New York Metro

By David Weiss

Jul 1, 2004 12:00 PM

…A few blocks away at NYDVD (www.newyorkdvd.com), the focus is squarely on the wonders of the digital versatile disc. “I’ve always gravitated toward the role of producer,” explains Brian Brodeur, NYDVD founder, on establishing his company back in 2001. “DVD has always been thought of as the truer multimedia format, and my skill set as a musician lends itself to developing creative products. The advent of DVD and its obvious embrace by the consumer is an important point, not only for the large institutional companies, but also producers like me.”

Brodeur’s company, which is located within the large Manhattan Center Productions facility, focuses its services — DVD project management, encoding/authoring, static and motion menu design, and audio/video production — around two full-blown Sonic Solutions DVD Creator systems. “Those are desktop systems, but because of my background, I have them set up much like recording studios,” he says. “Manhattan Center is a perfect fit for us, with three complete Avid editing systems and two Neve VR recording rooms with surround capabilities. We are in a great position to provide DVD services to Manhattan Center.”

NYDVD can see how music in particular is relating to DVD. “There’s basically two products out there that are serving the music industry: the concert product and the bonus/behind-the-scenes product,” Brodeur says. “Independent artists are going to start embracing DVD because of its enormous power as a promotional tool and ability to deliver a wide variety of content, including multichannel audio and multilanguage capabilities. We’ve developed some wonderful surround mixes for the Dave Weckl Band and Steve Gadd, where we actually mix the band around the listener as if you were the drummer. There’s been no increase yet in DVD-A. That’s a function of the format wars and the installed base of players.”

DVD facilities have their own challenges with production increasingly available to in-house and home users. “People can spend very little money and have functional DVD systems — it’s only natural,” he continues. “We’ve begun shifting our business toward a service side, providing superior design and extensive quality control: making sure that discs are functionally compliant and error-free. NYDVD is not competing with the entry-level DVD producer who just hangs a shingle — we’re collaborating with clients to create content specifically for DVD.”

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