DVD: STEVE GADD
Up Close
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The format of this "instructional" DVD is an interview, with Steve Gadd not only answering the questions, but demonstrating in response. While this is not as warm and personal as, say, Tommy Igoe's approach that is epitomized in his instructional "Groove Essentials" (ASIN B00064YTKM), it nonetheless gives you keen insights into Steve Gadd's techniques and underlying philosophies.
Material is wide ranging, covering every topic from how to apply basic drum rudiments into live playing, to bass drum technique, to time keeping and how to approach practicing. A highlight is Steve's deconstruction of his drumwork on Paul Simon's "Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover", and the amazing discussion/demonstration of his four stick technique on Paul Simon's "Late in the Evening". The segment on Samba patterns is another part I especially liked on this video.
Other material includes how to approach recording sessions, breathing techniques, and how to quickly get the essence of a piece from charts - and Steve does strongly emphasize the importance of reading music.
I am a big fan of Steve Gadd and love this DVD because it both teaches and gives rare glimpses into his thoughts and approach. Any drummer, Gadd fan or not, will learn a lot from this by watching it multiple times, letting the information sink in, and watching some more. Even after a few dozen viewings something new will surface.
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DVD: STEVE GADD
In Session
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90+ minutes of incredible music and dialogue by Steve Gadd with Will Lee, Eddie Gomez, the late Richard Tee and Jorge Dalto. This classic video will give you a behind-the-scenes look at masters at work as they arrange tunes, work on grooves, and play funk, Latin, reggae, shuffles and ballads. This video comes with its own accompanying instructional booklet, contains a wealth of teaching by simply showing Gadd playing his relentlessly impeccable licks in loose improvisatory jams, and fleshing them out with illustrative voiceover comments. |
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DRUMMERS COLLECTIVE
25th Anniversary Celebration and Bass Day 2002 DVD
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a two-Disc set
Dave Weckl, Steve Gadd - performing great solos with Bass Double Pedal (!) - Horacio Hernandez - Steve Smith - Kenwood Dennard - Victor Wooten
A historic event, featuring some of the most influental drummers and bass players in the world.
Special Features:
Rehearsal Footage; Alternate Edits, with Foot Cam... |
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STEVE GADD:
American Drummers Achievement Awards Honoring Steve Gadd
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On September 13, 2003, Steve Gadd was honored by the Avedis Zildjian Company at the second American Drummers Achievement Awards (ADAA) at the Berklee Performance Center in Boston, MA-an historic evening that included a special tribute to the late Armand Zildjian.
The once-in-a-lifetime event was hosted by Mr. Bill Cosby and featured an all-star band that included, Vinnie Colaiuta and Rick Marotta, drums; Michael Landau, guitar; Jimmy Johnson, bass; Larry Goldings, keyboards; and special guest appearances by Will Lee, vocals and Tom Scott, saxophone. The evening culminated in an incredible performance by Steve with James Taylor.
This double-disc DVD features over six hours of footage, including the evening's performances; exclusive rehearsal footage; a 20-minute documentary on Steve's career, narrated by Tony Levin; backstage interviews; rare, early film footage of Steve, and a video tribute to the late, Armand Zildjian.
Special DVD Features:
*Rehearsal Footage
*Interviews with Eric Clapton, ChickCorea, Vinnie Colaiuta, Rick Marotta, Will Lee, Tom Scott
*5.1 Surround Sound mixes of all of the performances mixed from the drum chair
*a 35-minute interview with Steve
*Rare performance footage of Steve, circa 1970, with the U.S. Army Band; live, footage of Stuff, circa 1976 and footage from 1977 of the band, L'image, featuring Steve and Mike Mainieri
*Photo Gallery
Total Running Time: 6 Hours and 10 Minutes ENCODED FOR ALL REGIONS-NTSC. Playable on any DVD player as well as any computer with a DVD ROM or DVD RAM drive.
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LEGENDS
LIVE AT MONTREUX
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The opportunity to hear Eric Clapton stretch out in an unusual (for him) setting and in the company of musicians the likes of which he rarely plays with is the principal attraction of Legends - Live at Montreux, recorded in 1997 during the Swiss city's annual jazz festival. Clapton is joined by some superb musicians here (pianist Joe Sample, saxophonist David Sanborn, bassist Marcus Miller, and drummer Steve Gadd); but he is clearly the guy the crowd came to see, and as always, he delivers a passel of passionate, stinging solos. But although some of the repertoire has clearly been tailored for him (there are several straight blues numbers, along with the inevitable "Layla"), he's a bit out of his element. Not that this is by any means a jazz concert; notwithstanding the jazz chops of the other players, the bulk of the nearly two-hour set consists of funky, R&B-based grooves, requiring Clapton to play some intricate rhythm figures and ensemble lines, all of which he does well (he's especially effective on "Put It Where You Want It," a Sample tune from his days with the Crusaders). But where a guitarist like, say, Kenny Burrell could imbue this kind of material with interesting chord substitutions and jazz scales, Clapton sticks with the straight-ahead rock style that made him famous, and sometimes it simply doesn't fit. That won't make much difference to folks who just want to hear the man play. The more nettlesome issue is the fact that despite a couple of certified classics (Duke Ellington's "In a Sentimental Mood" and Jelly Roll Morton's "Shreveport Stomp," neither of which includes the guitarist), overall this music consists of too many riffs and not enough melodies, too many repetitive jams and not enough tunes. In short, Legends - Live at Montreux's biggest problem is its tendency to be boring. |
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