Customer Reviews

Dave Weckl Band Live: & Very Plugged in

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Whether you're new to the Dave Weckyl Band or not, you'll definately appreciate this album. It gives that good live sound and every instrument comes out clear and crisp. The talent that these guys posses is unbelievable. And you'll just love the bass and drum thing called 'Rhythm-A-Ning'.

Quit b.s.ing and go buy it!

If there's anything even remotely wrong with this CD, it's that the performances are flawless to the point of sounding sterile...awesome mix, stellar musicians, wonderful intimacy ( a cell phone goes off at some point, as well as an audience member who is either too easily amused or had a few too many )...Weckl has to be a Cyborg. Human beings don't play with this precision! Even the titanic Steve Smith himself hits the occasional rim at least once per live album ( seemingly ), which comforts us mere mortal players (!) Seriously, it's hard to imagine just where Dave Weckl will go from this level of playing...how much more can a human being progress? As much as I enjoy him within this context, I can only hope the tour with Chick Corea this past Summer was recorded at some point for a future CD/DVD release!

From the first cut, this CD grooves. So many artists have "Live" CDs and it was only a matter of time for an artist like Dave Weckl to record one. First of all, recording a live CD means you've gotta be extremely good at what you do. And the coherence of the group in this band is nothing short of amazing.

Gary Meek is an incredible saxophone player. I was used to hearing Brandon Fields. Gary has filled in nicely. Tom Kennedy, is an amazing Bassist and has been playing with Dave since they were younger. Tom Kennedy has such an effortless groove and plays beautifully on this CD. Then there's my favorite, Steve Weingart, who was brought in when original keyboardist, Jay Oliver. Steve has such an amazing style of playing. Beautiful sounds. On the cut "Mesmer-Eyes", him and Gary do a duet where you hear inflections of Chick Corea's tune "Gotta Match?". It's just incredible!!!

Then there's Dave Weckl. To go on about him as a drummer would be what every other person does on this planet. So, let me say that Dave Weckl provides such a great groove on all of the songs, while allowing the other members to shine. Yes, it's his band, and his music (well majority of the songs on this CD are), but he let's his members shine.

This was recorded at Catalina Bar & Grill and mixed by Dave Weckl in his studio. The sound quality of this CD is great. Recorded digitally using the latest in computer technology, everything is so clean and crisp.

In conclusion, this CD is a great buy, especially that it's two CDs. Anyone who is a "Dave Weckl Band" fan, this is definitely what you've been waiting for. I know I have.

I follow jazz drummers and appreciate Dave as one of the best. This set illustrates how well these bands can play together live. Everyone is, indeed, well plugged in. Agree with others - Tom Kennedy plays awesomely on this set. Love to hear these musicians play live with the dynamic of the audience.

Also recommend the 25th anniversary of the Drummer's Collective DVD set. Check out Steve Smith's hi-hat technique! Dave's band also plays live. It was a great show to catch live wit' good friends...

This cd is nothing short of stunning. Dave weckl is playing the best ever and seems to just get better and better. The band are on fire and what has been put to tape on this disc is some of the finest improvised, latin, jazz, funk and fusion music you are EVER likely to hear. the interplay, communication and technique of these four musicians is beyond words. And this cd is most certainly not just for drummers. sure, dave plays a lot of notes but its the BAND and the MUSIC that is so amazing.....and just makes dave sound 5 times better!!!!

Thank you Mr.Weckl for the inspirational music!!

I grew up in St. Louis, and have seen Dave Weckl (one of my drumming idols) play several times on good nights and on bad nights(in Lawrence Kansas after he and Mike Stern's band had to drive during the day from St. Louis). In general, I don't really like any of his solo albums(ok, maybe some of the tunes on Master Plan(especially with the bad-ass Kennedy brothers). My favorite album with Dave Weckl playing is either Steve Khan's 'Public Access' or Chick Corea's 'Eye of the Beholder', and I preferred the way he was playing before he felt the necessity for studying drums with that Freddy Grueber guy...but I digress.....I guess I'm just tired of people saying that Dave Weckl 'has no soul', or that he 'cannot groove'. For some reason in the past 15 years it has become commonplace, even fashionable, to express disgust with the way he plays (I just love when people say he sucks because he's just a Steve Gadd rip off, I wish I had a fraction of that kind of suckiness). Just imagine how silly it would sound for somebody to be critical of Elvin Jones because of 'sloppy technique', a statement like that is just as silly as most of the criticism I've heard about Mr. Weckl in the past several years. Granted, some of the music might be lame (that's my opinion), but let's not attack his playing because that is such a tired and illogical argument. I prefer to hear him play as a sideman, I wish he would have gotten together with Al DiMeola or John McLaughlin...I guess there's hope for the future..

This is the absolute top notch best drumming you'll hear for years. Negative reviews attack everything from the accompaniment to his haircut, but you simply can't deny the technical prowess. Well, that's been challenged too. And to that I ask, Really? What would you prefer? For him to dumb down his grooves or soloing? To make a mistake? Look at his approach. Challenge yourself to evolve. Look at how relaxed and effortless his playing is. He addresses things like dynamics in addition to the sound. He is always in control, in the zone. I can't fathom how a drummer, percussionist, or musician won't allow themselves to appreciate this because they want the old keyboardist back or they want him to play with a has-been like Sting. The dynamics, fluidity, sounds, interpretation, production, improvisation, and above all playing and soloing in multiple, layered odd time signatures with jaw-dropping ease make this a truly great album. I defy you to find two bars of music on these 2 CD's that are played the same by all members. Dave never repeats a lick. Keep an open mind and you'll find yourself enjoying this album more and more with every listen.

It always angers me the amount of criticism Dave Weckl has had to endure throughout his long and distinguished career in music. Admittedly, this has come from those who are simply not qualified enough to offer any opinion! It is more a case of "sour grapes" - because, those who criticize are simply jealous of the man's obvious talent. Shame on them!

I have always loved his playing. As a drummer myself, I feel more able to appreciate his sheer genius and command of the kit - even more than non-drummers perhaps. In some ways he reminds me of Buddy Rich. They both shared a passion for drumming and dedicated their lives to stretching the instrument to its full. Of course, Buddy is gone now, but I feel his spirit lives on today in many drummers - Weckl especially.

I had never heard "The Dave Weckl Band" till I bought this double cd live set. And what an introduction! He seems to be playing more relaxed than before. His overall feel and groove are also a little more laid back. Of course, he can still play the entire "Weckl drum licks" catalogue with ease, but on this recording he plays totally differently than you might expect. More accessible a style I would say. He also has fun interacting with his band. You can just feel that he has arrived on a new plateau of musical expression.

All in all, a great recording. It really does show Dave Weckl in a new light. A fantastic achievement. Great stuff Dave!

Yanek

NOW THATS WHAT I CALL SERIOUS PLAYING!!!
SINCE A LONG TIME I DIDNT HEAR LIVE MUSIC LIKE THAT.THIS DOUBLE CD IS A PROOF THAT MASTER DRUMMER DAVE WECKL(BAND) IS THE BEST IN WHAT HE IS DOING.I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS CD.

I saw this show live at Catalina's Bar & Grill in Hollywood and I was blown away. This is one of the best live bands out there. I highly recommend this CD!!!