Over a year in the making, the much anticipated solo record by Virgil Donati arrived and has been creating buzz around musicians' circles since it's arrival. The album was produced, written and arranged by Donati, and mixed by Alex Argento, a close collaborator. Virgil’s drumming has arguably been at the leading edge for at least a decade, and as this record displays, his compositional and orchestration skills are also coming to the fore. Says Donati: “After all these years of playing, I still feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface!”
It was only a listener's mere dream that this album could ever be performed live, due to it's thick textures, many layers, and diverse roster of contributors. Until now. Assembling a team of musicians that were up for the task was no easy feat, but Virgil has managed to compile a virtuoso ensemble of the next household-name musicians that are second to none in talent.
“Many drummers come to mind who've had a hand in raising the bar - leading by example with faster chops, innovative use of the instrument, more complex rhythms, more creative phrasing, and in general, inspiring a new generation of drummers. But few have turned as many heads as Virgil Donati.” - Stick It Magazine
The tour is breaking out of any comfort zones and gaining ground in markets never before exposed to Donati's mastery. "We wanted to take a chance, throw in some risk for our die-hard fan base; the guy's that would never get to see what we do live." Says Donati. "Our music is all about stretching boundaries and demolishing any limitations. We thought, why not apply that same pioneer school of thought to the tour."
And that they are. Sure, there are the staple venues of The Baked Potato in Los Angeles.; The Iridium Jazz Club in New York (including a live stream feed from the venue for all four sets); and Martyr's in Chicago (including a pre-show clinic) that are on the tour. This time, however, Virgil is hitting uncharted territory by adding Alva's Showroom in San Pedro; North Star Bar in Philadelphia (pre-show clinic); Greene Street Club in Greensboro, North Carolina; the Atlanta Institute of Music and Media; Murray Hill Theatre in Jacksonville; The Brass Mug in Tampa; Bombshell's Tavern in Orlando; and finishing things up at Douglas Corner in Nashville.
The line up: Virgil Donati - Drums, André Nieri - Guitar, Anthony Crawford - Bass, Isamu McGregor - Keys.
