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Steve will always be under-appreciated because he purposefully strives to subdue and integrate his drumming "voice" around all three of the strings. He is the root if you will, keeping close to the basic rhythm he establishes and makes sure that that rhythm lays down enough ground work and support so as to free the others and give them room to improvise and play more outside of the basic framework. His genius and art is about making himself invisible, much the way a film editor strives to make his work seem unnoticeable to the audience.
That said, he does have his limitations as a drummer, but then again, I would say the same of any drummer who couldn't play as well as Elvin Jones, Tony Williams or Jack Dejohnette, which is a somewhat unfair expectation of just about anybody.
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He would clear the rubble from the mouth of the shaft, he would bend the handle of the teaspoon in a loop and tie the string to it, he would lower it down the shaft deep into the earth, and when he brought it up there would be water in the bowl of the spoon; and in that way, he would say, one can live.
J.M. Coetzee, "Life and Times of Michael K"
Free music at: www.last.fm/music/Jacques+de+Villiers
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