Tells about the shoulders upon which we stand
This is not your typical compilation of drum solos such as [[ASIN:B00005RDSJ Classic Drum Solos and Drum Battles DVD]]. While it does contain performances and a fair share of jaw dropping solos, it is a history of the evolution of drum kit playing and some of the drummers who were either pioneers or innovators.<br /><br />Indeed, the late, great Louis Bellson narrates much of this video, with another great - Roy Haynes - providing his commentary and insights. Jack DeJohnette joins Louis and Roy on the second half of this two hour video, and adds even more to the rich tapestry of this slice of history.<br /><br />What I especially like about this video is the wide coverage of early drummers, including the root of all modern players: Baby Dodds. But that was expected. I was delighted to see Tony Sbarbaro (aka Tony Spargo), Paul Barbarin and Zutty Singleton included in the discussion of early drummers. And at the end of each era discussed a listing of relevant, influential drummers from the period that there was no room to discuss in the video was provided. This ensured that viewers understood that choices has to be made when planning rhe video regarding who would and would not be included.<br /><br />Another great thing about this video is you are treated to Louis Bellson's and Roy Haynes's own recollections. Both were pioneers of aspects of drummming (Louis is credited with the development and use of double bass drum kits and Roy was one of the pioneer bebop drummers who played with Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk and Dizzy Gillespie - among others!) Their commentary and personal recollections provided invaluable insights into not only the drummers under discussion, but also the period, music and other musicians.<br /><br />I personally think the choices of who to spotlight in the video were wise and on the mark. There was one omission that I lamented - Stan Levey - who was a true pioneer in his own right (and who was alive when the video was made.) However, I understand the constraints of a video (this first came out on two VHS tapes), so that omission is not a fatal flaw and was later rectified when [[ASIN:B0007PP4KY Stan Levey - The Original Original]] was released.<br /><br />If you enjoy this history and want to dig deeper I recommend [[ASIN:B000TTVPU6 Drummin' Men: The Heartbeat of Jazz The Swing Years]] and [[ASIN:0195176642 Drummin' Men: The Heartbeat of Jazz The Bebop Years]]. Also, Steve Smith devotes one of the two DVDs in [[ASIN:B00007CWI6 Steve Smith-Drumset Technique/History of the U.S. Beat DVD]] to a brief discussion and a longer demonstration of drum kit playing styles ranging from ragtime to modern rock. All of these sources greatly add to the tapestry of history.