SoundBytes

Here is where you'll get a chance to actually hear me play! We are using wave files--so each byte will require a short download time. We are not using streaming audio files because we feel that the final sound quality of Real Audio is not quite as good. So, until streaming audio technology catches up with it's good intentions, please consider our wave files a suitable alternative!
On this page there are 8 different sound bytes, and they are basically divided into two categories. The first 4 bytes are from different CDs that I played on, and the last 4 bytes are excerpts of different drumming styles that I recorded at my home studio. Hope you enjoy! -Tom



"Unpretty" - TLC - FANMAIL (LaFace Records) Sound Byte

"Unpretty" is a tune on which I played drums, and it appears on the newest TLC album entitled FANMAIL. Fanmail was produced by none other than Atlanta's own super-producer Dallas Austin--the genius behind the scenes! Unpretty is the third single scheduled to be released worldwide. TLC is the largest selling girl trio of all time in the history of popular music, and the brand new FANMAIL CD sold over one million records in less than a week after the CD's release! Additionally, TLC's current single "No Scrubs" has set a new record for having reached the largest audience of all time--even more than the movie Titanic!



"Misty Blue" - Monica - THE BOY IS MINE (Arista Records) Sound Byte

Here, we revisited an original Dorothy Moore song entitled "Misty Blue". It has always been a favorite of Monica's, and she was overjoyed at being able to record it on her own album. Again, at the production helm was the great Dallas Austin. This song was recorded using live musicians only; no machines, sequences or sampling of any kind appears on this track. I, for one am glad to see a resurgence of this type of music!



"Underneath A Red Moon" - N'Dea Davenport - (V2 Records) Sound Byte

This byte is from a tune I played on called "Underneath A Red Moon", off of the N'Dea Davenport self titled debut solo CD on V2 Records. This album was recorded once again under the guidance of Dallas Austin. "Underneath A Red Moon" represents a nice blend of live drum tracks overtop sequenced drum tracks.



"Skitzo" - (Renaissance Man Records) Sound Byte

This sound byte is from a tune I played called "Skitzo". Skitzo is the title track to a brand new contemporary jazz CD I did (along with Dave Weckl and Kirk Covington!) by a bassist known as Adam Nitti. As you'll hear, the tune is very "drums and bass" oriented--in other words, Adam and I are doing lots of playing!



Funk Sound Byte

I really love this groove! It is a 2-bar phrase employing the standard hi-hats as well as the closed x-hats. With this particular groove, I tried to create some space while still catching the important kicks and providing interesting turn-arounds at the end of every 4 bars.



Swing Jazz Sound Byte

Here, I went for a slightly up-tempo contemporary swing jazz vibe. With this sound byte, my approach was simply to play some traditional swing, and then "comp" for myself as I stretched with some solo/fills during the second half of the byte.



6/8 Afro-Cuban Sound Byte

Another of my favorite feels--Afro Cuban rhythms in 6/8! These grooves are really fun for me, because I get to play all the syncopation that is normally associated with Latin drumming, but in a tripletized meter! What a blast! Plus, it gives way to some really interesting drum fill combinations!



"Pocket Groove" Sound Byte

Here is an interesting groove which is lots of fun to play, yet it poses specific challenges. Number one, it requires the left hand to keep a steady (yet funky) stream of 16th note ghost strokes on the snare in addition to playing the back beat. Number two, the right hand never leaves the hi-hat except for the occasional 5-stroke roll on the snare drum. Number three, the kick drum pattern is syncopated and includes 4-note groupings of sixteenth notes which have to line up exactly with the snare drum's ghosted 16th notes! After all of that--you gotta make it feel good-- so what I did was create a very slight "swing" to the groove a la Steve Gadd--this really sunk it into the pocket for me! Have fun with this one!

 

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