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This DVD is Gavin's first venture into the world of digital video education, following his release of the highly acclaimed Rhythmic Illusions and Rhythmic Perspectives, two of his books which are well worth the investment!

On the surface, Gavin's ideas may seem like a way to play really fun and tricky beats that will anger your band mates and throw the tempo lever way forward or backward, but the exercises and ideas that Gavin has invented are excellent ways to really learn about time and note placement.

Gavin's approach is to explain and demonstrate the nature of 'subdivisions' in music, and the relationship of what Gavin calls 'spacings.' He then goes on to show how combinations of these spacings and subdivisions can be put together to create new rhythms in what appears to be a new tempo. In reality, the tempo is the same, and it is the phrasing that you have created which caused to the beat to sound at a different speed. Mastering these exercises will undoubtedly earn you a strong sense of time, notes, phrasing, independence, and rhythm!

The DVD is presented in a very logical and concise format. In addition to covering his main ideas in the two books, Gavin offers many drumset examples, as well as several songs in which you can hear his rhythmic ideas at work. I must say that he plays with a great sense of musicality, and it is quite enjoyable to hear and learn about a fresh musical approach to drumming.

Rhythmic Visions DVD also offers alternate audio tracks which enable you to hear the example beats, straight and displaced, with a click track or with music. This feature really got me fired up, because after I listened to the examples with a click, my head was spinning with polyrhythms, and the music offered a great sounding opportunity to hear the beats in action.

If you would like a new approach and framework for rhythmical ideas, you should definitely pick up the Rhythmic Visions DVD as well as Gavin's books. It will take some hard work and concentration to master his ideas, but the benefits are worth it! Trevor Schrotz Muzik etc Canada "No it's not your DVD player skipping - it's a host of crazy things British drummer Gavin Harrison calls master his ideas, but the benefits are worth it!

Trevor Schrotz

Muzik etc Canada

"No it's not your DVD player skipping - it's a host of crazy things British drummer Gavin Harrison calls "rhythmic illusions". You're playing in the common time, then you displace, say, an eighth note, and your brain starts to hurt. Keep watching the screen and it all makes sense. You realize that mastering this material will give you: a) control, b) the ability to negotiate odd time signatures, and c) a whole repertoire of funky, syncopated grooves. Harrison's system is a well received plotting of the relationships between the downbeat bass drum and the rest of the groove, enabling you to stir up considerably for magical effect."

By T. Bruce Wittet

Mike Dolbear.com

The DVD we have for you today is called "Rhythmic Visions" by Gavin Harrison. This DVD is based on the award-winning book (Rhythmic Illusions) which has won Gavin ten star reviews and the best top five drum publication category by "Modern Drummer" and "Drum!" reader's polls.

Nowadays you'll find that most drumming DVD's and videos are fairly similar. Once you watch them you take a few licks and tricks and rarely watch it again. That's where this is different, although there are plenty neat licks and tricks inside, its aimed around playing with the perimeters of the "click" to create interesting effects, these effects are called "rhythmic illusions". You can create a rhythmic illusion from displacement, modulation, and subdivision and spacing. I agree, it does sound a lot like a science lesson, but that isn't a bad thing if you want to grow rhythmically.

In the DVD Gavin takes an in-depth look at the important parts of the book. There are seven lessons to chose from, two on displacement, three on modulation, and a lesson each on subdivision and spacing including a master Exercise. Each exercise contains two audio mixes, one with a metronome and the other mix contains music. Allowing you to hear the exercise in two formats is a rarity, as some DVDs don't make full use of their DVD capabilities, oh and did I mention there's a foreign language subtitles option.

He performs five outstanding full-length tunes, "Swerve", "A night in Tunisia ", "Designer ", "Footprints" and "Quite Firm". In the "coda" section Gavin talks about the of history rhythmic illusions and where he heard his first one. He also breaks down the song "Always There" which he made when he was with Incognito. He then shows us his "rhythmic journey" and "harmonic syncopation" which looks like a real bitch to play, need I say more.

Kapil

Percussioni - Italy

Finally the long awaited educational DVD by the well-known English drummer has become a reality.

The video is specifically designed for the DVD format and is the result of long and hard work. It is the logical consequence of the two already acclaimed methods called "Rhythmic Illusions" and "Rhythmic Perspectives" which talk about the concept of rhythmic illusions.

The DVD develops this subject with the help of numerous lessons about 'Modulations', 'Subdivisions' and 'Displacements'. It also features a section called 'Master Modulation Exercises' with exercises that combine various aspects of the previous lessons and explains the important difference between 'Subdivisions' and 'Displacements'.

It also features an excellent chapter dedicated to 'Four Way Syncopations' where the concept of 'Rhythmic Illusions' is visualized by showing a first groove followed by another three different ones. As the screen is split in four the four rhythms can be seen and heard clearly.

An alternative audio track in most of the exercises allows the choice between listening to the tracks with a click or with a backing track in order to make the concept of 'Rhythmic Illusions' even clearer.

Furthermore there are five wonderfully played songs showing these concepts integrated and pushed to the limits in a musical context.

There is also a very interesting section where Gavin explains the idea behind "Always There”; a track by "Incognito" from a few years ago. The track is in 4/4 but Gavin plays the bridge by using a 16th note subdivision in grouped into three's, putting every third note on the ride cymbal and a spacing in 3 between bass drum and snare drum underneath.

He explains how the rest of the band perceived this a tempo change and played accordingly. The demonstration that follows is absolutely incredible.

The audio and video quality is excellent (with subtitles in Italian and German). Definitely an excellent DVD .We hope that Gavin brings out another one soon!

Drums & Percussion - Germany

This DVD is aimed at advanced players.

Gavin Harrison demonstrates ' Rhythmic Illusions' in a clear and understandable way. 'Rhythmic Illusions' are obtained by the application of beat-'displacements', metric 'modulations', 'subdivisions' and 'spacings' and are used by a number of professional drummers to create interesting rhythms that keep the listener on the edge of their seats.

The DVD features many interesting exercises like 'Master Modulation Exercises', 'Four Way Harmonic Syncopations' etc. Additionally Gavin Harrison plays various solo- pieces where he show the musical use of the exercises. There are alternative audio mixes with and without a click track. The notation is also displayed on-screen which gives an additional help for the exercises. The DVD allows the selection of each chapter and/ or each lessons and the choice of subtitles in German and Italian. The language on the DVD is English. The camera shots are great and all movements are clearly visible. The sound is great.

Gavin Harrison shows in a very clear and understandable method a variety of clever, sometimes tricky rhythmical variations that bring the level of playing to a very high standard. The DVD is a fabulous addition to the two books 'Rhythmic Illusions' and 'Rhythmic Perspectives' ; both highly praised by critics and drummers.

Amazon.com 5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant DVD!!! New weapons for the drummer's arsenal.

I downloaded a short promotional mpeg of a segment from the DVD and really liked it, so I figured the DVD would be worth it. As it turns out, it's MORE than worth it. This is one of the best instructional drumming DVDs that I have ever seen. Just a note of caution here: this DVD is not for beginners.

Gavin has played with many bands over the years, so that explains why his playing is so smooth, polished, and creative. His DVD is based on his previously release books (Rhythmic Illusions and Rhythmic Perspectives) in which he explores the concept of time in a unique way. He is the Thinking Man's drummer.

The DVD is very organized, with chapters for Lessons and Tunes. The lessons are grouped by subject: Displacement, Modulation, Subdivisions, Spacings, and Master Modulation exercises. During each lesson, Gavin explains the concept (or theory) behind the material he is covering, then demonstrates it on his drum kit. The viewer can choose to listen to the drums with a click track or with accompanying music via an alternate audio track feature. This was a GREAT idea that Gavin incorporated into the DVD for all of the lessons. During the demonstrations, there is some "onscreen" notation of the pattern that is being played, which helps bring together the material.

Multiple camera angles are used throughout, making it easier to dissect exactly what is being played and how. The sound quality is superb, and I don't know if I've ever heard a better sounding snare drum.

The DVD also contains a "Tunes" section, where Gavin plays five full length pieces that feature his inventive drumming. Each piece offers examples of the techniques he covered in the lessons, showing how the mastering of this material can be applied. His drumming is so tasteful, I kept saying to myself "Man, this guy can PLAY".

This DVD isn't about speed, chops, licks, etc., so as long as you can play, you should benefit from the concepts. Everyone is familiar with "time", but Gavin decomposes it in such a way that you say, "Wow, I never thought of it like that". The concepts of Rhythmic Illusions will empower your playing by helping inventive drumming. Each piece offers examples of the techniques he covered in the lessons, showing how the mastering of this material can be applied. His drumming is so tasteful, I kept saying to myself "Man, this guy can PLAY". This DVD isn't about speed, chops, licks, etc., so as long as you can play, you should benefit from the concepts. Everyone is familiar with "time", but Gavin decomposes it in such a way that you say, "Wow, I never thought of it like that". The concepts of Rhythmic Illusions will empower your playing by helping you to THINK in new ways, and the Tunes he plays on the DVD prove it.

This DVD should be in every drummer's collection and it's worth every penny.

John M Mcnally

Percussionists Catch

Rhythmic Visions: Warner Bros. Releases Gavin Harrison DVD

Gavin Harrison's two award-winning books, Rhythmic Illusions and Rhythmic Perspectives, broke new ground in percussion education, and helped drummers of all experience levels gain a deeper and richer understanding of time and note placement.

Now, the acclaimed British drummer has built on the success of these two landmark books with Rhythmic Visions, a newly released DVD from Warner Bros. Publications. The new DVD provides an inspired multi-dimensional analysis of rhythm for the drum set. Any drummer who masters the lessons that Harrison details in the DVD is certain to come away with a deeper and stronger sense of time, notes, phrasing, independence, and rhythm.

True to form, Harrison brings a fresh new perspective to the creation of DVD educational tools in Rhythmic Visions. The DVD incorporates a variety of innovative teaching features, including set markers at the beginning of each lesson in every chapter, an interactive menu for easy navigation, alternative audio mixes with and without click tracks, and on-screen notation. Produced and directed by Harrison himself, the DVD uses multiple camera angles throughout, so viewers can see exactly how the former Incognito drummer is accomplishing his percussive magic.

Rhythmic Visions shows Harrison's rhythmic ideas at work in five full-length songs: "Swerve," "A Night in Tunisia," "Designer," "Footprints," and "Quite Firm." Harrison also breaks down his classic "Always There" to illustrate the percussive principles underlying the song. Covering a broad range of material, Rhythmic Visions includes lessons on displacement, subdivisions and spacing, modulation, and fourway harmonic syncopation. The DVD also includes a series of clearly presented master modulation exercises.

Throughout his lessons, Harrison shows his fellow drummers that "spacings" and subdivisions can work together to create new rhythms in seemingly new tempos. Drummers who master his innovative lessons will be endowed with a new "rhythmic vision" that will empower them to see greater creative opportunities every time they sit down at a drum set.

In addition to the special features noted above, the Rhythmic Visions DVD also includes German and Italian subtitles.