Drummers Collective 25th Anniversary Celebration & Bass Day 2002

It has been a long time since I have found something worthy of reviewing, but here it is. The DRUMMERS COLLECTIVE 25th ANNIVERSARY is great jazz/improv music and a lot of it at that. (OVER 5 hours worth!!!) The 2 disc set features 4 drummers and 2 bassists that are possibly the best at their instruments. The second disc has many bonus features that are interesting if you ever get past the first disc. Disc one starts out with the Dave Weckl band. Weckl has always been a great drummer and ,unlike many other drummers, he can write great compostions as well. The set that his band goes through is similar to the 'VERY LIVE' 2 disc set. The cameras focus on Weckl as he shows his ability to go from Jazz/Latin Jazz/funk in a great collection of Weckl Tunes. The man can do it all. He has been called a 'Gadd Clone' but he has developed his own style that is amazing. An in demand drummer at the height of his powers. Horacio 'El Negro' Hernandez joins John Patitucci and Oriente Lopez for a Latin Jazz set. Lopez wrote all of the music and it is great latin jazz which isn't typical of the genre. If there is a better Latin Jazz drummer than Haracio out there I'd love to hear him. John Patitucci is amazing as always. He somehow manages to play over changes while he maintains the link between bass and drums. He is one of the greatest complete bassists around. (Other than Stanley Clarke I can't think of a bassist that is a virtuoso on both upright and electric) Great Latin jazz from a trio that I'd love to catch live. Horacio defies convention and is a must for anyone to hear. What he does with his left foot is better than what most drummers do with all of their appendages. He outdoes his playing on the Montreal Drumfest DVD. A feat that I thought was impossible.Victor Wooten does his thing next. If you have the Bass Day '98 DVD of Victor then this might disappoint.( I have it) All Victor does is solo, and there isn't even a drummer. Great for one viewing, but it doesn't hold up to multiple viewings. It would have been nice to hear him with a band and perform some of his tunes. Maybe since he does that on the other DVD he was trying to do something different. I think Victor is amazing so I shouldn't question the man. IF you're a bassist you'll probably love this because Victor gives a lifetime worth of bass techniques to figure out/practice although they are the same ones from the other DVD.Steve Smith gives somewhat of a clinic that he gets the audience involved in. It is great to learn from, but if you're a drummer you probably know this stuff already. I don't play drums, so I found his clinic informative and impressive. Steve does some showing off on this, but I couldn't watch this part over and over. The best part is when Steve is joined by Victor Wooten for an improv/duo similar to the ones found on the 2 VITAL TECH TONES discs. This is a demonstration of improv/musicianship that is a must to be heard and it can be heard over and over. The 2 seem to be sharing one consciousness as they improv and impress. Simply amazing. Finally, the master, Steve Gadd makes an appearance with the Gadd Gang. The set starts out with Gadd doing a couple of solos that show the style that many have tried to duplicate or add to their own personality. Is there any 'offbeat' drummer that can say they weren't influenced by Gadd?? (Colaiuta, Weckl,etc.) After the soloing, Gadd is joined by his organ player Larry Goldings for another incredible duo. This piece is amazing and can be listened to/watched per infinitum. Lastly, the rest of the Gadd Gang plays a short set of Jazz Standards. It is fitting the show ends with Gadd.If I had a complaint about this DVD it would be that none of the Billy Cobham Power/Funk school players are here. (Cobham, Griffin, Chambers, etc.) However, when you get 4 drummers of this quality and most from the Gadd School; I am not going to complain. There are 5 hours of greatness, and the Latin Jazz/Wooten/Smith Clinic prevent anything from becoming redundant. This disc isn't just for drummers or bassists (I don't play either) but is for anyone that appreciates Jazz/Fusion music. The rhythm section is the key to great jazz/or any type of music for that matter and this disc has some of the finest. Whether it is WECKL/KENNEDY, PATITUCCI/HERNANDEZ, GADD/GOMEZ or SMITH/WOOTEN you'll hear this point proven. Anyone can sound great if they are able to interact/solo with these duos. BUY it and see why it is all about the groove/pocket first.

Loaned this video out and never saw it again. I HAD to track down another copy. As a bassist, there are performances and workshops on this dvd that are priceless! If you want to see how the top players in the business work their magic, this is a must see. BTW, not loaning this one out...

I mostly bought this DVD for the segments that included Dave Weckl and His Band, Steve Smith, and John Patitucci. Much praise and celebration is given to the Drummers Collective (and Bass Day). Some of the "jam" sessions are a bit long stretching more than 10 or 15 or even 20 minutes with different genres of music (Jazz and Latin Jazz of course). Steve Smith odd-time lesson and duet with Victor Wooten is enjoyable to watch. Overall a cool video that conveys the dedication and enthusiasm that goes into the education provided by the Drummers Collective of NYC. Although this DVD was recorded in 2002, the Collective presently provides even better education services in 2013.

If you ever wanted to see all of your favorite legends in one, THIS IS IT! The quality is excellent and the performances will blow your mind! With Dave Weckl, Steve Gadd, Steve Smith, Victor Wooten, John Patitucci, Tom Kennedy, and Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez, you will NOT lose your attention! I own more than 15 drum DVDs. THIS IS A MUST!!

great show

This is a DVD any drummer should have. The sound is great, the drummers and bass players are more then excelent and the extra features are superb. Steve Gadd plays at his best and it is very interesting to see how Steve and the Gadd Gang are doing the soundcheck. Also, the bass solo of the son of Jaco Pastorius is amazing. I give this DVD 5 stars. So buy it and have fun for more then 5 hours!!!!!

lots of fabulous skill, sometimes a little ridiculous but most was great

The sound and picture quality is excellent, and so are the performances. I only gave it four stars for two reasons. First, there is not enough music to justify the price. Second, on disc two, during the faculty perfomances, there is talking during the music. One of the Drum Collective teachers talks about respecting the music, but whoever edited it has him talking during the music. This DVD is worth buying, but it is overpriced IMHO.

So far I have only been able to flip through the tracks but LOVE IT

If you want a dvd which is jam packed full of tasty licks, grooves and solos performed by some of the best musicians in the world then buy this dvd.Dave weckl is unbelievable and performs with perfect execution without fault, and steve smith provides some nice showboating with his party tricks and a tasty jam with victor wooten.Victor wooten performs a gorgeous "peace jam" and shocks with his funky pieces.Horacio disappoints me as most of his grooves are very similar and sounds like he is hitting the metal parts more than the drums, while the piano player sounds like he is hitting random notes and acting as though they were written.Steve Gadd rounds the session off with a very tasty couple of solos with intricate techniques and a very new york sounding gadd gang providing cosy melodies.The 2nd dvd provides interesting outtakes and some very good performances from the colleges tutors. I recommend this dvd 100% it is a complete must have.

Quite simple this one...BUY IT...!!!

Dvd insipensable para los seguidores de Fusion o Jazz/Rock. Estan de los mejores baterias de los ultimos años, y ademas acompañados de muy buenos intrumentistas. Verdaderamente muy muy bueno.

Some of the best drummers available and bass players.....It comes with a CD of the performances.....You don't have to be a musician to enjoy it, but it help.....