friday, january 12

out of my own loop

"Ringo Starr was adequate. No more than that."
---Buddy Rich on Ringo's drumming

HERE'S PROBABLY NO DOUBT in your mind that I've been obsessing over The Beatles for the past several weeks. And I'm still playing their CDs, and I have all of their albums plus The Beatle's "1" CD. Anyway, I was surfing the web the other day when I came upon the Ringo Starr Homepage. The site features numerous quotes by fellow Beatles and celebrities seemingly from all walks of life.

So, I just so happened to catch the quote by legendary jazz drummer Buddy Rich, one of my favorite drummers of all time, possibly number one in my book. Anyway, the above quote by Buddy Rich made me say to myself, "that sucks, Buddy! Ringo's also one of my favorite drummers of all time too! He might not have had the chops, but he had the creativity and the feel. And you can't take THAT away from him!"


I'm somewhat glad I never met Buddy. He was a real "son-a-ma-bee-atch" to work with, so the stories go. And it's sad, considering that he really was probably the greatest drummer that ever lived... seriously. Well, I still like Ringo's attitude a whole lot more. He seems quite humble about his playing and I like that. He's probably the most underrated drummer who achieved stardom and success.

Anyway, I've been sort of out-of-the-loop with my journal/blog writings. I seemed to have lost my "edge". Maybe it's just the miserable weather we've been having here in San Diego lately. Heck, last night it was freezing! And to prove it there was major hail pounding on our roof last night, along with some ferocious winds!

Well, one of the reasons I've been missing in action the past few days is because I finally took my own cue and started one of my New Year's resolutions, and that is to finally get that ePercussionist e-zine off the ground. And I must say I've done a ton of work already. Well, a lot of the back-end stuff. But, of course, there's more to do. Plus I'm looking for writers to contribute some articles. And I'm reading that I can possibly coerce one in exchange for some "ad space" and a link to their site. So, we'll see how this project goes. It's taken a lot of my time recently, but I'm really getting into this... it's fun!!!

But I think I'll be posting a lot more, now that I feel I'm getting somewhat back into the "grind".

sensory mood: very driven! music: a hail storm! cuisine: spaghetti!

I'm just glad I haven't gotten sick yet (knock on wood) like a lot of my friends and a few relatives. One of my fellow bandmembers had bronchitis last week! And his wife and little daughter were bed ridden too! I hope I hold out until the winter season ends. Well, you can catch bronchitis at any time. And I remember one of the diehard swing dancers we know caught pneumonia a few years back when the swing craze was in "full-swing". He'd been dancing like every single night and he kept following the big band wherever we went. Boy, those were some crazy times just a few short years ago.

Anyway, I've also been watching the "JAZZ" documentary on PBS. It's been on TV every night. And I'm a little disappointed because they haven't placed much emphasis on the great jazz and big band drummers of that golden era! That's terrible! I mean, there are all sorts of stories about Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich. You'd think more emphasis was placed on the drummers. Hmmm... Well, the "JAZZ" documentary will continue each night until January 22nd. I'm still enjoying the stories and the old film footage and photos. It's all in the past now. But the legacy of Jazz being America's true art form lives on...

monday, january 8

a clean slate, a new year

"The sky is the daily bread of the eyes."
---Ralph Waldo Emerson

y the way, many thanks to gg for sending me a wonderful e-mail recently in response to my previous entry. You rock, grrl! And Cyn, welcome back from your wonderful vacation in Europe and the UK! And believe me, I can relate to that whole "jetlag" syndrome from previous trips to The Philippines.


Las Vegas seemed to be the happenin' place to visit lately. With gg going there a while back, and now Pat making yet another trip for the Consumer Electronics Show. And Jesse also went to "sin city" for New Year's. Geez, people!

Well it's the beginning of brand new year. And 2000 is now history. The only thing I can say about my own personal experience is that there were distinct peaks and valleys. I was on a rollercoaster ride as a struggling musician, as an artist and also as my own booking agent. Let me tell you, I don't have the "booking agent" persona, but I had not choice but to hustle for a living. But at least I feel I'm getting somewhat better at it.

sensory mood: determined music: more beatles! cuisine: pasta!

And it was hard and extremely frustrating not having musicians totally committed to the band, and several times having to hustle for a last minute bassist or a saxophonist, especially on a few "key gigs". But I made it through the year and I would have to say that I came out "a survivor".

As far as new year's resolutions are concerned, I agree with a few of you out there. That it's more important to make sure we tell the ones we love that we love them, and make more of an effort to reach out to people in 2001. To make connections and feel the love (as well as the virtual love). So, here's wishing everyone a great year in 2001.