Check out this article on the Modern Drummer website.

It's about the guy who wowed everyone at Usher/James Brown's Grammy performance which you can catch here...which if you haven't seen it - you should.

Aaron said the following in this article:
"Dave Weckl's videos helped me a lot, because he really broke down the stuff that he was doing. That was like the keys to the kingdom right there."

That got me thinking. I'd like to see some of those concepts in that manner.

However, Dave made some videos years ago and then some more right after he had his Freddie Gruber revelation after studying with him. From what I understand the newer videos are different in approach and might not line up in content with his older video offerings.

The question is: Which videos are Aaron alluding to? Next Step? Natural Evolution?...

So I'd like to hear from those that have seen these videos and/or own then. Let me know which videos you think might be the ones to go to. It might just be one video.

On a more interesting note (somewhat ironic), Dave Weckl lives near me. I actually saw him jog-walking his dog in front of my house while talking on a cell phone (A few years ago I had the chance to walk up and talk to him in a local park where our kids were playing). The irony of course is that I could have gone up and asked him right there but....that's a bit intrusive and I didn't have the question at that time. So there!


I coud just buy them all (or maybe even walk over to Dave's place for a burger...joke....JOKE!!) but I want to be practical as I've got a lot of stuff to work on already. Wouldn't be practical.

Please only respond if you have seen the video(s) first hand. Guesses or rumors won't be helpful in this case.

Thanks folks!

Jim

See, I still wear those and I can't even play like he used to.  

Seriously, thanks Moose.
Actually I think I'm looking more for a breakdown of some of the ideas that are going on in Aaron's fill as well as many of Dave's things.
I know there are books out there that cover some of these areas but I just felt that getting right to the point with a DVD and Aaron's history would get me practicing specifics more quickly.

That's helpful to know you see that in Aaron's playing though.

Any others have some input?

TIA

Jim

I own both of the older Weckl videos as well as the three newer ones.  The newer series has one video dedicated to technique.  The other ones are dedicated to practice and getting drum sounds.  All are VERY good.  I use techniques from both series.  I think you'd best be served getting his Natural Evolution-Technique video.  It has all the specifics you are looking for: grip, arm movements utilizing natural body motions and a circular approach to timekeeping rather than a points on a line.  He goes into great detail in this video and utilizes many of the same techniques I learned from several of my teachers many years ago regarding grips, fulcrum and rebound.