What Makes Phish Great? Part 1: Jon Fishman

Phish's drummer Jon Fishman powers the unique rhythms behind the band. Guitarist Trey Anastasio and bassist Mike Gordon often leverage Jon Fishman and his drumming polyrhythms to create legendary Phish rock jams like the Riverport Gin, the Tahoe Tweezer, the Great Went Bathtub Gin, the 1997 thunderstorm Taste, and YEM from A Live One. In this What Makes Phish Great episode, we take an in-depth look at how Jon Fishman makes Phish sound so unique and intricate.

Phish is Trey Anastasio (guitar), Mike Gordon (bass), Page McConnell (piano/keyboards), and Jon Fishman (drums). Trey Anastasio and Mike Gordon in Phish also create polyrhythmic musical textures.

All rights to Phish.
Support the channel by liking and sharing!
Subscribe for more content!
This is a music analysis video essay.
Tom Esquire loves Phish!

Comment your favorite Jon Fishman drumbeat!
Or comment your favorite Phish jam and concert!
Or comment if you are seeing Phish in 2022!
Or if you saw Phish in Mexico!

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:38 What is a Polyrhythm? w/ Jon Fishman
01:23 How Phish's Jon Fishman Improvises Drum Polyrhythms
02:30 Phish's Jon Fishman Drumming Polyrhythm Examples

What Makes Phish Great Series Explanation:
This video series explains 'why is Phish so popular'. Every year, fans ask will there be a phish tour. Fans go to so many Phish shows because the shows are that good. This 'What Makes Phish Great' series will explore why Phish is so popular, talented, and timeless. Phish is a rock band and jam band popular around the world!

[serenabissanti]

Thanks, not enough people out there breaking down the true genius of this band

[domcagney]

Fishman is incredibly underrated. One of the best drummers of his generation

[unknownbrother]

I love Phish. Saw them for the first time on Friday (7/29/22).

[AndrewJDuddy]

Great video. Fishman may be one of the most underappreciated drummers in music today. Because phish's music is a difficult to get into and not mainstream, most people have no idea what he does and why it is so impressive.
Also Fishman is the MVP of the current phish tour. As trey has slowed down a bit compared to the 90s, it has created extra space for Fishman to really show off his intricate patterns and fills. Fish has more of chance to really shine now. Incredible how many grooves he can move in and out of within only one jam.

[chanchan]

Tom, you keep me coming back!! Taste is one of my favorites… ‘97 is a golden year for phish

[giarc]

Fantastic video. Every member of Phish needs a video like this. Well, Mike and Paige at least lol. These guys are the best ever to do it, and all four need equal treatment in how we celebrate the best music ever played. Love the video man!!

[SongthatJDlikes]

Great video. One of the best yet. Really makes me want to go see the guys and pay attention to the short man on drums more. Thanks Tom

[honuman]

His polyrhythms are essential but there's other things that get overlooked with him imo. He has great hands. Dextrous and tight. His dynamics are fantastic and he knows how to build and release tension that few other drummers do or maybe are allowed to do. His stamina is other worldly. He maintains complex patterns for long periods and still has the energy to be creative and add to the music. His choices for patterns are unique. Especially early on in songs like foam, stash, etc he plays things you'd likely never hear from other drummers. He's courageous. Improvising with complex high tempo music takes some balls. That's what got me to take risks with my own playing. He's been a big influence on my drumming even though I don't play improv rock much. He's a very good drummer and even though I can't compare him to some of the top players he's carved out a place in best rock drummers for me.

[fives.]

Fishman’s a drum genius, the groove for Tweezer does the same thing to my brain that Jeff Porcaro’s Rosanna shuffle does

[florafeng]

THIS VIDEO IS SO GREAT!!! This is exactly what I was trying to understand about Phish. I saw Phish in 2019 and could tell the drummer sounded different. Now I finally know why! I love this band so much!!! I can’t wait to see them this summer. Lol I’m a Phan and I’ll always been a phan. Can’t get enough of Phish! Thank you so much!

[gijoey]

Great stuff. Looking forward to some more parts. That Crosseyed from 11/2/96 is one of my favorite jams with Fishman and Karl Perazzo from Santana.

[michaelwatson]

He's always been my favorite member of the band! He is very unique musically, there's no other drummer like him. His talent seems to have no limits.

[Dozenfury]

A great video that also kind of explains how earlier jambands like the GD achieved the same with the use of 2 drummers (Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann). So it's impressive that Fishman is able to do this and keep track of the polyrhythms himself while playing, not easy. And it speaks to the amazing talent of the rest of the band members of Phish and bands like this to pick up on them and hand-off the rhythm changes.

[joek]

Crosseyed at 4:20, its almost like he's doing an impression of him. Thats f**king uncanny!

[docbobster]

This is a wonderful video because it gave me new things to hear in the music.

[humanbeing]

Every member is an absolute master player. Fishman is the foundation of it all.

[ghostandbell]

Well done .. I appreciate your commentary way of explaining etc .

[phishphan]

Magnificent breakdown ! Jon is in my top 3 drummers with Peart and Copeland.

[jonn]

The 2001 from the Great Went was the best version they have ever played and that ride beat Fishman played was absolutely badass.

[toddshockley]

The best video about Phish I’ve ever seen and heard.