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Rob Silverman: Drumology Volume 2

By Jim Worsley
September 18, 2022
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It would appear that

Rob Silverman

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Rob Silverman is on to something. With Drumology (Autumn Hill Records, 2020) having made some noise, Silverman powers on to Drumology Volume 2. Brother and keyboardist

Michael Silverman

keyboards

" data-original-title="" title="">Michael Silverman returned to the scene along with bassist

Larry Kornfeld

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Larry Kornfeld, and keyboardist

Jay Oliver

keyboards

" data-original-title="" title="">Jay Oliver, to join drummer Silverman as the core quartet of musicians. The brothers wrote eight pieces of music that were cultivated from a drummer's perspective. Every song is tailored to take advantage of the particular skill sets of each drummer.

The original album featured, among others, drumming icons

Dave Weckl

drums
b.1960

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Weckl,

Simon Phillips

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Simon Phillips and

Steve Smith

drums
b.1954

" data-original-title="" title="">Steve Smith. That led to a mix of fusion and prog rock. This time the predominance is prog rock and hard rock. The guest list includes

Billy Cobham

drums
b.1944

" data-original-title="" title="">Billy Cobham, as well as

Dream Theater

" data-original-title="" title="">Dream Theater's

Mike Mangini

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Mike Mangini,

Kenny Arnoff

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Kenny Arnoff (John Fogerty and

John Mellencamp

" data-original-title="" title="">John Mellencamp, among many others),

Todd Sucherman

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Todd Sucherman of Styx, and

Glen Sobel

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Glen Sobel of

Alice Cooper

" data-original-title="" title="">Alice Cooper fame. The guest list also includes saxophonist

Eric Marienthal

saxophone
b.1957

" data-original-title="" title="">Eric Marienthal, bassist

John Patitucci

bass
b.1959

" data-original-title="" title="">John Patitucci, violinist

Jerry Goodman

violin

" data-original-title="" title="">Jerry Goodman, bassist

John Myung

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">John Myung, and guitarist

Dweezil Zappa

guitar
b.1969

" data-original-title="" title="">Dweezil Zappa. Marienthal, Goodman, and Patitucci return as charter members from the first outing.

The record begins with the familiarity of Mangini and Myung on a tune called "Victory." It could have just as easily been called Victory Lap, as they celebrate at an even keel while maneuvering odd time signatures. Holding a sturdy framework at an upbeat pace makes the 'road less traveled' irregular meters pop. Surely one of the finest overall efforts on the record. It is followed by another. Cobham solos like only he can in a "Sea Spray" of triplets and so much more. Joined by Goodman, there's a touch of

Mahavishnu Orchestra

band / ensemble / orchestra
b.1971

" data-original-title="" title="">Mahavishnu Orchestra revisited in the air. The rhythm section chemistry with Patitucci is as superb as you might expect from two of the world's best musicians. "Sea Spray" is a most absorbing piece of progressive rock.

Silverman and company revisit "Journey to a Crystal Planet." The song was first released on The Rebirth of Fusion (Autumn Hill Records, 2013). The original had much the same cast, with both Silvermans, Marienthal, and Kornfeld. While Marienthal once again brings the needed heart to the tune, this is also a demonstration that size matters. The big drums of Sucherman and Silverman are resilient and power through with added creativity. "U Want Appice of Me" brings together

Carmine Appice

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Carmine Appice and

Vinnie Appice

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Vinnie Appice for an opportunity to kick some ass along side some heavy guitar chords. Exuberant hard rock with seamless changes.

Silverman continues full speed ahead, joined by both

Casey Grillo

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Casey Grillo and

John Spinelli

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">John Spinelli. This tripleheader is an "Avalanche" with Batio just frying on his guitar. Did Batio's hot licks inspire the drummers or did having a three-drummers explosion inspire Batio? Here's another question— what do you get when you cross old time vintage hard rock with the twenty first century? The answer is "Avalanche."

"Moving Mountains" is an opportunity to catch one's breath. Well, at least for a couple of minutes at the beginning. Soon, however, Sobel and Silverman are mountain climbing and pushing to get to the highest peak. Arnoff joins the party for the next song in which the always melodious Marienthal paints ornate pictures of lavish waterfalls and sweeping landscapes. Inspired, Arnoff kicks into a high spirited pace. With "Timber Falls" the ensemble is into a more than solid groove. Another layer is peeled back by Zappa's axe as he brings his own timbre to the mix. "Drum Dreams" concludes the set with

David Frangioni

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">David Frangioni's remarkable creativity. The renowned music technologist's immersion with the core group is a fitting and dramatic conclusion.

It speaks volumes that Drumology 3 is already on the way. An important note to close with is that all proceeds from these records benefit the

Neil Peart

b.1952

" data-original-title="" title="">Neil Peart Fund for brain cancer research at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Victory; Sea Spray; Journey to a Crystal Planet; U Want Appice of Me; Avalanche; Moving Mountains; Timber Falls; Drum Dreams.

Personnel

Rob Silverman

drums

Michael Silverman

keyboards

Larry Kornfeld

bass

Billy Cobham

drums

Mike Mangini

drums

Kenny Arnoff

drums

Casey Grillo

drums

David Frangioni

drums

Glen Sobel

drums

Todd Sucherman

drums

John Spinelli

drums

Eric Marienthal

saxophone

Dweezil Zappa

guitar

Michael Angelo Batio

guitar, electric

Jerry Goodman

violin

John Patitucci

bass

John Myung

bass

Jay Oliver

keyboards

Carmine Appice

drums

Vinnie Appice

drums

Album information

Title: Drumology Volume 2 | Year Released: 2022 | Record Label: Autumn Hill

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