: : Great drummers

Donati Virgil

Musicians or bands:

Planet X, Michel Polnareff, Cloud Nine, Taste, The State, Broderick Smith, Southern Sons, Loose Change, Peter Cupples, Linda Cable, Alan Zavod, Brian Brown, Jon Stevens, Tribal Tech, Garsed & Helmerich, Derek Sherinian, Mark Boals, On the Virg, Eric Norlander, Joel Hoekstra, Ken Steiger, Frank Gambale, Soul SirkUS, Bunny Brunel, Mick Jagger, Joss Stone, Dave Stewart, Joseph Williams, Steve Vai Band, Freakhouse, Tribal Tech, CAB, Ring of Fire, Derek Sherinian, Steve Walsh, Mark Boals, Tina Arena

Biography and commentary:

Born in 1958 in Australia, Virgil Donati plays drumset from 3 years old and began taking lessons at seven. At 19, he studied 2 years in the US with among others Philly Joe Jones in person, one of the greatest drumset virtuosos of jazz Bebop. Virgil is at ease as well in jazz as in rock, making him naturally one of the best fusion (jazz-rock) drummers in the vein of Billy Cobham and comparable to Terry Bozzio, Dave Weckl, or Vinnie Colaiuta. His mastery with the double bass drum pedal is remarkable with original concepts such as the double stroke roll (RRLL) with heel-toe or jumped single stroke rolls of 3 inverted (a summit of sophistication with the feet). He is also a specialist of asymmetric measures and polyrhythmic shifts including with independent beats on two hi-hats. He also offers instructional videos and musical scores.

Marc De Douvan, publication in French: January 3, 2006 (for the translation in English: July 12, 2015)

Official website

Link to Drummerworld or other