December 18th at Lavee Lee here in LA is the 5th Annual Carlos Vega Memorial Concert. A lot of heavy hitters will be playing including Vinnie. Show times are 8pm and 10:30.
Also Gary Novak is at The Baked Potato on Dec 27th with Jeff Richman and Jimmy Haslip on bass..

..the two remaining members of THE DOORS got together for a reunion with Stewart Copeland on drums, and the singer from THE CULT? It’s happening. Thanks to Pocket Player for his post about that.
Modern Drummer’s site has some pics from the Drummers Collective Show with Steve Smith, Gadd, Weckl and others. To be released on DVD in the future.

Saxophone giant Bob Berg has passed away in a car accident. Bob has made some great music over the years. The Jazz Community will surely miss him..

Thanks to Larry Del Rosso for sending me a link to a page that has 3 Jeff Watts Quicktime clips. Here is a link to the first, and the links to the 2nd and 3rd are under the clip itself. Good quality clips but only shot from one angle. Jeff Watts is THE MAN. Enjoy.

Not sure if you want the new Steve Smith DVD? Check out all the feedback people are posting on it.
Also in my endless trek to find info on drummers on the Web I found this German web site on Karizma that has some pics I haven’t seen before.

The Steve Smith DVD is out. Go get it and post some reviews on the forums. Also it looks like the POLICE are re-uniting for three songs for their Rock N’ Roll Hall Of Fame induction. Here’s another interesting article on Stewart Copeland. Also check out this teeny-bopper movie about a drummer. Kind of neat.

Once again the HOD forums proving to be constantly on the CUTTING EDGE of drumming news! Derek Defields has posted right here pointing to Hudson Music’s site where they have a bunch of Quicktime clips showing the new Smith DVD. Here’s a direct link

I Saw Branford Marsalis last week and it was one of the best shows I’ve ever seen. Jeff “Tain” Watts is becoming one of the greatest drummers of all time in my opinion. I can’t think of another jazz drummer that has the groove, swing, and soloing vocabulary that he does. Branfords CD Contemporary Jazz has been spinning non-stop in my car for weeks. Unbelievable ensemble playing from this band, creating music and communicating in ways only elite musicians can. It’s pretty amazing.
Also thanks to Derek Defields for pointing out on our forums this review of Dennis Chambers’ solo CD. There’s other stuff worth mentioning on the forums too but don’t take my word for it, see for yourself.

A few things to check out so here goes:

• If you’ve never heard of Art Verdi make sure you check out ArtVerdi.com. Art has some excellent videos and teachings all for free on his site and is doing the community a great service through the web. Be sure to check out his left hand technique lessons. Thanks for sharing Art!
• Thanks to Andy Vermiglio for his post on our forums linking us to RODE Microphones webpage where Vinnie is on a bunch of tracks demoing the mics.
• The Drummers Collective in NY is having it’s 25th Anniversary show featuring The Dave Weckl Band, Steve Smith, and Steve Gadd!! Oh and Hudson Music is (oh nothing) filming the event for a 2003 DVD release.
• Speaking of Steve Smith, Hudson’s site has Smith’s journal from the road on his current clinic tour. Here is his itenerary so catch him if you can!

Drum news guru Derek DefIelds sent me THIS LINK of Thomas Lang. If you wanna get frustrated check him out. You Virgil fans will dig him. Also Chick Corea’s web page has a video preview of his upcoming video/DVD “Rendezvous” documenting the big birthday concert with Gadd and Weckl in the drum chair. Here is a direct link (Real Player required, sorry.)