Tom Brechtlein Drum Solo Break Down!

"Here's the drum solo from one of my heroes - Tom Brechtlein - that he played on the Brandon Fields song, ""You Got It"" (1989). Tom has been a major influence on me since I first saw him with Wayne Shorter in 1986 at the Montreaux Jazz Festival. He blew me away!
I've never taken the time to figure this solo/song out but I did recently. Here's how I figured out his solo and how I went about learning it. And Tom even sent me a clip of a part of the solo that I included in here!
Check it out and apply this same technique to anything that you're trying to learn."
If you liked this video, please like, comment, share & subscribe!
~Jeff Wald~
Masterworks specs and tour video: • Pearl Masterworks tour...
The kit is basically in Pearl Reference Specs except all have at least 2 plies of mahogany on the inside (which is stained red) and adding 4 plies w/ the floor and even more mahogany with the Gong & kicks. The rest of the plies in each are maple except for the snare.
We named the finish Red Bubinga Burst. I had them darken 25% of each drum to the edge. The gong is 40% fade only on the head side b/c its single headed. The only regret is that on the smaller drums you really can’t tell b/c I didn’t think about the rims covering the edges. Oh well, still looks amazing in person.
Snare (Mic’d with Audix i5)
14x5.75". 10 ply, 12.5mm "Regular" - 2 inner Birch, 7 ply Maple in the middle, 1 ply outer Bubinga. It also has the triple snare throw off. This thing looks amazing and lets you choose 3 different 6 strand snares allowing you to mix and match all of them. However, I've been using a 24 strand one from another Pearl snare for years.
Toms (Mic’d with Audix D2)
6x7" Rack Tom - 6 ply, 7.5mm "Regular"; 2 inner Mahogany, 3 ply Maple in the middle, 1 outer Bubinga; Edge is Rounded 45 degree
8x7.25" Rack Tom - 6 ply, 7.5mm "Regular"; 2 inner Mahogany, 3 ply Maple in the middle, 1 outer Bubinga; Edge is Rounded 45 degree
10x7.75" Rack Tom - 8 ply, 7.2mm "Thin"; 2 inner Mahogany, 5 ply Maple in the middle, 1 outer Bubinga; Edge is Rounded 45 degree
12X8.5" Rack Tom - 8 ply, 7.2mm "Thin"; 2 inner Mahogany, 5 ply Maple in the middle, 1 outer Bubinga; Edge is Rounded 45 degree
13x9.5" Rack Tom on left - 6 ply, 7.5mm "Regular"; 2 inner mahogany, 3 ply Maple in the middle, 1 outer Bubinga; Edge is Rounded 45 degree
Floor Toms (Mic’d with Audix D4)
14x13" Floor Tom - 8 ply, 10mm "Regular"; 4 inner Mahogany, 3 ply Maple in the middle, 1 outer Bubinga; Edge is Rounded 45 degree
16x15" Floor Tom - 8 ply, 10mm "Regular"; 4 inner Mahogany, 3 ply Maple in the middle, 1 outer Bubinga; Edge is Rounded 45 degree
Gong Drum (Mic’d with Audix D6)
20x15"- 8 ply, 10mm "Regular"; 7 ply Mahogany, 1 ply Bubinga on the outside. Fully Rounded Edge. Finish is a fade from the head down instead of the burst like the rest b/c of it being single headed
Kick Drums (Mic’d with Audix D6s)
22x17 kicks. 10 ply, 12.5mm "Regular"; 6 inner are Mahogany - BOOM!! The middle 3 plies are Maple and the outside Bubinga.
Overheads (Mic’d with two Audix SCX-25A)
Cymbals from left to right:
17” Sabian Xtreme China regular finish
10” Zildjian K Splash
14” Hi-Hats: K Custom Session (Steve Gadd model)
19” Zildjian K Dark Crash
20” K Custom Session Ride (Steve Gadd model)
14” Zildjian Mastersound as second hi-hat
18” Zildjian A Custom Crash

[@boblob2003]

I saw Tom with Wayne Shorter as well the Summer of 1986. (with Mitchell Forman on keys and Gary Willis on bass). Fantastic rythmn section... but my eyes were glued to Tom! They opened for The Elecktric Band with a young Dave Weckl playing his tiny drums. What a night!

[@JeffWald]

wow I bet that was amazing! I saw him before the Oct 86 MD issue came out w/ him on the cover so he wasn't even on my radar yet when I saw Tom. So good!

[@DonSandersonDrums]

Great lesson Jeff! Super cool lick! Very cool Tom reached out!

[@JeffWald]

Yeah, that was unexpected for him to take the time to do that when I asked. Hero!

[@odaydrums]

what a nice great phrase Tom has a lot of those One of my favs

[@JeffWald]

Me too! One of the best

[@crazy8sdrums]

That is an outstanding lick! Super cool that Tom replied to you with a video to help!

[@JeffWald]

I know! He's been a hero of mine since 1986 when I saw him with Wayne Shorter so the few messages have been really cool to get

[@MultiSkyman1]

Great playing as per usual. Interesting drum head choice. Don't see black dots much. Also love the 6 inch tom, kinda rare too!

[@JeffWald]

The black dots were a blast! I still have them, swapped back to my "go to" (Aquarian class clears) about a year ago. But they are fun for sure. I took the 6 down a few weeks ago as well as the 2nd kick for a while, just trying to get the HH closer so I put up the double pedal. You can see that set up in my last video and you can even see the 6" sitting on the floor by the floor toms. I'm still not sure where to put it without it being out of place. But I like that I have it as an option if I want

[@MultiSkyman1]

@@JeffWald Cool. Thanks

[@bshubo]

excellent! thanks

[@markfish9783]

Ok I have a question: is what your doing (playing in 5 while in 4) considered a polyrhythm? I've been trying to understand the difference between odd note groupings, playing over the barline and ployrhythms any explanation would be appreciated

[@JeffWald]

Hey Mark! Ya know... i'm kind of a dork and to me I don't think of it as a poly rhythm (that term always freaked me out) but I guess in reality it is... but I just hear it in 4. meaning - I count regular 16ths but the accent is after every 5 notes - 1e&a 2E&a 3e AND a 4 e & AH..... does that make sense? To me that just grooves better vs trying to play it and think of all this math which is taking me from grooving it

[@markfish9783]

@JeffWald yes it makes sense I've been experimenting with it ever since I saw this video I wish you would make more - I've simply just been counting 12345 while playing in 4 and I noticed that after 4 rotations it comes back in on 1 - Its great for an over the barline fill - I also noticed how it works with 7 or even 3 - One cool thing I came up with (and believe me i aint no math guy either) is if you play two 5's and a 7, on count 7 it's back in on 1 - I love how these concepts often open doors to other things thanks

[@JeffWald]

@@markfish9783 Yeah, all the math combos (when you can feel/internalize them) are killer! I did this in a triplet feel (La Do Da solo) but figured the math ahead of time. Basically two bars is 24 eighth notes so I knew I could do a cool sounding over the bar line fill if I did it like this - 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 4 (24!) - and it worked! Sticking is RLRRF and the 4 is just RFRF. I wasn't thinking of when 8th note the next snare hit fell on or anything - just played that 5 pattern four times & ended it w/ the 4. Here it was from a couple years ago, around 1:00 kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJ3QZ6edardogrcsi=f12sk6I2LRg0fFH5&t=53

[@vrikis]

Super ...

[@KaitsuDrums]

Thanks for the breakdown! Drums & Drumming magazine had a transcription of this song a long time ago but I don't think that lick was there. Tom is one of the greats!

[@JeffWald]

He absolutely is! I never saw the D&D transcription, I was mainly into MD in the 80s/early 90s. Keep up your good work, always love your playing!

[@toolspro7612]

please wear shoes...

[@JeffWald]

negative 😎. I'm all about the comfort

[@neilmoralez5846]

Have you heard the original version of this song that Vinnie played on? His break down section was really cool how he modulated the time.

[@JeffWald]

I have not! What album is it on? I'd love to hear that, never knew he played it. Thanx Neil!

[@jazzsnare]

Not clear how the 5 fits into the 4.

[@JeffWald]

Its regular 16th notes but grouped in 5 (1:39). So after every 5 16th notes, the accent changes. Its an illusion but once you get it, a very fun lick

[@jazzsnare]

@@JeffWald Thanks, Jeff. Can you do a breakdown of Tom's solo with Chick in that infamous clip at Stuttgart? He explained to me but I had never heard of some of the beats he adapted there.

[@JeffWald]

@@jazzsnare I'll have to check it out. I've seen that solo (from 88, right?) but don't remember that section. I'll see what I can do!