One side of technique seems to be about faster harder and louder. On most gigs I do there's at least one tunes per set, usually that require fast loud and hard. People talk about these tempos and volumes as being unmusical, but I don't think they are. Especially when incorporated in a set of music, they seem to fit well. It's when the whole set becomes fast loud and hard that things get to be a drag. If my wife is in the audience, when I get through the set she usually says to me, that was a lot of testosterone being thrown around that stage.

Here's a funny out take from the video session Christos did at my house. He's not only a great player but he's a funny guy also!

Hi All-

This is a new one for me; in an iso booth recording, and it seems as though my highest G natural is somehow dead. I thought it was the resonator, but it seems to have less than 1/3rd of the sustain of the bars around it, whether the resonator flaps are open, closed, or in motion.

I've been playing these bars for 15+ years and this is the first I've noticed it. Seems like a new problem, but nothing looks different about the bar, at least on the playing side. Anyone else have this happen? What could I do about it?

Thanks-

JAmes

Here's an exercise I used to do. Play it fast, hard and loud. That's the key. Sounds a little like a Steve Reich piece. Build up speed, play each pattern longer, etc. etc. etc. Stamina.

A lot of percussionists showed up last night to see Gary and Chick and the string quartet.

There were about 60 of them from 2 different schools. University of Delaware and Temple.

A few stuck around for a photo.

Me with the man himself.

Gary Burton and Chick Corea played here in Philly last night with the Brooklyn String Quartet. Of course it was incredible. They opened up with Chick's tune Love Castle, which was very beautiful. They also played the arrangement of Chega off the new album and when it got to Gary's solo, Chick dropped out. Gary played Chega solo vibes, and you could hear the audience freak out a little bit. They also played Hot House, Eleanor Rigby, and a few others off the new album.

Trying to follow the advices that Dave,Tony, Behn and Rusty gave me in my previous post . Do you know another place where you can be coached by masters like these cats ?!
I'don't. Probably cause there isn't. Lucky guys we are !
Soooo .... up tempo practicing: leave space, play mostly quarter notes, accentuation, "straighten" the eight notes, play a little bit more "laid back".
I feel more confortable after few hours practicing all that bunch ....
Here is a glimpse ....

Trying to follow the advices that Dave,Tony, Behn and Rusty gave me in my previous post . Do you know another place where you can be coached by masters like these cats ?!
I'don't. Probably cause there isn't. Lucky guys we are !
Soooo .... up tempo practicing: leave space, play mostly quarter notes, accentuation, "straighten" the eight notes, play a little bit more "laid back".
I feel more confortable after few hours practicing all that bunch ....
Here is a glimpse ....

i recently had a gig in a car repair garage and i thought this excerpt of the video is pretty funny.
i liked the poster in the background...

tarik