Question for all you Mallet Kat players out there:

Has anyone found a lightweight soft case for the KAT?

I got the soft wheeled case about 2 months ago. It's great, well made, good design, but the thing by itself weighs close to 20lbs!

I have an idea. how about an Etude/Technique/Gear Festival?

Let's work only on chops, and let's gather information on gear. Instruments etc.

Maybe some of you guys could do interviews of manufacturers (Drew??).

If there was an instrument maker near you, I could cover you expenses to get there. Take photos and interview people.

Off the top of my head is Balter and vanderplas of course. There's another instrument maker in U.S., begins with a D. Just a single guy I think.

Stick makers? Tuners. What's the guys name in Chicago, Gilberto!

Beautiful Deagan 145 owned by Oberlin Conservatory. I don't know what year this is from but it sounds like butter!
Rusty

I've attached an etdue and an mp3 of the etude. You should be able to here what type of tune it is and figure out what the chords are. This is an advanced lesson, so an advanced player should be able to do that.

With that being said, if you need help ask!

I wrote this in 2006. I don't remember writing it and when I read it, it felt like I was reading it for the first time. But it describes my thoughts failry well, so I'll post it. I found a ton of stuff from 2006. I wasn't sure if I wrote it, but there were a lot of mispelled words. so it HAS to be me!

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An essay on comping

I feel there are plenty of better compers out there than me. I would never presume I’m the best at anything in music. I’ve met too many amazing people. I think all we do is try to keep climbing the ladder, learn more, play more and so on.

Our goal was to let this be an open sounding version of rhythm changes and let it go wherever...while keeping the form of course. A little F pedal at the end for good measure. I think this is a decent example of how my M-55 (1971) sounds.....with good mics.
Kim Pensyl-flugelhorn and Mike Sharfe-bass
Rusty

There was one part where I did a progression, and I said Cm7, but meant Cmaj7! You may not notice, but if you do, now you know what I meant!

A recording of a session with colegues in the school.

Bass: Filipe Louro
Drums: Nuno Oliveira