SHADOWS FALL's JASON BITTNER: Video Footage Of St. Louis Drum Solo

Video footage of SHADOWS FALL drummer Jason Bittner's drum solo from his May 11, 2011 clinic at Drum Headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri can be seen below.

Commented Bittner: "Someone asked me, 'Hey, Jason, when are you going to put that face-ripping solo from St. Louis up on YouTube?' Considering the fact I had posted all of the prior solos, this was a valid question.

"Well, I saved the best for last.

"This was a great night, and probably the best solo of the tour! Too bad I cut the top of my head off in the video."

The Avedis Zildjian Company earlir in the year announced that Bittner had joined its family of artists. Regarded as one of the best metal drummers of his generation, Bittner is widely recognized for his double bass skills, ability to play complex patterns at high speeds, and extensive knowledge of jazz and Latin drumming styles. He is often credited with "bringing the groove back to metal drumming."

"I've been attracted to Zildjian cymbal sounds for years," said Bittner. "I bought my first 18" A Zildjian crash ride when I was only 11 years old. I feel that I'm coming home with my new relationship with Zildjian, and I look forward to spending the next decade and beyond with them."

"We're absolutely thrilled to welcome Jason to the Zildjian family," said John DeChristopher, VP artist relations and event marketing worldwide. "He's the complete package: a phenomenal player and student of the instrument, a great educator and role model for younger players, and a highly respected artist among his peers and the drumming community overall. We're very excited about his future with Zildjian."

A native of Albany, New York, Bittner attended Berklee College Of Music and played with STIGMATA, one of the biggest hardcore bands on the New York scene, for seven years. In the fall of 2001, Bittner joined SHADOWS FALL. For the past 10 years, he has toured extensively with the band and released "The Art Of Balance"; "The War Within" (debuted at #38 on Billboard and received a Grammy nomination for "Best Metal Performance"); "Fallout From the War"; "Threads Of Life" (Grammy nomination for "Best Metal Performance"); and "Retribution", one of the band's most powerful albums to date that debuted in Billboard's Top 40.

Bittner has been nominated for numerous awards, including the 2004 Modern Drummer Reader's Poll for #1 Up-And-Coming Drummer; the 2005 Modern Drummer Reader's Poll for #1 Best Recorded Performance for the SHADOWS FALL album "The War Within" and #1 Metal Drummer; and for the second consecutive year, the 2006 Modern Drummer Reader's Poll for #1 Metal Drummer. Bittner's book, "Drumming Out Of The Shadows", which was co-authored by Joe Bergamini, received the #2 award in the DRUM! magazine reader's poll for Best Educational Book.

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