Warren Odze

...good to hear from you! Right now I'm doing a Broadway show "The Civil War". I'm also finishing up a cd with Dion, and doing the NY runaround.

Hope you're having fun on that lake...

Keep in touch
Warren

6/99

OnePulse!

Dear Drummers of the World,

We recently sent you a notice of our intention to bring together drummers from around the world on September 25 and create OnePulse. The idea was first conceived to bring Drumming Around the World and World Artists for Tibet together so that we can maximize the impact we can have on the world community. While we realized that Drumming around the World is always on the fourth Sunday in August, we thought it may be a good idea to change the date, just for this one year, to September 25, so that we can include more people who may typically be on vacation or out of their normal communities during the summer months. We applied to Guinness World Records to document the drumming circle we were planning in New York, and have been accepted by them for documentation of the biggest drum circle ever. When we sent out our notice, we received numerous complaints that people did not want to change from the fourth Sunday of the month. We, therefore, have decided to keep it true to the yearly date of the fourth Sunday, and we will combine our efforts to have it be on August 22nd. We have gotten a permit for Central Park for that day and the Guinness people are still on board. It just so happens that His Holiness the Dalai Lama will be speaking in Central Park the Sunday before (August 15). This will give us a great opportunity to promote our event. Our desire is to have as many people participate as we possibly can, both around the world and in New York. Anything you can do to promote this event will be embraced, and celebrated. We are eagerly waiting to hear from you. Looking forward to Rocking the World Together.

Drumming Around the World
World Artists for Tibet (www.art4tibet1998.org)

6/99

Big Congrats to the National Heritage fellows for 1999 selected by the National Endowment for the Arts...

... "outstanding artists ... who have dedicated their lives to preserving, reviving and celebrating this country's living cultural heritage,'' said NEA Chairman Bill Ivey.

Drummer Frisner Augustin promotes Haitian music throughout the hemisphere with a group called ``La Troupe Makandal.'' He has taught at Columbia University and New York University, toured extensively and made four commercial recordings.

...drummer Zakir Hussain. His specialty is the tabla drum of northern India, an expertise learned from his father. At 7, he began a career that has spanned four decades and several continents to his home in San Anselmo, Calif.

Elliott Mannette of Morgantown, W.Va., works in the steel drum tradition and has been called ``the father of the modern steel band.''

6/99

Percussionist James Blades Dies

(as printed in The Associated Press)

LONDON (AP) -- James Blades, a symphonic percussionist whose most widely heard work was banging out a V-for-victory for the BBC's wartime broadcasts, has died at age 97.

He also recorded the sound of the gong that was featured in the opening credits of films by the J. Arthur Rank studios.

Blades died at his home in Cheam on May 19, his family said. The cause of death was not announced.

He was proud of his recording of the Morse code for ``V'' which was played up to 150 times a day at the start of British Broadcasting Corp. broadcasts to occupied Europe.

``That was the greatest noise I ever made,'' Blades said. ``I recorded it by beating an African tom tom that I bought in a junk shop for a fiver.''

Blades began drumming with a circus, then in cinemas. In 1982, he joined the London Film Society Orchestra. During the war he began playing with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and later with the English Opera Group, the Aldeburgh Festival and the English Chamber Orchestra.

He wrote ``Percussion Instruments and Their History,'' published in 1970, and two volumes of autobiography.

He is survived by his wife, Joan. A private funeral was planned.

5/99

Nazareth's Darrell Sweet Suffers Fatal Heart Attack

(as printed in the Music Business Daily )

Darrell Sweet, 51, drummer of the Scottish rock group Nazareth, suffered a fatal heart attack on April 30th as the band was embarking on the second leg of a US tour.

The band had arrived at the Amphitheater in New Albany, Indiana when Sweet began feeling ill. Within minutes Sweet went into cardiac arrest, and was rushed to the New Albany Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Sweet was a founding member of Nazareth, a band whose career has spanned 30 years. In the 1970's, they hit big in the States with "Love Hurts" and "This Flight Tonight," and with albums like "Hair OF The Dog," "Razamanaz" and, "Expect No Mercy." The band continued to tour worldwide through the 90's, and their latest album "Boogaloo" was released in North America in January of this year by CMC International Records.

Mr. Sweet is survived by his wife, Marion, his son Michael and his daughter, Maxine. Funeral arrangements have not been finalized.

A memorial fund has been set up in Darrell's name to provide music lessons and instruments for deserving children from his home area of Burntisland/Kirkcaldy. In lieu of sending flowers, etc. the family would appreciate donations to be sent to:

DARRELL SWEET MEMORIAL FUND
c/o Nazareth Dunfermline Ltd.
27 Munro Street
Kirkcaldy, Fife KY1 1PY
Scotland

For more info, please email steve@paradiseartists.com

5/99

Kenwood Dennard

Just Advance.com: Eatin' Beat ... thanks , Pam, for the newsletter. All's you need is a cell phone and a 56k cellular compatible modem ... 3com makes one, then you can get on the internet while on the beach. I just did a packed concert during the Berklee College of music world percussion festival .The festival also included Chad Smith, Casey Schuerell, Dave Disenso of Two Ton Shoe etc. My Performance was 4-1-99. I performed with my new project Human Face featuring students: Matt Makrinos (spoken word) Kyle Salvatore (bass) and Tobias Enhus(keyboards)... I also just finished a week at Sweet Basil's in NYC with the Gil Evans Orchestra 4-13- to 4-18- 1999, Hiram Bullock, Delmar Brown, Gil Goldstein, Chris Hunter, Alexnder Sipiagin were featured.
Bye! :-)

5/99

Julio Figuero

... May will be a busy month! Besides the tv shows: "Cuanto cuesta el show", Monday to Friday, and Sundays from 6 to 7 pm pacific time on kwhy-tv, and "Desde Hollywood" Sunday nights from 7 to 8 pm pacific time on Galavision, I will be playing live: with my group "Khana", with Brazilian Singer "Alessa", and with Latin stars "Alvaro Torres" (Emi-Odeon recording artist), and the hot new singer "Javier" as his musical director. Javier's father is Latin heartthrob singer Julio Iglesias, and his first cd already sold 250,000 units. Check out the April 24 issue of Billboard, with a cover feature and a full Javier page at the Latin music 6 pack. He is currently number 20 at Billboard hot Latin tracks...

5/99

Mark Shulman

Hey Pam-

You rock, baby! Just letting you know that I am doing dates with David Benoit, recording a song that I wrote with Billy Idol for the new Heavy Metal II soundtrack, producing new artists, and Kelly and I are incorporating Jammin Planet to develop new artists! Keep rockin , our website is under construction, but it is www.jamminplanet.com...

Peace and Love-

Mark

5/99

OnePulse!

Drummers of the world,

Since the beginning of time, people have gathered to share the remarkable spiritual power of the drum. On September 25, the global drumming community will harness this power to unite humanity around compassion, freedom and peace. The drumming will begin at twelve noon in communities around the world-its pulse signifying our common humanity and our collective responsibility for making this world a better place. Just imagine the inspirational power of millions of drums beating simultaneously worldwide!

There is no single person assuming responsibility for the organization of this event. It is up to all of us to commit ourselves to this vision and make it happen within our respective communities. Let us synchronize the beat of our hearts with the beat of our drums and join together as a single global pulse. September 25 will awaken the world community to the infinite capabilities of the drum and the human heart. It will be a day of inspiration and rebirth which will unite every human being in compassion and awareness. Step into this vision and make September 25 a reality.

4/99

Mark Walker

Hi Pam and El Negro (or the spirit thereof),

Thanks for the great newsletter! I just wanted to say hello and let you know whazzup...

I just returned from a three week European tour with the group Oregon (Ralph Towner/Paul McCandless/Glen Moore). Despite the fact that we all had the flu (and 18 gigs in 19 days), our tour was a lot of fun and very successful. We played shows in France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Austria and Poland. We were also given the Jazz award from the German phonograph record manufacturers association for our latest CD "Northwest Passage" on Intuition. Recipients of this award have included Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock and Marcus Miller.

Yamaha made life so much easier by providing a beautiful Maple Custom kit, which I played along with a ceramic dumbek and a djembe set up to the left of the kit. I also used various bells and hanging percussion (which I hung with those orange clips from the hardware store) as well as shakers, caxixis and the legendary Harmony Rattle. That little instrument has so many possibilities! I found the MGT (Mountable Gig Tray) to be very useful for holding these things (as well as the ever-present cup of espresso). I brought my 20" and 22" Zildjian K Constantinoples as well as a 22" K Custom dark flat ride and some Azuka and Oriental series cymbals; they really worked for the music.

The music itself combines jazz, various ethnic influences, modern classical influences, free improvisation and compositions spanning the group's 29-year career. Our next project will be a double CD (on Intuition records) with a symphonic orchestra to be recorded in Moscow tentatively in early April. I can't wait to see what the drum situation is there! We'll also have some U.S dates; I'll keep you posted.

I was really surprised (and happy) to see El Negro in Havana, Cuba last December. I was there playing with Michel Camilo and Anthony Jackson. On the last night of the festival I heard so many great players: El Negro, Max Roach, Jack DeJohnette, Enrique Pla, Raul Pineda...all playing with the great Chu Cho Valdes. I met Negro's beautiful daughter, who speaks english very well. I could see how happy he was to be there!! I also saw Antonio Sanchez, the drummer tearing it up with Danilo Perez...Check him out!

I'm playing at the Blue Note this coming week (March 2-7) with Dave Samuels, Claudio Roditi, Conrad Herwig, Dario Eskenazi and Oscar Stagnaro. We're playing a double bill with Chico Freeman, who's using Yoron Israel on drums. Should be burning! Hope to see ya there...

3/99

Paul Davies

...and I met you though John Good while I was working for Tris Imboden. I am just about to finish a one year tour working with Lil' John and Terry Santiel on the Janet Jackson. Through the tour I have enjoyed reading your emails and I know also that so has Terry. As the tour is coming to an end I would like to thank the two of them through your email letters for their professionalism and making it so easy to work both with them and for them...

2/99

Ernie Durawa

...sorry that I missed you at NAMM. I just finished playing on the new Texas Tornados CD Live at Antones in Austin Texas. It will be on Frontera Records/Nashville and Virgin records will handle the PR. Release date is somewhere around May 1st. Freddy Fender, one of the singers in the band, just this week received his star on the famous Sidewalk of Stars in Hollywood. (Big congrats, Freddie! ...from DrumsOnTheWeb.com) We are real proud of him. This is only one of many projects that I am involved in. Will send you a copy of boogie woogie CD I recorded with Floyd Domino formally of Asleep At The Wheel. I am also on the new Herb Ellis Jazz Guitar Video " Detour Ahead"...

2/99

Mark Shulman

Pam-

I just got the Cher gig! Do you believe in Life after Cher???!!!! Just letting you know because it is a big summer tour etc... Unfortunately, I can't do the Benoit dates now... I hope you are well- I'll send you a schedule when I get it.

Love Mark

5/99

Hey Pam- You rock baby! Cool letter - tell me more! I am working on Billy Idol's and Steve Steven's new records, about to do a Christmas tour with David Benoit, Dave Koz, Brenda Russell, and Peter White, will do a clinic tour in Germany next year, will produce a new German Artist , Sylkie Monoff in my studio in January, did all the music for my wife Kelly's new children's show in development, Bonerack's Adventure Club, and I just got certified for scuba diving...wow

Love and Muse - Mark

1/99

MB Gordy

...Check out ROUNDERS the movie and soundtrack,YEP that's me on drums. I also worked recently on THE NEGOTIATOR and THE SEIGE. I also worked with Ronnie Laws and Pete Anthony on a HBO movie. Also worked with this new british band REEF, great band (rock alternative). My wife Cindy is pregnant with our 2nd child and is due in April SOOOOOOOOOOO the cup is full and Life is good...

1/99

Ricky Sebastian

Hey Pam. Nice web site. How have you been? I haven't talked to you in a while. I moved my family to New Orleans but kept my place in Brooklyn so I'm back & forth between New Orleans & New York. I've been working with Dianne Reeves, Harry Belafonte, and Michael Franks. I'll also be playing at the Blue Note in February with Tania Maria. I hope you can come out that week. It would be good to see you. Say hello to Horacio for me...

'98

Chuck Silverman

Hi all! Just put up a new Changuito lesson, two Real Audio files from the Changuito book "A Master's Approach to Timbales", and three Real Audio files, full songs, from the newly released Cuban compilation CD, Rhythm and Smoke. All at http://chucksilverman.com Hope you're all well. Hear from you soon!

'98

Taku

...Just thought that I would drop a line now that I am finally online! I hope all is going well with you and that business is good. I've been quite busy myself, running around with various artists, etc.

Recently, I performed on The Rosie O'Donnell Show with Brandy, and managed to do a gig in New Orleans with The Emotions on the same day. Talk about exhausting! I was also back in N.Y. about two weeks later to do a Comedy Central special with Isaac Hayes, and perform on The View with Kenny Lattimore. Tomorrow, we tape The Donny and Marie Show with Kenny here in L.A. and then I'm off to Chicago on a redeye for a show with Isaac Hayes this weekend. All in time to get back, rehearse for four days, and leave out on a 10 day promo tour with Kenny for his newly released album...

'98

Janelle Burdell

...Just wanted to say hello and thank you for keeping me up to date with all that is going on with you, Conundrum and El Negro. ...I've been busy as well. Besides doing some very cool stuff with Mickey Hart, I've begun monthly women's and teen drum circles in my area. The circles I'm facilitating are not classes. I'm committed to exploring the spirit side of the drum. A lot of these women have never ever touched a drum before. The joy radiating from their faces is incredible and the transformation I've witnessed in individuals (both women and teens) is truly remarkable! Bringing forth the joy of drumming and rhythm, my intent has been to light a fire in the drumming community as a whole, as well. The Teen Drum Circle is a tremendous success as well! ...it's amazing how the drum dissolves all of the barriers. ...Simultaneously, I launched a women's drummers network. Now I'm in contact with a lot of women around the country, who are doing outrageously cool things!! Next is a website, so, be on the lookout. ...I also am sending a monthly newsletter out with info about upcoming drum circles. Pam thank you for doing what you are doing! You and El Negro are doing really great things! I really appreciate (and am also comitted too), the increased communication between drummers and all who love drumming and rhythm! I feel like this is so very important! Brava!

'98

Groove Collective

... the Groovies had the ultimate honor of opening for and meeting the Godfather of Soul at the Aspen Jazz festival earlier this month. Set in the mountains of the Snowmass Aspen ski resort, we were again treated to an unbelievable day in the sun and an evening jam session with the great musicians from the James Brown Band who were able to stay up even later than us! The party/jam at the producers' house lasted well into the wee hours and the following weekend's Ann Arbor Jazz festival left us pretty exhausted.

'98

Terry Santiel

... Well I'm still on Janet Jackson's tour. Its been since February which already seems like a year. It's good to hear from you and I'm very happy to see that the company seems to be running so smoothly. Anyway I wanted to let you know that we will be in your neck of the woods in September...

'98

Peter Basil

here just wishing you the best with your website, so far it looks great and the newsletter I look forward to getting to find out what's going on with other cats on the scene. Maybe you could do a focus on local and regional tours and shows. Or at least in the major markets like NY, LA, Chi-town etc...

Lately I've been performing with my band "Fiesta!" most recently at Summerstage this past Sunday. We've got a CD coming out in the fall on NG Records which is distributed by BMG. We're hoping to go worldwide with a latin-pop-rock groove thang.

On other fronts, I'm going to be at the Knitting Factory with drummer extraordinaire Bobby Previte, doing a retrospective of his work. Also going to Italy with Bobby in the Fall with "The Horse". Doing the music of Miles circa Bitches Brew. Performing with "Nostos" trio doing Middle Eastern based trance-jazzAlso teaching up a storm at my studio in Midtown. Latin Percussion, Congas, Timbales, Bongos.

Here are a couple of upcoming dates in NY... (Note: dates are in the above Sept & Oct itinerary). Maybe you can make one, I'd love to see you. Till next time, all the best Peter Basil

'98

Efrain Toro

Just received the stuff you sent.... THANK YOU SOOOOOOOOOO MUCH! At the moment I am in L.A. working on a new Eddie Murphy movie for the composer Alan Silvestri of "Forest Gump, Back to the Future and Romancing the Stone" fame... to name a few. There are 8 other percussionists and we have hundreds of perc. instruments in the studio among a 100 hundred piece orchestra. A couple of days ago I took a wooden bongo(CAJONGO) and my regular cajon made in Spain and all the guys went nuts about them including the composer. Well this story shows that this perc. thing is never ending...

I'll be back in Spain pretty soon. Also I will be MC and performer in a whole month of percussion activities in a rehearsal studio complex in Madrid. The first activity is a ZILDJIAN Concert with Trilok. Steve Smith and Akira Jimbo, then there will be clinics and concerts with local top drummers and some other MEINL, Mapex and ZILDJIAN Artists like Walfredo Jr., Luis Conte as well as your's truly ET.....

Bill Saragosas's instruments are fantastic. The TIMBRE of the shakers is unique and the sonic and playing possibilities are endless!!! Congratulations and CONUN-GRATULATIONS to you on providing this great service to musicians...is like when I was growing up in Puerto Rico my parents would order the stuff from the supermarket and it would be brought to the house or we could go get it. Great service Pam!!! Best of luck in your business and there will be many more times and be assure that I will highly recommend you. Thanks again. Sincerely ET

'98

Kalani

Hey gang, I've been using my Epiphany sounds a lot in the studio - Great stuff!

The main news from Kalani Music is... Three new videos for Jembe (djembe in french) are now available for intermediate to advanced students SHOW ME THE RHYTHMS! - Traditional Maninka rhythms presented for western students. For Jembe Vol. I (5 rhythms) / For Jembe Vol. II (5 rhythms) / For Dunun, partner to the Jembe (10 rhythms)

check out the site at: http://www.kalanimusic.com

'98