Anyone who has even a passing interest in Brazilian music owes it to himself/herself to check out the latest LP/Warner DVD production Introduction to Brazilian Percussion. In an age when DVDs proliferate and selection becomes difficult, this one rises to the top. It has already received acclaim from leading reviewers.

Introduction to Brazilian Percussion stays well within its mandate and fosters a learning experience that grows slowly and patiently over the course of the program, leaving an indelible educational and musical effect. Any student, beginning to advanced, who has taken the time to practice the lessons contained herein will become conversant in several important styles: samba, partido alt, baiao, and batucada, and will gain knowledge and appreciation of essential Brazilian instruments.

One of the strengths of this video is host Cassio Duarte, an LP artist whose bio cites numerous major studio and live accomplishments. He’s disarmingly casual; there is none of the "distance" between instructor and student seen occasionally with “star� narrators.

Cassio’s modus is to draw attention to the dancing carnival style track that opens the DVD, then disassemble it into various component rhythms and the instruments that make them come to life. One of the special features of this DVD is a complete LP catalog, enabling the viewer to reference these instruments. Cassio zeroes in on each instrument - pandeiro, surdo, and so on - and its relation to the final track, then records that instrument in multi-track. Part of the magic is watching a piece of music grow, rhythm-by-rhythm.

“These are the most fun grooves on the planet,� notes Cassio, and nothing follows over the next hour to contradict him. At appropriate times, windows appear, zooming in on appropriate technical details—hand slaps, for example. The pace is right, the narration clear (in English and in Portuguese), and the mood is upbeat.

When all tracks are recorded, the composition springs forth and the video presentation ends. For that reason, Introduction to Brazilian Percussion is one of the best instructional videos out there. Special features include a playalong, information on Brazilian instruments, Cassio Duarte’s bio, historical details, and a choice of English or Portuguese narration language.

The new DVD, Introduction to Brazilian Percussion, is a worthy addition to any library, whether it be individual, teacher, or educational institution.