David Garibaldi - Tower of Groove: Complete

To be honest, I'm a big fan of D.G. so my review can therefore not be complete objectively. Anyway, this dvd contains very good pictures of David's playing while his explanations are really clarifying his grooves and stickings. The songs he plays with the band are not only a fantastic extra, they make you see (literally) how his grooves make the funk work.I also have his book with audio CD "The funky beat" from which the songs are being analyzed in this dvd. I can read the scores in there and the audio recordings of his drums on the CD's are very bright, so it's SEEMS easy to follow. Also his written instructions in the book are really clarifying all about the nature and background of the specific rhythms. Once you start playing, you'll discover it's a completely different game to make this sound even a little stable....But this dvd with visual recording and David's spoken comments were very, very helpful getting my playing (more) consistent. It offers an unexpected insight in his technique and the direct link between sound and vision while he's playing, opened up a much clearer view on his approach of things. Maybe it's because of how my learning works but I noticed that my progress in playing D.G.'s work went steep up.I'm not a pro working drummer and play for fun only but I enjoyed every second trying to get closer and closer to what makes D.G.'s grooves so virtuoso. I'm sure it will do the same for you. And myself, hmm, I still have a loooooong way to go....;-)))Patrick Peeters

I love Garibaldi's work - especially with Tower of Power and recently saw them perform live. I wanted to learn more about what goes on inside David's mind and learn a few of his chops. This video was a worthwhile purchase because not only it is well produced and sounds great, you get to watch over Garibaldi's shoulder while he plays.I gave it 4 stars because I find Garibaldi doesn't do that great a job explaining his techniques and drum patterns. He doesn't slow anything down enough for you to feel like you can understand it anymore than without a video tutorial. He basically explains what parts of the kit he strikes with what stick, counts it in, plays it, fade to black, fade up again and on to the next pattern. I was hoping for something a little more dumbed down - even though I am a professional drummer of 30+ years - I can pick things up quite easily - this video doesn't educate as much as it entertains.Still, worth having because the guys a monster when it comes to complex linear drum patterns and what looks like an effortless playing style. He's a marvel to watch.

There is a crucial difference between merely reading an exercise or transcription and seeing them played. One can try to explain how the "english" of throwing a bowling ball is done, but you really have to see it done to understand how to try it yourself. This combined Vol.1-2 is excellent for two reasons: First, Garibaldi is articulate. His insights and explanations are personable and thorough. Second, you can see how relaxed David is when he plays the music. So many drummers play with tension because they think it's how to achieve the energy necessary to play these styles. NOT. Just watch Garibaldi for yourself, and learn how to play this wonderful stuff for real.  David Garibaldi: Tower of Groove, Vol. 1 and 2

An oldie but a goody. Such control on the kit is always a joy to see and nice clear explanations. Garibaldi is a still a legend among funk players and a must have for drummers.

If you play drums or a drum enthusiast, you’ll love this DVD. Garibaldi is a genius!

.Absolete bliss for the aspiring funk drummer. I purchased both parts on video way back when and they have been a source of inspiration ever since. DG is a truly remarkable drummer. Five stars!

This DVD is great for ANY drummer at ANY skill level. David introduces new and dynamic funk grooves that you can utilize in many interesting ways around the kit. Plus, every guy in this video has an insane shirt on.

simple and nice - this is a very good product - I do reccommend it based on my purchase - thanks