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Jim, I absolutely agree! So in that vein (I just hope I don't overshare or bore you with mine), probably the top musical experience I've had, although I'm not sure it was jazzy enough for here, was after an African drumming workshop with the ne plus ultra of African drumming, Mamady Keita (he brought West African rhythms to Europe, America, and the rest of the world. While not widely known or appreciated, the poly-rhythms of W. Africa significantly influenced Latin, Afro-Cuban, jazz, and rock music). Mamady travels the world putting on workshops with intermediate through professional drummers, and the minimum requirement was to have studied W. African drumming for a year. I'd only been drumming for a few months, but was passionate and progressing well enough that my teacher, one of Mamady's students, arranged for me to attend the weekend workshop. I was in awe. I'd seen his DVDs, listened to his CDs, and here I was in a group of 35 drummers of all levels (about half of which were pros) with a teacher that spoke very little English. It was quickly apparent that this guy was an amazing teacher, as he could take 35 people to their breaking point (just a bit beyond, actually) even though everyone was at a different level. And we were smiling. I mean contagious, high energy, flying high smiling. While we were failing. I'd hear and see riffs that I could barely comprehend, and 15 minutes later I was playing them. Anyway, this is just the long intro to my out-of-body music experience.The workshop was 4 hours of instruction Friday night, 8 hours Saturday, and 6 hours Sunday. After Friday I was exhausted and exhilarated at the same time. Saturday took it to a whole new level, and Saturday night there was a party. The workshop was hosted by a local music store. The party host was the music shop owner's sister, who is married to a Cuban rumbero (convoluted enough?). Well I didn't know it, but I was at my first full-on rhumba. And it was smokin'! After getting some food and drink, somebody started playing clack-clack, clack-clack-clack on the claves and the conga and cajon players started. Somebody started singing in Spanish and the crowd warmed up. After a couple rhumbas, Mamady was invited to join and he WAILED. People were dancing, and tapping. The congas were going, somebody was playing a guiro, and we had a full-on jam session of related but very different styles. It was magic. The music went on until 2 or 3. I left as things were winding down and slept until noon--the best and latest sleep in years. I staggered down stairs and my wife just smiled and said, "you're still smiling!"The last 6 hours that Sunday were tough. My hands were sore. My brain was full. But I had a serious grin on my face.Video Sample of Mamadyhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkvQoG3wDPQ
My most expensive LP yet arrived and this is the debut...Ray BrownSoular EnergyAfter 2 of 4 sides, entirely worth the $50! The best recorded album I've heard. Period. Ok, so I'm not a huge fan of piano/bass/drum trios, but the bass playing on this album is absolutely amazing, plus I had no idea my speakers went so low, and there are some nice bop tunes with guitar and sax to break up the trios. There's actually a warning sticker from Stan Ricker on the the outer sleeve that the bass could cause tracking problems. Not so for my WTT and Lyra Delos--just sweet tuneful bass. Highly recommended!AllMusic Review and Samples
Howdy Gents!Rough week! I got up at 4 am to go into work a couple hours, then I was on a Federal Grand Jury all week and I was sick with the flu the whole time. Feeling better now! This is just what I needed. TGIF!Weather Report ~ Night PassageColumbia
This is just what I needed. TGIF!
RAY BROWN BASS HIT
