Jeff got to play on a Pink Floyd song (“Mother”). Nick Mason was having trouble with the odd time signatures, and the band was on a really tight recording schedule. Eventually, Nick decided to call Jeff and have him record the drums, which Jeff did in one take.

Jeff's groove, feel and pocket were nothing short of impeccable. One of the best of all time

I grew up with Jeff and Mike in Sherman oaks California, played battle of the bands against him in 9th grade. We became friends in 1969 Millikan jr. High ,up until we lost touch when he got the gig with steely Dan. Still keep in touch with Steve Porcaro from time. To time Rip Jeff, Mike, Joe. We miss you all. Been playing 55 years 69 years young.😢my close friend Sam spent his birthday with Joe Porcaro back in 2019 at a jazz club in Thousand Oaks Calif. Joe was his teacher for years. Sam was devastated when he heard, the news like we all were Joe was very well loved by everyone who knew him.maybe some of you know or don’t TOTO played the the whole sound track of Michael Jackson’s Thriller, and Eddie Van Halen .

Music comes from the soul. Jeff Porcaro had a beautiful soul, so the music he made was beautiful

In my opinion 'Georgy Porgy' has the best 4/4 basic uncomplicated groove I've ever heard and I've heard thousands.

My absolute favorite drummer of all time. Such an incredible feel…he played with such an edge that it transcended the music.

Thank you for stating the FACT that he didn't do alot of ghost notes in the beginning of Rosanna! I got flamed 6 years ago when I uploaded my version and I had a lot of people trying to wear me out over that but I could hear the lack of them in the beginning so that's what I did. Keep up the great work brother!

Can't think of a drummer more deserving for Ep. 1

I could listen to Jeff play drums all day. His groove was impeccable and unmistakable

Some years ago, a random video introduced me to Jeff Porcaro. Today, I've watched hours of interviews, live/studio playing and drum clinics. What did I learn? He was an outstanding, remarkable, one of a kind musician, colleague and human being. I'd love a movie about his life. PS: I don't even play drums (bassist,guitarrist)

FYI: “St. George and the Dragon” is from Toto’s 2nd album “Hydra.” Love this video, thanks for showing how great Porcaro’s drumming truly is.

But really those grooves mean nothing without Jeff, his performance and his groove is impossible to repeat. Incredible drummer, to me the best.

I feel like you're the Rick Beato of drumming and this is meant as an enormous compliment to you both.

I’ve been trying to learn Mama by Toto but the groove that Jeff has is insane

Boy music misses Jeff’s influence in the industry as well, as we fans miss him so. I patterned my style after Jeff’s attention to the details in timing and dynamics. He is my number one drummer of all time. I also loved how cleanly he played and that was that attention to detail that I alluded too. He contributed so much to so many artist careers and to TOTO’s fans.

I attended a master class with Jeff Porcaro in 1990. He told us that his concept for Lowdown was Earth Wind and Fire, and he went to tape with quarter notes on the hi-hat. But Boz wanted 16th notes. What you hear is Jeff's original performance with a 16th-note hi-hat groove overdubbed.

nice job man. Bass player here, and I've loved Jeff's playing as well as other Toto members like Simon Philips for years and years. Well done!

Jeff grew up with his dad, Joe Porcaro's influence on him. He learned the rudiments, he learned to apply his chops not to showing off or soloing but to how it would be effective and incorporated into "the song" -whichever song it was. Jeff was highly technical yet he was also very consistent and of course, as mentioned by other commentors, his time was superb and his FEEL, how he related to each song whether it was a hired gun session or Toto. Jeff never let his technical abilities get in the way of the song, he was able to incorporate them INTO the song to make the song better (case in point: Rosanna). His playing on whatever track is so "hard" because it was Jeff blending in like a chameleon to fit the feel and vibe of the song. He also brought with him a HUGE toolbox of chops, technique, feel and musical understanding. I used to own his instruction video he did around '86 or '87 on VHS. I watched it over and over (you can find it on KZfaq, I believe). Jeff is telling us where he's placing each beat, how he's accenting and then shows or tells us how he can change it up. Jeff may not have been a soloist but he was not one to mess with musically. Even the legendary Vinnie Colaiuta, who Jeff was friends with spoke of him with giant respect, as did Jeff's eventual "replacement" in Toto, the never underestimated SImon Phillips. Jeff had DEEP musical understanding, and that in part is due to him soaking up what he saw and learned from his dad. Carlos Vega was a huge Jeff fan and played in some respects very similarly to him, yet had his own style. Jeff was one of a kind. Bernard Purdie is in that same class of player. He makes it look easy but it's anything but. It's time, feel/touch, technique and musical understanding blending into one conscious or unconscious methodology.

Hey Steven. Thank you for the Rosanna version. I have often had heated discussions with students, other teachers about what and how the ghost notes are set here. It was an incredibly annoying topic, but you have now finally put the myth ad absurdum, as I have always seen it too. Thanks!

Great episode, and Jeff definitely deserves the credit. I think you missed one of his greatest ever recordings, "These Chains". Although it's kind of slow & steady, it demonstrates incredible control, and later in the song such moving power. His complex ride, snare & tom combinations are so satisfying to the ears.

I'm not a drummer..but I've been in awe of jeff since 82...still am. He was not a big guy and how he had the stamina is magical

I think... Jeff is a King of hi hats... nobody does better than Jeff in hi hats.. That groove ❤️❤️👍👍

Should have included these chains from the seventh one. Greatest groove all over the tune. And its a ballad. Long live the legacy of Jeff Porcaro.

There's a Sergio Mendes record called Brasileiro and in it, in my opinion, there is one of Jeff's underated masterpiece groove. The track is Lua soberana. Check it. The man phisically died but, as far I can see, he's alive and still kicking in our memory. Unforgettable Jeff.

I'm not even a drummer but I love Jeff

Between Jeff and Lukather, i think they were on every album cut in the 70's and 80's lol. I always feel like Jeff is underrated simply because a lot of people only know 5 Toto songs, but there is so much more to his musical story. This series will be great and glad Jeff was episode one. I hope Carl Pamler (ELP) finds his way into this series too.

Maybe already mentioned, but I'm pretty sure the cowbell on "St. George" is being played by Lenny Castro, who played percussion on most of their albums. Jeff is playing the high hat, and you can clearly hear some cool sixteenth-note flourishes in there. This is a great video, and awesome to see you pay respects to such giant talent. Just seemed worth mentioning.

The musicianship of all these dudes is simply off the charts

How about his one handed sixteenth notes on "I Keep Forgettin'"? AMAZING! Ran it down once then nailed it on TAKE 2!

Yes, exactly, I remember watching his Star licks video and thinking: all those ghost notes he is playing in the Rosanna demo on the video are cool but don't remember hearing them all on the actual recording

You should have added These Chains...one of Jeff's juicyest grooves. He plays a similar one on Nik Kershaw's 'Walkabout' song

St. George and the Dragon is from Hydra (not the first album), their most underrated album. Prog rock- jazz - pop hybrid. A fantastic album and my personal favorite along with The Seventh One, which is also overlooked.

Jeffs drumming isnt "Hard" its CHALLENGING and thats what makes it fun to play! When we can play like he did that's when we know we've made it! That isnt something thats developed its in his genes and you can hear how his dads jazz improvisation has influenced his performances! Too bad he left us way too soon but his songs were the soundtrack of my life all throughout the 70's and 80's! I would have love to have met him but never had the chance here on earth but perhaps we shall meet in heaven one day! RIP JEFF i am sure you're playing a gig in heaven as i write this!

I think something that goes understated about Jeff's playing is his dynamics. When he played the hi hat it was simply musical. That's the best place to start in my opinion. The grooves themselves are timeless but not necessarily the most important aspect to focus on when studying Jeff. I think listening to his playing gets you into the "why?" of drumming. The level beyond playing notes where it becomes about laser precision placement of sounds that enhances the music.

Best drum teacher on KZfaq by far. Always entertaining and humble. Cheers Steven.

Mushanga is an awesome groove. Gotta learn that one.

How the heck do you not include and demonstrate the groove he played for, Lowdown? That's effing stunning dude.

Can you please do Simon Phillips as well?? Not only because he played with TOTO. But he just a brilliant drummer.

Jeff was simply brilliant...God bless..

@2:20 - Georgy Porgy is a dance floor classic. Played it many times as a DJ for receptive crowds. Cheryl Lyn really helped it along and I love that horn / stab percussion break down back into the groove

My favorite Jeff groove: Boz Scaggs’s “Gimme The Goods,” especially the blistering outro.

I've been playing for 2 weeks now...and just love it. After looking at a lot of beginning drum video/courses....your presentations are the easiest to follow and understand. Some guys just spend an inordinate amount of time talking. Your explanations are concise and clear....then you play it. Perfect. Thank you.

Adding in more ghost notes and opening and closing the hi-hat as the song develops is precisely what Bernard did on Babylon Sisters.

One of my favorite drummers. Incredibly talented. Thanks.

Very good explanation of Jeff's style. Outside Toto, I think my favourite session of Jeff's is George Benson's 'Lady Love Me'. Of course, he played a fabulous cut on everything he worked on. Hopping from session to session with two kits. One being played, the other being set up ready for him in another studio. So the Lady Love me track is a testament to his brilliance. It's a great song for sure, but Jeff just totally makes the song into the hit that it became. He carries the groove all the way through from classic Jeff intro to the classic Jeff fills at the very end. I have many records and CDs featuring Jeff with many different artists. But for me, and in my personal opinion, that track nails his ability as a world class musician. Truly magical and sorely missed. May he rest in peace.

Thanks for that. Jeff is the greatest influence on my drumming. "I'll be over you" is one of my favourite Toto songs and "Farenheit" is my favourite album. Thanks for the sheet music! And thanks for all the other content you so generously provide.

TOTO: The Porcaro Family Band

absolutely right ..the ghost notes start after the second verse of the song in Rosanna

I believe 'S.t. George and the dragon' is from their second Album 'Hydra' and not from the first album 'Toto'. Besides that, great video!

God rest Jeff, his drumming is pure magic. ✌️😙

A good friend of mine was invited for a session by Steve and Jeff Porcaro in 1990. They did a song for Chaka Khan. He recently sent me 3 pictures from that session, they have never been published before.

Just learned he did Dire Straits 'Calling Elvis'... Love the drums on that.

Why is Jeff Porcaro's Drumming SO HARD?! Because he's Jeff Porcaro

Thanks for honoring Jeff! There are so many songs featuring Jeff's incredible playing...One of my faves is Gaucho by Steely Dan from the album of the same name. To me, Jeff's drumming is as sublime as the song itself. 🙏 ✌ ❤ 🎶 🌎 👏 Jeff

Jeff's playing mystifies me! Sure, I get hear all the notes and what he's playing, but it's that thing in-between that you can't put your finger on which makes him sound like Jeff and no one else.

My overwhelming influence. While people were playing Tom Sawyer, I was trying to break down Porcaro. When Rosanna came out, I was amazed. It sounded simple until I got behind the kit. So layered and intricate. Incredibly difficult.

Im not 100% sure, but they were may not have been named Toto back then, but they were friends in high school and were already a band way before they even started doing session work. If i remember an article I read, David Paiche got him a session/touring gig with Sonny and Cher, and from there his groove became n0torious and his session work demand skyrocketed. But I may be wrong.

I think in the case of a lot of Toto's songs, Jeff's drumming is really hard to replicate to the sound of the recording because of the tremendous amount of production. All of the cats were studio pros so they used all the studio finesse they could to make those songs as good as possible. It is impossible to get your live drums and cymbals to sound like Jeff did on the recordings.

Thank you so much for honoring Jeff in this video

The thing i did not heard or feel before on this subject is the real clear difference between Jeff and Simon who took over. The groove with Jeffs heavy right foot is sooo good. I did not really notice until Shannon played later and was so much closer to Jeff then Simon. I think the Africa version played live by Shannon is the best sounding live drums of Toto so far :)

You can learn so much about Jeff's style by watching him play. His grip and wrist movements are quite different to many other drummers

Up until 1988, I was way into trying to play like Neil, Vinnie and Tony. When I discovered King Jeffrey's Hot Licks video, everything changed and it became all about the groove. He's still the coolest, hippest, funniest, Cat of all time with the deepest soul ever. I write on all my snare drums WWJP? What Would Jeff Play? Thank you Jeff, and Thank you Stephen!

Check out Jeff on Dire Straits' "Calling Elvis" and his fills on "Heavy Fuel"!

Jeff always the King a superb musician who will always be remembered 😎

So glad you included "Can You Hear What I'm Saying". Your Mushanga core groove is how I play it, though my toms are positioned more like Jeff's, and I hear rim clicks that vary, less pronounced in the beginning, and occurring more as the song builds, much like the Rosanna ghost notes, which you are correct on. A lot of the controversy on Mushanga is that the drums are so deep in the mix that you can't state with certainty what is being heard. Another difficulty on figuring out Toto is that percussion from Lenny Castro, Joe Porcaro and Jeff is all smooshed together in their sound. I would have picked "These Chains" over "I'll Be Over You", "Jake to the Bone" instead of "St. George", and "Till the End" instead of "Waiting for your Love". But I love all of those, too. And though it was more rock than groove, I always loved playing "Carmen", too. Great job!!!!!

Rosanna is the only song I ever liked from Toto, still to this day. But I LOVE Jeff!!!! He's my favorite groove drummer.

Okay I'm at 80s baby and I love this song so I literally had to look up the drummer and I'm glad because that man got some soul that's amazing, love hold the line because of that double bass beat,and I'm in love with drums. High-hat the best sound ever!!

Jim Gordon and Keltner were big on his list of great players

Jeff Porcaro is the main reason I listened to every single song on every single Toto album with him behind the kit. I also created a massive playlist on my Spotify from not only his Toto songs but many of the other artists he drummed for as a session drummer. An incredible body of work. Thank you Stephen.

He was, is, and will be the master for all time.

The Rosanna intro ghost notes are more like Fool in the Rain, not being consistent through the whole groove but then it changes into Purdie's shuffle variation with ghosts through every triplet. Even harder (for me as a crappyish drummer!) is the bass drum variation which I've never seen videos for during the 'Meet you all the way' part of the song whilst keeping the full shuffle going with the hands.

One of my favorite performances is his drumming on Boz Scaggs, Lido Shuffle.

Porcaro is king

The example Jeff played of Rosanna in his instructional video is what he did on the second verse. I personally love how they were sparse in the beginning, but blossomed later in the song. It propels that second verse in a way that's unexplainable for me.

One thing to consider is the possibility of a noise gate on the snare in Rosanna. I’ve done an experiment because of what he plays in the lesson video vs the original recording and isolated drums, and it’s very possible that it was just heavily gated to help get that tone. In my experiment I used similar tuning, mic placement and just tried to get the sound as close as possible. The gate heavily dictates the ghost notes and the slightest dB variation in the volume does effect the gates behaviour, and it really does give the same vibe as the original intro. No other drum mic picks up the ghost notes enough to cut through the gate either, oddly enough. So it is possible he did play more ghost notes then what we hear! I recommend trying it with a gate. And make sure you record WITH the gate! Not just adding it after tracking. Get the sounds right at the microphones and at the console.

The first number 1 hit wasn't Africa, but Hold the line. It was their first single and became number 1 in the Netherlands.

Hold the line was their first number 1 hit, but in The Netherlands. This is how their succes as Toto started.

Great video! Please include Stewart Copeland in this series. I'd be really grateful.

Lowdown Jeff best drumming work ever

The Rosanna groove is one of the most difficult grooves to play properly. I’ve struggled with it for longer than I care to admit. I love it though. It’s probably my all time favourite drum groove.

Hello, I'm a bass player, and regarding the use of ghost notes in Rosana, I believe the explanation is similar to what happens on bass: in the studio, we shouldn't abuse ghost notes, the sound should come out cleaner. But during live performances, it is common to increase the ghost notes use, in order to emphasize the counterbeats and swing of the music.

Purdie also doesn't play the ghost notes at the beginning of Babylon Sisters. As a drummer I always loved that song, but it took me a few decades to realize why, and the true greatness of Purdie's "complex simplicity".

Jeff's instructional DVD is so trippy I feel like it takes place inside one of those buildings featured on prog albums like the Royal Scam or Going for the ONe xD

Its also fair to note, jeff played everything in 1 or maybe 2 takes... when asked how long it took to record toto IV Steve Lukather said.. As little time as possible

St. George and the Dragon was on the second album Hydra. It’s the number two track on the album following Hydra.

A lesser known gem is "These Chains" on Toto The Seventh One. His fab shuffle, try and pay attention to his fills up to the c-piece, the c-piece itself, and how he brings it down again to the chorus with a ritardando...(and then there's Luke's solo in the end. I whish they never faded that out)

I love Jeff’s drumming. Thank you for the bomber analysis!

Okay. I'm not going to flame you for not enough ghost notes in the beginning of the Rosanna shuffle. But I'm fighting the urge to flame you for *too many* ghost notes as you progressed with the groove 😂

Thank you, thank you thank you! You finally got it right I have been having this debate and struggle and fight with people all these years about Rosanna as a matter of fact now it’s readily available that you can listen to on KZfaq listen to the isolated drum track. he starts out exactly like you said, and he slowly builds up more and more, shuffling to the point where the guitar solo portion has him switching to the bell of the ride symbol, and you literally hear him hitting twos and fours and all the rest of snare drum shuffle amazing also the way he snaps into the kicks from those rolls that start out and build up intensity right on the second beat of the never in my life. When the song came out, I threw my drumsticks out the window that nearly made me insane. Trying to figure out how we did it. Thank you for settling the argument for me.

I will never forget my H.S. jazz band instructor informing us that we were going to play Rosanna. That year, I held the 1st drummer chair. Gulp! I called my drum teacher in a panic. (Who studied with Gary Chester and Joe Cusatis). He did a dissection of it and nailed it right in front of me. However, when he showed it to me, I was taught to use a broken pattern on the high hat as... RLL triplets. It might seem tricky at first, but once you get it going, its very smooth and flows more easily than all that movement with the right hand. To me, it also sounds more natural and loose like Porcaro. I'm not sure if it was Porcaro's method, but I would recommend trying it.

Georgy Porgy is definitely my favourite. So underrated!

So, I think one of his best grooves, if not a few weren't in the band, but session work. I LOVE "I Keep Forgettin'". I think it's better than most of the grooves here. The kick beat and 16th note with a change to 8th note with closed going to open hi-hat is not only amazing in sound but it's really hard.

Awesom episode! To me (and maybe others), Jeff is on the Mount Rushmore of all time drummers. Him, Bonham, Peart and (for me) Danny Carey (Tool). Jeff’s unbelievable reach in his session career is amazing. Has played on so many well known songs over his career and his work in Toto is obviously stellar. Shame he left us so soon. Love his instructional vids and thanks for acknowledging him in this episode.

I am not a drummer. A guitarist really. But I truly valued Jeff Porcaro as a drummer. The pocket and the feel. Two elements that I think Jeff was king. I play music for my church band and my grove I usually try to feed of of the drummer. I think because of Jeff I learned the value of drumming and how important a good grove is to any song played well.

My humble opinion: Jeff's best drumming ever is Gypsy Train from the Kingdom of desire album. Listen to it! ( Then watch the live in Amsterdam video, where Simon Phillips is drumming. He does not play this groove on stage). Oh, and when you to listen the Kingdom album, don't forget to listen to the last song, Jake to the bone. Probably Jeff's last recorded piece of art.

You are wrong about Rosanna shuffle on the record. Ghost notes are cut by the record machine they used back then in the studios, to reduce the echo of the toms and snare sounds. Porcaro explained that in the interview in 1986. You can find it on YT

Jeff may have rejected the 'Bo Diddly' groove for 'Rosanna' but he does play it on his bass drum while doing the half-time shuffle up top. Also, though attributed to Bo Diddly, the pulsating groove was seemingly originally introduced by blue bassist Willie Dixon. Dixon, also credited for such blues classics as 'Spoonful', 'I Can't Quit You', 'Hoochie Coochie Man', 'Howlin' for My Baby', 'I Ain't Superstitious' and numerous others including 'You Need Lovin'', a Muddy Waters hit that the Small Faces covered, with the latter being Robert Plant's source of lyrics and singing style use in Zep's 'Whole Lotta Love'. In the booklet accompanying his 'Let Your Hair Down' album, Steve Miller notes that at the Wille Dixon Museum @ Chess Studios "there's a demo recording of Willie showing Bo the rhythm to 'Pretty Thing' and it's like finding the Rosetta Stone forgo Diddley's rhythm". Jeff Porcaro was very much a player who wore his influences on his sleeve.

Legend drummer covering another legend drummer... great work sir !

Great examples of Jeff's parts. Always informative content. Love your channel, Stephen!

Thanks for demonstrating that only Jeff Pocaro can play like Jeff Pocaro.