Joe Morello - Interview

Joe Morello's influential drumming style was showcased on the landmark Dave Brubeck recording of "Take Five." Ever since, he has inspired generations of performers. Joe became an icon in the music product's industry through his long associations with manufacturers as an endorsee, music retailers as a clinician, and publishers as an author of successful method books. He gave advice and lessons to all who ask, and was often known to be the last to leave a clinic -- ensuring all questions have been answered. His NAMM Oral History was completed on June 8, 2007.
Interview Date: June 8, 2007
Job Title: Musician
Birthdate: July 17, 1928
Deceased: March 12, 2011
Copyright: www.namm.org/library/oral-hist...

[@upyours574]

One one the true greats. I only recently started getting into jazz and I'm really digging it, but mostly Joe's drumming.

[@U2WB]

Joe told me this story when I studied with him. He was such an amazing guy - witty, down-to-earth, smart. And a wonderful teacher, too. I told him that even if he didn’t teach I would pay just to listen to him tell stories about his experiences on the road with Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa, and Louie Bellson. What a great guy. I miss him.

[@bluesky6449]

always love Joe M., speaking or drumming. One of a kind classic for the record.

[@dongee6351]

Joe's hat goes up and down and his pants left to right, bass drum and high hat, happens automatically. Been watching him since the 1950s....the best....

[@derek24hudson]

Joe was a true master. Miss him greatly....

[@c.johnson1691]

Joe was the best of the best!

[@nealsausen4651]

That stops when it comes to buddy rich he doesn’t come close to buddy and you know it

[@matttdrum]

Hell Yeah ! Wow . That was pretty much THE BEST thing that I've ever seen on KZbin. Joe was THE MAN !! Thanks for posting

[@boomerguy9935]

I keep watching this because I've loved Joe forever. I always laugh when he mentions the bass player's name, "Norman Bates", and I think of the killer in the Hitchcock movie, "Psycho". The more I try to ignore this, the funnier it gets. (Yes, the movie came out about a decade later than this incident, but still....)

[@MrJohnQCitizen]

Love the fact there's a clock ticking in the background!

[@boomerguy9935]

I've always loved Joe and I've been following him since I was a teenager in the 60's when I learned to play drums. I find this interview wonderfully ironic that a legally blind man is wearing a Smith & Wesson tee shirt. That, and his loyalty to the first-responders with his ball cap make him even more of a hero to me. I have never heard anything negative about Joe in anyway, by anyone. All other jazz drummers respected him and he was always respectful to them.

[@cinnaplid]

What a lovely man.

[@zkidd91]

sportin a smith & wesson t shirt! baaaad asss! i love it!

[@DhangoMicheli]

¡And a NYPD hat!

[@jtowell1]

The man!!!!

[@mrlozano]

I ❤ Joe!

[@starspangled2206]

Joe wearing a Smith & Wesson tshirt...classic! 🔴 ⚪ 🔵

[@spideraxis]

Excellent drummer, he was superb on "Take Five".

[@HorrorKidd88]

one example of the 'modulation thing' Joe spoke about would be Blue Rondo ala Turk. Written in 9/8....subdivided into 1,2,1,2,1,2,1,2,3 - 1,2,3,1,2,3,1,2,3, then modulates into that beautiful 4/4 swing part.

[@charlesmiller7283]

Joe Morello made the Dave Brubeck quartet jump....

[@nomoreblitz]

Joe might have been the first virtuoso drummer. At a minimum, Joe was one of the first.

[@andyweis5194]

There were a few other virtuoso drummers that came before him, like Buddy Rich and Louie Bellson.

[@chqara]

Legend ^_^

[@hugolafhugolaf]

That hat movement. Can't take my focus off of it.

[@rrp.robertopalacio630]

Maestro eterno de la bateria jazz.

[@tinapatton7346]

Polyrythm maestro Morello.

[@MrDrumsPhilAmbros]

THE PROBLEM I HAD,WITH A DRUM SOLO I HAVE LEARNED? BEING A SHOW DRUMMER, IF THE BAND LEADER WANTS YOU TO BE A SOLOIST OK, NO MORE PROBLEM BUT? WHEN YOU ASK JUST AS JOE DID I WANT TO DO SOME SOLOS AND IN THE SONG TAKE FIVE COMPOSED BY PAUL DESMOND AND YOU TAKE AWAY THE SHOW? ON DRUMS YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND HOW PAUL FELT IT WAS HE THAT DID IT ALL? YES JOES SOLO WAS THE BEST WE ALL KNOW THAT BUT... HE DID TAKE THE WIND OUT OF PAUL'S WINGS????? NOT ON PURPOSE... IT JUST WENT DOWN THAT WAY....I AM GLAD HE DID THE SOLO IN THAT TIME, BUT NOW I FEEL THAT IT WAS DAVE.....THAT SHOULD HAVE NOT LET JOE HAVE THAT SOLO? AND ALL THE CREDIT SHOULD HAVE GONE TO PAUL DESMOND TAKE FIVE WAS PAUL CREATION? AND ALL WERE LOOKING AT JOE?????

[@tromboneJTS]

"For All We Know" after a raucous drum solo with a standing O. That is funny!!!

[@claytonlevibrown]

joe Morella has become my favorite drummer and I prefer him over buddy rich but in the past in the battle of buddy versus gene I was always an underdog rooter for gene krupa. All about that genie. even though you could see he was inferior to buddy it gave me hope in believing in myself to keep trying.

[@claytonlevibrown]

Side by side Buddy was a better player based on adjudication of the performance. Maybe you're right. I never thought about it that way. I don't truly know the history as well as I should. Tell me more Joe.

[@WhereThereDude]

whos joe morella?

[@oscarelizondo3505]

Joe had class. Buddy was an ass.

[@boomerguy9935]

I've talked to people who were around Buddy and they never had anything good to say about his personality. On the other hand, I've never heard anything bad about Joe's personality. I've always felt that Joe was more musical and was a team player. Buddy was more of a loud technician who demanded the spotlight and played like he was always attacking someone. I could listen to Joe for hours - and I do - but I can only listen to Buddy for about 5 minutes.

[@nealsausen4651]

: Yeah, you’re an IDIOT!!!!, but which had more class it is pinky fit all the other drivers had combined don’t be an idiot