Search - Steve Hass :: Traveler

New York's Best Drummer??

Rob Marshall | San Fran, CA | 02/17/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have been a drummer for over 30 years. Maybe Steve Hass' style is exactly the way I think music should be played. Whatever the reason, Hass takes his influences from opposite ends of the musical spectrum and makes them his own. I have never heard anyone cover so much ground and sound so good.
Steve is an American drummer. His groove runs deep, behind the beat. On songs JBenJazz,Groove Me, People Get Ready, and Skylark, he's a mish mosh of Steve Gadd, Steve Jordan, Shawn Pelton, and Jim Keltner. On (718) he has a smooth brazlian groove reminicscent of Airto with Al Dimeola. On Song Is You, he could easily replace any drummer playing with Danilo Perez or any other latin jazz artist. Except, Hass actually swings hard in the bridge sections, and he doesn't rush when he plays an R+B groove. Hass never get's in the way of the groove with his fills. He simply adds to the feel. Each fill is musical and melodic. And when it comes time to solo, it's polyrhythmic, dynamic, and musical. He draws from Jeff "Tain" Watts and Vinnie Colaiuta, yet, sounds like neither.
"Traveler" is one of my favorite CDs. Not because it's original or well produced, but because Hass' ability to sound authentic and still be himself simply amazes me.
Is Steve Hass the best? Well, for my taste, he's the most versatile, recognizable, professional drummer I have ever heard."

Amazing!

Rob Marshall | 01/21/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A musical grab bag- Traveler pays homage to the best that popular musical history has to offer as well as a quartet of original interludes. Free of superfluous and processed gimmicks, the sound remains pure from beginning to end, staying afloat while skipping from genre to genre and style to style. Hass is overwhelmingly successful at blending a dozen tracks-inextricably linked by his technique. Traveler cradles the listener so they never want to skip any chapters as the musical seam is absolutely flawless. The sheer amount of variety on the album is noteworthy in itself---but combined with the craftsmanship and talent of the artists, the album is incredibley sound. It is so easy to listen from beginning to end that upon my first experince with it I found myself feeling disappointed that the album was culminating- like reading a great book and dreading the end because of the personal cathartic experience that ends with the last piece on the album. However this eclectic masterpiece has left its impression embedded in my mind. Whether smooth or hot or catchy, I find myself humming the melodies in my head constantly. Overall---an amazing musical feat!!! P.S. check out "Do What You Have To Do"---it quite possibley supersedes McLachlan's original!"

Great Musical Journey

jarbovi | Finland | 01/05/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Steve Hass' CD is simply one of the highlights of 2003. This CD takes you to the jet seat for true musical journey. The trip is adventarous and fresh from the energetic groove of J Ben Jazz to the airy, melodiuos feel of Skylark (featuring magical Janis Siegel). The concept of this cd is also very unique blending the traditional yet freshly arranged songs to the short introductions to more exotic rhytms and melodies. Steve Hass and his wonderful accompanists here plays us music with the taste and edge of its own. Dig it for diggin' it !"