Nate Smith, "Rambo" Night Owl | NPR Music

Watch drummer, composer, producer and educator Nate Smith perform "Rambo" at Star Trax in New York for a Night Owl, coproduced with WBGO Jazz 88.3 & Jazz Night In America.
Follow Night Owl on Facebook: nprNightOwl

[@adamh7947]

I like how he subtly modulates his volume but without loosing that crazy intricate groove as the other instruments come in and out. He gives them just the right amount of space.

[@dmhrpr756]

Nate Smith, such an individual talent and stylist, I love how he switches between being exactly on the beat and an exaggerated swing time. Groovy as fuck.

[@zross8471]

Dont get better than this folks. Nate is incredible.

[@DeejayRach0]

truth

[@TheApostleofRock]

holy shit this dude's triple strokes are so effortless and clean.

[@dad231090]

My nose bleed everytime i watch him perform !!

[@dominikn19]

What technique does he use?

[@dominikn19]

@BYRRD Same here. 😂 That’s just Nate being Nate. 👑 I could’ve asked him, when I got to meet him after his concert in Berlin. 😉 But I tried to figure it out for the last couple of months and I’m pretty sure he uses a kind of push pull technique for triple strokes. 🤔 Throwing the first one, using a slight finger push to tap the second one (that’s the tough part) and catching the third one. 🙏 Practice makes perfect. 😅

[@DeejayRach0]

@@dominikn19 Thank you

[@natesmith3949]

Hey, that’s my name! Lol, this guy’s awesome. Get it Nate Smith!!

[@phonkey]

Knowing you, who would you say is the better Nate Smith?

[@mccabeteems4587]

nate smith is the better one

[@nightlyowl3514]

...

[@naresu]

@@nightlyowl3514 hey, there's night owl as well

[@alexmacarthur5136]

Nate smith has some of the best traditional grip technique that I've ever seen.

[@theopinson3851]

And matched!

[@mananacl]

This is so damn good. Not only is Nate Smith damn virtuosic, the composition is fantastic. He makes it so worth it when he busts into the groove.

[@AJK.630]

His hands and sense of time are just on the next level.

[@jamestaunton8209]

My brother said the exact same thing

[@NicoPlatter]

A drummer like Nate Smith is an elevation of universal embracing and total control in music. (while music and rhythm completely control and connect us)

[@CamiloMoyaBaterista]

Wow!

[@drewbrewer8379]

Nate's right hand on that groove is so tight...Jesus man....Is there any groove this guy CAN'T crush!?

[@livewirecowley]

And this... is why Nate Smith is amazing!!!

[@anthonymignot253]

Tears in my eyes

[@AdamStachelek]

His band leading style is that of a master. Gentle but noticeable cues every time, on time, right on time. What a master.

[@junkandcrapamen]

Oh my. Tasty as tasty can be. Nate's sense of time is almost superhuman. And that bass tone. Damn.

[@ashowaboutme1407]

damn this guy is amazing as hell, not a musician but love listening

[@CliffGraham]

Nate is one of the top 5 current working drummers, but this vid actually showed off the key player and especially the bass player more- great skilled flow and expert use of dynamics. Kudos!

[@leocomerford]

Say, who else do you put in that top 5, or near to it?

[@alexismoma]

@@leocomerford For me it would be Brian Blade, Larnel Lewis, Benny Grebb, Jojo Mayer and Nate, no particular order. Honorable mentions: Sarah Thawer, Dave Lombardo, Danny Carey, Gavin Harrison, Ilan Rubin, Matt Garska, Thomas Lang,

[@gballmaier]

I can't breathe, I can't breathe!!!

[@christopherarmitage1030]

The one-handed tom roll at 1:14 is freaking unreal.

[@kindabluu]

damn near touched myself this was so good

[@KJTB]

Lool

[@alasdairmacintyre9383]

One of my proudest faps

[@alithenamekian1616]

@@alasdairmacintyre9383 woah there. there's kids on this app

[@galebh9715]

@@alithenamekian1616 a meme masterclass

[@nts4906]

@@alithenamekian1616 would they pick up on the context though?

[@gleventhal]

Sick. That bass tone is on point, yo.

[@DeejayRach0]

good drive

[@seanr6102]

The tone of that ride sooo good

[@billyb6043]

every once in a while someone comes along and sets the bar a little higher....inspiring others to travel further...and so it goes. Stay humble, serve the spirit.

[@louiestuart9675]

Nate is the absolute GOAT

[@alyssadriscoll7181]

nate smith is a beautiful, beautiful human

[@kieranhumphreys9331]

1:40 that smile when u know ur nice with it

[@DeejayRach0]

ooo yes

[@ChristopherDillman]

If Weckl, Donati, Moore, Chambers, or Colaiuta are ever asked who's their favorite drummer they follow today... it's this dude.

[@EvanFlanders666]

Nate Smith is unbelievable 🔥

[@callingchristiano]

One of my fav drummer. Not on the technical way but his feeling and groove!

[@francescorecupero2180]

Not technical? Hahahah

[@callingchristiano]

I don't Say that he IS not technical...please read comments before

[@callingchristiano]

I'm a bass player... But listening to this guy!!??!!! Ouah fantastic Drummmer, so groovy!

[@peterdavidian4359]

Love this trio and with Nate Smith at the helm. Must be the hottest drummer around at this time, on the least amount of gear!

[@Sonically2faced]

Im thankful to live during a time that Nate smith plays. One of the geniuses of today no doubt. Proof at 2:01

[@VinceTibo]

Not many things can hold my attention continuously for 7 minutes anymore, but damn was I riveted to my screen from beginning til the end. Felt like two minutes

[@shanebrown6070]

the fact that he is wearing a suit! While shredding! That's top shelf

[@tobynsaunders]

That's what I want to hear when I'm eating a dinner that costs $200. Not that I would do that. I'm just saying that I would want to do that. They'd be sitting over in the corner, and people around me would be talking to each other as if there was background music playing, but I'd be sipping my expensive glass of water and eating my food and looking at my date while bopping my head like, "Alright! These guys can groove, right? They're cooking over there, and I'm not talking about the kitchen!", but I wouldn't say it. I'd just give her a look, and then I'd look at the band members, and maybe one of them might seem like he was nodding to me, but really he was just keeping tempo.

[@highway67theband]

Hahahahaha, :D

[@eightcores]

Now that's an awesome comment!

[@robertmorrisey7140]

You should write a screenplay 👌🎶🍷✌️

[@GarciansVortex]

Briljant

[@onesyphorus]

i wood een play like, 2oo 4 a dinny w/o da dinny - just ii hear Nate TBH

[@toddcmcintosh]

Come on NPR, Nate Smith is not the only musician in the video. Credits please.

Jon Cowherd on keys - don't know the bass player.

[@JDCornelius]

Fima Ephron on bass?

[@manysnakes]

If you like the pianist (and you should), check out his work with Brian Blade and the Fellowship Band. He's incredibly talented.

[@BeatPushaTV]

It's his band...

[@toddcmcintosh]

Sure, but it's a trio, and they're all contributing equally it appears to me.

[@billysuter]

So siiiiiick

[@araham2049]

What a vibe!

[@rhythmista7707]

This was this first video I ever saw of Nate Smith. And I was like, whaaaaa ?...😲

[@gerardi2000]

This is incredibly unbelievable

[@Kostadin_Arolski]

Base guy did awesome job too

[@andrewalmodovar7678]

Can't wait to witness greatness with Nate Smith,Carrtoons May 4th!!!!

[@KmtS9]

Auditory, visual, mental, and emotional treat. If Einstein and Picasso had a baby... but music edition 😅

[@levinascimento1995]

I dig the B he gets from grinding that ride! A true mastery of his instrument.

[@janetremsing6988]

Nate's in full-on jazz-beast mode!!! 👍🙂

[@jorgeservin5209]

Nice trio!!! Mr. Smith killing as usual

[@jonathanfernandes3327]

That bass, man so tasty!

[@mathieurivest4533]

way too cool nate!

[@DrumsTheWord]

World class.

[@martarodriguezramos4061]

Nate is a beast!!!

[@r.a.8590]

What a great player!! Love the look and sound of those drums too. Also, props to the band :)

[@dighawaii1]

thank you guys for this.

[@raffaelepigneri1413]

Absolute, mind-blowing class................... 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯

[@jre9571]

That was a rhythmic claymore! My mind’s a’blown…WOW! ❤

[@marks7192]

man this trio killed it. so good.

[@levinascimento1995]

Got a Bitches Brew vibe from this! Man, if Miles could jam on top of this....

[@troytolbert2005]

So true Levi! Good 👂🏽

[@griffinsrednick8621]

Some serious Pharaohs Dance feels. Daaaaaaaaang.

[@darthchua]

This is way more intense than the whole Rambo series!

[@DeejayRach0]

hahaha yes

[@slimturnpike]

This is mad good.

[@alanduncan1980]

Wow! Look at him go! Such masterful playing.

[@moriahrickli9542]

Absolutely insane!!!

[@salif130]

sublime.

[@SimonJefferis]

damn... madness boys absolute madness! love it

[@StedgeJohn]

Thanks for sharing. This guy truly is a Àáyán - awo - inú - igbó Ayan - the Mystery of the Inner Sanctum of the Sacred Groove... I kind of made that one up

[@illuminatiCorgi]

Look at that bass ❤🔥

[@jimkent1480]

Nate and drummer Mark Simmons must be twin brothers. Mark played for Al Jarreau- would love to see Mark and Nate get on stage with two drum sets and play !!!!!!

[@MrDarkstar620]

Very interesting and tasty to feel. The nighttime vibe was captivating. Thank you Nate Smith and family.

[@dad231090]

What a perfect combination !!!

[@unclestevie9841]

Brilliant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@ma61]

As a musician and drummer, I can definitely hear Nate coming through on the drums. He has an expression on the drums that seems more honest than showy or trendy. To me, ultimately, martial arts means honestly expressing yourself. Now, it is very difficult to do. It has always been very easy for me to put on a show and be cocky, and be flooded with a cocky feeling and feel pretty cool and all that. I can make all kinds of phony things. Blinded by it. Or I can show some really fancy movement. But to experience oneself honestly, not lying to oneself, and to express myself honestly, now that is very hard to do. ~Bruce Lee~

[@benwilson1710]

ma61 well that took a tangent

[@natewsmith6941]

Yup

[@whiskystefan1978]

Nate Smiths musicianship and drumming is on such a level it's almost depressing :p

[@bateriayguitarra5032]

Impresionante como toca esa independencia Ride swing Snare Crazy🔥🤔

[@pascal62]

What about credits for the other musicians too? Super tight unit!

[@bradwillard3152]

I believe here we have Fima Ephron ( E Bass) and Jon Cowherd ( keys) correct me if i am wrong...

[@jhardycarroll]

Jon Cowherd and Fina Ephron.

[@user-cz3bm6fy6t]

@@beeeethz kinfolk

[@migsdrummer]

Love the rawness. Fierce!

[@yelpo6388]

ESTO ES LO MEJOR QUE VI EN MI VIDA, GRACIAS MALUMA

[@kebiwoni]

Maluma?

[@apexvenom4666]

Incredulously magnificent bravo bravo 👏👏👏

[@GrumpyGrunt]

This is like the condensed version of a Nate Smith novel, written in jazz.

[@larealshit]

That paper couldnt handle the sick beat. It was like " Yeah, im out. I heard enough."

[@usernamerob]

No stick control, only stick mastery

[@user-rf7rb3ok6j]

.. . Speechless

[@boogiedoes]

that was bananas

[@echolux2225]

B a n a n a s

[@RootsRodri]

master piece

[@bjrambo]

As a man with the surname Rambo, and a fellow musician, I absolutely approve (not that it would make a difference) ☺️

[@yobrojoost]

Wow! That's what I call jamming!

[@MegaLJ3]

great players are coming out of the wood work.

[@Lil-works]

masterpiece...

[@jmcbeady8210]

Nice. Masterful. Entertaining.

[@oscarsolorzano4924]

Groove is too saucy!! Band is tight 💯🤙🏻

[@rrayjay5171]

Flawless!

[@manuelwenaud8231]

Enorme !!!!!!

[@kairos883]

Jesus bless... Sounds great

[@NicoPlatter]

Thanks Nate, finally

[@ZackMester]

That toilet paper flying at the end 😂

[@joaquincasares2895]

This guy is a beast. Holy wakamoly.

[@RC-jv6ye]

Amazing Nate

[@garyharden2362]

What the hellll!! That was crazy good!!

[@AiloveMnml]

AMAZING

[@bobweber4140]

Good god man

[@allulefcatalan.feley95]

Amazing play drum 🥁🔥🔥🇨🇱

[@canvasacoustic]

the king!!!

[@supernate223]

Amazing!!!