se, though he has plenty of chops. He has a great versatility and unique pocket to all to himself.

 

I dunno about "hype" other than him simply being recognized for his accomplishments...but the question needs to be asked: " what constitutes a great drummer " to you? Is it flash? Have you seen him play? Can you decide based on that?

 

He is extremely solid and knows when and when not to play. I think hes pretty ideal IMO of a very very skilled drummer. Hes the s$#t!

 

Yes.. he is a great drummer.

 

IMHO, Questlove has an AMAZING feel. When he plays there's a huge pocket that's very musical. What he does with the kick, snare and hi-hats alone sounds much fuller than a lot of what I've heard from drummers who use more of the kit. Why? I think it's because he understands the value of space, and he uses it very meticulously.

 

Yes.

 

He's got a quirky name and people think that's cool. Imagine if his name was Bob Rosenbaum. But he is a fantastic drummer. Keeps it locked down and doesn't let chops get in the way of the groove. He also does a lot of listening and knows his music. I'm sure he'd have a lot more to say during a clinic than a good deal of the other revered drummers out there.

 

He's a good drummer, a better producer-type, and an all-around interesting guy. He was on the Daily Show or Colbert pimping a new book that sounds really good.

 

Yes, absolutely. I watched the Roots July 4 concert in Philly where they backed up John Mayer, Grace Potter and an R&B guy named Ne Yo and maybe others. After seeing that I was convinced he's the Bernard Purdie of his generation. He's got a great groove. That's what a drummer needs to have. I'll take a drummer like Questlove over a Neil Peart any day of the week.

 

If I could just grab my bass and jam with anyone it would be Questo, I love his style.

Maybe not technically a 'great' showy player (although he has chops) he does what's important--plays to the song and the style.

 

he is great!
He has some nice beats and seems to get the crack on the snare at all the right times.
Seems to have solid timing and rhythm as well.

 

He's got a beginer drum kit for sale new around 300 bucks. Their marketing for DJs and hip-hop who use live drummers as well as anyone looking for a portable drum set.

Does anyone know if this is actually a good kit?

 

This. All of this. I especially like "he's the Bernard Purdie of his generation." I think that is extremely insightful. He plays drums to make *everything* sound good and feel good, my favorite kind of drummer to play with.

 

If you comment on Questlove's drum ability and haven't heard the "Philadelphia Experiment", you are not making a very well informed informed statement. He is amazing and the best part about it is he knows "when" to be amazing and when to be a solid drummer.

The fact is not only did he hang with Christian McBride, but he pushed him...

 

He also is the musical director for the Roots when they do Jimmy Fallon or other special events, if not all the time, and produces a ton of stuff! He has incredible feel and sense of pocket, and is one of my biggest musical influences for those reasons.

I've seen the roots a couple of times, and once as the backing band for every musical act at the Stephen Colbert/John Stewart Rally in DC. They pulled off some amazing musical stuff that day. He also once pulled together and arrangement of a Bruce Springsteen deep cut while Bruce was being interviewed by Fallon, then the band played it flawlessly to go into a commercial break to surprise Bruce...?uestlove is the man, regardless of what you think of his drumming(which is also unquestionably dope).

 

He's a musician first. Chosen weapon: percussion. Encyclopaedic musical knowledge and a focus on the ensemble vs. self. My favorite type of musician and one I try to be.

So... IMO he's a great musician.

 

I'm a drummer and haven't checked out his work in much detail (shame on me) but what I've heard is rock solid.