So I bought the Djembe Kan video at Mamady's workshop last week, then remembered I don't actually own a VCR. Flashback to last Christmas, I was going to be nice and get one for a friend. I went to Radio Shack to find one.

"Where's your VCR's?"

"Our what?"

"V-C-R"

"Oh, yeah, we haven't had one of those things forever!"

How quikly technology shifts to the flashier and more expensive!

Anyway, I finally got to a VCR and watched the tape! Absolutely amazing. Go get yo'self a copy. Also, they told me they are working on getting "Djembefola" and another film about Mamady transferred to one of those double-sided DVD thingys (so I can watch it at home!), so be on the lookout for that!

What a week! Calls for gigs have been coming in steadily, students are signing up, and to top it off, 3 classes with djembe master Mamady Keita! Wow, absolutely amazing. Of all the multitudes of instruments I'm called on to play as a percussionist, the djembe has got to be the most demanding. Even f it wasn't for the overwhelming amount of background info. you NEED to know to play the drum (history, cultural significance, authentic rhythms, etc...), the wealth of tonality that can be played by this drum is astounding. I compare it to Miles on trumpet - it's not so much what he played, but how he played it. It's all about tone, and for percussionists, that tends to be something we take for granted. Back to the practice room for another year 'till he comes back again (Mamady does U.S. teaching tours every September, check out ttmusa.org for details).

First Raleigh Symphony rehearsal of the season was last night. Played through Wagner's Rienzi Overture. Wow, he didn't mess around with that one! The first time an actual melody comes in, you start getting chills down your spine and tears in your eyes! I guess when you've got a melody that powerful you can't wait to throw it in but wow, give us a little buildup next time!

I don't usually like to do product endorsements, everything is so very subjective, but I'm gonna have to rave about my new favorite sticks. I picked up a pair of the new Vic Firth Thomas Lang signature series just to try them out, and pretty much haven't put them down since! I was hoplding off till I had used them in action, but I played a rock gig with them last weekend, so now it's official. The balance of these sticks is like no other I've ever played, very centered. Ususally this means you have to work harder - giving equal effort to up and down motions, but somehow this stick seems to pivot around its' center and almost play itself (which any good stick will do if you let it). It is extremely large and pretty heavy (not as heavy as it looks, though), but I made it through a 4 hour rock gig on no sleep with one pair, so they must not be too bad! One warning - this is not a beginner's stick! If you haven't developed a high degree of control, this stick will be way too much, but if you've been playing a while, try one out and see what you think!

just found this message:

There's a new online radio station at Live365.com called Iridian Radio. All late 20th century music, with composers and performers such as Steve Reich, Bang on a Can All Stars, So Percussion, John Adams, and Ensemble Modern.

It's free to listen, no need to join anything.

-------------------------

Eric Mellencamp

mail@ericmellencamp.com

check it out if you like, support it if you can!

Have something to add? Sign the Guestbook! View Guestbook