THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, October 17, 1994 TAG: 9410150064
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICKEY WRIGHT, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
ANTON FIG LEARNED a long time ago that it's all music.
And that's the lesson Fig, longtime session man and drummer with Paul Shaffer's bands on David Letterman's ``Late Night'' and ``Late Show,'' imparts in a new video. Fig, who'll be at A&E Music Center in Virginia Beach tonight to autograph copies of his project, stresses that ``In the Groove: Music From a Drummer's Perspective'' isn't just an instructional piece. He hopes that nonmusicians will benefit from the tape's eclectic approach, which finds him sitting alongside players as far afield as Shaffer, former Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley and jazzer Andy Laverne.
Fig's ability to navigate his way through a wide range of styles with ``Late Show'' guests and on record and video is a result of the catholic listening he did while growing up in his native South Africa.
``I've always listened to a lot of different music. Back in South Africa, there was all the indigenous music around me. My sister listened to classical, and my dad listened to jazz. When I started playing, I got heavily into jazz.''
So heavily that he names Tony Williams, who came to prominence in Miles Davis' mid-'60s quintet, as his favorite drummer. Fig mentions a gig with Davis - ``always an absolute idol of mine'' - on ``Late Night'' as a high point in his career.
``After the show, he told me I had a good feel. So that pretty much made my life.''
Feel is ``the most important thing,'' he says. As the video's title makes clear, Fig has made a career of putting the emphasis on the music itself, rather than pyrotechnic displays. You won't find him soloing just for the sake of soloing.
``If you're soloing,'' he notes, ``it has to be grooving or else it doesn't work. Put it this way: There's some kinds of music where soloing is appropriate, and others where it's not. I played in Boston once, and a professor was there who told me, `I didn't even notice you.' And I took that as a compliment. There are some kinds of music where you just have to follow the voice of the singer or the soloist, then there are other forms of music where it's effective.''
Fig thinks drumming affects the average listener more ``on a subconscious level. They're not noticing so much whether what you're playing is an easy thing or a hard thing. You have to concentrate on moving them. They can relate to the feel of the drums.
``If it doesn't reach the people on a basic level, then you're not doing your job. That's not to say technique's not important, but you should improve your technique so that you'll have a better language to communicate your ideas.''
One of Fig's ``Late Show'' duties is underscoring Letterman's comic ideas with rim shots and drumrolls.
``I've got his timing down. I miss once in a while, but you try to not. He fines me,'' jokes Fig. ``You get a $100 fine if you miss.''
Maybe it's a bit like playing behind a singer.
``I guess, in a way. Could be a rapper. It's a very rhythmic thing.''
Do the two practice their teamwork?
``Not at all. I just watch him. You know, I have a rapport with him. He's done a couple of Top Tens for things with the president of CBS, and he takes me along to do the roll for him.
``He plays my drums every day. After rehearsal, he comes over and bangs around.''
Is he any good?
``He's got his thing.'' MEMO: Anton Fig will appear 6 p.m. Monday at A&E Music Center, 3800 Holland
Road in Virginia Beach. His video, ``In the Groove: Music From a
Drummer's Perspective,'' is priced at $39.95. For more information, call
498-8282.
ILLUSTRATION: CHRIS CUFFARO
Anton Fig, far left, will be at A&E Music Center in Virginia Beach
tonight to autograph copies of his video, ``In the Groove.''
by CNB