Brian - I got to hear Antonio play with Pat at the Beacon Theater in New York. A close fiend of mine, Greg Sandow had written a review of Metheny's upcoming album for the New York Times and Metheny had provided him with Backstage passes for himself - and a guest! Guess who the guest was? It was a wonderful evening and I got to meet everybody back stage with Greg.
AMAZING drummer! The cat uses his cymbals more than any other drummer I've seen. He's good on them too! There was one tune they played where he rocked the whole thing out on the cymbals. Speaking as a drummer, for me it was an incredible thing to see and hear. Very -musical- drummer, melodic player.
Whiplash had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Simmons was intense as the professor. A couple of times I just wanted to reach through the screen and kick his as$. He really inhabited that character and sold the part. Great flick, and emotional roller coaster ride. What I didn't get was that little look they gave each other at the end of the movie. I still would have shoved my sticks into his nether regions even if the kid did save the day for himself.
John
