DVD

Grammy-nominated jazz guitarist Mike Stern has been in the public eye (and ears) since he was a member of the Miles Davis Band in the early '80s. His prolific performances and recordings have earned him recognition as one of the best and most popular contemporary guitarists today. This, his first instructional DVD, includes four live performances by Mike and his band at the 55 Bar in New York City, the historical club in which Mike has played for over 15 years, accompanied by many great musicians, including Jaco Pastorius. Additionally, in an exclusive interview with New York-based jazz guitarist Satoshi Inoue, Stern offers his own analysis and explanation of each tune. The songs - a blues, a standard, a ballad, and a funk tune - were carefully selected by Mike himself in order to demonstrate every aspect of his guitar performance and techniques. He also gives insight into his background, influences and practice routines, and provides a thorough review of his gear configurations. Everything you need to know about this versatile guitar master! Includes lesson sheets. 1 hour, 6 minutes.

From jazz to rock to funk, and bebop to Kravitz, super-drummer Cindy Blackman gives it up in this instructional DVD. A woman with many facets, she performs six songs with her band, covering a multitude of styles in both acoustic and electric formats. Instructional segments include Cindy demonstrating the similarities and differences between jazz and rock drumming. 60 minutes.

Drummer, producer, singer, and songwriter James Gadson has worked with the world's top performing artists, including Quincy Jones, Ray Charles, Bill Withers, The Temptations, Ramsey Lewis, Marvin Gaye, Herbie Hancock, Patrice Rushen, the Pointer Sisters, Herb Alpert, the 5th Dimension, Smokey Robinson, B.B. King, Aretha Franklin, Natalie Cole, and Paul McCartney. On this DVD, James demonstrates and explains the many funk and rhythm & blues beats in his entertaining and enthusiastic manner. This session includes several live performances with talented sidemen June Yamagishi on guitar, Toru Tsuzuki on keyboards, and Ko Shimizu on bass guitar. Songs featured include: Double Deal Cold Sweat What's Going On Loveland. 1 hour, 14 minutes.

Jim Hall, the great jazz improviser, presents a jazz guitar master class for all guitarists. This DVD is unique because it not only provides a detailed approach to jazz improvisation by demonstrating techniques and musical theory, but it also allows students to find their own musical voices by showing possibilities based on Hall's musical experiences. This DVD is designed for the newcomer to jazz guitar. It covers the fundamentals and basic concepts essential for jazz improvisation. Hall's master class was taped in an informal setting, with conversations and performances by Hall and New York City jazz guitarist Satoshi Inoue. Topics covered include: approach to basic blues discovering jazz guitar sounds of jazz guitar fingering and picking dynamics motive development II-V-I progressions finding your own voice. 57 minutes.

In this DVD, drummer Mansaku Kimura demonstrates over 230 fills for rock, funk, blues and Latin styles of drumming. Each of these fills is demonstrated within the context of a song in order for you to hear and better understand how it fits into the groove. You'll learn fills for: straight eighth beats, bounce eighth beats, straight sixteenth beats, bounce sixteenth beats, triplets, bossa nova, samba, three-beat bounce, five-beat rock, and seven-beat rock. Additionally, Mansaku uses two live performances by his band, PRISM, to demonstrate many of these fills in a real musical setting. A variety of camera angles enables you to see precisely how each fill is performed, and a .pdf of a music booklet notating each song with the fills highlighted is on the disc. 57 min.

Mike Portnoy, the drummer for the progressive heavy metal band Dream Theater, presents a fantastic instructional DVD for intermediate to advanced players. Topics include: drum set assembly, double-bass techniques, odd time signatures, grooves and phrasing, and more. Portnoy, with John Myung on bass and Derek Sherinian on keyboard, plays various examples from Dream Theater songs: Pull Me Under Voices Metropolis A Change of Seasons Surround Take the Time Erotomania. Includes a booklet with exercises and transcriptions. 60 minutes. Also Available: Mike Portnoy Anthology (00690560/Drum Recorded Versions/$24.95)

The legendary drummers for James Brown, funk masters Clyde Stubblefield and John Jab'o Starks focus on the grooves they made famous, in the songs: Cold Sweat Funky Drummer I Got the Feelin' Mother Popcorn Give It Up or Turnit a Loose Licking Stick Sex Machine Super Bad Make It Funky and Doing It to Death. They demonstrate these patterns and rhythm combinations, and analyze their performances and techniques while looking back and discussing their activities in the James Brown era. Features exclusive reunion performances with special guests and former band members, including Fred Wesley, Fred Thomas, John Scofield and John Medeski. 80 minutes.

This is the first instructional program by drummer's drummer and Grammy Award winner Steve Jordan, who offers a fascinating look into how and why he plays. Long awaited by drummers around the world, this DVD includes live performances by Bob Cranshaw, Danny Kootch Kortchmar, and Bernie Dr. Woo Worrell. It also features commentary from Jackson Browne, Leroy Clouden, Levon Helm, Keith Richards and the late Timothy White, Billboard editor-in-chief. One of the funkiest drummers of all time? Steve Jordan shows he's all that and more on this excellent DVD, a rare glimpse into the inner workings of the legendary groove-maker. - William F. Miller, Editorial Director, Modern Drummer Magazine

Jeff Ocheltree transitioned from replaceable roadie to invaluable drum tech by being the first person to take complete care of all aspects of the drums, in the glory days of such legends as Bonham and Cobham. In his first instructional DVD, he discusses his experiences and teaches techniques valuable to drum techs and all drummers - with hands-on examples using nine different kits and nine drummers. Jeff also discusses the unique bronze drums he makes from recycled cymbals. As a special bonus, John Bonham's kit used in Zeppelin recordings appears on screen for the first time ever, and Bonzo's settings, tunings and mic placements are revealed! 60 minutes.