Mike Dowling : Uptown Blues

Rating:
Summary: teaching tool
Review: If your style is blues/swing/jazz with more than a touch of slide and alternate tuning,and you wish to move from intermediate to advanced playing, this will do the trick. But be under no illusions - to get the best out of these lessons, you have to practice. Mr Dowling is an experienced teacher as well as a great player. He makes no representations that there is an easy way to play this style of guitar. Whilst he walks you through the more difficult passages, he makes it clear that practice makes perfect. I venture to suggest that the companion book/cd is a must if you want to get the best out of these lessons. Also get Bottomlands and String Crazy and while you are at it, get a copy of Two of a Kind with Pat Donoghue. They are packed with great music, particularly Two of a Kind. This is not a Mike Dowling promo. It is just that if you are serious about extending you playing to emulate one of the finest players around, then the investment of less than $100 is small change. I am about half way through this, and already I notice it has taken my playing to a new level and to a greater understanding of this music. Unfortunately so many of the video lessons fall short. This delivers but it requires you do some work. Some of the playing takes some real effort - maybe it was me, but I needed some serious wood-shedding to get the 'In the Mood' roll under my fingers on Nitpickin', but was tickled pink when I did - in fact I used it with a bit of a twist when working through an impro of 'I saw Mummy kissing Santa Claus' with a pleasing result. What I appreciated best about this is that Mike takes the time to get the techniques down. This gives a solid grounding, whilst remaining interesting and challenging. The concert footage and camera angles are great. I will do an update on this when I have worked through it. I reckon that will take most of the winter, maybe more. By then I should be getting near to ready for one of Mike's camps or Wind River lessons - I've got the fly rod packed! This is highly recommended if you are a serious player and want to do the work. Mind you it is pretty good to have a Mike Dowling concert on tap as well!

Rating:
Summary: Tasty guitar playing, GREAT DVD is a 5 star combo!!
Review: Unlike many DVD lessons which are merely video transfers this lesson features audiophile sound and fantastic image quality. Also during the lessons you can use the remote to view either his left or right hand closeups or full view....amazing! there are also bonus songs and the option to view the performance only!!! whether you want to watch this guitarist just play his tunes or get a wonderful lesson this DVD is the real deal ...
Mike mixes up blues, rags, travis style pieces with some jazzy influences on these tunes: Roslie, Nitpickin, Minor Thing, Johnson city Rag, Fishin In The Wind, Bottleneck March, Bottomlands, String Crazy, and WOrld Of Hurt. Many of these are from his wonderful "Bottomlands" CD. enjoy...this guy has an unbelievable touch in any style!