Jason Bittner's Solo Live At Guitar Center's 20th Annual Drum-Off (2008)

Jason Bittner of Shadow's Fall performs at our 20th Annual Drum-Off Finals that took place on January 8, 2009 at The Music Box in Los Angeles. For more info on Guitar Center Drum-Off visit drumoff.guitarc...

[@basjeman11]

THIS is what a drumsolo should sound like! Many drummers abuse a drumsolo to show off their skills. But this guy doensn't only show his skills, it also has a nice feel to it. Great job!

[@pearldrummer4077]

Those double bass drums are just incredible. Such control. Wow.

[@leeclewette2212]

At least he living his dream and not just complaining who is a better drummer and who is not.

[@scottperry67]

Well said my friend! Well said!

[@grimeyshred]

i like how he is throwing in so many different styles

[@Greenevil89]

........WHAT?

[@rexross5189]

Like metal and... metal?

[@TheSevenJr86]

This man has been my favorite drummer since I saw Shadows Fall for the first time years back... Incredible

[@TheJb2112]

I was sort of waiting for something AMAZING to happen in this solo. Then, about halfway through it hit me, that wow! what incredibly clean drumming this is. Okay, so there's nothing groundbreaking going on here. Who cares?? Drumming has been a hobby of mine forever. It's so hilarious to read negative comments about a performance like this. I soooo appreciate clean, tight drumming! Good job Jason! Negative commentors.....waiting for your videos of your greatness...

[@revyu6754]

TheJb2112 True dat! He's really good. Sure, there are a lot better (including some Guitar Center Drum-Off contestants), but he's damn good. Great double bass. He is clean, isn't he? Pretty good technique.

[@MrDeppness]

Never heard of this guy before but damn, that was killer!

[@beetlejews]

Did you have your earpiece turned off?

[@jorgepaul5049]

Shadows fall band

[@germanguy666]

fraggin overkill!!

[@markhardwick1570]

My thoughts are that Jason's rise wasn't exactly overnight, so he's put the time in, and I'm delighted by his success. I met Jason and his wife in Long Island several years ago at LI Drum Centre for their anniversary. He seemed a genuinely nice guy, who had all the time in the world for the kids there... He's okay by me :)

[@Cxaxukluth666]

who cares

[@decentdrummer911]

Man, people need to stop being so jealous of Jason's amazing skill!

[@KaigesClaiborne]

This is an amazing display of drumming using difficult technics. Those that hate are merely indications of jealousy and envy cause he's that good. If anyone who has the audacity to say otherwise then you fit that description.

[@drummerplusone]

This is not meant as a negative comment or as some may even call it a hateful comment. I have no reason or business to be negative for the sake of being negative, but I could not help myself to honestly feel that the solo came across as a collection of chops. A solo needs, emotion, dynamics and a clear storyline. That was not the case with this solo. This does not mean that he is not a good drummer, he is a very good and educated drummer.

[@alencore]

yeah nothing new or creative to his solo since i myself can do most of those licks lol! he is probably a song drummer where they sound better within a song.

[@matthewclarke6759]

Just listened through headphones. Wow, incredible sound, power and control.

[@JonnyNox216]

everyone says typical metal drumming, Jason Bittner is a... say it with me.. Metal Drummer!

[@mickdwyer4254]

No,innovative mixing Cuban style with thrash double bassing,open your ears and learn.

[@jubankta1627]

A very basic one at that

[@beetlejews]

You sound like a gay

[@scottperry67]

Sounds like the comments here are 50-50. My thoughts? He's doing what 95+% of us CAN'T DO! And if your in that CAN DO 5%, Nice job and congrats to you as well:)

[@AweeRB26]

One of my favourite drummer..greetings from KK Sabah,Malaysia🇲🇾🤘🏼👊🇲🇾🤘🏼

[@BobLoeber]

Wow!! Flawless fluidity!! How anyone could find fault in this dude clearly hasn't seen a recording of himself... Kudos JB!!!! You are amongst the best!!

[@AngryMetallisto]

This is Jason Bittner signature Tama Supertar Double bass drum kit. A cool one! Sounds very good. Jason is a cool guy and a solid drummer.

[@Brass257venison]

Yes sir, I actually own one of these kits til this day, not sure how many they made but I got mine from guitar center years ago

[@n00fer]

been playing drums for about 10 years now, and i wish i was half as good as the guys who play in these drum offs.. been on a video watching spree of watching all if them and it just blows my mind

[@djanubi]

His best video solo!!!Thumbs up if you agree!!!!

[@tamakit123]

dude when u hear a drummer this solid u can never go wrong

[@BasketballJoe2010]

I find this inspirational and pleasing to the ears. It would be cool to hear live

[@ikedrummer]

Jason is one of few metal drummers in this day in age that doesn't use drum triggers. He is creative with his fills and has groove. Also, he incorporates many different styles of drumming into his solos. Not just all blast beats and double bass. That's why I like him.

[@paulwall1981]

What amazing drumming and footwork by Mr Bittner. He is so much more than just a metal drummer. As you can see on this video, he can do a whole range of stlyes. Brillaint stuff from a brilliant drummer. 10 OUT OF 10!!!

[@benblackburn2693]

I have tremendous respect for him and the things he can do on drums while his solo seemed unstructured he has very good control. This solo is a good representation of how well coordinated he is as well as his dexterity but he can always organize it a bit better.

[@jAug94]

just met him at a drum clinic yesterday, cool guy. For those hating on him too, what you dont realize is he's actually a very diverse drummer that attended Berkley, he just prefers to play metal

[@elishem8533]

I was happy to have jammed with him for a little bit after he got out of Berkley. We hooked up in his home town in N.Y., before desert storm broke out. Very nice person, and his friends as well were kind enough to rent a room to me while we worked on forming a band. Nothing became of it, so I left for the military, and he hooked up with Shadows Fall. I wish him well. Tim

[@joshuaschmidinger3993]

He is a great drummer and has played with many bands, I love his style and last time I heard him(besides his live streams)was in shadows fall 😎👍😊👏❤🔥🤘

[@stacker210]

Jason Bitner is already a professional drummer. He wasn't a contestant, he was one of the many celebrity performances.

[@spx2013]

Man, i just love the way those bass drums sound

[@highervibetribe9137]

I've had the opportunity to talk with some of the greatest drummers on the planet.. Donati, Lang and many others. All of them were very humble, whenever I asked them of other drummers that would seem to be out of their league, they had nothing but praise for them. The last thing they would do is talk shit about other drummers. I guess that is what happens when you're a seasoned drummer, you become humbled and realize it's not a competition, and everyone can bring something to the table, including their own style.

[@borndriver]

This man is simply put : PHENOMENAL! Mindblowing skills! Wow!

[@highervibetribe9137]

I've been playing for 20 years, Jason is a good drummer. He may not be everyone's cup of tea, I'm not too crazy about him, but he is still good.

[@masterofhi50]

why cant everyone be friends? im a huge Avenged Sevenfold fan and i miss the Rev as much as everyone else but im here to watch Jason Bittner, a great metal drummer! I think the Rev was great and had alot of skill, but there are alot of other drummers in the world besides him. This solo is great, i love Bittner's work.

[@THEADVENTURECHANNEL11]

That's a s good as it gtes. Most people will never understand how incredibly talented and coordinated a human has to be to play with this kind of precision and speed.

[@jordanpeters1068]

Jason is pure solid metal drumming. He also has great lessons out there.

[@Joe-tc5ki]

There are 2 kinds of people in this world: people with talent, and people that leave negative comments on KZbin videos.

[@JSchafferDrummer]

Jason is a great drummer, he is my drum teacher and anyone who says he's not good is just jealous that they cant do what he can

[@zike389]

this is awesome GOD BLESS YOU JASON BITTNER

[@EpicHighTimeShow]

Being a drummer has nothing to do with what you play it's how you play. The drums are you and what you will create is who you are. It doesn't matter if he did this 20 years ago or 1 day ago.

[@BARONSAMEDI242]

I've actually seen him play some tasteful jazz lines before a clinic... dude's multidimensional and a much more rounded musician than his professional gigs would indicate. Happy to have met him: great guy.

[@vanderblaust]

Jason Bittner actually really knows his shit. He is a pretty technical player and he's very skilled. He went to Berkley and started teaching there before Shadows Fall got famous, so you know he wasn't hired on reputation alone.

[@taybb51234]

Jason Bittner regardless of what you think of this particular solo is an amazing drummer...obviously hes gifted with speed which is not everything but is definately important especially in his genre....He also grooves extremely good in the context of Shadows Fall

[@Livingcorpse8]

I really like the sound of his drums! So epic

[@Paiste18]

This guy has been picked on from his solo to the god dam sound of his kit. He is a beast! He is a terrific drummer. The negitive people need to shut up. Stop comparing him to other drummers too or saying another one is faster. Its not all about speed. Bitter rocks!

[@motivationnation6969]

Great job Bro! Very musical . I dig your ideas. Giovanni, Instructor.Long Island Drum Center

[@poolking36]

Really looking forward to jason's drum clinic in Dublin this Sunday

[@ram122269]

Jason Bittner is an amazing drummer. A lot of people on here are saying how he shouldent be soloing, and one person even saud that he is over rated. What i say is if you can do better then post your own video's and let others judge your talent. I wish i has his talent thats for damn sure.

[@chacou]

amazingly accurate and clean.

[@Neil2112]

See nothing here that would support anyone saying this guy sucks.. Quite the opposite.. I love the way he infuses jazz, swing into metal and he does it well, and it looks as if he has a few more tricks up his sleeve. From 4:01 on, I was blown away. On a side note, this kit sounds amazing. Whoever mic'd this knows what they are doing. My opinion... you don't like it, that's fine. Just keep the child like comments to yourself.

[@purseonal2010]

Jase is one of the best drummers out there! He can compete with any drummer out there! Even Lombardo!!

[@FramingArmageddonIE]

I have found a new respect for Jason Bittner... I didn't think he was all too special before this. And the smoke at 2:08's from his double bass >

[@jakamake]

I love the sound of that snare!!!!!

[@88fanforlife]

anyone who doubts this guys skill needs to listen to the light that blinds, yeah he may not be the best solo person but hes beast at song writing

[@djanubi]

I like this particular solo a lot!Its a perfect demonstration of skills including best stage ever and sound!!Also very nice drum kit.The worst thing is that its like he is playing alone in his home!The audience is frozen.!

[@Salzcamino]

Love those bass drums! Sound great!

[@88fanforlife]

for the people that are bad mouthing its just a damn solo, they don't put solos on albums, hes a way better songwriter that he is with solos and in my mind thats all that matters

[@julioalex922]

@sergiudrummer the drums are actually on sale..check em out at guitar center or musicians friend....the cymbals are really expensive...Meinl is the most expensive of all..every cymbal(excluding the MCS HCS and classic) are above 199 bucks each!! even the splashes

[@billm4262]

Amazing! Well done.

[@21sabiandrummer67]

lol all you guys hating on JBittner probably have never watched his dvd his soloing style is sick as fuck he uses a ton of diff techniqnues and grooves, idk how you fucks can say he sucks when he WENT TO FUCKING BERKLEE! I challenge you to go to his personal YT channel and watch his performances with Anthrax, then try and play those songs just as smoothly as he does. You cant most likely, Jason is a beast you guys are just jealous he plays cleaner fills and double bass than you

[@theSnaredrumde]

It´s very impressive drums work!

[@beatsdddx]

Blasting all the way good stuff!!!

[@stickwithit]

I'm inspired for the next few weeks.

[@croakingfrog3173]

Amazing drumming!

[@WARLOCK70]

AWESOME!!! Hope one day, I to can afford do a great drum performance.

[@doyandrum]

he is the marvelous drummer on his band

[@zacharylamountain2763]

From beautiful downtown, Cohoes, NY!

[@kylemarnell8212]

Goddamn! I've been playing (probably) longer than he's been alive. I am only .00001% as good as him. What fun to watch and listen to

[@masterdrummer19]

well this guys plays death metal so its what he does and he has plenty of feeling... this is one of the most skilled drummers in the world he is completely amazing

[@makakamakaki]

Your opinion.I'm also a drummer and i love this solo.If you think metal solos are shit,that doesnt mean every one think like that.

[@ericasselin1165]

Wonderful drummer, wow!

[@willsheldon6144]

Jason is amazing

[@PoppaRellReal]

awsome drumming!!!

[@Primal67060]

Jason's diversity incorporated with groove are fucking awesome. Not the same old shit of either blasting the shit out of them through a whole song where all you hear is blasting (boring) and the creativity with basic rudiments.

[@waylonbloodskull666]

one of my friends said he does not like shadows fall, but i showed him this, didnt change him but he did say the drummer is pretty damn talented...good enough XD

[@Paiste18]

How can people find fault in this guys solo. Amazing! I just hope I'm half as good as this guy some day.

[@AstarothNZ]

SEXY sounding drums and cymbals. I find that you can't really judge a drummer on their solos. You gotta listen to their studio stuff as well. Jason just might not be too confident with soloing. Gene Hoglan is not a soloist, but he's a BEAST as far as laying down drum patterns go.

[@pearldrummer4077]

wow,one of the nicest solos I've ever heard.Sounds like a Ronnie Tutt solo from the 70s.

[@MapexRG]

@NoahIceDrums he doesn't use triggers. he says so at modern drummer festival 05

[@DeadtreeFilms1]

@Cboisen10 I'm not disagreeing with you, but most drummers don't change it up that often. Neil Peart still uses beats and rhythms from his previous solos.

[@toddvandell85]

Pretty amazing what can be done with seven drums and a nice raft of cymbals. great double kicks. nicely played.

[@3wrapframe]

One thing I notice about these videos from Guitar Center is they mount a camera on a sub-woofer or something and one of the campera angles is vibrating with the kick drum. Move the camera already I have seen it in several videos over several years.

[@blica1]

A lot of drummers out there who are considered "professional" just because they belong to a band that was successful, is NO excuse to be considered a drummer who can pull of solos..I don't care where or with whom you studied, how many records you've sold..This guy is a prime example of drummers who shouldn't be soloing..It DOES NOT mean that he's not great at what he does with his band, it simply means, YOU SHOULD NOT BE SOLOING..

[@Sticks922]

That snare sounds amazing

[@Krimson5pride]

I can't get the hate on this video. Most of the comments are about the lack of soul in the solo. i feel Jason Bittner is quite an under appreciated drummer. imo Shadows fall have never been about groove, it's about power thrash. He exactly embedded so in his solo. The solo was the perfect blend of speed and power. His salsa influenced drumming is something you don't often hear in the modern metal. There are shit load of technical and better drummers out there but it's about standing out. Stop comparing Buddy Rich or Neil Peart to every drummer out there.

[@healdo06]

@Jaredplaysdrums9693 Its his double bass work thats what hes known for.. his hands even though he can play drums very very well.. is his weakness where his feet is where he exceeds.. he may not be the best drummer in the world.. but hes where he is for a reason.. his double bass work is very fast, yet being able to play complexed techniqual patterns

[@brentmann]

I have no issues with his playing, geez everyones a frickin drum solo expert. I'm willin to bet 95% of these critics don't even play drums let alone play this well.

[@jsalljr]

I'm not going to say that I've been TEACHING for 26 err 27 yrs and know this and critique that. Even if a metal solo ain't what someone digs, this is still good. Compressed sound + muffled kick drums not my preference(I use no muffling on anything including my 20x24 kick) but Bittner has chops and his phrasing was OTC

[@Xcocobearr]

Dear Jason, Leave blasting to those who know when and where to use it

[@HappyChrisTaylor]

effortless power! brilliant!

[@davidstrandquest9642]

Many people love well played typical metal drumming. I do. I enjoy other styles & disciplines too, but this is what I want from Jason. It is his style. It's what I come to him to hear as a fan. Just like Buddy Rich vs Max Roach, I prefer Buddy's style because I like that style of drumming better. Max was a super great drummer too, but the more dynamic tempos, long spaces, diversity in patterns & abstract ideas are not what I enjoy as much as variations of sounds that I am drawn to. It's like rock vs jazz.

[@boogadeeboyd]

BRILLIANT. NUFF SAID!!!

[@Paiste18]

If I could play half as good as this i'd tell the world to kiss my ass. Drums isn't all about soloing. Being able to do a great solo won't get you many jobs. This guy is a beast!

[@Maxrocky123]

i love jason

[@allenlawrence5376]

Love his work

[@mantzini]

Forgets one kick drum home. *No solo*

[@thenecropolis_ov_former_lo3396]

what?

[@highervibetribe9137]

He can play other styles, go to his Metal Fundamentals Drumeo vid from 3:30-35:00.

[@RobertoRossini95]

He's the best!!!!!!

[@rio_mn]

@Clancedrums That was his "signature" kit that he and Tama were selling with Meinl cymbals (until Jason switched to Zildjian). Now that I think of it, I think it was just the kit with a bunch of hardware for like a thousand bucks or something. I remember seeing it in a bunch of musiciansfriend magazines.

[@newfrontiers]

Based on this and the last three videos of Mike Portnoy's live drum solos that I've seen, I'd have to say that Jason Bittner is better at the live drum solo by far. I still think Mike is the better drummer, simply because of his extreme technical skill, but Mike's live solos consist of hitting as many drums and cymbals as possible. Jason's solos have real rhythmic structure and one can see and hear how he constructs each part of his solo while still leaving room for real improv. Good stuff.

[@brraatt]

@allmetaliswelcome the snare is turned off, theres a switch on the side to turn it on and off