Ok, it's sunday morning, so I'll update all y'all since my last post...
- wednesday's trio was cut short by one set due to torrential rain, but it was quite fun until that point (this week we'll make up for the last set by playing till 10pm, so come on by!)
- thursday saw the return of MO to the house gig, and MP played electric bass... I'm 50/50 on the ebass for this gig; it allows us to carpool as a band (which lowers the travel costs and increases pay-in-pocket, as it were), but I think it'll be a few more gigs before it settles. One problem for me is that we're doing low-volume stuff, I'm playing with hands and brushes almost all night. I love that challenge, but with the electric (since it has such a punchy sound), the sound coming out of the amp rattles the snares on my snare drum all the time. I don't seem to have this problem with an amped acoustic bass... Furthermore, the presence of the acoustic always warmed up the overall sound and helped the band stay quiet. With electric guitar and bass and an always excitable drummer, the volume always creeps up. This week, we may play outdoors in Burlington, so the volume issue won't be as crucial (they'll let us rip a bit), so we'll see...
-Hot Buttered Soul has a bunch of dates coming up, two nights this week at Joe Dog's in Burlington (100% non-smoking, so it can be alot of fun), and then we play 9/11 at the jazz festival in Port Credit, which usually draws a big crowd. In between there, we may have a date at the Canyon Creek (Sherway) for a special event; the date keeps changing, as does our availability, so who knows....
-my new snare drum arrived, and with the 7weeker in the house, daddy (me) has yet to play it. it certainly looks fantastic! I may have to sneak out to a friend's practice studio to give it a honk... at any rate, it'll be in effect this weekend with HBS
- I've been watching drum instructional DVDs this week. I only have two, but luckily, I think they're the two best ones out there, Steve Jordan's "The Groove is Here" and Billy Ward's "Big Time".. lots of inspirational playing, and great music too...
- I should be getting my drumKAT this week! I have no idea how to use it, but I think it's going to totally change my solo playing (for dance work, mostly). I really need this, as I feel I'm spinning my wheels a bit with that part of my playing... On that note, TDT (Toronto Dance Theatre) asked me to go on tour with them this fall. I would love to, man, would I love to (travel + music is the absolute best), but I won't leave home right now without my family. So, I've politely declined, but told them if they were willing to accomodate my wife and baby along with me, then I'd be happy to. I'm quite sure their budget doesn't allow for that, but we'll see...
Friday, August 13, 2004
last night's Trio hit with Tim Posgate was great fun. This was the first time MP and I had played with Tim (and actually the first time we've ever met), and he was fanastic as both a player and person. Very organic in his musical approach, Tim's got a sweet/sour guitar tone that was a real pleasure to accompany and he's not afraid of mixing it up rhythm-wise. (which we drummers appreciate). Anyway, good fun, and hopefully good music. We'll do it again soon with any luck.
what's next? I have the weekend off to be Dad and contemplate the purchase of some electronic drum equipment. Next week I am hoping my new snare drum will arrive (the Sonor Artist Series Beech 13x5) via UPS...
what's next? I have the weekend off to be Dad and contemplate the purchase of some electronic drum equipment. Next week I am hoping my new snare drum will arrive (the Sonor Artist Series Beech 13x5) via UPS...
Thursday, August 12, 2004
hello hello
I got offered a really cool gig yesterday, alas, I had to turn it down. Toronto Dance Theatre (www.tdt.org) offered me their fall tour; I would have been drumming for them in technique classes and workshops, and doing some driving. Coulda been cool. But, between Drummer, Driver, and Dad; Dad takes precedence. So for now, I'm staying home to be with my family. No regrets about that; but you never know, there may be a way to make it work (bring the family along!)...
Tonight MP and I gig with Tim Posgate, should be fun. I missed last night's Trio gig (EB and MP played duo) due to a minor health emergency with my daughter, but everything's OK now.
OTHER NEWS:
my business partner and new friend Kip Hanrahan is off to NYC to begin recording of his new record. It'll be his first all-original (non compilation, soundtrack, production of another artist) in many years. For years I devoured this music from afar, it's almost too much to be "in on the ground floor" with it now.
Montreal's Studio 303 is interested in having Arwyn Carpenter and I perform in their 2004/05 Vernisagge Danse series. We'd love to, so we're just working out the dates now...
I got offered a really cool gig yesterday, alas, I had to turn it down. Toronto Dance Theatre (www.tdt.org) offered me their fall tour; I would have been drumming for them in technique classes and workshops, and doing some driving. Coulda been cool. But, between Drummer, Driver, and Dad; Dad takes precedence. So for now, I'm staying home to be with my family. No regrets about that; but you never know, there may be a way to make it work (bring the family along!)...
Tonight MP and I gig with Tim Posgate, should be fun. I missed last night's Trio gig (EB and MP played duo) due to a minor health emergency with my daughter, but everything's OK now.
OTHER NEWS:
my business partner and new friend Kip Hanrahan is off to NYC to begin recording of his new record. It'll be his first all-original (non compilation, soundtrack, production of another artist) in many years. For years I devoured this music from afar, it's almost too much to be "in on the ground floor" with it now.
Montreal's Studio 303 is interested in having Arwyn Carpenter and I perform in their 2004/05 Vernisagge Danse series. We'd love to, so we're just working out the dates now...
Friday, August 06, 2004
sorry about the lack of updates.... I've been working alot, and changing baby diapers in between.
I recently mangled my web software, so updating the page itself is overdue (I have to get new software). But suffice to say, here's what's been up:
my Trio has been doing lots of work. Eric Boucher has been AWOL but tenor/soprano player Ryan Oliver ably filled in. It was cool to play "chordless" trio for a few gigs. The Thursday night house gig in Burlington looks like a keeper, and I now have a 2nd regular Trio of Mike Pelletier (bass) and myself with my duo-mate Michael Occhipinti on guitar. The bar in Burlington digs the guitar (MO subbed for the AWOL Eric, and they liked it so much I decided to establish a guitar/bass/drums trio), so that's what they get.
Next week MO is away, but he was going to hopefully get the great Tim Posgate to sub, whom I've never played with, but enjoyed for quite some time...
So, for those that are keeping score, or making plans:
WEDNESDAYS (probably till mid-Sept.) - TRIO @ Canyon Creek Sherway -cc, mp, and eric boucher on piano
THURSDAYS (at this point indefinitely!) - TRIO @ Canyon Creek Burlington - cc, mp, MO
The Thursday gig is 100% non-smoking, which we love.
What else? I'll be working with the Toronto Dance Theatre for a week at the end of this month, playing company class for TDT director Christopher House.... When our routine at home with our new baby-friend settles down I'm going to begin preparing a new show for Arwyn Carpenter and I... I am going to begin the process of having "winter music" submitted for JUNO awards consideration... I am going to apply for Arwyn and I to do a workshop at the PASIC (Percussive Arts Society) convention in fall 2005....
I recently mangled my web software, so updating the page itself is overdue (I have to get new software). But suffice to say, here's what's been up:
my Trio has been doing lots of work. Eric Boucher has been AWOL but tenor/soprano player Ryan Oliver ably filled in. It was cool to play "chordless" trio for a few gigs. The Thursday night house gig in Burlington looks like a keeper, and I now have a 2nd regular Trio of Mike Pelletier (bass) and myself with my duo-mate Michael Occhipinti on guitar. The bar in Burlington digs the guitar (MO subbed for the AWOL Eric, and they liked it so much I decided to establish a guitar/bass/drums trio), so that's what they get.
Next week MO is away, but he was going to hopefully get the great Tim Posgate to sub, whom I've never played with, but enjoyed for quite some time...
So, for those that are keeping score, or making plans:
WEDNESDAYS (probably till mid-Sept.) - TRIO @ Canyon Creek Sherway -cc, mp, and eric boucher on piano
THURSDAYS (at this point indefinitely!) - TRIO @ Canyon Creek Burlington - cc, mp, MO
The Thursday gig is 100% non-smoking, which we love.
What else? I'll be working with the Toronto Dance Theatre for a week at the end of this month, playing company class for TDT director Christopher House.... When our routine at home with our new baby-friend settles down I'm going to begin preparing a new show for Arwyn Carpenter and I... I am going to begin the process of having "winter music" submitted for JUNO awards consideration... I am going to apply for Arwyn and I to do a workshop at the PASIC (Percussive Arts Society) convention in fall 2005....
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