Of course what Tony does here is impressive. It is kind of a warm up. It’s the tip of the iceberg. Not overtly musical, more calisthenic.
But it’s worth pointing out how important a pioneer this man is. Every drummer watching this video needs to understand that Tony Williams is one of the few drummers who approached rock music from the jazz side. That’s distinct from the rock drummers who approached jazz from the rock side; prog guys.
Tony Williams, Lenny White, Billy Cobham, Peter Erskine…these are the fully formed legitimate jazz players who were curious enough about the amplified rock aesthetic to risk the criticism of more traditional jazz guys.
Look at the drum set he’s playing. A big ass rock drum set with black dots all the way around. Even on the snare. And yet his rack toms are tuned high, like a jazz player.
Tony is straddling two aesthetics here. It’s incredibly bold.
Anyone who is a fan of fusion jazz or really complicated art rock from the early 70s should know that the risks players like Tony Williams were willing to take, coming from the world of jazz, changed music forever. Tony Williams was more than a great drummer, he helped break down barriers that made us all better.

Love how he's slowly incorporating one more instrument at a time as the concept for this solo. Feels like he's waking up the whole drumkit until those cymbals start screaming bloody murder and everything is fair game. And let's talk about those dynamics on the kick pedal. That takes time and control especially at that speed. Anyone else hear a blues in his toms? Might just be me but it has echoes of old spirituals. Just beautiful. I love Tony and he is certainly a beacon of inspiration for my drumming journey. Thank you Tony.

Really amazing the Q&A part of translating his mind to the instrument and making SURE he was heard by perfecting technique and CONTROL and not because he could not help himself. You can apply that to anything you do in life, in your job, in your craftmanship, whatever you do.

I've always thought that drums are the easiest instrument to impress people with whatever you do, and here you can see his eagerness to get overcome this idea and play transparently. Incredible human being.

After coming to the realisation that everybody's good, it's nice seeing someone interesting

Absolutely love his playing so so much!

Tony interrupted my drum lesson at Berklee in 1992.  I was in the middle of my lesson with Rick Constantine and there was a knock at the door. It was the dean of students and Tony.  Rick and I were both in shock.  I just nodded and stared at him when Dean Anderson introduced me to him.  I was like "yeah, i know who he is"...Now i wish I would of said something.

The Q&A is awesome!

Tony the Master ! He had huge respect for one John Bonham !

I know this is very subjective but Tony is the greatest drummer of all time

The doubles alone at the beginning are an absolute force of nature

The dynamic power he has with his single strokes is particularly impressive.

2:32 just realized this is a vcr recording lol.  That instantly took me so far BACK in time.  I needed that.  And it makes this video even better

Mr Williams, Tony is definitely one of a kind. Awesome, dynamic, solid, fast, melodic, unique.

Tony was even doing blast beats like decades before they were invented.

Tony Williams creativity and musicianship when soloing or comping is sooooo huge. He played with Miles Davis co called 2nd Great Quintet ( Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter ) at 16 y.o. !!!! They made some of the most amazing albums ever, Nefertiti, WaterBabies, you name it.
M.D. said he was so young when he joined them than they painted a fine moustache with a black make up pencil to avoid him being stopped at some venues.

To me him then and Chris Daddy Dave today belong to another league...
There are many amazing players but these two genuises touch me somewhere.inside in a spot that even myself cannot locate..Is in the soul, that I know.
Thanks Mr.Williams for reaching that spot in my soul

Music and Love !

44:20 is frightening!!! What a drummer.

Master of masters

THIS is America.
❤

Zildjian Day starts at 12:14 😁 Meaning: no cymbals before that!
LOVE 😍

You know he's talking about Roy Haynes when he says "a drummer who can play with Miles Davis one night and Sarah Vaughn the next"? If you want to know some secrets behind Tony's early playing you got to start with the king, Roy Haynes.