Mike plays Drums on:
Bangkok
The Fire Garden Suite
Style: Orchestral Metal
Audio:
Every drum & cymbal had a purpose on this session. Careful examination of every hit took place. Sometimes, several different cymbals were experimented with in order to find the exactly correct one to hit on a specific note. Steve had a vision for all the parts.
The long drum & guitar run forced a break in the session. Steve slowed down the tape by hand so that each guitar note could be heard and written. Next, Steve read while Mike took over 2 hours to orchestrate the part before Steve put his 2 cents in from the 'behind the glass' perspective.
Mike Plays Drums on:
Christmas Time is Here
Style: Jazz
Audio:
Many brush transitions are melted into the sleigh bells overdub. Headphones and patience are required to really hear the note groupings used in those spots.
"In working with Steve overall, There was never a dissagreement as to 'what' any drum part was, or should be, musically & intellectually speaking. No problems existed in executing the extremely polyrhythmic or metric patterns. This made playing even a traditional groove agreed upon and easy. "
Mike Plays Drums on:
The Attitude Song
Answers
For the Love of God
Style: Rock Instrumental
The clips here are short ones showing simple things pertaining to the use of the apex kit.
It is the delicate use of that kit and exactly timed hits that define Mike's live tracks.
Although there was no drum specific camera for the Vai set, Mike can be seen a bit on the clips.
Click for Video Clips:
AttitudeBreak
AttitudeToms
AnswersIntro
FLofGodliteFill
FLofGod G3
Flam Fill
Pay close attention to detail. Not all clips are chop oriented, otherwise, the songs themselves wouldn't have sounded good. Every note Steve played was payed attention to & thought about with regard to the drum parts' affect on the whole song.
Mike Plays Drums on:
Jibboom
Windows to the Soul
Here I am
Style: Rock Instrumental
Audio:
There were several 1-takes on this session of the 20 drum tracks recorded. Windows to the Soul was one of those takes. It was nominated for a Grammy.
The left & right operable hihats were being hit and stepped to make the beat sound like it sounds. They open for Steve's long notes, and close for short ones, or to get out of the way for other instruments.
Mike Plays Drums on:
Giant Balls of Gold
Burning Rain
The Black Forest
Alive in an Ultra World
Devil's Food
Blood and Glory
Iberian Jewel
Style: Multi-Cultural
Audio Clips:
The Rolls in Devil's Food are follows: Bass Drum and 1-Hand (left) snare roll & cymbal chokes w/Right hand.
The Iberian melody is played w/Bass Drums while a hihat and snare keep the beat.
Out of the 8 8th notes in the 4 4 section, 6 of them are used to make up the 6 8 section. A Bembe hoe blade & double paradiddle are the combined inspiration for the ride bell pattern.
Mike Plays Drums on:
The Power of the Bombos
Incantation
Light of the Moon
Babushka
Being with You in Paris
Principessa
Brandos Costumes
Style: Multi-Cultural
Incantation MetricMod Sectn:
5 4 quintuplet's 16th becoming 11 16 16ths.
11 16 becoming 4 4.
4 4 becoming 11 16.
<Try having a metronome busting up your eardrum on the 10th (of each 11 16th notes) for the 2nd time (ever,) and in front of a sold out Turkish crowd. Ouch a lot.
Audio Clips:
Bombos-The entire songs was a constant 5 min. 16th note run either on snare or bass drums
Babushka Snare solo w/Scott
(this was virtually sight-read from paper hanging on cymb stand)
Being w/you Parisian Waltz listen to the 'hands' drum part reflect Steve & MK's work while the kick locks with Philip.
Mike Plays Drums on:
Windows to the Soul
Christmas Time is Here
Boston Rain Melody
Style: Rock Instrumental