The Drummer: a short film by Bill Block

Defeated and alone, Dave wanders the streets in the early hours of his 40th birthday. His great love is music... from a long forgotten era… and he has dedicated himself to it. Unfortunately, no one’s listening.

This is the end of Dave’s dream… and things go from bad to worse until… he is offered a job: a wedding in Connecticut. He gets one last chance to play, but with a band he has never met.

The elaborate estate where the reception is to take place intimidates him. Drums set up; he nervously fidgets as the Wedding Party and their moneyed Guests gather to celebrate.

The band is late and Dave must endure the wrath of the Party Planner. Only the Singer has shown up and the music is supposed to start. Since this is his last shot, Dave decides to play. It is a disaster. The Guests are horrified and the Bride is in tears but Dave keeps playing. The Groom is ready to kill but is stopped by his own parents who have come onto the dance floor to request a song. Dave obliges and as he plays, they dance beautifully together which inspires the Singer to join in. Suddenly, the scene takes on a palpable magic and the room is spellbound.

Later…
The band finally shows and discovers the party going wild while Dave and the Singer perform an up-tempo crowd pleaser from the Big Band era. As Dave channels his musical heroes, he is reborn.

Info on the film at:
http://www.thedrummershort.com/

You can watch the film short at:
http://vimeo.com/15273009

Trailer:

Djole and Hot Chocolate Break

Went to Rhythm Traders here in Portland this evening for their first Monday free djembe lesson led by Caton Lyles. We learned the West African rhythm Djole and this break created by Caton Lyles.

Drummer Connection

These 2 videos were posted this morning on Facebook by Drummer Connection. If you are on Facebook, look them up. They provide great drum lessons and resources. Or go to their website at: http://www.drummerconnection.com/

Dangerous Timbaleros of Cuba

Billy Ashbaugh Lessons: Paradiddle Grooves Workouts 1-4

Conga Meditation by Candlelight, 2001

Drumming Practice, 2000, Lancaster, PA

Drumming at the Beach, near Malibu, 2001

Basement Drumming, around 2000, Lancaster, PA

Just found this old video I took of a practice in Lancaster, PA back around 2000

Working on Re-Establishing DFP on West Coast

Recently I spent some time painting 40 buckets I purchased with 40 pairs of sticks. I also designed a letterhead, made business cards, and mailed them out to local elementary schools and congregations in Oregon and Washington. It will take a lot of work to get my DFP program re-established on the West Coast after 7 years doing the programs based on the East Coast.

Master Djembe Player, Mamady Keita

Drumming for Peace at Grand Theater, Salem, Oregon

I will be performing a portion of my Drumming for Peace program "Joyful Noise" for Peace Works' MyPreace Project at the Grand Theater in Salem, Oregon on Sunday, October 10, 2010 between 2 and 5 pm.

My 60's group, Beauregard Ajax, on YouTube

Dole Drums

Rock on, little elf dude!

Street Musician: San Francisco Wharf

Took a short vacation to San Francisco last week and spent the first day at Fisherman's Wharf. There are always interesting performances by street musicians, many very talented. This jazz musician was one of them.

Bendin' the Bendir

Drummin' Guitar: using the guitar like a drum

Drummer Richie Hayward of Little Feat Dies

Richie Hayward, Drummer, Dies at 64
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: August 14, 2010

Richie Hayward, a rock drummer who was an original member of Little Feat, an eclectic band that has maintained a devoted following for decades, died Thursday near Vancouver, British Columbia. He was 64.

His death was confirmed by his publicist, Bridget Nolan, who said Mr. Hayward had been suffering from liver cancer and was waiting for a transplant.

Over the past year, benefits had been staged on behalf of Mr. Hayward, who had no health insurance.

Mr. Hayward formed Little Feat in 1969 with the guitarist, singer and songwriter Lowell George, the keyboardist Bill Payne and the bassist Roy Estrada, and remained a member through its various incarnations. Though basically rock, its music drew from a variety of other genres, including country, jazz and blues. Among the band’s best-known songs were “Willin’ ” and “Dixie Chicken.”

The group fell apart in 1979 after Mr. George died, but re-formed in 1987 and had been touring ever since. Mr. Hayward last performed with Little Feat on July 11.

In addition to working with Little Feat, Mr. Hayward recorded with Eric Clapton, Robert Plant, Buddy Guy, Barbra Streisand and many others.

Kassoum Sanogo djembe solos 1, 2, 3, and 4

Guitar Goofin': Me on my Strat

Dr. Oliver Sacks on Music: You Never Lose Rhythm!

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Oliver Sacks
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Tea Party

Songs by Zac Hendricks, formerly of Beauregard Ajax

You do udu?; Framedrum Five; Tambour Tappin'; Doumbek Ditty

Washington Park Summer Festival

Went to the first of the Washington Park Summer Festival evenings featuring Portland Taiko (Japanese Drumming: http://www.portlandtaiko.org/) and Lions of Batucada (Brazilian drumming:http://www.lionsofbatucada.com/)at the Rose Garden Ampitheater in downtown Portland. There was a crowd and lots of rhythm!

Tohpati and Ethnomission: Save the Planet

Tohpati and Ethnomission

Whoa!! Drummers, you gotta give this a listen! Just watched this video and was blown away by the funky world-ethno-jazz-fusion group Ethnomission. Pulled this info off the internet:

Tohpati Ethnomission is a band formed in 2009. The kingpin of this band is a guitar player who is called Tohpati. Tohpati is known as a member of the band that is called Simak Dialog from Indonesia.

Tohpati participated in Simak Dialog in 1993. And, the activity of Solo has been started since 1998.

This band reflects the music character followed from Simak Dialog in own band and is developing it. The music character that adds the tradition musical instruments of Indonesia to the music character that makes Jazz Rock a base is a music character that should be called gamelan Fusion and ethno Jazz.

- Members -

Tohpati - electric guitar midi synth guitar
Indro Hradjodikoro - bass guitar
Diki Suwajiki - suling
Endang Ramdan - kendang,gong,kenong
Demas Narawangsa - rebana,kempluk, trap set


Check out this website: http://www.reverbnation.com/tohpatiethnomission

2003 Staley Lecture: Rhythmic and Irenic Pedagogy or Teaching Peace with a Funky Beat

In 2003 I was surprised to be invited to do the Staley Lecture at Bethel College Newton, Kansas on Drumming for Peace! I had only started the program a year earlier near the same time I received my doctorate, which was in Anabaptist preaching. Who was I to be giving the Staley Lecture. But, I affirmed the invitation. My lecture covered biblical and cultural background on drumming and transforming the drum, often used in war, to become an instrument of peace. At the end of my lecture I performed several teaching exercises with plastic buckets and sticks using students attending the lecture, an unusual lecture indeed! The lecture is listed at: http://www.bethelks.edu/academics/lectures/staley.php I just found a CD of the lecture and translated into a form I could download. So, here it is. Click title, even though it says it is not available. It is.

01 Staley Lecture 2003 Rhythmic and Irenic Pedagogy or Teaching Peace with a Funky Beat by Leo Hartshorn

Deaf Priscilla: Beauregard Ajax (1968)

My 60s rock group Beauregard Ajax. Music recorded at Del-Fi Records, Hollywood, CA, 1968. Fore more info on the group and album go to: http://drummingforpeace.blogspot.com/2009/02/beauregard-ajax-deaf-priscilla.html


Deaf Priscilla, Beauregard Ajax by Leo Hartshorn

Drumming for Peace "Peace Train" Exercise: 2009 Mennonite Church USA assembly, Columbus, Ohio on YouTube

Drumming at Portland Saturday Market

Went to Portland Saturday Market downtown today with family and saw these drummers and an African drum stand.

Drumming for Peace workshop: 2009 Mennonite Church USA convention, Columbus, Ohio

Check out my Drumming for Peace worshop at the 2009 Mennonite Church USA convention in Columbus, Ohio with a couple hundred youth attending! The brief clip is at 4:56 on the video.

Psalm Drummers: Make a Joyful Noise to the Lord

"The Psalm Drummers are pioneers. They show that rhythm is woven into the fabric of our humanity, and when taken up by the Spirit, can be a powerful means of prayer, worship, witness and education in a post modern culture. They are reaching hundreds of people who otherwise will have nothing to do with the Church. They deserve every support." Revd. Dr. Jeremy Begbie - Ridley Hall, Cambridge, UK

*Psalm Drummers are Christian drummers and percussionists that serve the church and the drumming community declaring Christ as King.

Psalm Drummers are served by The Psalm Drummers Association (PDA) an unincorporated association that works within the guidelines of the UK Charity commission, alongwith with a core team of drummers from the network community. The Trustees are Mark Jones (Southampton), Michelle Tennens (Colchester) and Simon Edwards (Belfast). Psalm Drummers was founded in 1996 by drummer/percussionist Terl Bryant.

The vision is to stir up prayer, praise and worship and lead people to Christ through drumming. It is a call to drummers everywhere to drum out a new beat that carries the inspiration of God’s Holy Spirit. Psalm Drummers encourage a life lived in time with the heartbeat of God, and in the worship of Jesus Christ. Our core values are rooted in the Christian Faith and God’s Word, the Bible.

Main activities:

1.Discipling in Bible based values those who have a heart to drum.
2.Facilitating prayer, praise and worship within the Church.
3.Unifying the divided and ministering to the poor through mission and outreach initiatives.
4.Furthering the Gospel of Jesus Christ through His gifts in us.

*from website: http://www.psalmdrummers.org/

The USA division is Drummers for Jesus: http://www.drummersforjesus.com/

New Oumou Sangare video

New video of Oumou Sangare, a Malian Wassalou singer and advocate for women's rights in her country. The scratchboard is from my series M.U.S.I.C.: Musicians Undermining Social Injustice Creatively.

In Memory of Jim Wearden

This week an old friend and bandmember from the early 60's passed away. We both went to Hueneme High School (Port Hueneme, California) together and played in a band called the Agents in Oxnard, California in my sophmore year (age 15). He was a great singer and harmonica player. (He is on the far left in the photo and plays harmonica in the videos). Farewell, old friend.

Pit Band for Third US Army Soldier Show (1970-71)

This is the first time I have seen this photo from almost 40 years ago! It was sent to me by a fellow Third Army Soldier Show musician (Stephen Barr on trombone). I am the 22 year old on the drums. You can see other photos and playbills of the TUSA Soldier Show on this blog.

Plastic Musik: Boomwhackers

New Remo Tattoo Skyns Drum Heads: Design by Corey Miller of LA Ink

http://www.flickr.com/photos/remopercussion/sets/72157623045373673/show/

Beauregard Ajax: Happy Brontosaurus

Found this silly song from my 60's rock group, Beauregard Ajax, on youtube today.

Surf Rocker Richard Delvy Dead at 67 - Spinner

Surf Rocker Richard Delvy Dead at 67 - Spinner

Drummer Joke

One day Gene Krupa goes to his mailbox. Inside he finds a letter addressed to "The World's Greatest Drummer." He says to himself, "Well, I'm not the world's greatest drummer," so he sends the letter to Louis Bellson. Bellson gets the letter and decides that it's not meant for him, so he sends it to Shelly Manne. Shelly decides it's not meant for him, so he sends it to Buddy Rich. Buddy Rich just assumes that it's for him, so he tears it open and reads the first line: "Dear Ringo....."

Third US Army Soldier Show: Hello Dolly (1971)

This 1971 production of Hello Dolly was the first performance of the Broadway musical by a military company. The show included all the music with band accompaniment, the play, stage, changing scenery, lighting, and choreography. The production was unique also in the fact the cast was integrated with all the major couples being interracial. And to think that this was performed in the South in 1971! Pretty progressive for an army unit.

By the time we got to doing this production I had already played drums for a number of Broadway Show tunes from the previous Soldier Shows. So, for a former Rock/Blues drummer to play for a complete Broadway musical was a special experience. I consider myself priveleged to have been able to play and tour with around 6 Soldier Shows, and particularly for this big production of Hello Dolly at the age of 22.

Third US Army Soldier Show: Good Time Summer Time (1971)

This show was made up mostly of popular music on the radio in 1971. I can still hear the deep baritone voice of Anthony Burke singing the Robert Goulet's "It's Impossible." His amazing voice sounded like Goulet. I wonder where he is today? Still singing? This show did include the 1971 Broadway show tune, Purlie, from the musical of the same name. We had done "Walk Him Up the Stairs" from Purlie in our show "Getting It Together, Now." The show concluded with "Open a New Window" from the Broadway musical "Mame."

Third US Army Soldier Show: Turned On, Tuned In, Out A Sight (1970)

This was my second show with the Third US Army Soldier Show. I'm sorry I don't have any photos from this production. It started off with the overture from the Who's "Tommy" and went right into songs from "The Me Nobody Knows," an off-Broadway musical that opened in 1970 and later went to Broadway. The popular songs were interspersed with occasional short jokes, kinda like vaudeville.

The shows final act was a tribute to George M. Cohan and Funny Girl, Fanny Brice featuring Debbie McWhirter. The Finale was a a patriotic fanfare with Yankee Doodle Dandy and You're a Grand Old Flag. This got the troops on their feet! (As an Anabaptist, I now cringe at my role in promoting such nationalistic fervor!)

Third US Army Soldier Show (1970): Getting It Together, Now

Over the past few years I have reconnected with a number of former members of the Third US Army Soldier Show that I played drums for from 1970-71 (40 years ago!) at the ages of 21 and 22. Some members from earlier years recently put up a website and contacted me about adding info from the years I was a member (see the website at http://www.tusa-showmobile.com/).

I have written some stories about my experiences in the Third US Army Soldier Show for Youth Peace Resources at: http://peace.mennolink.org/cgi-bin/blog/6.cgi?about. My basic story is that I was drafted at the age of 20 into the Army during the Vietnam War. Since I did not believe in killing other human beings, I went as a conscientious objector and was trained as an Army medic. I ended up working in an Army base pharmacy in Augusta, Georgia. While working there Terry Moretti, trumpet player for the Third US Army Soldier Show just happened to come in the back of the pharmacy for some cough syrup he needed before a show that evening. Having been a drummer since grade school and having played and recorded with the group Beauregarde Ajax, I asked him about auditioning for the show. After the show that evening I auditioned for a 4 month temporary assignment to the Soldier Show, based in Atlanta, Georgia. A month or so after the audition I received notice that I had been accepted into the show. I was transfered to Third Army Headquarters in Atlanta.

"Getting It Together, Now" was my first of 4-5 different shows with the Third US Army. The show included pop songs on the radio and usually a section of Broadway show tunes. We rehearsed for 2 months and toured the South for 2 months playing at Army bases, similar to a USO show. The troup traveled with a tour bus and truck that hauled instruments, stage, lighting and sound equipment. Soldiers in the show received, if I remember correctly, $3 extra dollars a day while on the road. Wow! The show was run by civilians (director, band conductor, choreographer, sound technician) with an Army officer over our company to make sure we kept ourselves in line.

I remember letting my mustache grow longer than regulation on this first tour (I was a long haired musician living in LA when I was drafted in 1969). When we returned to base I tried to keep it long, but was commanded to cut my long mustache back to regulation standard (Mustaches could not grow past the corners of your mouth). I didn't like the Army and particularly being told what to do. So next morning I show up with it cut into a Hitler mustache! It was not appreciated.

Since I was the pit band drummer I was responsible for many of the cues and regulating the tempos of the music for the show, which were much too fast for my musical tastes. At times the tempos sounded carnivalesque! It took a lot of memorization and many times rehearsals on the weekends.

After the first show, which was to be a temporary assignment, I and a few others in the show were kept on as permanent members to provide some continuity as new members were added each show from the auditions held at the various bases where we performed.

My 18 months in the Third US Army Soldier Show not only built up my drumming chops, but provided an enjoyable and memorable expoerience during my time in the US Army.

My next few post will be photos and playbills from other Third US Army Soldier Show productions.

Beauregard Ajax: My 60's Rock Group

Found this bio and these songs from my 60's group, Beauregard Ajax, on the internet this morning (That's me on the drums with "Feather in a Bottle"):





Bio:http://beauregard_ajax.totallyexplained.com/

Billy Ashbaugh: Double Bass Shuffle Lesson

New Electronic Drum Kit from Pearl

Two Portland Drum Stores I Recommend

Today I visited two drum shops in Portland, Oregon where I now live. I would recommend these stores for anyone visiting Portland or who orders drums or accessories online.















This was my first visit to Cedar Mountain Drums. It is located at 22 37 E. Burnside Street, Portland, Oregon, 97214-1653, 503-235-6345, website: www.cedarmtndrums.com. I met the owner Patrick Pinson, who has been in business for over 20 years and makes his own hand drums and has a Native American from Oregon paint them. The specialty of the store is Native American drums. Some beautiful designs. He ships them all over the world. Cedar Mountain drums also has drum circles every Wednesday of the month for different groups of people.














The second store I visited is a five star drum store. Rhythm Traders. It is located at 3904 NE MLK Jr. Blvd., Portland, Oregon, 97212, 503-288-6950, website: www.rhythmtraders.com. I ordered items from the store before I moved to Portland. The store carries drum sets, accessories, DVDs, CDs, books, Latin percussion, and African percussion instruments. The store has ongoing lessons for set, Latin, and African percussion as well as big name clinics and workshops. If you are ever in Portland, you have to visit this store!

Ed Thigpen, Jazz drummer died today

Read story in LA Times at: http://xml.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-ed-thigpen15-2010jan15,0,7197594.story

See his great brushwork at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecIpU5jVBUA

Tony Royster, Jr.