DVDS
LEVEL: ALL
$14.99 EACH

The Ultimate Drum Lessons series cherry-picks highlights from across the extensive Hudson DVD catalog, bringing students a “best of” playlist from a generous grouping of today’s masters. The two newest collections continue to enlighten. With each clip introduced with fan-like enthusiasm by Chaka Khan’s Chris Coleman, Fills and Chops features Styx’s Todd Sucherman explaining a furious paradiddle-diddle drum solo intro, Steely Dan’s Keith Carlock throwing down a signature fill, Steve Gadd demonstrating licks from “Aja,” Usher’s Aaron Spears showing various hand/foot combinations, Thomas Lang playing crashes from underneath and on top, and others, including Benny Greb, Antonio Sanchez, Pat Petrillo, and Mike Portnoy.

Advanced Independence & Polyrhythms contains clips introduced with genuine appreciation by ex–Dillinger Escape Plan/Coheed & Cambria drummer Chris Pennie, and features Porcupine Tree’s Gavin Harrison and drum great Steve Smith discussing their unique takes on metric modulation, metal master Derek Roddy moving among multiple pedals, Tower of Power’s David Garibaldi applying his “five-a-diddles” to funk, and other segments with Randy Black, John Riley, and certain returning drummers from Fills and Chops. For those on a budget who are unable to obtain each of the full releases the clips are taken from, these compilations prove essential. (Hudson Music)

Ilya Stemkovsky