A few random thoughts at week’s end….Â
We’ve released the 11th and final podcast episode from the 2008 Modern Drummer Festival. It features Ndugu Chancler, and like the others before it – is a cool look at what’s on the DVDs in terms of interviews and performance. Starting in 2005, we started interviewing artists right after their performances and asking about what they just played, but also asking some general questions about their philosophies, concepts and techniques. Guys like Keith Carlock and Jojo Mayer gave really great insight into their concepts (a podcast excerpted from Jojo’s interview is one of our most popular of all time – check it out). The response was pretty amazing – the educational content on these discs really hit to spot with our customers. So the interviews were continued in 2006 and again in 2008 – each one getting a little better than the previous. The 2008 version is pretty fantastic – the DVDs include printable eBooks that have transcriptions of exercises and grooves that each artist played during their interview – its really an amazing amount of material on these DVDs – and a pretty terrific value too. Do yourself a favor and click here to check it out….Â
Speaking of Keith Carlock – look for a little behind the scenes video peek at the making of his upcoming DVD (tentatively titled “Finding Your Own Voice”). The sessions were held in early April, and feature Keith in a masterclass Q&A setting, playing to some tracks as well as playing with his trio. It should be posted early next week – don’t miss it. No one sounds like this guy right now – pretty incredible!Â
In another item related to the Modern Drummer Festival DVDs – Wilco just posted a streaming version of their upcoming album, Wilco, on their site (click here to listen). The Hudson tie-in here is that Wilco drummer Glenn Kotche was featured on the 2006 MD Festival DVDs, playing to Wilco tracks as well as performing a couple of his own compositions. Glenn is definitely one of the new-age of players – very smart and very interested in bringing new sounds and applying compositional techniques to the drumset, but in a very accessible manner (he’s also a super nice guy). I given the new record a couple listens and its good – personal favs are the garage-ish “Wilco (the song) and “Deeper Down”, which features some fantastic sounds  from guitarist Nels Cline. Worth your 45 minutes to give it a listen!Â
Finally – some shameless self-promotion! When living in MA, I was fortunate enough to play with a very talented piano player/singer/songwriter named Tom Chace, in a group called The Propellers. Tom is a great guy, a great player and a great teacher (as is fellow bandmate and friend David Tessier). I’ve since moved and no longer play with these guys, but they were just featured in an article in the Providence Phoenix, and I think alot of guys grinding it out in their local scenes can relate to what they are trying to do. I’ve always felt that Tom and David could be something very special if they managed to get that one break – so, here’s hoping …. click here to read the article – or click here to check out the myspace page.