Jambands.com - Need We Say More?

Joe Scott March 15, 2011, 19:45:16

I studied with Joe in the early 80’s and can relate to and agree with Jon’s comments 100%. There was no silver bullet with Joe. It was all about some very basic fundamentals, a very natural approach to the instrument and a lot of personal dedication and hard work to get the results. Interestingly – these are lessons that transcend music. Anybody who spent time with Joe knows what I am talking about.

Colin Bleasdale March 15, 2011, 21:52:27

The greatest drummer I’ve had the honour of watching and really appreciating and respecting what he was – that was in the 60s and 70s.
He was beyond the best. I admired his ability to drum with perfection, as a backer as a lead and most of all he contributed to the music, he did not grandstand but let his talent speak for him. He had all those attributes that any drummer would give a lot to have. Brubeck was terrific but with out Joe ….....he might have been as great.
From NZ – kia ora Joe, kia kaha.

Chris Coles March 15, 2011, 22:53:35

Great to see all the comments here for Joe. I studied on a monthly basis with Joe from 1999-2005. I got to be very close to him and his wife Jean and I still get a Christmas card every year. Joe did two things for me as a drummer: He showed me how to develop the technique and fluidity around the drums, and he showed me how to open my mind and be personally creative. I’ve had several lessons with more modern day “jazz giants” and they all heavily promoted transcribing licks from other players and using those licks to play fills, solos, etc. Joe and I used to talk at length about this and he was against it. He wanted to teach you how to take his rudimential exercises and use them to expand your mind and see endless possiblities on the page. Not play other people’s licks, but to develop your own language and style. We spent more time on pages 3-5 of Stick Control than I ever thought possible, but the number of creative ideas just kept coming from him. He preached slow, relaxed practice and hard work, and that over time you would be able to develop your technique to play what you wanted, and this was so true. Although I must say that I did used to get slightly frustrated when I would practice three hours a day for a month on the exercises and would get warmed up and ready to go for my lesson, and Joe would come in, get his sticks out, and play each exercise faster and so much more relaxed lol. I also agree his teachings transcended drumming. In anything in life if you take hard work, dedication, and a slow and relaxed approach to something you want to learn and be good at, you will succeed. Joe also treated everyone with the utmost respect and was extremely kind to everyone. I flipped through my copy of Master Studies last night and I found tons of notes that I took while Joe and I were talking about what to practice and how to approach the exercises. I feel truly blessed that I had so much time to study with a master of the instrument, but I’m mostly blessed because I got to call such a nice guy my friend. RIP Joe.

Bob Mertz March 15, 2011, 23:58:08

I started taking drum lessons in 1955. At that time Ludwig had a great catalog and Joe was a “Ludwig Drummer”! I remember he had a set of silver Ludwig Super Classics. I am 67 years young, still play my Ludwigs and have been through many of Joe’s books. Just a lifelong Joe Morello fan. Rest in Peace, Joe.

nycgal March 16, 2011, 22:05:41

Totally out of the box … try to watch “The Karate Kid” without thinking of him. I feel sorry for the students who can no longer be in the same room with him.

joe riott April 1, 2011, 20:21:42

I studied with Joe in the 80s I was in introduced to him by my uncle Luis Loria a mandolin player who was a friend , Joe needed to evaluate my playing style ,so he he had me play a solo on his kit , he than found my weakness and had taught me to play match grip ,I was a rock drummer “He said, Switch your grip and I will teach you how to play your rolls around the kit in time , my toms are set up flat , so I would have to reach for them , he told me I would have to develop 13 muscles in my wrist , I used the GLS Stick Control Book to developed the muscles with dynamics and accents , If not for Joe I would have been making the mistakes of injuring my wrists He taught me to be yourself have your own style , and relax when your playing I Studied with him for a few years , Joe Morello ,... a Humble person ,Who touched my life as a person and a drummer ,thank you , You will be missed by all of us … Joey Riott NJ