A few Highlights- Mostly Low-points :(
L. Sion | 03/28/2003
(3 out of 5 stars)
"This is sometimes thrilling but mostly disappointing DVD collection highlighting the 2000 Festival. The sound is good, if uneven drummer to drummer (tom sounds vary greatly in quality/level). The best performances (those you'd return to watch repeatedly) are put in by (1.) Hilary Jones- who displays phenomenal independence & the deepest of pockets flowing through (the best written) set of African (6/8!) grooves & a funk/fusion play-along piece; and (2.) Horacio Hernandez- playing inhumanly complex & independent Afro-Cuban grooves with a Latin-Jazz group (Marc Quinones/ percussion, Michael Brecker/tenor sax, Hilario Duran/piano, and John Patitucci/bass.)- check out his earlier (1996?) MD festival performance (wow!)! Vinnie's performance with Karizma is OK- but disappointing. It has feel (of course) but little musical interest (suffers from "musical maturity"- more Keltner than early Vinnie/Weckl). Aside from the (neat to see live) "I'm Tweaked," Vinnie's set is relatively mundane blues & rock (c'mon Vinnie.... PLAY damn you, PLAAAAAAAYY!). Akira Jimbo is (as always) technically amazing (simultaneously playing drum grooves & triggering keyboard sounds)- but alas, is (as always) remarkably devoid of feeling. Lombardo's performance is sophomoric, Brewer's is sad (his self-description as a garage band drummer is fitting), Leim is simply adequate, Ward was a little disappointing for all the hype (more clinic instruction than performance). The performances of Street Betas, & those of the 2 MD Best Undiscovered winners (Tony Medeiros & Mike D'Angelo) are interesting once (as a curiosity) but do not warrant another viewing. The behind the scenes footage gets repetitive/redundant, & navigation is a little annoying (can only track to the beginning of each performance (not to individual songs!). Too bad you cannot purchase individual DVD's by performer to avoid the filler. SPECIAL FEATURES: Drum Cam- has potential- but is only on 2 performances (not ones I'd have chosen) and could be improved. Play along to 2 songs w/ transcriptions downloadable from the Hudson music website is cool."
Not as good as other MD Fest....
L. Sion | 11/14/2004
(2 out of 5 stars)
"first thing is, this DVD is based on the VHS version of the same festival, so the sound/visual quality is just fine,
and about the performance, i don't think that's as good as other MD Fest, drummers on the show are all great drummers, i know, Vinnie, Horacio, Paul, they are all great on their own, and Dave is so good with Slayer, but when he come to soloing, that's a different story, and for Don, well.... he's a legend, but how he is related to a "best-drummers-on-the-planet" show, i can't understand, and i'l like to see Akira playing with Casiopeia other than his electronic toys, he's play so much better in a band......"