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Neil Peart, A Work In Progress

This two-video set documents the "work in progress" of recording Rush's Test for Echo album, as well as the "work in progress" of Neil himself, and his "endless apprenticeship" to the art of drumming. During a year-and-a-half hiatus from performing, neil worked with master teacher Fred Gruber to build a completely different approach to the drumkit. Neil: "I'd reached a point, after thirty years of playing, where I was feeling a bit restless, I'd honed a style of my own, and I felt that I was doing that style about as well as I could. It was time for a change."

Neil uses the songs from Test for Echo as examples to discuss these changes, in addition to themes such as constructing a drum part, selecting rhythmic approaches, technique, spontaneity, orchestration, creative timekeeping, and ornamentation. A complete studio performance of each song is captured by four cameras, as Neil lays down the fiery, creative drumming for which he is known - but with new finesse gained from two years of devotion to study and practice. Following each performance, Neil presents a specific analysis for the drum part's relation to other elements in the song, as well as breaking down and demonstrating key sections, fills, and solos.

Other topics include a discussion of Neil's DW drumset and why he completely changed his setup, Neil's approach to odd times, playing with a vocalist, and a "guided tour" of Neil's warmup routine. These tapes provide an opportunity to "get inside" the creative mind of a great musician. A booklet with each video provides transcriptions of the main grooves and fills for every song.


Other Information:
Released: 1996
Length: 3 hours and 40 minutes
Producers: Paul Siegel and Rob Wallis
To Buy:
The only way I know how to order this is through the mail. If you are interested in buying it, please contact me for more information, by e-mailing VoodooLord7@hotmail.com
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