DRUMMER CAFE

I'm netflixing all 9 of the DVDs in this box set.  I just finished disk 5, the Akoustic Band and it is absolutely one of the best DVDs I've watched to date.  I'm considering forking out the $90 for the set.  Technically the DVDs are great, HD with wonderful audio and very good camera work (which I think is remarkable given the small venue).  This is taking me a few weeks to watch since I can only have one checked out at a time but I'm finding myself sitting here waiting for the mail when one is due. It is that good.  I was planning on posting the review after the last one but having seen the Akoustic Band last night, I can't wait.  If you love good music, that is close to perfection.  If you love jazz you owe it to yourself.  If you love drums, well it don't get better than this.  If you only know Weckl from the fusion stuff, you are missing out.  His straight jazz sensibility is masterful.  The trio setting with Corea and Pattatuci is really dynamic and they improvise so well together.  Dave plays a small bright yellow 4 piece (with a lot of cymbals and his bongos on the left) that I think must be a Yamaha Hip Gig kit.  It sounds wonderful.  Most of us have (hopefully) seen Dave play with his fusion band.  This is different in some interesting ways. Not only the kit and his shirt (no T-shirt for this gig).  Even his posture was different - he wasn't stiff but he was sitting straight upright without the normal lilt - it just displayed a different attitude that was fun to watch.  Great choices in songs - well they all happen to be some of my favorites, including Spain which I think the Akoustic Band's version is by far the best.  Bessie's Blues and Humpty Dumpty were great (my bucket of adjectives is empty) and I could watch em over and over, in fact I think I will before I send this one back. 

The only negative for the DVD set is that they don't fill the DVDs with more songs.  I'm not sure if each group only played a short set (they did pack a lot into the week) but I was disappointed that each DVD only has 40 minutes or so of music. 
Hope you all enjoy it as much as I have....

Here's the description from Amazon...
chronicles the amazing four-decade career of jazz legend Chick Corea with a series of historic and unprecedented concerts! To mark his 60th birthday, Corea brought together world-renowned artists from his past groundbreaking music ensembles for a GRAMMY-winning concert reunion. At the famed Blue Note jazz club in New York City, Corea fronted live performances by nine ensembles, ranging from intimate duos to telepathic trios to powerful large ensembles, in an exciting mix of jazz styles. Captured in High-Definition Video and CD-quality sound, this extraordinary musical experience brings jazz to a whole new level!
Includes Bonus DVD: Rendezvous in New York: The Movie with over 100 on-and-off-stage minutes with some of the biggest names in jazz today, reflecting on a lifetime of musical partners, collaborations and creative adventures. Narrated by Jeff Goldblum (Jurassic Park, Independence Day).

SONGS (Bands actually)
CHICK COREA & BOBBY MCFERRIN DUET
NOW HE SINGS, NOW HE SOBS TRIO
REMEMBERING BUD POWELL BAND
CHICK COREA & GARY BURTON DUET
CHICK COREA AKOUSTIC BAND
CHICK COREA & ORIGIN
CHICK COREA & GONZALO RUBALCABA DUET
CHICK COREA NEW TRIO
THREE QUARTETS BAND

I'm getting a little pumped for Oz Noy's new release, Fuzzy, so I went and got Oz Noy Live to help me bide the time. This is unapologetic jazz/funk/blues/rock instrumental jamming, but what makes it so good is Oz Noy's beautifully harmonic style of playing. You ever ate something new and had multiple flavors jump out at you as you chewed? This is Oz Noy's playing. I can hear Jimi, Scofield, Wayne Krantz, but I can also hear some Wayne Shorter, a little bit of Coltrane, some things I've never heard before. He's sort of the happy medium between post-bop and sonic assault.

Will Lee and Keith Carlock support beautifully, and Carlock is especially home in this kind of no-man's land between swing, funk, and rock. He just makes everything sound natural while occasionally stepping out with some chops.

Some people don't like Noy because they don't like his sound. While I've never polled the world, I suspect these are the same people that just don't like fuzzy guitar playing jazz, like Scofield and Stern. Noy is like them in some respects, but very, very unique all the same. If you like Wayne Krantz you will find a new hero in Noy.