He is great AND a great entertainer. I saw him over 20 years ago with his band Hypnofunk and I've never forgotten it. I was so pleased to see him join in with Bruce, a keyboard player and songwriter of rare talent too!
You're a lucky fella. I only discovered him in the Noisemakers. Always liked Bruce but my admiration went up several notches listening to him and Sonny.
@timmoran8389 I haven't forgotten Billy Cobham - or Vinnie Colaiuta, or Dave Weckl or Ian Paice and many others. But Sonny is right up there. He's just a machine.
I second that emotion Howard! He was drummer in one of my first bands, nearly 40 years ago, and aside from being amazed & blown away by his playing, every night was like being in a master class of musicality, I learned so much! He set a very high bar for all the drummers I've worked with over the years, thankfully, I have been fortunate enough to have worked with some really excellent ones since. But Sonny is in a class by himself, amazing chops, big "ears", and a huge palette of dynamics, nuances, & other variations, with which to best keep every song fresh & in the moment. Oh, and an incredible ability to maintain dynamic and emotional intensity, even when playing a ballad, or having to play at low volume, via brushes.
@StevenCharlesJazz all I can say is you're a lucky guy to have had that experience. It's amazing that he remained hidden from me until recently. One of THE best.
Thank you for the great work to build this amazing and precisely documented summary.😘 He has THE "dynamic pulse" combined with phyical and emotional focus. He is on my very short list of drummers reaching my heart directly - without going through brain.hahahaha THX!
@andrewsandoz8005 saying someone is he best when the pool of drummers is so large is obviously a subjective statement. However, he is certainly in the top echelon of his ilk.
@@karllansing7927 Not refuting it at all - he has speed to burn and his precision is spot on. Is he better or not? Let's put him into a pot with Sonny, Dave Weckl, Vinnie Colaiuta, Virgil Donati, Buddy Rich, Louie Bellson & Ian Paice for starters. Then if he's still your best then good on El Estepario. Reasoning won't work when comparing drummers, it's just too subjective.
@@HowardFerrier sonny is a phenomenal, and so is weckl and clout but in pure chops i think estepario takes it. playing with different song genres and being creative with the groove then it is subjective. porcaro and Gadd are masters of that. just my two cents.
Amazing... One Of A Kind Precision
This is why I bought 2 drumb sets for my twin grandsons who are 5 years old in hopes that one day they will reach this level!!!❤
All the best with that!
I must admit he is top notch. I must watch more of his videos to see if I can copy something.
That solo during the Dave Grusin section is UNBELIEVABLE and I've heard thousands of solos over forty years. Just brilliant.
Not the GOAT, but close!
He is great AND a great entertainer. I saw him over 20 years ago with his band Hypnofunk and I've never forgotten it. I was so pleased to see him join in with Bruce, a keyboard player and songwriter of rare talent too!
You're a lucky fella. I only discovered him in the Noisemakers. Always liked Bruce but my admiration went up several notches listening to him and Sonny.
Ahhhh don't forget Billy Cobham...the a few others I could also mention however he is a outstanding musician a drummers drummer.
@timmoran8389 I haven't forgotten Billy Cobham - or Vinnie Colaiuta, or Dave Weckl or Ian Paice and many others. But Sonny is right up there. He's just a machine.
Saw Mr. Emory open for Terry Bozzio, decades ago and he totally blew everyone away !
Great stuff!
1 of the Greatest Drummers of any time !!
100%!
I second that emotion Howard! He was drummer in one of my first bands, nearly 40 years ago, and aside from being amazed & blown away by his playing, every night was like being in a master class of musicality, I learned so much!
He set a very high bar for all the drummers I've worked with over the years, thankfully, I have been fortunate enough to have worked with some really excellent ones since. But Sonny is in a class by himself, amazing chops, big "ears", and a huge palette of dynamics, nuances, & other variations, with which to best keep every song fresh & in the moment.
Oh, and an incredible ability to maintain dynamic and emotional intensity, even when playing a ballad, or having to play at low volume, via brushes.
@StevenCharlesJazz all I can say is you're a lucky guy to have had that experience. It's amazing that he remained hidden from me until recently. One of THE best.
Thank you for the great work to build this amazing and precisely documented summary.😘
He has THE "dynamic pulse" combined with phyical and emotional focus.
He is on my very short list of drummers reaching my heart directly - without going through brain.hahahaha
THX!
@RayTheFarmer he is one mesmerising individual!
I HEAR THE "NAYBANYE" ROOTS 🥁I HEAR Our ANCESTORS THRU HIM" IN IT ALL "UN DA DA" YES ALL!!!...AFRICA! ANCESTORS!!!
👏👏👏👍👍😎😎🥁🥁
If you could somehow harness his energy you could light a large metropolitan area
It's a shame you can't bottle it.
By the way the drums were not the toys, they were real!!!
Good to hear.
Too many drummers out their. Too be called the best is not fair.
@andrewsandoz8005 saying someone is he best when the pool of drummers is so large is obviously a subjective statement. However, he is certainly in the top echelon of his ilk.
Sonny Emory is the EPITOME of drumming supreme, along with Carter Beauford, Anderson Paak and Chad Smith, my opinion!!!!!!!
estepario is better
Your opinion is welcome.
@@HowardFerrier its only an opinion but I want someone to refute it with reasoning.
@@karllansing7927 Not refuting it at all - he has speed to burn and his precision is spot on. Is he better or not? Let's put him into a pot with Sonny, Dave Weckl, Vinnie Colaiuta, Virgil Donati, Buddy Rich, Louie Bellson & Ian Paice for starters. Then if he's still your best then good on El Estepario. Reasoning won't work when comparing drummers, it's just too subjective.
@@HowardFerrier sonny is a phenomenal, and so is weckl and clout but in pure chops i think estepario takes it. playing with different song genres and being creative with the groove then it is subjective. porcaro and Gadd are masters of that. just my two cents.