DRUMMER CAFE

Fantastic.

It must be quite an experience playing and networking with a circle of people like that.

Congratulations. Like so many great musicians, you have a sense of humility, but you've paid your dues, and done the work to prepare for these kind of gigs. I'm sure you played well. Thanks for sharing!

Me too!  It reminds me of something my great grandfather told me many years ago.  He said "if you don't like what you are doing, do something else!"

Dang, has it been 5 years already?  That was a fun night, great music, good food, and talking with great drum friends.  It is time to do it again.  I have the pic of Bart standing up looking over his kit trying to read from the music stand across the stage. 

No video; sorry.


Paul Littlejohn (aka diddle) was there too if you remember. He wasn't able to stay long, but I believe we all got to meet him ... right diddle?

Do it to! it drummer!. You had some big shoes to fill (Latham) and sounds like you kicked it major. Ive got Lathams crystal ball. Thats as close to Latham as I get. No rehearsals?, well ill be a son of a beech custom. Yer the man!.

Sounds like you are in a pretty good place right now Bart!  Only in Nashville could you play with the likes of Kevin Adams... at a pizza joint!  fun, fun FUN!

Hey Bart, Not meaning to create a problem for you, but how is it you end up working with a great looking female no matter where you work. Most times I'm lucky to have a female near the band, but having  GREAT looking one in the band is out of the question. I just have to find a new bookie. I'm tired of getting the short end of the stick. Life is too short for this kind of foolish. I'd offer you good luck with your next gig, but just don't need it.

Bart, WIth my head held low, and my foot in my mouth, I am now wishing you good luck on this gig. Talent wins out every time. I hope everything goes well for all concerned. Please let us know how the whole evening goes. It should be great. Thank you for the up date.
'

I had a one-day (yesterday) session with Terri Brinegar, an artist I work with from time to time. In the past the gigs have been jazz lounge gigs playing mostly standards, but recently I played for Terri's CD Release Party ... and the original music is more R&B.

The session yesterday was about recording three new songs written by Terri. We went in the studio and worked out arrangements, having never played the tunes before, and laid them down. We did a few overdubs (e.g. percussion, guitar, keys) plus a few fixes from the other players since everyone tracked together in one take. I didn't have any fixes  (surprise!).

Terri stayed at the studio after we were done and tracked her vocals as well as BGVs.

This was more of a demo session, but she said she may use it on a future album ... who knows.

If you'd like to hear the tracks, she already posted them on her MySpace page this morning.

Listen to from yesterday's session:
Little Things
Surrender To Lovin You
That's How I Know

The other tunes on her MySpace page (at the time of this post) are from her album ... and Rick Latham is playing drums, not me.

I had a lot of fun with these three tunes because the sound retro. We went for more of an "old school" approach to our parts and the way we tracked everything. It's rough mixes with no track editing; it is what it is.

On my computer speakers the lead vocal sounds a little too hot for my taste.

I used the studio's old Ludwig kit, my Fibes 6.5x14 Snare, Sabian Cymbals, DW Pedal ... plus my own percussion instruments. I think that Snare sounded great; the tracks are open enough that the engineer didn't EQ the drum (his words). I brought other Snares and a mix of Sabian Cymbals, but I ended up using the same set-up for all three tunes since we were watching the clock, and these were demos.

It was a joy getting to work with Greg Foresman (guitar), Kevin Adams (piano/keys), Paul Chapman (bass) and of course Terri in the studio; first time in the studio with these musicians. I've had SO many gigs/sessions lately where no one is listening or working together (I.e. no pocket/feel) that I about wanted to give up playing music completely (and I'm not joking, ask my wife)! These guys made it easy to groove ... and gave me a love for playing and making music ... again.