my kit to tech', not play ...  i ran sound for the same band (Agents of Good Roots) for 5 years. Their drummer, Brian Jones was consistantly more versitile, groovier, jazzier, than all other drummers that shared his kit.

On a double bill, at Trax in Charlottesville, VA, the Jazz Mandolin Project w/ Gabe Jarrett on drums played before our Good Roots.  Jarrett asked to use Brian's kit as pro musicians do when they can (to make it easier on the changover, club, soundman, load-out, & other bands).

When it comes to descriptive language that differenciates between musicians, i am a monkey.  i just know that Jarrett actually made the same kit that i was mixing for two different bands sound different without any of my own manipulation.  In 5 years, he shared his kit at around 100 shows.  Only one guy stood out on Brian's kit.  (Jeff Sipe never played Brian's kit).

Let's see.

Normally I don't let people sit in, but my ex jazz teacher let me sit in with his band one time (what a great guy) and when I was done he proceeded to cut me into little pieces.

The bass player I played with in college was just a genius and could play about 10 instruments.  He routinely kicked my butt when he sat in and taught me alot about feel, drummers, music theory, etc.

I would rather have my butt kicked than kick someone elses because that way you can learn something.

In all reality though, it's not about "being better" than the next guy.  I think it's about admiring what other people can do well and being at ease with what you do on the drums.

Well, I've shared kits with people like Louie Bellson, Ed Soph, and Carmine Appice, so I've gotten accustomed to being absolutely blown off the the stage. Somehow it doesn't hurt too much when the guy cutting you to pieces is a known superstar. But it's still humbling.

But it's even more humbling when it catches you off-guard, or exposes your ego.

Back in the mid-80's I moved from Orlando to Miami to join what was at the time a very high-profile metal band that had just gotten signed. They had auditioned all the local hotshots, totalling over 40 drummers, and ended up bringing me in to do the gig. Some of Miami's best drummers had gone for the gig, they told me, so I was feeling pretty good, getting a little cocky, thinking I'm now Miami's resident bad@ass.

Wrong.

At one of our first gigs, a local original band I had never heard of opened for us. They were very high energy, and played a sort of fusion rock style that was not really commercial, but darn fun to watch. These guys could PLAY.

I realized right away that the drummer was good. REAL good. Then he took a solo, and completely dusted me. Mopped up the room with me. Destroyed me. Opened up not one but two cans of percussive whup-@ss. Played stuff I could never come close to technically, while tossing and twirling his sticks and grinning at the audience like a movie star.

And I had to follow him on stage.  

I went up to my bandleader and said "Listen, I understand if you want to fire me and get this guy. He just dusted me, bigtime!" Fortunately he laughed it off, and they kept me.

I made it a point to get to know that drummer right away (figuring I should "get to know the enemy") - and he was this totally cool guy! We really hit it off, and became fast friends. I started going to his shows regularly, and one time he and I even rented a warehouse together just to set up both our kits and get stupid - big fun!

But it taught me a lot: Don't get cocky. Don't think you're the sh:it. Because there is always somebody around the corner who can decimate you with one hand tied behind his back.

It also taught me that instead of being threated by the skills of other drummers, I gain a lot more by appreciating them, enjoying them, and learning from them. This guy was totally unselfish - we had a great time exchanging licks, with no worries about competing with each other. There was room for both of us in that town, or in any town. The more good musicians, the better!

Years have gone by, and I've seen a lot of drummers come and go. But this guy is still among the top 2 drum soloists I have EVER seen. And the other guy in that group is Buddy Rich, to give you an idea of my regard for this guy.

And he runs an air-conditioning company, and has never been a fulltime professional musician, because the lifestyle didn't appeal to him. Good for him, but it's our loss. If he had chosen to pursue the career fulltime, I think he's the kind of drummer we'd be having awestruck discussions about  on this forum...

LOL

I kave a friend in Gulfport, Miss who could be this guys clone.  Except he's an engineer.

i was thinking the same...