My dissertation was on Tony Williams and his improvisational method. He studied composition with a professor at UCLA for 17 years and his improvisations were experimentations with the new compositional elements he was studying. He was playing themes, motives, extensions, diminution, augmentation, theme and variations, parallel thirds, phrase structure, breathing, use of silence, etc. Lots to hear in what he is playing. Pure genius.

It's sad how many "drummers" on here can't fathom Tony's musicality. Drumming isn't just keeping time and playing fast. The masters knew how to make their percussion sing, talk, tell stories, mimic melodies, etc. Mr. Williams was one the great masters of his trade.

One of the very best of the best drummers to have existed, period.

Tony had a real fearlessness towards aggression as an aesthetic. It doesn’t come from limitations in his ability to play with nuance ( as from so many others), but his love for that big wide sound has greatly expanded his level of authenticity. Just so refreshingly potent

In 1978 Dave Weckl came to my parents house. After we played a bit Dave told me "ok you've gone through your Buddy phase now you need to study Gadd and put some Chick/Gadd records on to analyze. After we loaded his drums into his Honda he said to me next time I'll bring something you really need to hear. That turned out to be Four & More. Now forty years later I understand.

Don't compare him to others, dont even watch him just listen..what a trip the man is a drumming genius the variation in touch and dynamics and compositions just wonderful.

Tony Williams and I had the same teacher, Alan Dawson. I'm still practicing!

This cat right here was one of the greatest and most influential drummers of all time, certainly in the top 5. Much respect.

Tony was one of the best things that happened to the drumset.

Thank goodness he started drumming when he did. He was the bridge from Jazz to Jazz Rock. So many Rock drummers site Tony as the blueprint to their big kit sound. Blessed and inventive.

I was fortunate to hear Tony play live back in 1980 in support of the V.S.O.P. tour. Tony hit the stage and opened with a 10 minute Drum Concerto. Its bin nearly 50 years since that performance...and still I remain mesmerized and humbled by the memory of that musical statement.

This is amazing. A totally different drum solo than I've ever heard before. There's a dialog between the different parts of the drum set that reminds me of a sophisticated primal dance. Blown away.

He's playing double stroke, single stroke and para-diddles, all at the same speed and the same volume, and you can't tell the difference unless you're looking at his hands. That's what the opening is all about.

I think this is honestly the finest drum solo I've ever heard. Yep. This is it. It's education meets application meets experimentation. Tony obviously had chops, dynamics, feel, musicality, and brains, but this video showed me two things I can add to that list: Dedication and Patience the likes of which very few drummers have ever had. I can't even put into words how impressive it is to see him make music on the snare alone, then add tom 1, then 2, then 3 with sparse, if any, bass drum work. When he does add the kick and cymbals, the solo reaches the incredible climax while being musically creative. The video honestly left me shaken. This man was on a different level of thinking and drums would be vastly different without him. He had the patience to explore the drum kit and learn what music he could make on it one piece at a time, that's what made him so brilliant and foreword thinking. For the people who are apparently frustrated that they "don't understand" this work.. It's not a lack of understanding itself, it's the lack of patience to understand.

Open double stroke roll to singles to paradiddles to flams to ruffs...effortlessly like one continuous roll. Then he dynamically emotes the timbres of the drums until he unleashes the inner beast. His integration of the bass drum between his snare and toms is flawless! What a story! I could listen to Tony Williams all day!

wow, his solo starts off with and is completely built around rudiments to the highest degree - what a master! :o

Tony was a force of Nature! One of the most inspiring and innovative Jazz musicians of his own generation.

what an amazing solo! All of the subtleties in his sticking, the rhythmic complexity, his stamina, the huge dynamic range, brilliant! The way he introduces each new voice one at a time, letting it tell its story. So musical and intelligent. Don't argue with the haters, feel bad for them that they don't understand it and can't appreciate the beauty of this solo.

A beautiful creative masterful drummer.Williams is one of the greats,you may not think of him in any other way.He had a style uniquely his own.His technique was wonderful,and his thoughts and timing special.I wonder how 93 people voted this down? And i wonder why other drummers find this clinic not to their liking? This man has pushed musical boundaries extremely far,with Miles and his Lifetime band not to mention his other fine collaborations.Truely a marvelous unique drummer who is sadly missed.

That single handed tom work around 13:40 was just awe inspiring. I could watch him forever.

Tony didnt follow, he led. Even if you dont get it he has a style and sound all his own. How many of us have influenced millions of others with our approach. RESPECT like Aretha said

There is a video of the 1986 Grammys....Tony Williams and Buddy Rich together playing with a slew of jazz greats! Tony and Buddy were friends and shared a mutual respect for one another. Wallace Rodney, Tony's trumpet player , has stated that Tony's 3 main influences were Max Roach, Alan Dawson and Buddy Rich.

So melodic, structured and precise.

My favorite drummer ever and my greatest influence ever!!! I stood on line in the freezing cold in the dead of winter to see him play and never regretted it. He had Alan Holdsworth in his band then. What a band!!! Some of his techniques took me a year to figure out. Just an amazing drummer and a great person. Ask Herbie Hancock.

real drummers cant be bored with the snare . they keep on learning !

This would be very difficult for most humans. What talent and endurance. I get why the pro drummers talk about him. Wow

I consider myself very lucky having heard this and being at a live Max Roach Clinic. I don't play drums but that's not necessary to appreciate the incredible musicianship displayed here and at Max's Clinic.

I like this because it's different. He's almost playing in a fashion directly opposite to what you'd expect from a clinic. I think the take home message is that it's about music, not tricks. This is art.

He brings such a unique combination of power, patience, and intricacy. But above all, his voice is wholly his own. I have the utmost respect for musicians that have found their voice, no matter what instrument, genre, or culture. Mastery is one characteristic that cannot be concealed.

That's an audience of practically all drummers. Listen to that reaction when he finishes. You telling me, they aren't impressed? Great performance.

Man. Even the gospel chops cats must be sweating watching this. Plus it's a symphony! Melody, motif, dynamics, etc.

There’s no way that there are 282 people with ears that would give this the thumbs down. I’m not buying it.

ecstatic, transformative, out of this world. One of the greatest improvisors. Great great drummer. Awesome energy!!

At the start, I'm amazed at how he can change rudiment without any audible difference

He had such power, grace, and perspective. I love Tony Williams.

genius to make absolute mastery look effortless. so musical too there's just one Tony Williams

Man was his own man...unconventional...one of the most individualistic personalities...total alpha...very strong willed...jazz rock drummer....he hits like Bonham then can play a Mile's tune flawlessly...one of a kind...more than a record title

I loved Tony Williams stuff with early Miles. Everybody was blown away by his light precise style. Then Jazz Rock took over and Williams began to play with a heavier hand and started to sound like everyone else. Williams will always be remembered for his playing with Miles. He was literally the most important member of that version of the Quintet. As Miles himself said, "It was Tony's band."

Mastery - grace - always experimenting and reaching for the tone of a drum and a musical statement. Tony was greatness and brilliance personified.

This ones to Mr.Brad Byers - I had been performing on drums kits for over 40 years. I have worked some of the places Art Blakey played at. So, I am stationed at US Navy Base in Norfolk,Va. and playing jazz around town and I hear Tony William Band so performing at a Holiday Inn. So, you know where I am going to be that night. This was about the same time period this drum clinic was made. I get a back seat in the place it was small so it didnt matter where I sat. In comes Tony and sits next to me. Just sits quietly smoking his cigar staring at his kit. Than he feels the vibe and he looks right at me with this look like ` in just a minute your going to find out why I got this gig and you dont`. I watch Tony perform at 100% level the first set. Go and sit down in the back seat of the club and lite up a cigar and stare at his kit. 15 minutes goes by and Tony gets up and performs at 200% level the second set. He breaks after 45 minutes of performance and National Public Radio shows up with recording gear and Tony gets up and says he is playing for folks there and to please not record or leave. Than he gets up the 3rd set and performs on a higher level than the previous two sets. He had my attention the first set but now I was tuned in and the hypnotize drum spirit vacuum happens. The forth set....well its drumming from Mars and you dont leave feeling the same way about drumming ever again. After the sets(which the club owner let me stay at, because he knew I played - very kind of him- normally you pay for each show) anybody who introduces themselves to Tony got TOLD by him to get away from him. I watch about 20 people try with negative results. I finally got my nerve up and softly and humbly told him that watching him perform was like watching Picasso paint. His demeanor immediately changed. He shook my hand, he had no calluses at all. I found that surprising and we had a nice chat for about an hour or so. I found him intelligent, humble, soft spoken, a very spiritual person, and that this was what the depth of his performance was based on. He was what God made him to do and he worked very hard at it. He was not a flat-lined olayer. I could see in his eye`s that he had many more years in him but that if he survived age would force him to stop. we drummers who play with all our hearts are lucky to get past 50 years of age still being able to perform well. Tony became a friend at evening. I really miss him. Everyone has bad moments and living as a performance musician is a tough road to hoe. An absolutely meaningless death of a type of person and musician God produces once every 150 years I we are lucky.

Without a doubt the GREATEST of all time. Hear his oeuvre from 1963 to 1996 - what an artist!!!

I was at this clinic. Thanks for posting. I saw him play live many times. Each time was amazing. At 23 he was playing with Miles Davis. Check out his first solo album….Life Time. My favorite albums are Believe It ,Trio of Doom and Young at Heart.

I was there!! it was held at the Majestic theater in Dallas Texas. The first time I saw Tony Williams live and I went specifically to see him. Also at this event was Louie Belson, Vinnie Caliouta and Simon Phillips. It was called Zildjian day in Dallas.

I'll be right back, I need to throw my gear down the steps.

Disregarding this argument below me, but I really love how genius and musical this solo is. His VERY slow integration of other parts of the kit over the whole solo, one new piece of it at a time, is just marvelous. It makes me want to go practice for hours.

This is his own particular and individual style which is totally different than any other drummer. Very interesting and captivating. I clicked on to the video and couldn't stop watching until he was finished. He's another one of these fantastically talented musicians who left us way too soon.

Un souffle incroyable derriere sa technique... Magnifique,Jamais je n'oublierais Tony...

If you're a drummer...come back to watch this again in 10 years from now.

This was like a symphony on the drums.

I know nothing of drums , my favourite drummer is jimmy chamberlin and I came here because I’ve heard him talk of Tony ! And now I see why jimmy holds him in such high regard , as I said I know nothing about drums I am a novice and I couldn’t even tell you his set up but what I do know is my ear and this is sounds incredible , so many tiny intricate plays in the background I like how he didn’t even touch the cymbals and then built to that crescendo fantastic and artistic and that is coming from a novice

Took him 12 minutes into the video to finally hit a cymbal... theres something very beautiful about that as a drummer. Like a brilliant film director that slowly builds up his movie to a critical scene

Beautiful. One of the few drum solos that keeps my interest and I'm a drummer. Just never been a drum solo fan.

that was simply one of the best displays of mastery , most pro drummers would run out of ideas in the first 10 minute having blazed all their chops and introduced all parts of the set early one, this just builds and builds : I am as a drummer of 25 years myself floored by this.

TOTAL MUSIC PLAYED BY A TOTAL MUSICIAN! At 16 this man changed the way everybody played! Tony is a very important part of music history! Thanks for being part of my life! Thanks for re-inventing the instrument! Oh yeah! This solo is a MOTHER F@#KER! Thank you Tony! Tommy B.

Although I'm a bass player (closet drummer also :) ) I give MUCH respect to all the drummers out there and know and appreciate great drumming when I hear it...and this is simply MASTERFUL!! TW is truly one of the greatest MUSICIANS of all time!

Wow... just wow I couldn't believe what I'm hearing

Tony, you must except the rebound! Tony: I don't have time to wait on rebounds.

Genius on drums. Notice how he can play different tones on tones on the drums!! Tony Williams - best drummer I've ever have heard!

the way he starts with the snare,then moves to two drums then three drums,etc. pure brilliance

And this is probably just a routine warm up for this guy

Wow he literally introduced each drum and cymbal. Everything was given a distinct voice.

His solos are so esoteric that it is like the drums were speaking wise words that only few would be able to understand them.

just came across this. Tony Williams is completely amazing . wish you were still with us you are in my mind utterly fantastic :-)

Thank you so much for posting this. Loved Tony Williams for years, never realized until now how closely his toms were tuned - he is playing melodies on them!

Much Much respect...Just an musical genuis

So deep it gets me on a spiritual level. Melodically drumming right here. Blows the mind.

Tony was a real composer behind the drumkit.This solo simply blew my mind and touched my heart. Godspeed to you,Tony sir

its all about the sound, this guy could make the drums sing (and dance), and the continuity, its epic

See kids....this is why you learn your RUDIMENTS!!! Swiss triplets, paradidles, flam accents...etc, etc.

MAGNIFICENT!!!!! One of the most original virtuosos of the complex Jazz drum kit!

Tony's composition skills are SO MUSICAL! And his rudimentary technique is masterful. What a brilliant solo. BRAVO!

This is Not a drum solo it's music for solo drums...awesome.

I love this. It's a proper education in 15 minutes. For me, Tony completely exemplified leading with your ears rather than your hands. This is one of those pieces that is perhaps better enjoyed without watching, as then you're simply listening. Of course, then you miss seeing Tony emoting it in his whole body. Lovely sounding drums too.

drummers dont think about whos the best,,,, drummers play drums and listen,,, and play drums the next day,,,,,,,

Majestic. Classic. ONLY one Tony Williams. Any drummer worth a damn would absorb this.

...with love and maximum respect .....RIP Mr Williams

Absolute Genius.A Master.

Best Drum Solo I've seen and heard. Tony Williams is a freak.

Comments like "this isn't a great solo", "boring", "nothing to write home about" etc -since when are Drum Clinics anything to do with pulling off the best drum solo? If you think that its about showing off you are completely missing the point. In a generation of increasingly shortening attention spans, its not unexpected. These are about technique. As a sound engineer, I can tell you now that the flaw in 90% of amateur drummers is timing and rhythm - the very foundation and core of drumming!

Dude hits the stage looking like he just came from surgery. And then he's straight up surgical on the kit

I have watched this so many times

There is only one drummer I have never seen have negative comments online against him. That drummer is Vinnie Colaiuta. Now Vinnie has stated in interviews several times how much of an influence Tony's playing was on him. Hell, you even see Vinnie in one of these videos at one point. So to all those making negative comments about Tony - is Vinnie wrong? Your entitled to your opinion as much as Vinnie or anyone else is about Tony. I suppose one opinion is no more the truth than the other. I just don't see any negative comments coming from a man who has played with Frank Zappa, Joni Mitchell, Allan Holdsworth, etc. Where is the weight to your words? Why does your negativity reflect the ignorance found in your inexperience? I say these things because I once thought as many did. What was the big deal about Tony? It took years to grasp how special he was to 20th century drumming. Even Billy Cobham has stated that the last great drummer to really influence how we ALL play the drum kit was Tony Williams. Once again, just a man stating his opinion, but an opinion stated by a man where the truth of his statement is found not just in his words, but in his work behind those words.

It's in the context of playing with other musicians that one's musicality comes out. I was fortunate to hear Tony Williams with Chick Corea and Stanley Clarke. That was a great musical experience.

Zildjian Day, and he barely hit the cymbals. Seems he had a good feel for humor as well.

It seemed like he was warming up on the snare. While he was just getting into his stride. Very well thought out and he certainly has a powerful stroke. I like the way he takes a quick pause between parts of the solo. It gives a more unified feel to it. Here he definitely sounds more like a hard hitting rock drummer very similar to bonham. Normally I associate him with jazz. I am impressed!!

Thanks for the clinics Tony! :)

He is a storyteller on the drums!! So inspiring - always!

The warm up in the beginning was kind of hypnotizing...

He's like Jeff Beck in that even his mistakes sound great!

the most influential drummer ever!

I've been playing since 1975. Bonham has been my main influence and I continue to learn more and more as time goes by. Because of Bonzo and LZ, I have listened to many, many different drummers, and music to find my own voice. I think that we owe a lot to our creative sources when we play and create, but it is important to color outside of the lines to find that voice. I hear more in Bonzo's playing than any other drummer that I've listened to and it sent on a quest in many different directions.

Tony was just an amazing and musical drummer. One of the most melodic in history of drumming. To those who criticize his use of heads and drums... well, that's just simply stupid. Tony ALWAYS sounds like Tony no matter what record you hear him on or live for that matter and the sounds of his Toms especially are absolutely trademark to his sound. If he changed heads or drum sizes he might not get the sound he wants but as friend once told me, "it ain't the arrow, it's the indian" so ultimately he will always sound like Tony cause that's how he hit hits 'em. The way he gets that pitch change on the drums has everything to do with his method of tuning and how he hits them. I've tried to replicate it myself and just can't. It's all Tony WIlliams! All drummers should be allowed to use whatever combination of anything they choose and anyone who says otherwise cannot be much of a musician of any consequence

His polyrhythmic drumming was awesome.

i do love how he develops one piece at a time. i found myself leaning forward in my chair, eagerly awaiting the next element...

You know a drum solo is good when you are just kind of sucked into it from a pure hypnotic state rather than a "what cool stuff are you going to do" mentality. This solo was on the latter for me....I wasn't even thinking about his awesome technique....I just dug the sound.

Tony was all ways thinking out side of the box in my opinion that’s good.

Tony is possibly the greatest drummer, though Buddy is still my favorite and is just in his own universe...but Tony does things that will blow the most seasoned drummers mind....he looks a bit preoccupied with his snare at the beginning, but there's a reason behind what he's doing...he might have just gotten off a plane and he didn't get a warm up....the size of those sticks is insane...thats a shitload of wood...I love the way his cymbals explode when he strikes them, drums as well...3 floor toms...I'm not crazy about parts which seem self indulgent, but watch him play with his quintet, he's f'n awesome...dynamics are unparalleled.

For real, those who dislike the video are no good anyway! There is a lot to learn from this! If you noticed, he just repeated rudiments over and over and that’s what it takes to be GREAT! Repetition is the key! I mean the man did a snare roll for like 5mins !

One of the best drum solo from a Master

Very musical drummer...todays guys are often more about speed and complexity, that doesn't mean you have musical talent, not to mention on a technical level, every generation improves on the last as result of what the generation taught them.