Vinnie Colaiuta Interviewed by Sweetwater

Nick D'Virgilio interviews master drummer Vinnie Colaiuta (Jing Chi). Along with guitarist Robben Ford and bassist Jimmy Haslip, Colaiuta was visiting Sweetwater Studios to record their latest album. Vinnie talks with Nick about recording at Sweetwater, his background as a drummer, and what it takes to make it as a modern drummer.
Shop drums at Sweetwater here: www.sweetwater.com/shop/drums...

I love Vinnie! He's one of the best drummers of all time and a great person! It's so good to hear him talk! Congratulations Sweetwater!

[@RobBeatdownBrown]

One of the most sincere displays of humility I've ever seen @3:25. I'd think 32 pages barely covers a quarter of his career. What a sweet human this guy is.

[@colin6768]

I'm a drummer and the first time I heard Colaiuta was back in 1983. I was 14 or 15 years old and bought "Shut Up and Play Your Guitar." I'm just now picking my jaw up from the floor.

[@KyleDavisMusic]

Anyone else wish this video was hours longer? Man, this was so enjoyable.

[@SuperDrdirty]

They do have I'd Hit That podcasts on KZbin with pretty much all top drummers doing 1-2 hour long interviews each. Great info and insight,worth checking out if you liked this kind of stuff.

[@ianhendrytube]

Aaron Dirty is there a vinnie interview?

[@SuperDrdirty]

Ian Hendry not as of right now. Vinnies schedule is so booked it's hard to do since those podcasts are usually casual sit downs somewhere like a coffee shop and they chat for a bit informally. If they do upload it please let us know!:)

[@mt2314]

Wish it was longer and showed some playing.

[@StreetsOfVancouverChannel]

Vinnie is truly one of the finest and 'best listeners' amongst drummers these days... what a phenomenal talent and a gracious human being.

[@SXI96]

Agreed, Vinnie is on Buddy's level imo and the difference in personality and humbleness is night and day

[@kapalin846]

Streets of Vancouver haven't you seen drummers for Jesus?

[@kapalin846]

It's laughable.

[@seanbrennan5192]

He’s absolutely one of the best drummers ever. He maybe brought out the best in Zappas soloing

[@RandyHanley]

I'm a fan of both of these guys. Vinnie is just...the..greatest drummer of all time, in my book anyway.

[@ireneruthfox]

Vinnie is out of this world good......A true legend.

[@johndiraimo1444]

The V-man is such a huge master of the instrument. When you hear others like Dennis Chambers, Horacio Hernandez, Steve Smith, etc. etc. praising his skill set, musicianship, vocabulary and versatility, then you know listening to Vinnie is special. I've been lucky enough to have seen him live several times, playing with smaller groups and at drum clinics and each time he has elevated his level of playing even more than the previous time I had seen him. He is a very special drummer and one of my favorites. Not only is his artistry demonstrated in his playing but also by how his mind works and what he says. Awesome player. Thanks to Sweetwater Sound.

[@nickavenoso7851]

One of the greatest drummers of all time, Jeff Porcaro was the one who got me into Vinnie, which is funny because Jeff was a big fan of and Vinnie was a big fan of Jeff 😂

[@johndiraimo1444]

@@nickavenoso7851 I was really lucky meeting with Jeff Porcaro (another one my early favourites) after a show he played on Toto's "Seventh One" Tour. He was awesome. A few months before that, while in College, I had attended a drum clinic by Vinnie. Everyone was there to watch him wail. He was fantastic. So while talking to Jeff and thanking him for his countless recordings and grooves that I had tried to copy, I brought up Vinnie's name and the clinic. Jeff laughed and called out Vinnie's name while his eyes lit up. He definitely admired Vinnie. As you pointed out, the feeling was mutual.

[@nickavenoso7851]

@@johndiraimo1444 Nice, they both are really incredible drummers.

[@CarnorJast1138]

Absolutely one of the BEST drummers of all time! His stint with Zappa was incredible, and even his solo career is amazing! Playing with Jeff Beck and Tal Wilkenfeld shows his virtuosity as a drummer. No-one does what he does on the kit, and he's just simply outstanding!

[@alexjung9724]

CarnorJast1138 simply amazing his work with beck and zappa. been drumming for a decade, by far my favorite drummer

[@shrayesraman5192]

I don't think any other drummer is as versatile as Vinnie. Simply the best

[@kevgilroy1]

This is hands down the greatest drummer that will ever walk the earth. EVER! We drummers know. Even Steve Gadd says "Vin's The Best"! Nuce to see YODA at Sweetwater. - Gilroy

[@rlbrett]

Agreed, brother.

[@frusio]

Amen!

[@samm1809]

Completely agree, but Vinnie would probably say that Buddy is the best, and Buddy really still is the king of the 10 mile sprint. Not to mention the independence and polyrhythmic abilities of guys like Antonio Sanchez and Horacio Hernandez, or the creativity of Elvin Jones and Tony Williams and Keith Carlock, or the technical perfection of Weckl and Jojo Mayer and Buddy.... and so on. Not to say Vinnie can't do all these things. Hell, he does them all at once...

[@huss03]

+ G. Kevin Gilroy Don't agree. He sounds best when he's machine-gunning his enormous vocabulary of chops, but from a feel point of view, there are deficiencies...deficiencies which are sometimes relevant to the context...sometimes not. Technique, polyrhythmic freedom, hand-to-foot independence, and speed are at the highest level, but technique is simply the vocabulary through which one expresses one's inner musicality and feel. The more technique and control, the easier it becomes to convert what is inside one's musical mind to manifesting it outwards. Therefore, those with the most technique are the MOST transparent in terms of being able to see into their musical mind, because they have eliminated a lot of the barriers between the "inner" and the "outer". On this basis, I don't feel Vinnie's inner feel is the greatest of all time.

[@samm1809]

Completely disagree, Huxxy.

[@feverfirefox1564]

WOW! VINNIE! Can't believe it, that he was at Sweetwater. I once visited sweetwater personally in Fort Wayne, hard to believe he was in the same place I visited. wow..... Love you sweetwater!

[@Jetty-me6cw]

This was awesome. I played along with all the work he did with Sting. Those albums layed the foundation for all my drumming style subconsciously to this day. Vinnie is like a master craftsman behind the kit. I love his splash/china work. It's never overbearing or loud, it seems to fit in just right. Thanks Sweetwater. And a huge thanks Vinnie.

[@codysimpson5522]

A Vinnie interview? today will be a good day

[@IDriveAnAudi]

So cool! What a great interview and Vinnie's disposition is so pleasant. I saw him in 1981 with Frank Zappa at the Univ of Illinois assembly hall. "Little Stevie Vai" as Frank called him, was on guitar. I remember Vinnie specifically although I had never heard of him before. He had long hair and played so effortlessly doing the most demanding things I had ever heard before. Once he had a jug of what looked like milk, and he was drinking out of it with his right hand while playing some odd time signature stuff with 3 limbs that most good drummers probably couldn't play at all. It was an amazing concert.

[@colincoho]

Must have been in 1980.

[@davidcurtis4478]

Vinnie - thanks for all the years of inspiration! I saw you first when I was 14 at Zildjian Day in Scotland with Tony Williams, Will Calhoun and Keith... you've been a huge inspiration since. Nick is blessed to sit down and talk with the master player himself, all the best Vinnie, DC

[@gregcharles999]

Super nice guy and pure genius, everybody he plays with just gets better when hes laying it down, he's the heartbeat of the group. thanks for the great interview

[@LuminousMusicStudios-Glasgow]

There are people with high levels of virtuosity out there but there are no rules for developing exceptional levels of awareness. Honesty helps. People CAN talk honestly without trying to sell product or themselves. Thank you Vinnie. Thank you Sweetwater for allowing this.

[@SXI96]

Great interview, very cool to see this, thanks!

[@toddwalkerdrumstudio]

Fantastic!....Thanks Sweetwater! ...What can I say, Vinnie has been a major influence to me for MANY and, continued years! Humble, Fantastic, Open...Consummate Professional!

[@rafaeldolinski1]

Nick's videos are always great!

[@chrisrocksthedrums]

Thanks Sweetwater! Vinnie doesn't do many interviews and it's great seeing this one. The only problem with this video is it's TOO SHORT. lol. Can't get enough of Vinnie! I could sit and listen to him talk about his career and drumming for hours.

[@guilhemem.9443]

Nice to see, hear and be inspired by sucha genius..... I've waited a century or so, and when Sting finally schedulled a show in Brazil, Vinnie has left the band..... That f*****ing killed me, and dont get me wrong, Sting is one of my top influences, by the music itself and also being the seat of a awesome collection of drum genious...... Hope the future give me the chance to see Vinnie playing......

[@rhythmantic]

Awesome interview with 2 favorite drummers.

[@davidmcaninch4714]

Geez, Sweetwater has a music store, a recording studio, a theater, a slide, a racketball court, a fitness center, a putting green, an arcade, a cafe, and I find out they have a doctor?!?! Seriously, you guys might as well build a roller coaster in the parking lot!!!!! Amazing!!!! I HAVE to go here!!!!!!!

[@crissignori7482]

Agree with every positive comment made about this extraordinary musician .... now I just wish he'd take better care of himself. We need him around for a long, long time.

[@drummerpsycho6718]

thank you a million times! finally a good interview with vinnie. absolutely love this dude!

[@CommanderCodyNashville]

I appreciate this sooooo much! Thank you Nick and Sweetwater ! I wish it was at least 24 hours longer but I'll take it... Can't wait to hear the new record!

[@michaelmattice4986]

Thanks so much for sharing!...Continued success to all involved!!!

[@RICHARDSANDSTROM]

What a treat to hear the master speak. His playing makes me jump up and down in excitement. Thanks for the great interview, Nick & Sweetwater!

[@michaelledford4751]

Seeing him play zappas keep it greasy in 15/16 directly following he and Frank doing the seal call improv was a highlight of my life ,I think they played Five Five Five too but it's been so many years my memory is shorting out at 73 .

[@kjc9trader491]

...KIG = 19/16

[@Theratron]

Great interview! Not only because Vinnie is awesome, but also because Nick is a very patient and relaxed interviewer. He lets Vinnie finish his story without interrupting him as almost everyone else always does (and it becomes so annoying). That's what made this such an enjoyable conversation to me :)

[@vincentlalicata696]

Wow so true I hate when the interviewer talks over the interviewee why bother right

[@Theratron]

@@vincentlalicata696 exactly 😉

[@DeHavenDrummer]

great stuff! Thx Nick and Vinnie!

[@rothdrums]

This is so great. Thank you for sharing this information!

[@pearsonchris]

This is one of the best interviews I've seen with Vinnie. Love hearing him talk. Great work, Nick - a superb set of questions and conversation openers

[@mrchow3233]

Vinnie is truly awesome. And thank you Sweetwater, for always putting out great content!

[@Horizen3872]

Awesome! Super smart and inspirational. Thank you for posting!

[@wheels845]

God bless Vinnie. What a drumming giant!

[@holdencaustic]

Enjoyed this interview thoroughly!!

[@christianevans4449]

Vinnie is the only drummer where Im open to listen to a record just because he is there.

[@ChrisHunterSavesTheDay]

Love these interviews!

[@jackprice7828]

I have a Jing Chi CD released in 2009 that I love to this day. One of my favs on the album is "The Train Song" . I love this particular song because of the variety of guitars by Robben and Vinnie C. beats implemented. Glad to hear another Jing Chi is coming. Looking forward to it.

[@tomdavidson6455]

Wow top notch guy , have had my Gretsch kit for 34 years and love it and his loyalty to a great Drum, thanks Vinnie!

[@jjjpetersen]

Great interview. Love Vinnie & is one of the best. Like he says, "everybody is unique". There's a lot of bests just in different ways.

[@gustavolc4781]

Wow thank you for this, i find that its kind of odd that there arent more interviews of vinnie , thank you sweetwater

[@jerryleoni472]

Gustavo Lc e

[@zoundsic]

Listen and learn, this man knows his stuff, sounds awesome on his kit too.

[@rhythmsaint73]

fantastic. thank you

[@SteveMonti]

Nothing but total respect for this guy....hello Vinnie :)

[@funkydani8625]

This is a great interview! Great insights...

[@GamalielRios]

Every interview should be like this one, two intellectual and intelligent people talking about things that matter in music. GREAT content. Enjoy it, 2nd time that I'd​ seen it.

[@SteveToccoDrummer]

Vinnie Colaiuta + Robben Ford + Jimmy Haslip = Musical Perfection

[@meekoloco]

Such a one of a kind guy. Good to live in his time!

[@DailyDrumLesson]

With my 30 years I thought I have overcome that "fanboy thing".. But when I saw "Vinnie Colaiuta interviewed by Sweetwater" I was like a 14 year old girl at a One Direction concert (is that still a thing?).

[@jonathanwalther]

Daily Drum Lesson Good, that you kept this appreciation. It would be a pity to lose it. No matter how old you are, you can always be a fanboy/fangirl.

[@funonutube100]

Thats what it feels like to be in the presence of greatness. All hail the KING!!!!

[@MrTeopantli]

it's hilarious that you had to ask 'is that still a thing?" The greatness of musicians like Vinnie is such that this question will never apply to him or others with his talent. Something to be said for putting in the time to become a true master of your craft. The word 'artist' is used too loosely in today's music business.

[@ntbcreative1969]

guilty...lol

[@IndigoJo]

I think he meant "is One Direction still a thing" (answer is, they've been on "indefinite hiatus" since 2016 but haven't formally split). Fanboys/girls are still very much a thing though. My sister grew up (it was Take That in our day) so I don't know who they're screaming at right now.

[@BenjaminGib]

Wow, thank you Nick for being inside my brain and asking the questions I wanted to ask. Great job all around everyone involved. Thanks, Vinnie, for all the insight.

[@jamesyanks7460]

Watching this I'm realizing that what makes Vinnie so great is not just his facility but his ability to think abstractly.

[@carlosclerigadrums]

Great interview!!

[@JoEsp]

yes!!! thanks sweetwater!!

[@sinankececi4041]

This is the only video interview of Vinnie Ive ever seen

[@bailey12444]

Sinan Kececi me too he is amazing

[@TheHaykal123]

Sinan Kececi checkout his another interview with Dom Famularo in The session panel, amazing stuff

[@turtlenecks]

14:51 Best question ever. Always wondered how master drummers kept track of complicated music.

[@imaginarytube]

great chops Vinnie is.

[@geoffreycallands5294]

The Best, born in 83 seen him & gadd & Tommy Campbell on zildgian day 89? dope drummer!

[@ernestmorellsr7929]

Again, I am truly delighted to see and hear drummers open up and show every one that they can speak to their listening audiences . From James Brown " Give the Drummer some " Clyde Stubblefield. Which set a brand new syncopated style to drumming, it's good to know that drummers are finally opening up to their listening audiences... do do warp do do warp, warpwarp do do warp splash!!

[@merrittjason]

Greatest drummer EVER. No debate.

[@MykWazowski]

One of the better interviewers, so well spoken on both sides.

[@adam872]

I could have listened to another hour of these guys talking. That's the sign of a good interview.

[@VIDEOHEREBOB]

Excellent interviewer.

[@jackfalco5351]

thank you Vinnie

[@toddwalkerdrumstudio]

.............And, great job Nick!

[@Greg_In_SoCal]

The first time I heard Vinnie Colaiuta's playing was on a Sting solo album, Ten Summoner's Tales. The playing was so mesmerizing for many reasons. It caused me to look up the drummer in the liner notes. Alas, the great Vinnie Colaiuta. Not only a brilliant and truly masterful player, but also he is seemingly an awesome person to chat with. This should have been a 10 hour interview. :P

[@mrthundaboots]

I wanna visit this magical Sweetwater place...

[@rlbrett]

Vinnie the alien. Vinnie the chameleon. Vinnie, the guy with such other-worldly talent that it seems not fair to be any other drummer in the world.

[@olvidors96]

Simply the best

[@groovehog1]

Awesome!

[@danznokaze]

His explanation about learning some particular genres by getting into the whole character of them, is absolutely true. But, there are not much people could do his way easily in such young ages. I think that's the reason why Vinnie rarely did drum class / clinic. I've ever read somewhere he said that it's useless if the people couldn't even understand what he was playing.

[@californiamusic]

Legend!

[@hazor777]

The musician's mind : a million in 1 ways to describe minute , and often unnoticed or ignored details of everyday , minute by minute life .............

[@philrobertson7173]

What an unbelievable player.. and a great personable guy .. so intelligent and thoughtful. So many questions we'd all like to ask him, yea too short of an interview lol

[@elpmettsol]

Nick D'Virgilio did an excellent job on this interview! And not to forget, an excellent drummer! I would put him right up there with Vinny, Erskine (one of my top favorites,) Weckl, and alike.

[@Monsterdrumma]

I have said the same things about my USA customs, I have played with dented buzzing heads in which the band cut me off while tuning and got nothing but compliments on the tone saying they sounded unbelievable! I have played them in a room with shag carpet and they sang and roared anyway, Vinnie is right you can’t stop that Gretsch drum tone no matter what! I love Vinnie interviews!

[@mpmattronome]

Vinnies words resonate with me. Good watch!

[@TonyTwoCut]

Im related to Vinnie Colaiuta sorta he’s related my grandma and grandpa Karen Colaiuta and art Colaiuta just thought I’ll share 🤪✌️

[@theImprovoice]

Vinnie Colaiuta......wow!!

[@gmorton916]

That explains y he won the audition with Frank Zappa by sight reading the "Black Page"--NO WONDER!!--he actually ENJOYS reading music

[@karl1949]

How cool.

[@robertserro8910]

His one album stint with Megadeth was really good

[@Travtheripper]

Anatomized Hands Both warchest and anthology were just compilation albums. 🙂

[@drew-shourd]

As I finish bowing to Vinnie, I'll say I first heard him in 1984, on Kenny Pore's 'Inner City Dreams' LP....sooooooo amazing, and such tasty stuff....check out the track, ' Endurance'....t'will blow you away....

[@drew-shourd]

...and Nick did a great job by letting Vinnie talk, great job Nick!!!

[@seanbrennan5192]

Vinny was one of the greatest drummers ever man. Arguably brought out the best in Zappa

[@enriquepadilla9067]

yes!!!

[@garymcaleer6112]

The finest musicians are those who can adapt. You either fit in or you're gone. Vinnie always fit in. From one Christian brother to another: all the best.

[@ludwig11fly]

Vinnie is a great drummer and human being, the interviewer looks like a young Ringo Star

[@TheProfessorWilliam]

You know,,, I hear Vinnie talk about the inner thinking and academic value of drumming,, and It gives me a sense energy. Its like thinking about what you are doing,, and why. I study,, as well as read-about My important drummers that speak to me ,, like; Dave Weckl, Vinnie C,, Gavin Harrison,, Louie Bellson,, Tony Williams, Steve Smith,, and I realize that we must learn first,, to know how to learn. And then you can begin to understand the drummers I mentioned. We have to many people out there that are just moon-lighting,, only been playing 9 mon. and they have hair styl, clothing, and act like there already in the big time. Most of them that I have run into,, " as a drum teach for 9 yrs" bug-out before a year. The big corporate music stores,, and you know who I mean,, push this kind of thinking because of sales sales sales. So a person goes out and buys a 3,000$ guitar, amp, or drum set, and think that this is going to make me sound like Vinnie, or Dave, Tony, and so on. Most don't buy Lesson's, Books, and they shone those who can play very well. We are cutting our own throats. We need to work together. Being a musician in today's time is hard enough. So not every one can be a good playing musician,,, and that's OK. Just don"t hate those who are. Music is a Magic, that only a few of us can ride with. Every one thinks their a producer,, leader of a band, or running the whole show. That's BS, your not. We must learn to play with knowledge and feel our instrument of choice. If that is to much to do then,, that's OK. But don't hate the one's who do. Go see them perform,, support them. Most of all think why it is you want to be a MUSICIAN. Thanks to all the Drummers, I mentioned. For the mind-set.

[@quintbromley2112]

Master class is in session.

[@marcioisrael05]

Fã Vinny Colaiuta in Brasil. Ok

[@freejazzbone]

good interview, would love to hear him play free improv

[@ianhendrytube]

Thanks for this! But why has nobody asked Vinnie the question about where when and how the joes garage album was made and at 21 years old what did he make of it all?

[@albertofontana3480]

THE GOAT

[@JayJay-ii5un]

Love his pastie 602s.

[@toddwalkerdrumstudio]

Vinne would NEVER have to make a quote: "Drum Instructional DVD".......This is it IMO!!!!!!

[@frank2778]

My favourite interviews are drummers, athletes, actors, and supermodels.

[@FusionHowie]

Vinnie uses his monster finger control even while speaking !!

[@DMBCJ21]

Vinnie Eating good huh.... the biggest I've seen the legend.... love this man on and off the drums though.