Brian Stephens

Hey Everyone,

A couple of weeks ago, I sent you guys my first update email of the year and told you something big was coming up. Ok, now I am ready to spill the beans on TWO big things. First off, if you will slide by your local bookstore/newsstand and pick up a copy of the June issue of Modern Drummer magazine, on page 23 you will find a picture of my smiling mug and a very well written article by Harriet Schwartz. Over the Christmas holidays, Harriet interviewed me for Modern Drummer magazine, and I have been waiting for it to actually appear in print before saying anything. The article, entitled "The Heart of A Musician", really encapsulates all the things I do as a professional musician, producer, educator, and studio owner. (Thanks Harriet!) And if you will flip over to page 133 in the same issue, I am also included in an ad for Pro-Mark drumsticks. For those of you who don't have access to the magazine, a newsstand, or any money, you can also check this article out online at www.ModernDrummer.com

Now, onto the second piece of big news. This one is still in progress, but I will go ahead and let you in on it. A couple of weeks ago, I received a call from Los Angeles asking me to write a tune for a new 20th Century Fox / Searchlight motion picture called "Le Divorce". So, I then call friend / keyboardist / writer Tom Grose to see if he would like to work on it with me. Two days later, Tom and I are in the studio hacking away at this song. What we ended up with is a great tune called "For All I Know". The demo has been submitted to the movie studio for final approval and we will be completing full production on the song in the next week or so

The cast of "Le Divorce" includes Kate Hudson, Naomi Watts, Glenn Close, Stockard Channing, Sam Waterston, Bebe Neuwirth, and Matthew Modine. It was directed by James Ivory (A Room With A View, The Remains of The Day) and is due out in theaters in August.

Keep us in your prayers on this one. It is a big opportunity, one that I have been working toward for quite some time. There are already some other opportunities that have come about as a result of this song. Once everything is in place and completed, I will let you guys know about it.

A third piece of news is that I begin filming for my first instructional DVD this week. With a working title of "The Anatomy of A Session Drummer", this DVD will cover the entire process that a recording session drummer goes through in the studio, coming up with drum parts for songs, working with loops / drum programming, and the interaction with the other players on a recording session. It will be packed with all sorts of information that any drummer can use in getting ready to go into the studio like working with a click, prepping your equipment for the session, and mental preparation prior to entering the studio.

I believe it will be a good companion piece to my audio book, "Stickin' It Out – The Anatomy of A Professional Drummer", which is available through the BrianStephens.com website. If you have not picked up a copy, swing by my site and order one today. But, getting back to the 'studio drummer' DVD, look for it to feature a who's who of Atlanta's finest session players. The DVD should be available through my website just in time for Christmas 2003

Keep an eye on my "Calendar" for live gig dates and look to my "News" page for updates on current recording session / album projects I am involved in. As I said in my last email, we are in the process of revamping my website. Look for a new site with all new content in the coming weeks

And lastly, remember to look for my monthly column in Performer magazine. This month's topic is "Sound Sculpting with Distortion". The magazine is available at your local music stores / record shops or online at www.PerformerMag.com

That should do it for this month. Thanks for reading and for all your support!

Sincerely,
Brian Stephens

Freelance Drummer/Percussionist,
Record Producer, and Music Educator

www.BrianStephens.com

5/03

Sean O'Rourke

Ola,

I will be hitting with Mother's Finest at The Atlanta Dogwood Festival on April 13th at 6:30. I will also be with Kodac Harrison on April 19th at the Defoors Center for his cd release party. The new Howard Tate record that I drummed on will be released on RCA records. I also just finished a record for Rockabilly badass guitar player Johnny Knox. I did another instructional cd for Peter Vogl as well.

I hope things are well

4/03

Babatunde Olatunji

Nigerian Drummer Olatunji Dies at 75

By RON HARRIS
.c The Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Groundbreaking Nigerian drummer Babatunde Olatunji, who helped introduce the power and intricacy of African music in the United States, has died. He was 75.

Olatunji died Sunday at Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital, a nursing supervisor said. Olatunji, who had been admitted March 25, lived at the Esalen Institute in nearby Big Sur.

The cause of death was not released by the hospital, but The New York Times quoted a daughter of Olatunji as saying he died of complications from advanced diabetes.

His 1959 album, "Drums of Passion,'' was the first album of African drumming recorded in stereo in an American studio. It introduced a generation to African music, said world music critic J. Poet of San Francisco.

"He planted a seed that gave birth to the whole interest in African music in the United States,'' Poet said. "Before him the drum was always kind of mixed into the background. After Olatunji the drum just really came blasting out at you.''

Olatunji's deft slaps on the djembe and junjun drums infused American black culture with a sense of artistic pride in traditional African music, Poet said.

Olatunji went on to found the Center for African Culture, based in Harlem, in the late 1960s. He taught drummers and other artists, such as John Coltrane. Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart co-founded the musical troupe Planet Drum with Olatunji and credits him as a major influence.

"We spoke the same language,'' Hart said. "It was about rhythm, the drums, and he was the godfather of this whole movement of communal drumming.''

Olatunji was born in Ajido, a fishing and trading village. His band of drummers, singers and dancers evoked both the village's music and its masquerades, with figures dancing in elaborate costumes.

Olatunji studied at New York University and soon formed an African-style ensemble that became his full-time occupation.

Hart recalled Olatunji's commanding voice and rhythms as the base for his popularity. Hart said the feeling he got from first hearing Olatunji's music has stayed with him.

"Drums of Passion combined drums, vocals and then brass - the hot syncopation of New York City. He was an American by then,'' Hart said. "From the moment I heard it in 1959, I've been chasing that feeling for 40 years.''

Hart credits Olatunji with bridging cultural music gaps after bringing his drum music west.

"He got us white folks into the magical music of Africa. It was irresistible,'' he said.

Olatunji's most recent album, "Love Drum Talk,'' was released in 1997 and was nominated for a Grammy Award. He is survived by his wife, two sons and two daughters.

4/03

Kenn Moutenot

Dearest Pam,

Hope everything is great with you and think about your great work often. Have been busy here in the studio with percussionists like Patato, Steve Berrios, Rafael Cruz, along with many other world class musicians and composers.

I am now the musical director of "Eumir Deodato's Band" playing in his band as the drummer now and following in the shoes of his former drummers Mr. Billy Cobham, Mr. Steve Gadd really is an honor and pleasure.

We are leaving for Africa next week for a concert tour, war permitting, and had much success in 2002 with many european concerts that had standing ovations nightly. You may see some of the video concert clips @ www.song3.com of course...

By clicking here you can get an excerpt from a magazine article containing stories about our life on the road. Thought you might enjoy it.

Miss you and sending thoughts and prayers,
Looking forward to things in the future together.
Peace & love to you and now off to africa.

Kenn Moutenot

4/03

Michael Fox

Hi Pam... Floyd Lee's new record will be out in a couple of weeks titled Ain't Doin Nothin wrong. This a follow up to Mean Blues, our first record, which sold 40,000 copies...

Regards Michael Fox

4/03

Alvino Bennett

Hey Pam,

Glad to hear everything is alright. No longer doing Sunday nites, we all are doing so many other projects now. I've been playing and recording with Jason Sinay. I've also been doing some recording and production stuff. I just got back from some dates with Dave Mason. That was a lot of fun...

Alvino

4/03

Terry Santiel

Hey Pam, I just got on the Justin Timberlake tour... I started rehearsals today. The tour goes out from May till August...

3/03

Ernie Durawa

Hi Pam,

Short note to let you know my new CD is finally out. Check out the Website. Los Jazz Vatos

Hope you're digging L A more than NY.

All The Best,
Ernie Durawa

03/03

Wally Gator Watson

Hi Pam, I just got back from a wonderful tour to Australia! It was my first time down under. I was playing with R&B legend, Wilson Pickett. We were on the bill with Ray Charles and Bob Dylan. The shows were great, the people were great, and I got to hold a Koala and feed a Kangaroo too.

Man what a great place. We played in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and Perth. The trip was very long, but worth every second.

I was to come back home to NYC, but mother nature saw things a bit differently. There was a blizzard which got me stranded in LA for a day. I then went on to the University of Idaho for a week of clinics at the Lionel Hampton Jazz festival. They put on a wonderful tribute to Lionel Hampton and Ray Brown.

March 1st I was in New Brunswick, NJ with the Duke Ellington Orchestra, March 8 th I will be in Welland Ontario, Canada with Sandra Reaves Phillips & the Late Great Ladies of Blues & Jazz, and then it's off to Florida with the Cab Calloway Orchestra. I would like to invite your readers to visit my website www.wallygator.net to see if I might be performing near them. I would love to see thier faces.

Oh, I almost forgot! I have finished a new CD with my group "A Trio of Four." It is a memorial CD dedicated to the memory of Lionel Hampton put together by the former Lionel Hampton Quartet. It features Kuni Mikami on piano, Christian Fabian on bass, and yours truly on drums and vocals. It is a CAP record release.

Well, I guess that's all for now. Take care and God bless.
Wally Gator Watson

03/03

Gali Ricardo Sanchez

I'm very happy to say that I just made it back from La Habana and have tied the Cuban knot. My new wife Yahumara Sierra Mesa de Sanchez and I were wed on February 26 in Havana. Since the communist state does not recognize formal religion, we were married in a civil, socialist ceremony with only ourselves and 3 other people present. I was read the rights and expectations of a Cuban husband in a socialist state. There was no ring ceremony or "you may now kiss the bride." But I do have a license that is the coolest thing you ever saw with stamps and ribbons and seals and fancy signatures.

Pics to come in a bit (I hope). Lots of stories for IMs. I'm back, happier than ever and healthier than a long long time.

Gali Ricardo Sanchez (Mr. Yahumara)

03/03

Rick Latham

Greetings All,

I actually have had many of you asking what's been up lately because I haven't sent much news in a while, which for me is surprising, HA! It's always nice to know that there are folks out there that do like hearing the latest. I did see many of you at NAMM but for those I didn't run in to here's the scoop.

Things have been going well and at the moment I'm very busy writing and playing / producing all the music for a new ABC TV special to air in April and I recently wrote and produced some music for a TV special "African American Film Makers" still airing around the country this month and next.

I'm scheduled to do some clinics around the country in April and May and planning more later in the year. Watch for new educational stuff forthcoming.

"Rick Latham and The Groove Doctors" are moving along with gigs etc. and some good news on label interest. I also recently played on some special music for the Daredevil DVD that will be coming out soon.

For those of you in the L.A. area. I'll be doing my own trio gig on Saturday afternoons starting on March 8th (continuing every Saturday after this) at the "Village Cafe" in Woodland Hills. This will be a cool thing featuring some great musicians so stop by if you are in the area.

Things are cool, just not enough time to keep everybody as up to date as usual but, that's a good thing I guess.

Hope to talk to you all soon and thanks again for staying in tune!!!!!!!!

Rick

03/03

Mongo Santamaria

Mongo Santamaria, influental Latin jazz percussionist, dies in Miami at 85

Mongo Santamaria, a popular and influential Latin jazz percussionist, died Saturday at a Miami hospital following a stroke. He was 85.

Born in Havana, Santamaria performed in Mexico and arrived in New York in 1950, just as musicians began to experiment with the fusion of jazz and Latin. Santamaria recorded his own albums, including Yambu and Mongo, while performing alongside Cal Tjader, a jazz vibraphonist based in San Francisco.

In 1963, Santamaria scored a top-10 hit with his version of Herbie Hancock's jazz-funk classic, Watermelon Man. He also wrote the song Afro Blue, which John Coltrane later performed and made famous.

Santamaria began his career by playing popular nightclubs in his native Havana. He later toured Mexico with a dance team.

Throughout his career, Santamaria played with a cadre of well-known musicians, including Chick Corea, Tito Puente, Ray Vega and Sonny Fortune.

02/03

Steve Smith

Greetings,

2002 has been quite a busy and productive year for myself and the members of Vital Information. My DVD, "Steve Smith: Drumset Technique and History of the U.S. Beat," is finally finished and in the stores. It is the culmination of years of study, research, practice and experience and was more work than any one project I have ever undertaken. The project was conceived for the DVD format and fills two discs with a total of 4 1/2 hours of material. For more info go to: www.hudsonmusic.com

Also at the Hudson Music website (hudsonmusic.com) is my Autumn Clinic Tour Diary. I kept a daily diary of my October U.S. clinic tour. Zildjian, Sonor, Remo, Vic Firth, Shure, DW pedals all sponsored the tour and I went to many music stores and drum shops around the U.S. This was the best clinic tour I have ever done, the audiences and the shops were welcoming and enthusiastic.

Vital Information had a busy year touring in the U.S. and Canada. The members of the band also toured with other artists this year, there was never a dull moment! We all toured with Bill Evans in the summer as the Soul Insiders. Tom Coster continued on with Bill and toured Europe in the Autumn and then Tom also toured Russia with Billy Cobham. Frank Gambale toured extensively with the Chick Corea Elektric Band. Frank and I recorded and released GHS 3, the third in a series of trio recording that feature Frank and I along with Stu Hamm on bass. Baron Browne and I went on the road with Buddy's Buddies and even recorded at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in London. In 2003 Tone Center Records will release two separate CDs from those sessions: "Steve Smith and Buddy's Buddies -- Very Live at Ronnie Scott's -- Set One and Set Two." Buddy's Buddies also features the fantastic playing of Steve Marcus, Andy Fusco and Mark Soskin.

I toured the U.S. and Asia with the Indian / Jazz fusion group Summit featuring Zakir Hussain, George Brooks, Kai Eckhardt and Fareed Haque. Playing with Summit is an incredible inspiration and learning experience for me. The band will release it's first CD in 2003. On December 30 we recorded a track called "Mad Tea Time" that will appear on an "as yet unnamed All-Star Drummer CD" for the Magna Carta label. The track features Zakir and I playing with the band, each of us soloing and then playing a drum duet. The compilation CD, which also features Bill Bruford, Terry Bozzio, Rod Morgenstein and others will be released later this year.

The group I play with in the San Francisco Bay Area, the Steve Smith / Mike Zilber Quartet, will release a CD on Blue Jay Records in 2003, "Reimagined Vol 1: Jazz Standards." This is a straight-ahead acoustic jazz recording with Mike Zilber's inventive reworking of some classic jazz standards. We already have a Canadian Jazz Festival tour booked for late June. This tour will also feature sax legend Dave Liebman as our Special Guest.

Vital Information has an extensive European Tour booked for February and March. The details will be posted on www.vitalinformation.com I will be keeping a Vital Information Europa Tour Diary starting in Mid-February on the www.hudsonmusic.com website.

We also will be playing on the West Coast of the U.S. after our European trip, Yoshi's in Oakland on March 11/12 and Catalina's in Hollywood March 13-16.

I'll be performing with Summit in April and then Vital Information will tour the U.S. East Coast / Midwest in May. This Autumn I'll be back in Europe for a Sonor clinic tour.

I did an indepth interview with Bill Milkowski for and upcoming Modern Drummer cover story and I'll also be playing at the 2003 Modern Drummer weekend, May 17/18!

I'll be posting all of my upcoming clinic and touring dates on www.vitalinformation.com

Thanks for the support and hope to see you on tour in 2003.

Steve

01/03

Eddie Tudori

Hi Everyone,

I'm writing to ask a favor. Oh really! You ask. not Eddie, a favor? OK, what is it this time?

Well, since you asked...

TRAP/ Gifted Records is releasing our first CD. The CD is entitled Trieana. Trieana Moon is one of my students at the Ojai Enrichment Center. She has Williams Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that happens in one in twenty thousand births. She has developmental delays coupled with some physical deficit. In spite of this is the fact that she is absolutely brilliant, soulful and powerful as a singer/ piano player, which will become obvious when you hear her debut CD. Some of you already know her, some of you played on the CD, all of you will agree that this, her first effort, is outstanding. Dion Cornejo, a young man with Downs Syndrome and another of my students from the Y-Spirit program in Pasadena also appears on the CD.

Gifted Records is presented by TRAP as a vehicle to provide professional recording for people with disabilities. I am eternally grateful, if it was not for the generosity of so many of my friends, there would be no record company and these folks may otherwise never have this kind of opportunity. So many people with disabilities are truly talented and deserving. It is my intention, with your help to create this environment for many more folks like Trieana. All of the proceeds of this CD and all the CDs we record in the future will go to support various programs for the disabled.

The favor is this; since I'm promoting the CD on my own, my best chance to make it happen is word of mouth. My friend Ralph Oleski has an Internet company called Planet CD. He has waved his fees entirely and offered to handle the sales for us through his site. Would you please consider linking Planet CD to your web sites (with this note) or a note of your own? And for those of you who don't have web sites, would you please forward this to everyone on your e-mail lists. You can cut and paste whatever portion of the note you like. The point is to get people to Planet CD where they can purchase the CD.

With my deepest gratitude and respect,
Eddie

01/03

Rick Latham

Hi Everyone,

Just a short update to say that I hope to see many of you at this years Winter NAMM show January 16-19 in Anaheim.

I'm very excited because of several new things. As you know, this is the first year that CDs are now available for my "Advanced Funk Studies". I'll be signing copies and giving away free CDs to a few lucky winners of several trivia contests. Please look for me as you are making your rounds. My books are being distributed worldwide by Carl Fisher. CDs for "Contemporary Drumset Techniques" coming soon!

I will be on hand at the Istanbul (Mehmet) Cymbal booth to talk with folks about these exceptional cymbals that I am very happy to be playing now. Why play imitations when the real thing is available? "The Original, Old School, Hand Made Cymbals From Istanbul Mehmet"!!!!!! (I made that one up) not bad if I do say so myself.

I'll also be stopping by my other great companies including DW, Evans, Pro-Mark, Real-Feel, Sennheiser and Warner Bros. so please drop in and say Hi and don't forget to look for surprise performances at the nightly "hangs".

In Closing, my web site has been going through some renovation so please be sure to check it (below) for many new updates, movies, demos etc.

http://www.ricklatham.com

I look forward to seeing you at NAMM, HOT NAMM!!!!!!!!!!!

Rick

PS. 2003 newsletter and new educational material coming soon and "Rick Latham and The Groove Doctors" New CD now available on-line exclusively http://www.groovedoctorsjazz.com/news.htm

01/03

Mickey Finn

T Rex Percussionist Mickey Finn Dies

Mickey Finn, a bongo player with the 1970s glam rock band T Rex, has died. He was 56.

The percussionist, who took over leadership of the band when it reformed after the death of front man Marc Bolan in 1977, died Saturday in a south London hospital, the band's manager Barry Newby said Monday. No cause of death was given, but news reports said Finn had suffered from kidney and liver problems.

"With regret, the band are sad to announce the passing of their dear friend and leader Mickey Finn,'' Newby said in a statement on the band's Web site. "His memory will always be in our hearts.''

After stints with the bands Hapshash and Coloured Coat, Finn teamed up with charismatic singer-songwriter Bolan in 1969 when T Rex's original bongo player Steve Took left the band.

He was Bolan's sidekick as he progressed from hippie sage to glam rock guru, and performed on hits such as "Ride A White Swan'' and "Children Of The Revolution'' and is credited with giving the band its distinctive "bebop'' sound.

Finn quit the group 1975 when their star began to wane and went on to form his own band.

But in 1997, after band members received a rapturous reception at a public performance to commemorate Bolan's death, the group reformed with Finn, Paul Fenton - another original band member - and several new musicians. They performed all over Europe and were particularly popular in Germany. The group recorded an album, "Renaissance,'' in 2000.

Funeral details were not immediately available. There was no immediate word on survivors.

01/03

Armand Zildjian

Cymbal Legend Armand Zildjian Dead At 81

Armand Zildjian, President and Chairman of the Zildjian Company died Thursday at his home in Scottsdale, Arizona. He was 81.

Armand was born in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1921. He attended local schools including Thayer Academy and Colgate University until called to serve in the Philippines in 1942. Upon his return, he entered the family business, the world’s largest cymbal manufacturer and the oldest company in America. An amateur musician himself, Zildjian said he felt privileged to have been born into a musical dynasty, which dates back to 1623. He was appointed President of Zildjian two years before his father’s death, Armand took over the role of family patriarch in 1977.

Zildjian was known for his charismatic personality and warm personal relationship with drummers. He hand selected cymbals for such drummers as Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich, Max Roach, Jo Jones and many others and matched cymbals for the Boston Symphony and leading orchestras around the world. An authority in cymbal sound, he created new product innovations in response to the ever-changing needs of musicians and remained deeply involved in the operation of the company until his death.

Zildjian received numerous awards including an honorary doctorate from Berklee College of Music. He was a member of the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame, and an inductee of Guitar Center’s Rock Walk in Hollywood. Most recently he received Modern Drummer Magazine Editors Achievement Award.

In addition to his wife, Andra, he leaves four children Wendy Mets, Craigie, Debbie & Robert Zildjian, three stepchildren Kristy Thompson, Mark & Peter Field, eight grandchildren Paula Charles, Cady & Emily Zildjian-Bickford, Samantha Zildjian, Dakota and Victoria Thompson, Kathryn and Spencer Field, two great grandchildren, Ian and Gwen Charles, several cousins, nieces and nephews and a brother Robert.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to: Armand Zildjian Percussion Scholarship, c/o Berklee College of Music, 1140 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02215 and the Zildjian Family Opportunity Fund, c/o Percussive Arts Society, 701 NW Ferris Ave., Lawton, OK 73507.

01/03

Van Romaine

Hi Pam, merry x-mas!!! I hope you're well, it's been a long time! Just off tour with Enrique Iglesias and glad to be home...

01/03

Ralph Humphrey

Dear Pam and El Negro and friends at Conundrum,

I would like to wish all of you a very happy holiday season, which includes being safe, being kind, being giving and being hopeful.

As drummers, we are in the fortunate position to be able to share ourselves with the world and bring smiles and joy to all who care to listen, and even join in. That, in itself, is a blessing that we need to always be aware of.

See you in the coming year.

Best wishes and Happy New Year.

Ralph Humphrey

PS I will be doing a clinic at the IAJE convention in Toronto, Sat. Jan 11, 2003 at 4pm. Hope to see you there. I also just finished a recording with Babaghanoush, featuring Jimmy Mahlis, Jerry Watts and Andy Suzuki. Hopefully, it will become available in some form in the new year. Watch for it.

01/03

Ricky Sebastian

Hi Pam and Happy Holidays. I hope you're doing well. Things are going great here. I just recorded "Los Hombres Calientes" upcoming cd (Negro is on a couple of tunes). as well as a cd featuring Phil Woods & Herbie Mann that came out great.

I just got back from Russia on a tour with a pianist named Andrei Kondakov. Man, was that a trip, they are still living in the industrial age in the 50's. Anyway, gotta run - have a good one.

Ricky

01/03