It’s hard to argue that Porcupine Tree/King Crimson drummer Gavin Harrison isn’t one of the more creative drummers in the progressive scene right now (and with that said, I’m sure I’m opening myself up to arguments to the contrary). I appreciate anyone who takes the term “progressive” literally, and not just as a stale genre wherein people rip off a couple classic bands.
I don’t know if you’re familiar with Drumtalk. You may have noticed I linked to their interview with Sean Reinert in the body of my recent Cynic article for example. They also have some great chats with Gene Hoglan, Bobby Jarzombek, and more. Well the new episode features Mr. Harrison himself, so if you’re a fan and want to get an insight into his methodology on the kit, it’s a great watch.
The best part is when he describes how he intentionally improvised his drum parts while ignoring tempo while he was composing one of his solo record. I also enjoyed how he compares music to architecture right after referencing Frank Zappa, who has that famous quote about how talking about music is like dancing about architecture. Anyway, give it a watch.
