FOR RELEASE: MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2003
DRUMMERS COLLECTIVE 25TH ANNIVERSARY DVD DUE IN STORES JUNE 9TH; LEADING DRUMMERS AND BASSISTS CELEBRATE NOTED DRUM SCHOOL ON TWO-DISC SET
Hudson Music and New York DVD Team on Production of Classic Performance Title; Steve Gadd, John Patitucci, Dave Weckl, and Victor Wooten Featured in Classic Sets
NEW YORK, NY — Hudson Music, a leading music instruction video producer, and New York DVD, one of New York’s leading providers of DVD development services, today announced the upcoming launch of Drummer’s Collective 25th Anniversary Celebration, an electric two-disc DVD that captures some of the finest drum performances ever captured in a single event. Videotaped at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City on November, 24, 2002, the DVD is a celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Drummer’s Collective, the famed New York City drum school that has taught and inspired an entire generation of drummers and percussionists.
Drummer’s Collective 25th Anniversary Celebration will be released on June 9th with a retail price of $49.95. The two-disc title, which contains an astonishing five hours’ worth of video, is the finest example of Hudson Music’s “education plus inspiration” line of music videos and DVDs, combining the live performance, on disc one, with an array of special features on disc two, including artist interviews, 5.1 surround sound mixes of performances, alternate edits of performances with the Footcam, as well as more information on the Drummer’s Collective.
Highlights of the DVD include:
- Kenwood Dennard, playing drums and keyboards simultaneously
- Dave Weckl, and The Dave Weckl Band, featuring Tom Kennedy on bass, Steve Weingart on keyboards, and Gary Meek on saxophone, performing a burning set, capped by an explosive Weckl solo
- Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez and John Patitucci, along with Cuban keyboard player Oriente Lopez, playing a set that showcased the amazing rhythmic artistry of El Negro and the beautifully expressive playing of Patitucci
- Victor Wooten’s mesmerizing bass solo, followed by a touching solo performed by Felix Pastorius, in tribute to his father, the late, legendary bass player Jaco Pastorius
- Steve Smith’s brilliant solo performance, including tour de force playing on his jungle kit, followed by a duet with Victor Wooten
- Steve Gadd and the Gadd Gang, in their first performance in ten years, closing out the performance with a set of soulful R&B, featuring Cornell Dupree on guitar, Eddie Gomez on bass, Ronnie Cuber on baritone sax, and Larry Goldings on Hammond B3.
“We set out to capture an entire era of bass and drum performances in a single evening, and the final DVD presents the essence of that celebration as well as the story of the Drummers Collective,” said Paul Siegel, principal of Hudson Music. “We worked hard to ensure that the drum and bass performances were captured in such a way that the artistry of each performer is fully rendered.” Hudson Music’s Phil Fallo edited the title.
Hudson Music’s history is closely linked with the Drummer’s Collective, as Siegel and partner Robb Wallis, who met in 1979 while studying at The Collective, purchased the school in 1980, and later added the Bass Collective. They maintain ownership of the The Collective, with partner John Castellano conducting daily operations. Siegel and Wallis created DCI Music Video in 1982, which has produced some of the finest drum and bass instructional video and DVD titles in the industry, with a global following.
“The production and editing on this title were superb, with particular attention to the performers, and the final product reflects this work,” said Brian Brodeur, president of New York DVD, which will encode and develop the two-disc set.
Special DVD features include: 5.1 Surround Sound mixes (one per The Dave Weckl Band, Horacio Hernandez and John Patitucci, Victor Wooten and Steve Smith, and The Gadd Gang), Steve and Victor’s rehearsal, Artist Interviews, Alternate Edits with FootCam, More about the Collective, The Gadd Gang Soundcheck, a Photo Gallery and more.Limited Edition sets will be offered that will include a Bonus CD, comprising one song per The Dave Weckl Band, Horacio Hernandez and John Patitucci, Steve Smith and Victor Wooten, and The Gadd GangDrummer’s Collective 25th Anniversary Celebration will be distributed through Hudson Music’s distribution channels, including www.hudsonmusic.com.
Hudson Music products are available from your local music retailer or Hudson Music at 1-888-796-2992, fax 914-246-5282 or e-mail hudsoninfo@aol.com. Visit Hudson online at www.hudsonmusic.com. For dealer information please contact Hal Leonard Publications, 7777 W. Bluemound Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53213, tel: 414-774-3630, fax: 414-774-3259, www.halleonard.com.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: For a color photograph of Hudson Music or New York DVD executives, as well as production shots and artist performance shots, please contact Chris Pfaff at 201-218-0262 or c.pfaff@att.net
CONTACT:
BRIAN BRODEUR
212-34-NYDVD (212-346-9383)
brian@newyorkdvd.com
www.newyorkdvd.com