OK friends, it's getting cold and
I'm updating things down here. First of all, my drums aren't in the basement
as we speak. They're in my new funky practice space, which is an office
in a building that a friend of mine owns. I'm doing some web work in return,
so it's a good deal for all concerned. It's ideal for banging away late
at night, as no one is around the building. Note my funky 24" aluminum
chain drum. It is only filling in for my beautiful copper chain (see below).
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| Well I just got back from
the Milwaukee timpani audition and it was a bit of a bust. I don't reallyknow
what they were looking for but it wasn't yours truly. The old refrain
is sounded again: "I played the way I wanted to play, but..." And so it
goes. Were you there, fellow pounder? What was your take on it? Do you
know who got it? Did anyone? As always it was good to see some old friends
that I hadn't seen in a long time. One of them, Pete Cooper from Denver,
advanced to the semis. He was the only advancer I heard of all day, in
fact. |
Last month I got to play at Carnegie with the St.
Louis Symphony for three concerts. Ben Hermann of NYC was playing first
timpani, as Rick Holmes was still recovering from hip replacement surgery.
Ben played his Lang drums and they sounded really good to me. |
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Speaking of Goodman drums, I got my 24"
bowl back from D. Picking and Steve Schiffer did a hell of a nice job
of rehammering, lacquering and adding a brass lip and support ring. Now
if I can get the hardware in decent shape it might sound as good as it
looks. I'm working with a machinist to make a custom counterhoop that
MIGHT be really sweet--we'll see. |
