Wasabi

Rating:
Summary: Spicy grooves, but short on instruction and length.
Review: Akira Jimbo is one of the most famous drummer to come out of Japan in the last 20 years. He possesses superb technique, limb independence, and a very creative approach to drumming. Midi trigger pads are incorporated into his set, allowing him to create an integrated harmonic and rhythmic presentation. I had high expectations when I ordered this DVD, and Akira's playing was up to the task: smooth, imaginative, and dynamic. The camera work, sound quality, and production values were great. However, I wasn't pleased with the overall DVD.

The main section of the Wasabi DVD runs 41 minutes!! That is nowhere near long enough. The DVD format allows for over 2 hours on a single side, so why is this so short? The material that Akira covers could easily have filled 2 hours, but the instructional approach of the entire DVD was not detailed enough. For example, when Akira demonstrates a pattern that he is going to expand on (using the Wasabi method), he plays it for a few bars, but doesn't break it down in detail so that you know exectly what he is playing. Then when he applies the Wasabi methods, you still don't know exectly what he is playing (even though it sounds great). Concepts are quickly addressed, but not analyzed deeply enough. Hand and foot techniques are touched on, along with drum tuning, and how to practice. It is shallow at best.

The Wasabi methods are applied to a chosen pattern, and are composed of changing note values, changing the instrument source, chaning the starting point, or adding another pattern. One pattern is used to demonstate these concepts, and they were very powerful.

Only 4 complete performances are included on this DVD, which I think isn't enough when compared to other instructional drumming DVDs by Steve Smith and Marco Minnemann. The instruction itself on this DVD was lacking (versus the Steve Smith DVD, which sets the standard), but if Wasabi is supposed to be about adding spice to your grooves, how about demonstrating MORE grooves in MORE detail? 41 minutes doesn't cut it.

I wish Hudson Music had produced this DVD, because it would have been exactly what I was expecting (and what it needed to be). Akira has it all, but this DVD doesn't. Maybe next time...