My Lessons with Joe Morello

In this video I talk about my lessons and interactions with Joe Morello .

[@paulrevelli]

You are a lucky and blessed man, Rick. Your interactions with Mr. Morello have obviously made a lasting impact on you and your phenomenal playing every day. The apple didn't fall too far from the tree, as they say. Thanks for sharing your reminiscences and for the joy of playing and teaching you continue to share with us.

[@gustavoborchert]

I believe it’s the same studio that I used to have my lessons with Joe, many… years ago. There was a bar next to it that Joe invited me once to go while we waited for Ms. Gene Morello come back from church. I sat down a bit shy and ordered a Coca Cola; Joe looked at me and ordered a beer and a tequila. That was it, I was never shy again hanging with Joe!

[@jazzhole8208]

that speech at the end was just amazing 🙌 thank you for all the insights 🙏

[@KaiOwensDrums]

Thank you very much for this one, I am a blind jazz drummer and it is very nice to see that success is possible in this field without eyesight!

[@themashmakerchallenge9578]

I was fortunate enough to have two lessons with Joe Morello in 2002 and 2003. I used to live in PA and made the drive over to Orange City. My first lesson was two hours and for the first hour it was just talking and listening to stories and then the lesson began. Just all technique and rudiments. I took all that back with me and worked on it. Took the second lesson about nine months later. More rudiments and technique which is exactly what I wanted to learn from him. I’m still using all of the stuff I learned from him to this day. Wish I could’ve studied more from him but I moved to Wisconsin in 2004. He was great drummer and a really nice and humble guy. One of my favorites. Barry

[@InyoReacts]

WOW! this video was amazing..any and all stories we can document about the great masters of the past is a gift to every single musician of the future. THANK YOU!!!

[@shadowbirdstudio9035]

AWESOME. I'm so gladd I took the time to listen. Thanks for sharing.

[@Daddytang67]

Wow. Thanks for sharing Rick. Incredible.

[@joescott2472]

Hey Rick - glad you used that Joe M sound bite I shared with you. Sums him up so nicely. You’re right - watching him play and being in the same space was something special. Great memories. Thanks for telling your story. Laughed when I heard your comment about him always being late! The guy had a perfect sense of musical time, but keeping appointments was another story! Thanks again !

[@tmaddrummer]

I never got to see or meet Joe; today, just now, I did. Thanks Rick, greatly appreciate it!

[@christiancanalita6487]

Thanks for sharing Rick! So, so, so cool to hear your experience with him.

[@gustavoborchert]

By the way, I have some where a tape of an interview I did with him. I have to find it…

[@roloduarte3100]

Great story; thank you for sharing it. I also admire the way you play.

[@johndiraimo1444]

Thanks for this Rick. You definitely had an amazing friendship with Joe Morello.

[@MJTNick]

Absolutely amazing and incredible. My love with the drums started with hearing Joe Morello on Take Five, and I have always admired him and will always admire him. Just from his instructional videos I guess he must have been the greatest guy, and the thought of chatting with him, walk the dog with him and go and have a drink with him boggles my mind. Thank for sharing this!!!

[@IRo415]

Enjoyed hearing your story about meeting and working with Joe. Glad I subscribed after watching your snare drum review. Always look forward to your videos. Thanks very much from Chris in San Francisco.

[@Metzok]

Thanks for sharing Rick!

[@momentofilms1503]

Amazing memories Rick. Thanks for sharing.

[@constantkiffer7924]

To me Joe Morello wassuch a great drummer ( Take 5, Castillian drums live at Carnegie Hall, etc.). And you were lucky to meet him personnally over many years, aswell as a teacher and as a kind and friendly man ! ☺️thxs for sharing 👌🏻

[@petebigg8362]

I had taken some lessons with Glenn at his school also years ago. Loved the drum room downstairs. I could see Joes teaching room also next to Glenn’s. I even talked to his wife at one point and was going take lessons with him but sadly that never happened. Great memories though and learned a lot.

[@vipermad358]

Great video. Joe was awesome.

[@bamobamo-ck6os]

Wisdom. Thanks for sharing this.

[@jamesconnors5653]

Thank you. Joe Morello is a giant.

[@liiliiliiiliiwiliiil689]

Thank you for generously sharing as always Rick. You are an inspiration and a brilliant teacher.

[@spears104]

Thanks for sharing your incredible experiences. I can only imagine what it would be like to be in his presence.

[@Glinggl72Freestyle]

That's made my day. Thank you, Rick, as ever 🙏 you are a great inspiration to us all.

[@boomerguy9935]

Wow! Thank you for sharing this story. Joe has always been my favorite drummer and you have been so blessed to have spent so much time with him and share your experiences. I am so glad to hear another story about how warm and positive Joe has always been towards other musicians.

[@DreBDrums]

What a gift. Thanks for sharing this, and for sharing what you know with us.

[@will9523]

this is a really nice video you put up here. thanks

[@scartabellomusic]

Thanks so much for sharing this Rick. What a wonderful story! Sounds like such a generous and sweet man aside from being an absolute giant!

[@bdrums9192]

One of the all time best. Thank you for making this Rick.

[@stevenobrien595]

That was excellent . Spot on about Joe always giving and sharing his knowledge. Studied with him for 6 years starting in 1998

[@Spagz]

Thank you for sharing this Rick! Thanks for the insight on Joe and the personal relationship with him.

[@drum_services]

Excellent video

[@hugostos09]

We are lucky to watch your videos

[@DaGretschguy]

It’s funny I was just thinking about our lesson and you talking a little about your time with Joe and wanting to know more ! Thanks Rick!

[@charliecontrino1626]

Thank you so much for sharing this AMAZING story Rick! I remember takin a lesson with Norman Grossman in 1980 to learn how to play take 5 for my HS Jazz band and really getting into Joe Morello. I moved from Astoria to South Brunswick NJ and one of the things on my bucket list was to take a lesson with Joe but regrettably that never happened.

[@philipmcevoy7206]

Your drum channel is sick Rick❤

[@billtesar1645]

Great to hear this account. I studied with Joe for about a year and a half when he was teaching at Dorn & Kirshners. I was also the last lesson of the day - not at 9pm. I was 19 years old at the time. I had been studying with Sonny Igoe for a few years before. Joe completely overhauled my technique for the better. I use to drive him home after the lessons, but like you mentioned, we would often hit his local bar for a drink on the way. He had great stories to share. He was very supportive and came to quite a few of my gigs at The Three Sisters and Gullivers' in West Paterson, NJ. I miss him still. I feel so fortunate to have had the time I had with him. Thanks again for sharing this. It brought back great memories for me.

[@rickdior]

Thanks Bill, great memories. I think he left everyone he taught with a little magic dust that lasts forever.

[@prodrummerbill]

Thank you for sharing!

[@kennethtaylor964]

Thank you!! Priceless!!

[@TheDrillDown]

Wonderful vid, and great stories! Like a lot of jazz musicians, I listened to Brubeck just for Joe and Paul Desmond. I still love listening to some of the features Brubeck gave him, like "Shortnin' Bread" and Castilian Drums. He was just such a master. Wish I could have studied with him.

[@michaelb5451]

Cool video and story, Rick. Thanks for sharing it!

[@blujay9191]

I enjoyed the heck out of this. Thanks for making the effort. I'm not envious. I swear I'm not.

[@fepatton]

Great recollections! Joe Morello was my first drumming hero. My parents listened mostly to classical music, but my Dad had the record of “Time Out”, and I pretty well wore it out!

[@peterharriesjnr5789]

That is so awesome, thank you Rick.

[@TripleAAA53]

Outstanding Rick!! LUCKY YOU!!

[@jasonbone7033]

Thanks for sharing!

[@dasglasperlenspiel10]

So sweet!

[@Trays7940]

This is awesome stuff, Rick. This is how the younger people get to know generations they would never get to know. Next time video with a cup of coffee or a beer. Great stuff!

[@danielmaradei2035]

Buenas tardes, le escribo desde Argentina. Sigo sus videos, son muy instructivos y de gran nivel. Felicitaciones. Sería muy importante para la comunidad latina que le agregué la traducción subtitulada. Muchas gracias, Un Abrazo !!

[@rickdior]

That's fine if you want to add that.

[@stevegunning1806]

Thank you Rick, thank you. 👍

[@MarioCalzadaMusic]

Thanks for sharing

[@tster4181]

Great stuff thank you. Marian McPartland at the Hickory House is another setting to hear JM outside of DB.

[@fpliuzzi]

Fantastic

[@alwilliams1997]

Thanks Rick

[@bromasi]

I had one lesson from Joe as he left his display he told me to act like there was water on the tip and flick it off bringing the wrist all the back,NO CHARGE.

[@vincentvetrano9896]

Hi Rick, My name is Vince and I've lived in NJ my whole life. I think we are about the same age. I was surprised to hear that you lived in Edison. I'm wondering if you were familiar with Lou Rose Music and their drum teacher Charlie Tappan. I studied with Charlie a short time and like you my dad would drive me to Edison from the Jamesburg area. Like you I considered myself very lucky that my dad would sacrifice that time for me. Just curious if you knew Charlie.

[@rickdior]

Hi Vince Yes, I knew Charlie a little bit. I had some high school friends ( J.P Stephens High) who studied with him. It would have been late 70's into the early 80's. I remember going into Lou Rose on Rt 27. Is it still there? They had a set of Red Flame Rogers drums I really wanted, and I got my first snare drum, a Dynasonic, there.

[@denesisdelcorockschool3074]

Rick. Did you ever cross paths with Carl Mottola? He was a drummer from Philly who played around town and Atlantic City in the 70s thru the 90s.

[@rickdior]

Yes, I had a steady gig in Atlantic City for about 3 years from 1987 -1990. I met him a few times there.

[@josefinacupido9872]

Did Joe play a chordal instrument?

[@rodneymcintyre8544]

Do you have the book he and Barry James published about Stone?

[@cool-km9ck]

I want to get 3 cymbals(including the hi hat) under $780 and I want to play mostly funk and jazz.what cymbals should I get?

[@richmonddrumlessons]

Have any pictures we could see of you with Joe?

[@rickdior]

Somewhere.....that was before phone cameras, so everything is in the form of film and prints which are in a box somewhere.

[@josephgiarraffa6379]

Great stuff !! I always watch your videos and lessons your one of the best in studies My dad studied with Henry Adler in Manhattan in the 60s along with Sonny Igoe These guys all knew each other You probably know the music store yourself in Manhattan West 46 street It was next to Performing Arts High School which I attended in 1984 for drums

[@rickdior]

Was it the Joe Cusatis Modern Drum shop? That's what I remember being on 46th street near Broadway. I'm not sure Henry was still teaching by that time.

[@billsmith1957]

Very cool Rick, thank you for sharing this.

[@mirtao64]

Thanks for sharing!