"Deep spiritual connection" by itself does not make Hamid or the Dalai Lama or anyone a great musician. The same way that having a great ability to play an instrument doesn't guarrantee great music. The combination of both can blend wonderful results, from Coltrane to William Parker, but that doesn't mean that it always does. Hamid's playing is the product of both elements. Doesn't mean that every time he plays, it's all about spiritual transcendence (especially considering that Hamid is willing to play in a variety of musical contexts, from Calypso bands to Painkiller). But there is certainly, at least for me, a sense of spirituality in his freer playing and particularly when he introduces the frame drum in that context.   

Joseph Zitt <jzitt@metatronpress.com> wrote:

Jorge Gallegos wrote:

> Usually I would ignore stupid commments like this but you're talking
> about Hamid Drake. The man is a spiritual drum master. In whatever
> context he is playing, his soulful groove commands deep respect. It is
> especially when he brings out his frame drum that one can feel a deep
> spiritual connection with the ancestral voices. These are moments of
> purity and magic that bring out a spiritual side of whomever he is
> playing with.

With all due respect, and even from the perspective of a big fan of
Drake's, this is pure doubletalk. If having a "deep spiritual
connection" would be relevant to how well one plays the drums, the Dalai
Lama would be a percussion master... and I haven't heard anyone raving
about *his* grooves.


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