Dave Weckl Plays "Island Magic" (2024) for the Dave Weckl Online School 

In 2013 I was lucky to study with Dave Weckl for a couple of days whilst he was in Melbourne. I don't know what I respect more. The fact that he was so genuine and giving of his time to help others become better drummers and musicians, or that he shows through his own playing that we can always get better. Every few years I look at a new clip of his and am always impressed by how he's still improved, yet he has set such a high bar since the 80's. He really is one of the greats, and a top bloke!

How many of us started a wonderful journey thanks to this this track and Dave's instructional videos? The memories... And still a joy to watch all these years later.

Dave have never met a drummer like you, you are and you will be my best drummer of all times

Loved it back in ‘86, love it in 2024!!! Keep up the drumming Dave!

After nearly 40 years, this song is such a great canvass for your drumming prowess Dave!

Ahhhh Dave thank you so much for doing this. I've waited a long time to hear you play this again. You've made a super fan super happy to hear this. I was 16 when I first heard Island Magic. It changed my life!! I am now 50 and I just smiled the whole way through!!! Thank you for being a certified GOAT and a great teacher!!

Hi, I remember when I was young I bought my first instructional video from Mr. Weckl. I was so excited to learn so many powerful techniques in the Back To Basic video that I couldn't stop watching it every day. Thank you Mr. Weckl for giving us so much joy and hope in drums. Greetings from Venezuela.

Tried to learn this in '1988' when I bought Contemporary Drummer + One, still can't play in '2024'. Wow that performance was absolutely fabulous!! Dave Weckl, Steve Smith, and Vinnie Colaiuta are the greatest players of all time!!

The king of the Drums 👏👏👏🥁🥁🥁🤟🤟🤗🤗

Sheer talent, good taste, perfection and awesomeness all in one amazing guy. It's almost unfair 😂. God bless you, Mr Weckl!

those drum tones are superb and the cymbals are nice and bright just a brilliant all round sound, thank you Mr Weckl.

The REMO head that I had you sign at BLUE NOTE TOKYO about 20 years ago still hangs in front of me. It motivates me to study drums and music. Thank you! From Japan.

Dave once again on Jedi level: total mastery of the instrument and deep musical wisdom.

Oh my wow one of my favorite ever songs!!! I enjoyed every second of it. Heard it in 1998 first time, all this time still sounds fresh. Thank you!

Amazing! So cool to see Mr Weckl play this again. Tighter than ever with a relaxed and fluid style. So many hours I’ve put in playing along to this to get nowhere near this!! 👌🏻

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 This really takes me back. This was basically the first song that got me hooked on Dave Weckl. Also, those toms sound delicious!

INSANE-UNREAL-BETTER THAN EVER! 💙💙

The Master Dave Weckl, amazing, a song from 80 and still go on impressive

This album changed my life.

Damn, that is some sparklingly fresh groovin' in 7! What a great start to the day. Thank you for sharing this, Dave!

I love how you can tell he's STILL practicing and working on stuff. So inspiring.

Self actualized... self realized. What happens when you have the proper support and encouragement in life. A joy to watch!

Dave's technique is the most beautifully elastic I've ever heard.

Every beat you play feels like it comes from the soul, and it's clear that you pour your heart into your music. Your dedication to your craft, the energy you bring to each performance, and your unique ability to make complex rhythms feel so effortless is truly inspiring. You’ve not only mastered the art of drumming, but you’ve also elevated it to a whole new level.

Smooth as silk, everything he does is perfect 👌👌👌

This song got me into the University of North Texas School of Music. Thanks, Dave!!

Come tutte le sue performance, anche questa è al top! Ogni volta, e' sempre un grande piacere osservare questa sua grande arte nel suonare!!! Ciao Dave 🎶👍👏🍀.

Just killin' it Dave. The kit sounds incredible. Thanks for the all the work you put into the craft. A true master of the drums. Wonderful to hear.

Beast Mode !!! ... legendary Dave Weckl!!

THE BEST over three decades

Absolutely mindblowing. I'm speechless.

What is excellence? Some have said it's the ability to endure pain. This is accurately represented here, from a man who has clearly journeyed through multiple grueling rounds of the "10,000 hours", maniacally focused on his craft. Like many have stated here, he was an inspiration to watch in his younger years - today, he exhibits an elevated force, a humble aura and economy of motion that is something truly special. I consider his performances as something beyond just drumming. It's a positive example of what one can achieve, what is possible in your chosen field of study. We can all pursue the joy of life-long learning.

Island Magic-Still one of my favorites since 1995.

so freakin smooth, dynamic, accurate, beautiful, artistic, dramatic, surprising, mind-blowing.... --J. Scott

Дейв непревзойдён. Фантастика! Браво!👏👏👏

Absolutely wonderful playing, Dave has been an inspiration for 40 years, and I wish him many more years of music and bringing happiness to people's lives.

What a wonderful performance, as always!!!

Quel Drummer exceptionnel !!!!!

Dave showing how it's done! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Incredible. You make your drumming look so easy. I have been amazed by you since your explosion onto the music scene with Chick Corea and the Elektric Band. Thank you so much for the gifts that you continue to share with us!

I was 30 when Master Plan came out. It was the first CD I bought, and marked the start of my record collection transition from vinyl to CD. Island Magic is one of my favourite tracks. Great to see it played again. What a drummer!

Been watching Dave since 1985 when I stumbled on him as a sophomore in high school I was blown away back then and 39 years later I’m still blown away. I own all his studio albums and instructional videos, he is definitely one of my all time favorites! His playing is effortless and simply tasteful!

That was so fantastic! Dave, you never fail to inspire, over all these decades.

Dave is a fucking Genius , always ahead of the curve . Nr. 1 on my all-time drummers list . G.O.A.T.

In many ways I like the original recording of this from the 1980's But this one definitely has its moments as well ! I love them both 👍🎶

Impeccable. 34 years ago at age 17, I bought Master Plan and was blown away. Now we both got grey hair and he still blows my mind - with 64!!

Dave is an absolute master. This track as well as Garden Wall are great tracks for practicing.

A true Master. Dave is one of the absolute greats and what an inspiration he is. Just listen some of the guy going around now. You'll hear Dave. 🙏

Out of this world!

WOW 🔥🔥🔥 Plus Jay Oliver and Chick Corea on keys - wonderful 😃

I literally wore out my Contemporary Drummer tape playing to this tune. Dave, you have no idea how important this tune and the rest of the CD+1 tape has been to a whole generation of drummers. We can not thank you enough!

Holy cow! ❤❤❤❤❤ Just wow!!!!

One of the Greats!

Drumming at another level!!

Amazing ! Thanks so musch 🎼🥁👍😉😊

The best drum player ever!

Totally inspirational performance!🙏🏽

There are certainly a lot of amazing drummers in the world. But DW is just so very special. Yes he has the pure chops, to a lot of learning drummers they think that is what makes him special but isnt. What makes him so unbelieveably special is his musicality, sense of rhythm, time and flow and immense vocabulary. In my opinion, he is the most mesmerizing and enjoyable drummer to listen to of all time.

I’ve went back and forth between Weckl and Colaiuta for 35+ years…each has brought so much to the world; so glad Dave is doing these videos of his older tracks!

Can't tell you how much fun it is to see Dave playing 'IM' again. I remember my best friend first playing it to me when we were about 15/16yo (42 now...); and we were in hysterics (in a good way!) at how impossible-sounding & great the track was.

FANTASTIC!

so smooth...so effortless...

This is awesome. Good job Dave

I recall more than 8 years ago I had to play this piece among others for my final exam for modern drumset studies!!! The memories! Thanks for (re)-creating this masterpiece!!!

And that's how you do that... Still the gold standard after all these years ... Still an inspiration for me after all these years. Thank you Mr Weckl.

Amazing for ever

In 1991 I saved for weeks of my school pocket money to order the original CD where this song appeared. I had two CDs of the Elektric Band, then, I looked in music store catalogs for Dave Weckl albums, and I saw this one. At that time in Bogota downtown there was a CD music store where you can order the CD import, it would take a couple of weeks and some extra dollars compared to the US retail price, but this one is priceless: since then I played and learned all these songs, this one is extra difficult and I like it so much! The composition and the performance are wonderful. Hearing this played 33 years later by Dave Weckl himself is amazing. Thank you!

GOAT.

I'm speechless... Even better than the original one. The greatest soloist of all-time.

I was first introduced to this with your amazing Contemporary Drummer +1 ... couldn't play it then can't play it now but I always LOVED this track!

Super Dave

Wooooooooooooooooooow king off Drums Dave 👑

This is amazing! 🥁🔥 I asked Dave in 2017 about Island Magic lesson for RU-vid when was in the Netherlands 🇳🇱 because it’s a very popular drumles track. He said he would probably not do a RU-vid version.. but 7 years later he did it!!! I’m so grateful this is my favorite Dave Weckl song! 🎉🥁🔥🙏🏽

He's just monstrous! What a player. I've seen him live a couple of times in Manchester, UK and he is simply amazing. Like so many others, I got the Back to Basics video for my birthday and was stunned. To me, probably the finest, most versatile drummer on the planet. Love you to bits !! Simon x

Such a classic. And Chick plays on the album version.

Questo uomo è una leggenda della batteria..mostruoso 😊😅

It's incredible.

Amazing as always

Simplesmente Incrível.... Cresci ouvindo essa música... maravilhosa

The Best!! 😊

loving me some Dave Weckl this day! great track,. Flawless ❤🙂

Nostalgic luv it

Dave's Da MAN..

久々に聞いた〜♪😃 30年以上前、VHSの教則ビデオで見た時に凄すぎてブッ飛んだ記憶が蘇りました。👍

Good to hear again from you sir Dave thank you for your. Music ❤

Amazing 👍👍👍

Thank you sir🙏every single song from that album is a masterpiece. Thanks for replaying them and let us see details

ridiculouly smooth, musical and tasty.

Awesome as always!

Too funny.. I just bought a new 4k upscale DVD player, and of course, the first video I watched was my copy of The Next Step, and your ending tune, right before switching to RU-vid to see this vid.. :0 ) Love it Dave, please keep killing it, you continue inspire all of us!! It's 6:22 AM here, got home from the gig at 3, should be asleep, but enjoying this latest version!

Awesome!!!!!

Sempre inovando, mesmo o que já foi tocado. Dave mostra sua forma icônica de musicalidade, maestria maravilhosa.

Amazing as alwys...

One of the greatest to do it 🙌 been at the top of the game for 4+ decades!

WOW !!! That's the chit after all this time. Thanks for giving me some juice..

Grandiose. I saw Dave back in 1991 in Germany with the Electric Band. I love to see him play. Best man. Herzliche Grüße aus Deutschland.

My favourite drummer of all time 😂🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤ brilliant dave , back to basics ❤❤❤

That was great!!!

Excelente! Dave Weckl 🎶🎶

Looking forward to seeing you in Brisbane, on my birthday Sep 23!