THE CITY LIGHTS - DRUM SOLO

The City Lights - written by Larnell Lewis

'In the Moment' Album Release Concert

***Album Available NOW***

The Band:
William Sperandei - Trumpet
Rob Christian - Tenor Sax/Flute
Elmer Ferrer - Guitar
Jeremy Ledbetter - Keyboards
Andrew Stewart - Bass
Larnell Lewis - Drums

Filmed and edited by Michael Fisher of Fisher Media

Audio Mixed by Larnell Lewis

About the solo:
This solo vamp is fun to play over. It's a bar of 5 & 6 to total 11 beats.

About the song:

'The City Lights' was written and inspired by the many late night red-eye flights that I've taken to get home from a long tour run. There's nothing like the feeling of flying over your hometown and seeing all of the beautiful street lights before you land.

Enjoy!
L.

***Album Available Here***

BIO:

LARNELL LEWIS is a GRAMMY Award winning musician, composer, producer, and educator. A Toronto native, Larnell has quickly established himself as one of the most diverse and in-demand drummers currently on the music scene. Along with his long-standing position behind the drums in Snarky Puppy, Larnell has led many highly successful groups of his own and toured the globe with some of the most well known names in music, including Etienne Charles, Gregory Porter, Benny Golson, Lalah Hathaway, John Scofield, Pat Metheny, Lisa Fisher, Kurt Elling, Gary Burton, and more.

Larnell’s immense talent, fierce creativity, and continually evolving musical style is what has kept him at the top of the list as a musical collaborator for artists across the globe. In June 2018, Larnell released his highly anticipated debut album “In The Moment,” which featured ten original compositions in a variety of musical styles. His vast talents not just as a musician but as a producer also landed him the opportunity to act as Musical Director for a performance during the Toronto International Film Festival’s premiere of the critically-acclaimed documentary of Quincy Jones, “QUINCY”, (directed by Rashida Jones & Al Hicks), where he led performances from the likes of Yebba Smith, Mark Ronson, and Chaka Khan.

Among his many accolades, including the 2004 Oscar Peterson Award for Outstanding Achievement in Music (Humber College), Larnell was named as the fourth recipient of the Toronto Arts Foundation’s “Emerging Jazz Award” (2017), which is a $10,000 cash prize intended to support the creation of a project that features original compositions from each recipient.

Larnell’s talents can be seen worldwide via his various social media platforms, which have a combined total of over 100,000 followers. His reach to fans and musicians of all generations is proof that he not only possesses undeniable talent, but a spirit unlike any other that excites, inspires, and encourages music fans of all ages to further explore their musical tastes and the follow him on the road he has paved for himself.

Larnell Lewis is endorsed by Yamaha Drums, Zildjian, Promark, Evans, D’Addario, and Latin Percussion.
Follow @LarnellLewisMusic on FB/IN/YT & @Larnell_Lewis on TW

***Album Available Here***

[nobody]

Wow! And don't forget the props to the keyboard player for holding the time during this crazy solo😂

[fnkdrmr]

He floated that solo like a keyboard player and the keyboard player kept it tight like a drummer. Excellent

[tadeogrimberg]

I used to drum everyday for 12 years straight and suddenly stopped for personal reasons. Whenever I find myself in doubt of missing the sensation of playing drums, I visit this video and remember there once used to be only joy in playing drums, not just looking for jobs/gigs or persuing the acceptance of other musicians. Larnell's musicality and passion always bring me back to the joy I used to feel, and hopefully will again. Thank you, Larnell, for going beyond the physical goosebumps. If there's such thing as spiritual goosebumps, this is it.

[MINDTHEHEADPHONE]

That's easily one of the best and most impressive drum solos I've ever seen. I can't believe how musical this solo is! Truly incredible and just pure art!

[drew-shourd]

I was in Mississippi one summer and watched a stick of butter slowly melt in the sun and it wasn't as smooth as Larnell....this guy is beyond amazing imo...

[THEEBlackAnime]

Dudes “storytelling” is PHENOMENAL 🔥🔥🔥🔥 the art of “speaking/language” through your instrument and letting the solo breathe. ✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾

[solohour]

And the award for “guy I could watch solo all day” goes to...

[aevan]

An unprecedented level of subtlety, nuance, and creativity in this... his solo floats out of the piano texture, to the point where you hardly notice it’s beginning. He gets timbres out of the drumset that I didn’t know were even possible. And, what I love most about his playing is his ability to use silence better than almost any drummer I’ve ever seen. For me, some of the most intense and dramatic moments in his solo were during a rest. And the way he uses all of this to craft one incredible arc over his entire solo is just... unreal
Thank you, Larnell

[vintagemxer]

The new breed of drummers. This is some of the best soloing I've ever heard.

[qstaratma]

It’s 2023 and l keep coming back for more of this amazing solo!🙏

[LittleBJT]

Many of today’s drummers sound alike. They have great chops but lack in creativity and imagination. I’m 45 years old and it takes something special to catch me off guard. This solo is special. I love the flow, dynamics, creativity and feel. I’m a huge Snarky Puppy fan, and that’s where you came across my radar. Your playing will motivate younger listeners to develop their own sound. Great work my friend. Truly one of the greatest drummers I’ve listened to....and I’ve heard a ton.

[nikokarassik]

Larnell is the best modern drummer hands down. Musicality, sound, chops, creativity and phrasing, hes got it all

[Keepdapocket]

Ok, my fellow musicians. I've been seeing a lot of videos of the new age church drummers, and their chops. I keep stating, in grown and intelligent discussions that their chops are amazing, but the musicality just isn't there for me.

THIS is a how to guide on HOW to solo. You have everything. Chops, technique, etc. But, the most important thing is SPACE. there is no clutter. You can follow the solo. My teacher from the old days said the most important thing about a solo is SPACE. THIS, to me, is a perfect example of that.

[DanWLarsen]

I’ve watched this video 20 times over the past two weeks and today I had a different response. I got emotional as I thought about endless hours Larnell put into his craft to become a master. Hours with a band. Hours and hours and hours and years on his own perfecting every ounce of his playing and skill. Incredible.

[danielivanmeow]

"Sir are you going to buy the drums?"

[GuitarGare]

To qualify my humble opinion:

I have been playing guitar for 50 years.
When I was a 20 something I learned the first 5 Mahavish albums. zzz
Disillusioned with just the portrayal of facility before music, I became a "commercial" musician, just to make a living.

Then turning my back on a recording career as it was painfully formulaic, (especially in a small market economy like Canada)
I just hunkered down to repertoire to serve the public, finding all the beauty in music back to the 17th century for every occasion.
-to do such, THESE ears have to consume almost everything.

This video of Larnell's was forwarded to me this morning on Facebook.
Not only is this is the most musical thing I have seen in ages, it stands as a veritable fly in the ointment of anyone who champions sight reading above everything and a bridge to reason with regards to the anticipatory accommodation of one's fellow musicians onstage to help someone through their contemplative and ruminative improvisational bent.

THAT, friends, cannot be found on a chart.
Kudos to you folks, all of you. The envelope is a little bigger.
I can't remember the last time I grinned throughout a whole piece.
Love

[gershomfeni-ulwz]

This has to be one of the best drum solos ever!

[samuellunguana]

Larnell is the greatest drummer in the world! Hands Down!

[aaronbrown]

I think this is probably the most musical thing I've ever seen

[AndrewRooneyDrums]

Absolutely beautiful and pure musicianship.