Ten reasons to love NARADA MICHAEL WALDEN

The ProgCast: Greg Bendian + Narada Michael Walden
• Narada Michael Walden ...
Become a Patreon! / andyedwards
Andy is a drummer, producer and educator. He has toured the world with rock legend Robert Plant and played on classic prog albums by Frost and IQ.
As a drum clinician he has played with Terry Bozzio, Kenny Aronoff, Thomas Lang, Marco Minneman and Mike Portnoy.
He also teaches drums privately and at Kidderminster College

[@ronnieciago]

When I was growing up on Long Island,New York I started studying with Narada when I was 15 years old until I was 17 years then I went off to study music at Berklee College Of Music and he moved to California. I’m still in contact with Narada. He’s very important to me. Narada is an amazing person as well as a drummer, songwriter,producer, inspiration, Truly Blessed 🙏🏻 Thank you Narada for being who you are 🎶🥁

[@syn707]

Thank you so much for doing this one. Narada is a force of nature that cannot be ignored. Just watching him speak, it seems his energy gets pumped into your pores and your own excitement level can’t be suppressed. For me, just the opening to the ‘Visions of the Enerald Beyond’ takes hold of me every time. I know you could have gone on forever talking about him and I wished you coukd have. Love hearing your passion in all of your videos. Two unrelated things. 1. The ‘SINGULARITY’ album is absolutely incredible. So happy I got it. You guys should be very proud! 2. Have you watched the Steve Vai/ Al DiMeola interview? Al’s daughter walks in…..and it does not detract from this little interruption. It’s all cool!

[@CoolBreeze2016]

Narada Michael Walden would like to speak to you!

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

This is a great honour....I have messaged him!

[@regaltip8A]

I was about 15 when I first heard him on Wired. Incredible. Saw him live with Jeff live back in about 2006. I think he also cleaned up financially producing Whitney Houston. He should have no financial worries after that.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

He is a very postive force, i don't think he would have any worries anyway

[@regaltip8A]

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer Perhaps. I have never met him but the production royalties on Whitney Houstons album would have been astronomical and from my own personal experience you generally have less worries when you have a comfortable bank balance.

[@junkhater]

Andy, regarding Robert Fripp's Exposure, Narada played on three tracks.They are: "Breathless" , "NYC3", and "I May Not Have Had Enough of Me but I've Had Enough of You". All classic NMW drumming. Exposure, along with Visions of the Emerald Beyond and Wired were probably three of most influential albums during my formative years as a drummer and musician. This album also features some interesting 'punk-fusion' (for lack of a better term) drumming by Phil Collins and heavy pocket grooves from Jerry Marrota. Exposure is definitely worth the listen for the uninitiated. To my ears, it sounds like a hybrid of Fripp-Eno ambient, King Crimson and late 70's era NYC New-Wave. Thank you Andy for your deep dives into these classics. Really enjoy your work.

[@jamiesmith6838]

I was hooked on Narada since that AMAZING back beat on Weather Report's Black Market!! OMG. I only Wished he stayed with that #1 Fusion Group of All Time! Weather Report.

[@jamessedgedrums]

Led Boots just floors me!!!! Groove, power, precision, beauty!

[@guillaumechabason3165]

If i really think about my drumming Narada is my biggest influence but I 'm not always aware of it ! His drumming and compositions are DELIGHTFUL !

[@michaelslahetka8371]

KNUCKLE HEAD --NARADA !!MOST IMPORTANTLY Soul Transformation Intensive Exquisite Expressive MUSICIANS EVER ...EVER .!.

[@scoop1178]

I used the last three hours to skateboard through youtube to catch as much as possible. As a first resume: He is the Steve Winwood of "jazz rock funk disco fusion" and now at the end i saw that also a collaboration with steve winwood exist Andy Thank You and i can totally agree...........This man is a multicolour fontain

[@martinbroten9467]

I'm in the middle of reading the Weather Report bio "Elegant People". I was really surprised to read about that edit in "Black Market" where Chester morphs into Narada. The song definitely takes off at that point. I would love to hear the Chester version. From the same album, I always loved his playing on "Gibraltar".

[@antonioberuff5033]

I was one of the lucky few to sit 10 ft away from Narada when he played with The New McGuire Sisters. They rehearsed in a small warehouse in Miami. The guitarist was the incredible Sandy Torano. They played al lot in the NYC area with the excellent Ralphe Armstrong on bass.

[@fusionfan6883]

Hey Andy, I just had to chime in on your love for Narada. As you may recall, I have posted various comments on your videos, and in a number of them expressed my love for Narada as my favourite drummer. I am older than you and had the privilege of discovering these great fusion artists as they released albums at the time. I was of course a Cobham fan and, like you, felt trepidation when I knew that this irreplaceable drummer was in fact being replaced with this young unknown guy. But, again like you, it took no time to realise that another genius had been discovered and the rest is history. Needless to say I followed Narada from that day on and have pretty well everything he has done. I often rationalise the difference between the two drummers this way. Cobham to me was a Terminator, a relentless machine imbued with super human capabilities and laser like focus. Whereas Narada was always a force a nature, a veritable tsunami that embodied the power and majesty of Mother Earth in all its glory. It's fascinating, in that you and I share the same view so many things fusion, for example Heavy Weather is my favourite WR album, as is Visons of the Emerald Beyond for the Mahavishnu. When it came out, I had the self-same feeling as you about Inner Worlds being more of a Narada vehicle, but lacking the consistency of previous MO albums. Wired literally floored me, and I still remember the great Allan Freeman playing tracks from it on his Saturday Rock show (as he often did with so called jazz rock - another memory is being blown away by the new Colosseum 2 album Electric Savage which Fluff played on release - and Jon Hiseman is most definitely another drumming great who deserves even wider recognition). I had been a huge fan of Blow by Blow, and the incredible drumming of Richard Bailey (who is another has never quite got the recognition he deserves), but Wired tapped into that more America style of fusion that I loved, no doubt due to the presence of Narada and Jan Hammer (and let's give props to the great bass playing of Wilbur Bascombe too). A very clear memory for me is actually ordering on its release, Garden of Love Light. I was in school in Hereford at the time, and there was a little record and instrument store there called Buzz Music, which had a healthy jazz section. When I went down to collect the album one Saturday afternoon, the owner asked if he could play some of it, and I still recall the look of amazement on his face! As an interesting anecdote, a few years later, James Honeyman Scott used to work in their little guitar section and, as a young kid playing guitar, he sort of took me under his wing. I recall one day he came into the store saying check this out - he had come back from a session in London - it was the pressing of Stop Your Sobbing by the Pretenders, and again the rest is history. Getting back to Narada, I used to be on a web forum called Fusenet, and Gary Husband would occasionally get involved. We both agreed that Narada was out favourite drummer, although we had a spat as I dared to say I didn't "get" Tony Williams even though I appreciated his importance, let's just say Gary flamed me on that one! We chatted about Velvet Darkness, and I have often wondered what might have been if that band had persisted? Although, notwithstanding Allan's frustration with the album, I suspect the format of the band was too conventional for his resltelss need to progress, so I guess he would have moved on anyway. And again tangentially, I don't think people fully appreciate the importance of Alphonso Johnson due to the meteoric impact of Jaco. I love Alphonso with Weather Report and subsequently, especially the various sessions he did with George Duke, particularly on the mid 70s Flora Purim albums (Flora is one of my desert island artists btw). What has always resonated with me as a fusion guitar nut, is Narada's affinity for working with and writing for guitarists. He writes such beautiful melodies for them, and also finds guitarist with a uniquely passionate voice, which suits his own passionate and spiritual approach to music. You mentioned the great Ray Gomez, and one can only wonder what he would have gone on to do if his inner demons had not got the better of him (btw I occasionally speak to his manager to find out if he is ever going to release new material, but I fear that is unlikely in any meaningful way). I suspect you love Ray's playing on Garden of Love Light for the same reasons I do, namely it contains the uniqueness of Jeff beck, but infused with the passion of Santana and the precision for Al Di Meola. Ray is just unstoppable on GofLL. But on that album we also have Jeff Beck, and Carlos and well as Charles Johnson (who many don't realise was a real fusion genius, as evidenced by a recording on YT in a trio with Bill Bruford, but a difficult personality apparently). When Narada needed to find another guitar foil that could express fusion sensibilities in a more pop context, he came up with the amazing Corrado Rustici, having previously produced his band Nova. Corrado was clearly influenced by John McLaughlin, but had his own thing going on, and he could groove like a mutha too. I clearly remember hearing his tour de force playing on the title track of Narada's pop breakthrough album The Dance of Life. That was followed up by Victory, which you mentioned. Other guitar driven tracks I love that featured Narada or he wrote are of course Marching Powder by Tommy Bolin, Blues for Mez for Ray Gomez and Song for Devadip for Carlos Santana. I should also mention the incredible tribute track Gary Moore wrote called Blues for Narada, which always puts a lump in my throat! And to reflect our similar tastes further, I used do DJ funk, fusion and Latin, and I always included the piledriver track that is We Still Have a Dream, absolutely blistering fusion funk! Finally, I had to catch Narada when he toured with Jeff beck a few years ago, and that remains one of my all-time favourite concert experiences, just to be in the front row near the great man and feel the power of his playing was a true privilege. Anyway Andy, as I have said in other comments, I can bore for Britain on the subject of fusion, so I will shut up now, suffice to say thanks for all your wonderful videos spreading the fusion message to hopefully a new audience. I am not sure what part of the woods you live in, but a pint and a long nerdy chat about fusion is on me if I ever find myself there?! Peace.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

An incredible essay of a comment that I really can't add too except to say he was another fantastic foil to Fripp on Exposure to add to the list of guitarists he has worked with. My favourite Gomez moment is possibly Mating Drive by Lenny White

[@fusionfan6883]

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer I also love his playing on the Stanley Clarke live disc, and there is some terrific TV footage with him at Montreux🤘🏻

[@syn707]

Very much looking forward to this one Andy!

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Hope you liked it :)

[@ElCharvo]

Love his drumming on the Nova-Vimana album

[@jamiesmith6838]

I agree 100%!!

[@currykevuk]

Narada's Garden album is one of my personal favourites. I picked up a white label copy some 30 odd years back. Ray Gomez's guitar work is sublime. Thanks for this celebration Andy. 👍

[@patrickstieger8553]

Narada for me has always been a great inspiration! I love his music and drums. For me he is a musical heroe. Thank you for doing this video.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

My hero too

[@martinjames672]

You're an inspiration Andy!

[@alexfadista]

Great drummer. First heard him on the Wired album by Jeff Beck. That intro on Led Boots... I was hooked! But I think my favourite track featuring Narada is Play With Me. His drumming is fantastic and coupled with those splendid solos by Jan Hammer, what a track!

[@rakeshadhin]

Hi Andy, I had hoped to see Dance of Life in there somewhere, an absolute Mahavishnu-inspired jazz-rock masterpiece with Corrado Rustici on guitar, who sounds like a cross between John McLaughlin and Carlos Santana.

[@regaltip8A]

Corrado Rustici......now you're talking. Musicality meets brilliant technique.

[@rakeshadhin]

@@regaltip8A you gotta love the Mad Italian!

[@jdmresearch]

Little known fact: In a 1989 skateboard video, a specific part featuring a legendary skateboarder (Matt Hensley) used as a soundtrack Walden's "Dance of life". I don't know how popular the album and this song were at the time (the album is from 1979), but I can tell you that dozens of thousands of skaters around the earth listened to it.... Here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKasYoqOms2jrKc It was so influential that a somewhat recent video used the same song as a tribute to Hensley's part. Here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bJy2nJ-Yo8uHbrc (Go to 27:30... as you can see, it has more than 750k views). The funny thing is that back in 1989 skateboard videos used only punk rock in their soundtracks, so it was a big innovation using jazz-rock. But nobody knew who played this. Anyway, it's pretty amazing that very likely most people who have listened to this song are skateboarders (who actually don't know who's playing this).... I wonder if Walden is aware of this.

[@neilloughran4437]

Don't know if you know it but Narada is on James Mason's LP "Rhythm of Life" which is a fantastic jazz funk LP from 1977.

[@neilloughran4437]

Sweet Power Your Embrace is a gem especially.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

I'm going to be getting lots of Narada suggestions on this I think...thanks

[@ganazby]

One mention of ‘Inner Worlds’, and I immediately want to hear it again. I just can’t help myself. Possibly because it initially disappointed me. Narada’s joyful drumming never fails to lift my spirits. Agree re ‘Led Boots’. Yep, he absolutely detonates ‘Black Market’. Cheers.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

His drumming on Inner Worlds is fantastic

[@markcapofari8419]

Andy - two good essays on drummers with John McLaughlin/ perhaps with your personal knowledge of the instruments can do a few part series of the percussionists that played with him and how important they were to his sound/ writing and drive - Williams and the recent videos excluding - including Hussain/ Chambers/ Gurtu and other’s

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

great idea...i might do Tony Williams next

[@davestephens6421]

Another great video Andy. One of my favourite Narada sessions is the much underatted VIMANA by NOVA....one if my all time favourite albums....simply wonderful!!

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

i don't know that one

[@davestephens6421]

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer OMG!!! You must check this out.....Narada also produced their follow up album Wings Of Love. The guitarist Corrado Rustici continued on with him on many projects.... Vimana is pure prog jazz/rock at its very best. I saw them live with Rick Parnell (my old mate Marc's brother)....and they took the roof off!!!!

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

@@davestephens6421 I will check it out...I have never heard of it

[@davestephens6421]

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer I envy you, your first listen. It's produced by Robin Lumley at Trident and features Percy Jones and even features Phil Collins on percussion so a joint Nova/Brand X/Narada collaboration.....enjoy!!!

[@mauricegallagher9170]

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer Been loving Vimana since '76. Basically Brand X rhythm section with NMW on the final track

[@TooSkinnyKenny]

I've met Walden, he's an incredibly positive and joyful person and I'm guessing that's why he has been rewarded with so much success. I don't know why he is called a jazz fusion drummer though considering how many pop artists he has worked with including Barbra Streisand.

[@ziegunerweiser]

Used to have a Mahavishnu mk2 bootleg vhs with Michael Walden and Jean Luc Ponty, the drumming was crazy good, just sick I know he produced Whitney Houston stuff years later

[@TheBeeRescuer]

You have become one of my favorite music historians.

[@jbognap]

I would never have listened to Exposure/RF. I didn't realize it was the prototype for the Discipline era. Darryl Hall?!? Who would've thought... Listening now.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

It's as great as Discipline IMO. Fripp at his finest

[@billc.5861]

I became friends with his bassist Angeline Saris who in turn turned me on to his music And yes he’s obviously, one hell of a drummer Looking at my large record collection saying “he’s on that too “.

[@michaelslahetka8371]

Garden OF LOVE LIGHT !! !! RAY GOMEZ IS SPECTACULAR !!

[@flowerlandofjohn]

Haha, great! Coincidentally I’m uploading a couple of Narada inspired licks this week also 👌🏻

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Let me know when they are up...post them in this comment section and share the love!

[@flowerlandofjohn]

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer absolutely, will stress the fact “inspired” though ✌🏻😂

[@flowerlandofjohn]

Did I mention that I’ve done a couple of the Narada tracks from Wired? (Play with me & Led Boots) kzbin.info/aero/PLgbNYrZECAo35qgsFPd0na7SVp8hWmRMb “Marching Powder” is also in the pipeline of to be done in a near future 😅 … and the “Narada inspired licks” (2 parts) will be uploaded tonight and tomorrow night ✌🏻

[@flowerlandofjohn]

And while searching through my uploads I found this “cut-up lo-if” version of Eternity’s Breath 😅😂 kzbin.info/www/bejne/q5TCe42IlM2Ha7s This one I most certainly need to pay a revisit. This song exemplifies all the thing you addressed about his playing. The flow, the groove, thr complexity, the spirit, the unobtainable feeling it provides of “I will never be able to do this” 👌🏻🤩

[@AlmostEthical]

Incredible talent. Still, many talented players have crossed over and found success in pop, along with the ones you mentioned. Phil Collins. John Wetton. The Tubes. An interesting one is Mtume, who played with Miles and recorded his own intense avant garde African jazz, eg. Rebirth Cycle. But he is mainly only known as a disco star.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Yes...have you seen the discussion between Mtume and Stanley Crouch. Mtume destroys him. I once thought of doing a video about that discussion but I thought most people wouldn't get it

[@AlmostEthical]

Stanley and Wynton were maybe the last of the old guard to rail against jazz's direction. They strike me as mistaking their own tastes for correctness

[@CoolBreeze2016]

Narada would like to speak to you! Please call him at Tarpan Studios in San Rafael California( google phone #)

[@totallyunmemorable]

It was 'Faith' off Emerald Beyond that did it for me. Narada has been my favorite ever since. That song has had a huge effect on my own compositions. I wasn't crazy about the infusion of funk starting with that album, after the first three Mahavishnu albums. John made the mistake that Ritchie avoided in that regard. Funk killed fusion in my opinion . . . at least for me. But Michael Walden was certainly no mistake. As far as 'Miles Out', I've been looking for a ring modulator that works for me ever since hearing that one. I have yet to find it. I have all the albums you reference here (except the pop albums). I need to pull 'em out and refresh my ears. kzbin.info/www/bejne/p6TQioinr7x7pJY

[@SuperQdaddy]

Did Narada play with Jeff beck on the wired tour live back in 70s..?..or was it jan hammers band ?

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

he did a tour which was Mahavishnu/Jeff Beck. I think the following tour was Beck+Hammer w Tony Smith on drums

[@jayumble8390]

Jeff Beck's 'Wired' is one of the worst mixed fusion albums of all time. I tried listening to it this afternoon and after a couple tunes, I couldn't listen anymore. How could all of the incredible fusion albums been made and then here comes 'Wired' and it a mixing train wreck?!?!?!?!? But anyway, thank you Andy for this fantastic video!