Skins deep

Drummers usually make their points with their sticks, but they can be vocal when it counts. Several of the stars who are coming together for John Blackwell's benefit concert tomorrow at Berklee recently shared their views on tapping into the creative spirit, confronting stereotypes about drummers, and finding an original voice.

What's your approach to playing?

"The only philosophy I use is just to be true to myself. . . . I'm trying to push the envelope, just trying to do things that I normally don't do." -- Dennis Chambers

"Serve God, serve the muse. That's it, and everything else should happen as a result of that." -- Vinnie Colaiuta

"I try to let go of my ego and let go of expectations and let the universal creative spirit guide me. And I try to relinquish myself to that energy and make every moment as special as I can." -- Terri Lyne Carrington

Are there any misconceptions about drummers?

"Absolutely: 'A bunch of musicians and a drummer.' That drummers are somehow almost submusical, like subhuman or something." -- Colaiuta

"The general public will look at a drummer and if you're outstanding, they'll say, 'You're great! That is about the best thing I've ever heard. And what do you do for a living?' They don't think it's really a job unless you're playing to 150,000 people on TV every night."--Marcus Williams

What does it feel like when you're really playing well?

"When it's really good you don't even have to think. It's like eating, you don't have to say, 'OK, I have to take the fork, lower it 12 inches, scoop, bring it up to my mouth, and chew 132 times.' " -- Williams

Any advice for young drummers?

"Play by what you feel, not by what you hear. The worst thing that can come out of playing drums for a lot of years is that you sound like somebody else." -- Chambers

REBECCA OSTRIKER