DaveWecklnews.com

[timjazzman]

A few weeks ago, I sent Dave a question about compostion process and his methods, thinking that I wouldn't get a reply but after getting home from holiday, I go on davewecklnews.com and have a reply from the man himself!

So I'm very happy at the moment.

Got the Steve Gadd Tribute DVD yesterday, not seen all of it but great playing from Vinnie.

Got my brother the Abe Laboriel and Friends Cd (with Vinnie) for Christmas, so looking forward to hearing it tomorrow.

Happy Christmas and may the Lord Jesus Christ shine through this time.

<font color="#a62a2a"><font size="1">[ December 24, 2004 06:31 AM: Message edited by: timwecklfan ]</font></font>

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ December 24, 2004 06:32 AM: Message edited by: timwecklfan ]</font>

[FuseU1]

http://www.davewecklnews.com
[img]wink.gif[/img] [img]cool.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/party.gif[/img]

[PocketPlayer]

I've never seen that newsletter...thanks! Good question BTW.

[forsteven2]

Hi guys - I'm Dave Weckl's marketing manager and I produce "Behind The Kit," Dave's web-based newsletter at URL=http://www.davewecklnews.com]Dave Weckl News[/URL]

There is also a link in that newsletter to Dave's new Yahoo group, so feel free to exchange ideas in there too. Dave and I will be monitoring and responding to some of the messages. He's really interested in getting feedback and providing more and more information to his fans.

Thanks!

- Steve O.

[LDGuy]

That group, for those of us who are lazy enough not to look in the newsletter, or are just plain blind is...

http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/davewecklgroup/

Lots of new developments in Dave's new online stuff lately. The new(ish) site is also really good too... www.daveweckl.com

Keep at it, guys at DW management and such... lol

[WecklsMechanic]

I had mentioned this to Dave from talking to other drummers.......

Dave needs to make more "music minus drums" play along CD's/DVD's. I found the CD, "Rhythm of the Soul" without drums to be monumental in taking me to another level of playing. Wondering how many other HOD'ers would like to see more of that kind of "play along" stuff with sheet music to go with it??

drummers speak up!!

-j

[palmerlouie]

im always looking for decent play along stuff. Most of the book/cd packages that are out are pretty shit. its either terrible cheesy jazz/fusion stuff or all songs have some stupid loud click all the way thru (i.e the unreel book [img]mad.gif[/img]

weckls rhythm of the soul package is the best out there....very well produced, clicks are subtle and the drums are totally removed rather than that "low in the mix" shit.

virgil has a new play along one coming out for NAMM.....im hoping that will be a good one. Marco's was well produced except i felt i was in sega computer game and wanted to vomit when i listened to the music.... [img]rolleyes.gif[/img] [img]tongue.gif[/img] [img]redface.gif[/img] [img]smile.gif[/img]

[FuseU1]

I also received the ROTS: "In Session w DWB Minus Drums" chart book [a nice little Cmas [img]graemlins/present.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/thumbs_up.gif[/img] ]...it's a darn good one. [img]cool.gif[/img] ...& I can't get enough of "Access Denied" ["Mission Impossible" vibe [img]wink.gif[/img] , except it's in 6 instead of 5].

Thx for the updates guys.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ January 03, 2005 03:42 PM: Message edited by: fuseU1 ]</font>

[PocketPlayer]

Surprised nobody mentioned Dave's playing on Peter Mayer's "Musicbox" CD.

Joining him on the "Musicbox" CD are longtime band mates and fellow "Coral Reefers" Jim Mayer, Roger Guth and Mac McAnally. Also appearing on the album is long-time Weckl and Mayer collaborator Jay Oliver, who provides his legendary songwriting, piano and production skills.

You can learn more about Mayer at www.petermayer.com
There are several samples and a complete song download.

This is almost like Dave going full circle to his Paul Simon days, backing a guitarist/songwriter.

[LDGuy]

Re: Dave Weckl Play-alongs. Prepare for a bit of a ramble!

Yeah, i had the In Session book and cd as well, and have been very impressed by it for a very long time. The only thing i found with it that it was a little too simple and there wasn't really anything that technique building in it. It's all relatively slow, mostly in 4/4 and a lot of simple, easy to read charts are included. That's great, because you get to really pocket the groove your playing and lay down everything agaisnt the band (fantastic playing from Buzz Feiten and Jay Oliver, very impressive). The only disappointment i had with it was that they didn't put a click agaisnt Access Denied (a spy-theme-esque rock-fest in a fast 6/4). The guitar solo is one of the hardest things i've ever had to play, rather ironically when the rest of the package is simple comparitively. The band all play across the time, and if there's no underlying click, it's really difficult to pick up any sort of pulse. Also, i'm convinced the band actually slow down. Because they're playing with dave, what he is playing will ultimately affect what everyone else is playing, and since he says in the notes at the beginning that they didn't use a click for this track when recording (the vibe was there, so one wasn't needed) i reckon dave might have slowed down just slightly. Just listen to it, because it's really strange. Correct me if i'm wrong...

By now, though, i reckon i've nailed every piece in that package, including Access Denied and Big B little b. For christmas this year i asked for another Dave Weckl package, Contemporary Drummer + One. I've been glued to it ever since. It fantastic, and has everything in it to suit what you want to achieve in a practice session.

It's now, my favourtite of all my play alongs, of which i have about 4 (lol... no expert then hehehe).

It contains 2 CDs, and each tune has one version containing no click and Dave playing, and one version minus drums with a click. The click isn't too loud either which is great.

I'll go through the tunes to show you what it contains...

Garden Wall - A "Jazz Latin/Funk" tune included on Dave's CD "Masterplan". It's really great to play, and has some challenging chorus sections which move around between 4/4, 3/4 and 2/4. Sax solo by Micheal Brecker!

Spur of the Moment - A Funky tune mainly comprising of drum solo, designed to work with displacement of grooves and reading hits to play in a drum solo. In my opinion, the most challenging piece in the book, but it's all in 4/4.

Island Magic - An electric latin tune also included in Masterplan. Most of it is in 7/8, but the solos are in 4/4. You also are asked to play a salsa in 7/8, which is pretty challenging... lol. There's also a 40 bar long drum solo in 7/8, with hits!

Again and Again - A straight ahead jazz number starting on brushes, and then moving to sticks. Chick Corea on piano and John Pattitucci on bass!!! Fantastic to play to...

Rainy Day - A pop shuffle tune with Sheryl Crow singing! It's really designed to teach you how to really lay down a pop groove, and not go over the top. Supporting the vocalist is the big thing here. Micheal Brecker on sax once again.

Pretty Girls - A pop/rock tune with a great feel. Again, the aim here is to really be an accompaning instrument.

Love Me a Little Bit - A great rock tune with Steve Lukather on guitar. I play an almost McBrainish type of groove to this song, and it's really good fun to play.

Sports Car Jingle - This is a hardcore electronic high-tech eighties synth-fest, designed to show you what playing for a jingle would be like. Pretty much everything is written out for you, grooves, fills. Very interesting to practice.

Angel Fire/And Through the Lens - A supposed film score your asked to play along to. This is the one track that dates this package, as it does sound pretty eighties all the way through. It doesn't stop it being great to play to, though. It's one of the only pieces in a play-along i've seen that has bars of tacet. This is unusual, but is really helpful, because it's harder to count bars than it seems. There are also very specific comments given to you regarding what to play - cymbals are all you play in one section, and are specifically left out in others. It's a really great addition, i think.

All of them are in the traditional Weckl/Oliver eighties "i made this in a basement" electric jazz, which IMO is great. And it has what a lot of play-alongs i've seen before lack - character. Every tune is a challenge in it's own particular way, and the whole package covers an awful lot. The charts are also some of the best i've seen. They range from suggestion parts containing what the bass and horns are playing, to charts where everything is written out for you. There is also a 30 page book that includes Dave's lengthy in depth explanations to all the tunes, and for several of them, his drum solos are all transcribed out for you to read. 2 CDs are also included as well.

I reckon this is a really great package that would really be suitable for the advanced player who can read music. Check it out...

HTH

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ January 03, 2005 08:47 PM: Message edited by: LDGuy ]</font>