Ringo Starr Plays the Song

Posted on February 2, 2015 by Scott K Fish

SKF NOTE: No new news here, but always nice to hear from someone who understands the core of great drumming.

Ex-producer Mark Hudson still heaps praise on Ringo Starr: ‘He plays the song’
FEBRUARY 1, 2015
BY SOMETHING ELSE!

Chelsea Flower Show - Press And VIP Preview DayGrammy-winning Beatles nut Mark Hudson…says…“I’ve worked with every great drummer on the planet. Ringo Starr is the greatest rock drummer that I’ve ever heard — and I can tell you why: He plays the song, and that’s what the difference is. Other guys are grooving, and paradiddling. Ringo Starr plays the song.”

Hudson…spent a decade working as Ringo Starr’s producer….

“Ringo knows when not to do a fill, and know when to do a fill,” Hudson adds, noting that he approaches the drums from the right, even though he’s lefthanded. “That’s why it’s so dynamic. As opposed to the right hand, he comes on with the left — and his drum fills are different than anybody else’s. I loved it. Every record that I did with him, I learned something.”

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Densmore: Morrison Lost, Destroyed Himself; Be Careful

Posted on January 30, 2015 by Scott K Fish

The Doors Drummer John Densmore On Late Greats Jim Morrison, Ray Manzarek
Jim Clash Contributor – 1/21/2015

densmore_2JC: What would you say to Morrison’s fans now?

John Densmore: He was an alcoholic. He lost and destroyed himself, so be careful. I know you love him for his art, but you can’t just put on leather pants and drink and become famous. It takes talent.

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Istanbul Launches 1960’s Tony Williams Tribute Cymbals

Posted on January 29, 2015 by Scott K Fish

SKF NOTE: Nice idea, tribute.

NAMM 2015: Istanbul launches Tony Williams tribute cymbals
Based meticulous study of Tony’s original cymbals
RhythmJanuary 16, 2015, 08:30 UTC

tony williams 169-630-80

NAMM 2015: Turkish cymbal maker Istanbul has announced an exciting new line, crafted in tribute to legendary drummer Tony Williams, created as faithful replicas of the now iconic cymbals made famous by Tony on the recordings of the ’60s era Miles Davis Quintet. These exclusive new cymbals will be made available initially as limited edition numbered sets.

Istanbul was granted exclusive access to the very same cymbals, made in Istanbul in the late ’50s, …used by Tony Williams on the Miles Davis Quintet’s historic recordings. These cymbals were given to Tony by…Max Roach. Colleen Williams, Tony’s wife, hand carried the precious cymbals to Turkey where the master artisans meticulously measured, weighed, gauged and recorded every facet of them.

Tony Williams Tribute Cymbal Limited Edition sets feature 22” ride, 18” crash and 14” hi-hats together with a deluxe leather cymbal bag, a selection of rare Tony Williams photographs and a certificate of authenticity.

Colleen Williams. ”It was a profound experience to attend this ‘rebirth’ of something Tony loved and treasured…”

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1710 Percussion Owner Gives Back to Where Love of Music Started

Posted on January 29, 2015 by Scott K Fish

Union grad donates drums to school
Posted: Thursday, January 29, 2015 4:00 am

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A Union High graduate who owns a custom drums company donated some of his wares to his alma mater.

Union High graduate Michael Caimona, founded Maryland-based 1710 Percussion in 2012. The business, which makes drums…, arose from Caimona’s hobby of building personal snare drums and refurbishing kits.

In December, Caimona built three custom snare drums and donated them to the Union High School music department…to show his respect to…where he learned to play the drums.

[S]aid Caimona. “My love for music took shape the moment I started drum lessons in elementary school. I had to give something back to the school.”

Caimona presented the snare drums to the music department and fielded questions from students for over an hour.

“We talked about music, my experiences in school and how I started building drums,” he said.

1710 Percussion’s focus is not limited to creating drums tailored to their clients; charity is an equally important part of the company culture.

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John H. Beck: The Snare Auditioned 1,618 Students

Posted on January 28, 2015 by Scott K Fish

SKF NOTE: What a great project for a videographer: Chronicling John H. Beck’s stories as he “whittles down” the memorabilia in his music studio.

Drumming up, sorting out the stuff of a lifetime
Jim Memmott 3:09 p.m. EST January 27, 2015

History is made up of stuff. Letters, books, pictures, snare drums, stuff.

“For some reason, I never threw anything away,” says John H. Beck as he looks at his history, his stuff.

It’s all there in his full-almost-to-the-brim studio in the Anderson Alley Artists building…in Rochester. It’s cataloged, counted and cared for, but, really, Beck suggests, some things have to go.

For the moment, the studio holds materials from when Beck, who is 81, started playing the drums in bar bands as a 13-year-old in Lewisburg, Pa.

In 1951, he arrived at the Eastman School, with the ultimate goal of being…a younger Gene Krupa. “Once I got to Eastman, …I got hooked on classics,” he says.

In 1959, Beck came back to Eastman [School]…as a teacher of percussion, …for 49 years. [H]e also was a percussionist and timpanist for the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra for 44 years.

[N]o wonder that his studio is overflowing….

“Almost everything in here has a story,” Beck says….

Beck points out a snare drum. It’s a Rogers Dyna-Sonic…. …Beck used that drum to audition 1,618 students for admission to Eastman.

“They were the major drummers of their towns,” Beck says. [B]ut of those who auditioned, only 258 were accepted.

His students include Steve Gadd….

“I didn’t really teach him,” Beck says with a smile. “I just guided him.”

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