Product Description

This 60 minute DVD features fifteen of the true "legends of jazz drumming" in astounding extended solos and in rare, never-before-seen drum duels filmed over the last five decades. Among the highlights are uncut solos from big band legends Sonny Payne, Rufus Jones, Buddy Rich, Sam Woodyard and Louis Bellson as well as small group giants Art Blakey and Joe Morello. Rare drum battles include meetings between Gene Krupa and Cozy Cole, Buddy Rich and Ed Shaughnessy, Chico Hamilton, Gene Krupa, and Lionel Hampton, and a once-in-a-lifetime battle between Buddy Rich and Jerry Lewis!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #51594 in DVD
• Released on: 2001-09-01
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Black & White, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 60 minutes

Amazon.com
A must for students and fans of jazz drumming, Classic Drum Solos and Drum Battles should also be seen by those whose exposure to drumming has been limited to crash-and-bang rock drummers, most of whom couldn't play a real solo if their paradiddles depended on it. The solos here are from separate performances recorded between 1957 and 1978. Those by Rufus Jones (who makes clear why his nickname was "Speedy"), Louis Bellson (whose trademarks are flawless technique and two bass drums), Joe Morello (the superbly musical drummer of Dave Brubeck's best quartet), and Buddy Rich (the most blindingly fast and powerful drummer of them all) are alone worth the price of the video. But you'll also see Art Blakey, Gene Krupa, Sam Woodyard, Cozy Cole, and seven other top jazz drummers of the mid-20th century--15 in all.

The "drum battles" are interesting enough--except the nonsensical one between Buddy Rich and Jerry Lewis (yes, that Jerry Lewis)--but they're not the reason for getting the video. Classic Drum Solos is nothing less than a history of jazz drumming presented in a series of uncut drum solos on a single, 60-minute videotape. With many of these drummers now gone, here's a rare chance to hear them again, in all their irreplaceable greatness. --Charles Smyth

Customer Reviews

This is a drummers video
This is a video shot for drummers. In most cases the clips cut in directly as the drum solo starts and cut off when the solo ends. There are some great examples of solos by Rufus "Speedy" Jones, Joe Morello, Sonny Payne and others that don't get much attention anymore. Since this focuses on drummers from years gone by the video is a bit rough in places but that is only caused by age and the technology that was available when these clips were shot. The trade off is that you see film of people and drum solos that you would otherwise only hear on record. The Louie Bellson clip is really something. One clip will appeal to some non-drummers. The appearance of Buddy Rich on a 1955 Jerry Lewis show. A little corny but that was the style of the day. I would recommend this to drummers, especially ones who have or want to gain an appreciation of early jazz drummers and their syles.

Great survey of some great drummers
I could dissect this DVD, but am going to resist the temptation and cite only the drummers who I admire the most and who held my attention.

My idol is Louie Belson, and the clip showing his does not disappoint. I loved the clip with Cozy Cole and Gene Krupa. I think Krupa was a great drummer and superb showman, but Cozy Cole blew him away in the short clip with the two of them.

Joe Morello is another favorite who works wonders with odd time signatures. His short piece in this video is classic Morello and exposes a lot of his technique since he starts the set by playing his kit with his hands! I learned much from that segment.

Blakely is another drummer who I thoroughly enjoyed watching and hearing, and like the Morello clip, I was able to add to my technique. However, as good as Belson's work on this DVD was, the highlight in my opinion was the Lionel Hampton sequences which showcased the genius of this vibe player who was also a master of a drum kit.

You'll pick up a large number of tips and techniques as you watch this DVD a few times, and will find that each drummer highlighted will have a subtle influence on your own style. The entertainent value is as high as the learning value.

A mixed bag - aficionados only
I was personally most excited by the drumming sequence featuring Sunny Murray who seems to exude music through his whole body as if his body was part of the drum kit or the drum kit was an extension of his body. Music has got to be the thing so I'm less taken with Buddy Rich who is the "fastest drummer alive with the greatest technique etc" but I find musically uninteresting. Elvin Jones I was also taken with. The sequence with Louis Bellson was definitely the most accomplished in terms of development, musical interest and structure whilst Joe Morello being described by narrator Peter Erskine as the "poet" of the drum kit, may well be right. For drummers and jazz lovers.