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Another good book from Hudson...
Posted by Bill:Wednesday June 25th 2008
The arrival of demon percussionist Pete Lockett’s spiffing new book ‘Indian Rhythms for Drumset’ from Hudson Music reminds me how far and how fast drumming is leaping forward. My generation had it easy. All I needed to get started was a swing beat, some snare drum stuff, a rock beat, some ability in the only odd meter anyone had heard of, ¾, and maybe a few licks with brushes for tonal variation. If you threw in some ability to read music, you could enjoy a long and happy career in the London recording studios.
Now it seems a little more is needed. You’ll need a reasonably secure background in what used to be called ‘rock’ and ‘jazz’ drumset techniques before you branch off into the kind of uncharted waters in which Lockett, Harrison and Mayer sail so confidently. Pete’s background in Indian drumming, Gavin’s metrical expertise, and Jojo’s textural electronics – all this is the future for the drumset player, and the future’s coming fast. But no panic! Even if a little of what these three titans of the drumset have rubs off on you, you’ll have that extra special something to bring to the rehearsal room or recording session. Go get their stuff immediately.
Work continuing slowly on an album for composer Colin Riley and PianoCircus. We were back using the facilities at Brunel University this week. With all parameters up for grabs – when you’re making one of those albums which tries to offer fresh views of what is or is not appropriate for the drums to be doing, when chance and random acts may be as profitable as written parts, it’s going to take a while, but no-one’s in a hurry. We’ll see where it leads us.
Composer Riley (left) and engineer Chris erase more brilliant playing..
...but somehow we're all still laughing...
Brian H. - 6/11/2008 7:24:36 AM I’ve really done very little, and even that I can’t remember. I did something for LucasFilms around the Star Wars time. A few commercials long ago… I’m currently on UK TV quite bit with solo drum ‘library’ (stock) tracks. A producer asked me to do that, and it was fun. Gets used a lot , too. There is currently quite a rage for solo drumming in ads and TV shows. Really, that’s about it.
TheWinkler - 6/11/2008 9:18:35 AM Pedro, I’m playing with Michiel Borstlap. Take a look at FAQ 34 on this site or www.michielborstlap.com . Sure, come along and give it a try!
Sean - 6/12/2008 5:00:19 AM: No backstory here, I’m afraid Sean. These things are usually a lot more prosaic than you would imagine. When I arrived in the States in 1971, I had no idea who the Bruins were. I just picked up a couple of those logos in a store, and decided to ‘borrow’ it. Now I know!
MattM - 6/16/2008 11:11:06 AM Matt, I’m not following. Why ironic? Whitney was sensational that night. She raised the roof.
condor - 6/17/2008 1:54:02 PM Tama couldn’t provide a full set that night, so I borrowed the missing floor tom.
Kevin - 6/19/2008 2:42:11 PM No DVD from St.Petersburg is planned. Unlike audio recordings, filming any DVD you and I would want to watch still comes with a hefty price-tag, especially if it’s a multi-camera shoot.
Joao Froes - 6/19/2008 4:41:15 PM Joao, that’s plucked piano. Steve Hamilton spent most of the track inside the piano, as far as my ears tell me. Sorry, no plans for another visit to South America.
Russell Whitworth - 6/25/2008 4:04:10 AM Good to hear from you. Internet and ten years ago?! How long have you got?! It was, as they say, another world for musicians back then. Not necessarily better, but certainly simpler. If I was sceptical, it was because I knew the impact this thing would have on my time. I used to have a life, now I do this. No complaints - it is what it is. Hope you can make it to Ronnie’s.
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