269 – Dave Weckl: His Brand, His Favorite Bassists, His Physical Evolution

For more than 35 years, Dave Weckl has developed and maintained a reputation among fans, peers, and the international music community, as one of the great living drummers. His contributions to iconic music, music education, and the gear that drummers use, are many. Modern Drummer magazine has inducted Weckl into their Hall of Fame (2000) and named him “one of the 25 best drummers of all time.”

He’s perhaps most well known for his ongoing tenure with the Chick Corea Elektric and Akoustic Bands, as well as side man duties for Michel Camillo, Mike Stern, Oz Noy, and many others. Weckl’s solo career began in 1990 with the release of Master Plan. In 1998, Weckl realized his long-time goal of forming a world-touring band. The Dave Weckl Band released five studio records, including: Rhythm Of The Soul, Synergy, Transition, Perpetual Motion, and Multiplicity. The band also released a hot live album, LIVE (And Very Plugged In) plus a compilation of DWB and instructional videos entitled The Zone.

Instructional videos have always played a big role in Weckl’s career. His original product, entitled Contemporary Drummer + 1, was one of the first play-along products ever published for drums. His Back To Basics and The Next Step releases were best-sellers in the ’90s and also continue to sell today.

In 2015, Weckl formed an acoustic jazz group with longtime friend/collaborator Tom Kennedy (bass), Gary Meek (sax), and Makoto Ozone (piano/B3). The group was called The Dave Weckl Acoustic Band. To date, the band has released a CD entitled Of The Same Mind and a live DVD filmed at Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood.

More recently, Weckl has returned to touring with the Elektric Band, Mike Stern, and Oz Noy, while completing sessions in his Los Angeles-area home studio. He has also formed an online school with comprehensive lessons, new play along products, and live footage from current tours.

In this episode, Dave talks about:

* The development and expansion of his online teaching school* Creating and maintaining a drumming brand (at any level)* Playing “with” Chick before actually playing with Chick, and having to find a different, “burning” time feel with the Elektric Band* Bassists: Tom Kennedy, John Pattitucci, Anthony Jackson and others* Changes in his physical approach and their connection to changes in his mental/emotional approach* His passion away from the drums – track racing – and what it has taught him about drumming and himself

Dave Weckl endorses Sabian cymbals, Yamaha drums, Vic Firth, Remo heads, LP percussion, Shure mics, QSC monitors, ZOOM cameras, and Carmichael Throne top.