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Here’s a weird one: Dave Lombardo playing Vivaldi. In 1999, the not-in-Slayer-at-the-time drummer collaborated with Italian music critic Lorenzo Arruga and some classical musicians on Vivaldi: The Meeting, a set of improvisations on Vivaldi pieces. (This bio of Arruga amusingly calls the recording “improvisations with a Cuban drummer.”) The CD is fairly unlistenable, though it has a certain joie de vivre (which anyone would have given the chance to play with DAVE FUCKING LOMBARDO). Hearing winds, female operatic vocals, and thundering double bass drums is not my idea of a good time. Chalk this one up next to Fantomas on Lombardo’s “good on paper/bad in reality” CV. Compare “Una Sfida” (“The Challenge” – a fitting title) against Nigel Kennedy’s recording of the Presto movement of “Summer” from Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons.”
Lorenzo Arruga, Dave Lombardo & Friends – Una SfidaNigel Kennedy – “Summer,” Presto
Hm that’s pretty bad but I think more than anything it’s a matter of production (?!) Who thought giving Lombardo a dry kit sound without any compression or reverb would suit this? He sounds like he’s playing on a kid starter drumkit.
I don’t think this is theoretically bankrupt (good on paper, as you say). Perhaps a better concept than overpowering Vivaldi with double-drums would be to do polymeter drum tracks along with a Steve Reich piece. Or even if polymeter stuff would muddle the point of FUCKING METAL DRUMS!! I guess something by Phillip Glass circa Glassworks could really work with tasteful – yet extreme – drumming over it! It might be tasteless but it would be an interesting experience.
This is somewhat more listenable, but also about 10x as stupid.
Lombardo and Steve Tucker appearing in Matthew Barney;s Cremaster series:
https://youtubeproxy.org/default.aspx?prx=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gISn5woNVvc
I reviewed this for Metal Hammer back when it came out. I don’t remember hating it. But I like Fant
If you’re old as I am, you’ve seen THE ULTIMATE REVENGE, where Lombardo and Hanneman talk about their love for classical music, incl. “Bahhhhhhhhhhhhhck.” So, no, the Vivaldi thing is not a shocker.
That Cremaster thing…whoa. I had wondered about it. Now I wonder no more. The drumming was bad-ass, though. Thanks for sharing.
Slayer limits Lombardo’s amazing skills. Don’t get me wrong. What Slayer has(had) going was bigger than any of the individuals(despite egos). But Lombardo needs an outlet. Hence, we get projects like this Vivaldi crap and Fantomas. Fourtunately, Fantomas is expertly crafted by some of the most gifted and skilled musicians in metal. This is a perfect platform for all four of these guys to show off what they got. This does not amount to four guys jacking-off on stage. Their individual displays magically combine in a precise and exhilarating concoction of furious frivolity. Thanks for the opportunity to defend Fantomas. Fantomas: sounds good on paper AND plastic.
Oh plz. Fantomas? Blrgh.
I love Lombardo, but Paul Bostaph is better and made me forget all about the long nights spent crying over Dave leaving the Slayer, Inc. to sow his “avant” oats.
Not to mention, how in the hell did RIB “limit” Lombardo? The guy was given carte blanche to overplay his ass off.
I theorize that he means there’s other skills to be applyed to the drum kit than just overplaying over standard thrash riffs.
Personally I always preferred Gene Hoglan!