Today's R&R DSF drummer needs little introduction as it's the great Ted Kirkpatrick! Ted is well known for his earth-moving contributions with his metal/rock band Tourniquet. From the late 80's all the way up to the present time, Ted has influenced a generation of metal heads. Recently, Ted put out an album of drum solos played to various works of classical music. It's quite the unique set. He accompanies composers from Chopin to Bach to Mozart on the 9 track disc. And good thing, because Ted has unfortunately been in that set of musicians with considerable talent that for whatever reason has very few good quality live examples of their playing ability. I'm used to hearing Ted's thundering rhythmic timings interwoven into mathematical, thrash metal, but his new album, In the Shadow of the Masters, showcases his work in a way that a much broader audience will appreciate.

Ted has put out a dozen heavy rock albums and he's always found a way to tuck in a nice solo. However, In the Shadow of the Masters is the first album that he's been able to take a little more disc space and fill it up with great solos played to some great classical tunes. Ted's got a great polyrhythmic sense, and makes it look easy, as if it's "nothin' but a thang." I love watching him when he's really into it as he plays things in a way no other drummer would and it's not just because he's a rare lefty.  It's because he is a true master himself!

In addition to drumming, Ted is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist and song writer. I highly recommend going through Ted's work from start to finish.

You can purchase Ted Kirkpatrick's In the Shadow of the Masters as well as his full discography at http://www.tourniquet.net or on iTunes. Also look for his drum experience/teaching video, Circadian Rhythms - The Drumming World of Ted Kirkpatrick.
In the Shadow of the Masters can also be heard in it's entirety at Ted's BandCamp page.

Ted Kirkpatrick - "Barrios - La Catedral - Allegro Solemne"

Tourniquet - "Pathogenic Ocular Dissonance"

Tourniquet - "Pathogenic Ocular Dissonance" - Lyrics

The iguanidae sees East and West simultaneously
The praying mantis sees three hundred flies from three
Orbit of man, divergent strabismus and
Compound eyes alien by design

Pathogenic Ocular Dissonance

Unravel the surcingle, clotted and much
Excoriated eons of life unsound
Avert your gaze, the horrific pestilence
You are spared and standing on Holy ground
Searching nystagmus, it's no wonder
Spiritual migraines still persist
The scales fall, the cataracts desist
The life you once led is not even missed

Pathogenic Ocular Dissonance

When red is green and green is grey
You've failed the test in column A
You see at twenty what we do at fifty
The wisdom of sight comes from the father of lights

The treasure you see, the treasure you know
There will your heart be found also

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