Neil Peart Wins "Drummies" 2008

[drummer40]

Hi:

Ok, I'm new to this forum, but thought this information that I found would be of interest to the members. It also has to do with my background since I'm a drummer, but I also have an internet research position. At any rate, I found this news that was put out by DRUM! Magazine. The publication does an annual readership poll, called "The Drummies". The Drummies is comprised of 42 categories, ranging from best drummer of the year, to the best products, etc. Anyone can vote for their favorite drummer in categories, ranging from jazz to progressive to fusion. Well, Neil Peart has won "Best Drummer Of The Year" for a second time.

At any rate, I'm including the release here; I'm sure that it will spark interesting discussion.

Neil Peart’s Progressive Percussion Proves Itself Again; Nominated “Drummer Of The Year” For A Second Time in DRUM! Magazine’s Drummies 2008; Selected “Best Live Performer” As Well


San Jose, Calif – He’s done it again: Neil Peart has been selected “Drummer Of The Year” in DRUM! Magazine’s Drummies 2008, a prestigious reader survey contest comprised of 42 categories, conducted by Enter Music Publishing, publishers of hip/drum percussion magazines worldwide. More than 5000 drummers nominated Peart; the runners-up were Stanton Moore, Mike Portnoy and Jimmy Sullivan.
Additionally, Peart won “Best Live Performer.”
“Peart has definitely shown his influence on drummers of all ages and walks of life,” said Phil Hood, publisher of Enter Music Publishing. “At the same time, the runners-up demonstrate the diversity of taste that our readers have. All of the winners have clearly proven their commitment to the drumming arts.”
Stanton Moore: Struts Up As A Runner-Up
Stanton Moore is a good example of a drummer, as Hood aptly notates, who is so obsessed with forwarding traditional New Orleans drumming. He could be considered a new stuttin’ player carrying the meter messages of drummers, such as Zig Modeliste, Russell Batiste and Johnny Vidacovich. He was the cover of DRUM! in January of this year. Moore, additionally, has been active in the resurrection of the Crescent City. Maybe that’s why it’s so poetic that he received a runner-up.


The winners of this year’s Drummies will be published in DRUM!’s August issue and announced publicly on over 500 web sites and media outlets beginning July 1 in a comprehensive campaign. The August Issue of DRUM! Magazine hits newsstands officially on July 14.
The winners and runners-up are listed in order below. Enter Music Publishing would like to, once again, congratulate all of them.

DRUM SET CATEGORIES
Best Drummer of the Year–WINNER: Neil Peart. Runners-Up: Stanton Moore, Mike Portnoy, Jimmy Sullivan
Best Rising Star–WINNER: Thomas Pridgen. Runners-Up: Cody Hanson, Matt Smith, Spencer Smith
Best Progessive–WINNER: Mike Portnoy. Runners-Up: Neil Peart, Gavin Harrison, Danny Carey
Best Metal–WINNER: Chris Adler. Runners-Up: Jason Bittner, Joey Jordison, Brann Dailor
Best Jam Band–WINNER: Carter Beauford. Runners-Up: Stanton Moore, Matt Abts, Jim Donovan
Best Jazz–WINNER: Steve Smith. Runners-Up: Peter Erskine, Billy Hart, Billy Kilson
Best Funk–WINNER: Chad Smith. Runners-Up: Stanton Moore, Zoro, Aaron Spears
Best Urban–WINNER: ?uestlove. Runners-Up: Aaron Spears, Trevor Lawrence Jr., Teddy Campbell
Best Mainstream Pop–WINNER: Taylor Hawkins. Runners-Up: Neil Peart, Chad Smith, Travis Barker
Best Alternative–WINNER: Sam Loeffler. Runners-Up: Brooks Wackerman , Atom Willard, Travis Barker
Best Punk–WINNER: Travis Barker. Runners-Up: TrÈ Cool, Brooks Wackerman, Bill Stevenson
Best R&B/Blues–WINNER: Zoro. Runners-Up: Stanton Moore, Aaron Spears, Teddy Campbell
Best Country–WINNER: Jim Riley. Runners-Up: Paul Leim, Eddie Bayers, Ben Sesar
Best Drum Clinician–WINNER: Thomas Lang. Runners-Up: JoJo Mayer, Stanton Moore, Mike Mangini
Best Studio–WINNER: Vinnie Colaiuta. Runners-Up: Steve Gadd, Josh Freese, Rodney Holmes
Best Live Performer–WINNER: Neil Peart. Runners-Up: Stanton Moore, Jimmy Sullivan, Mike Portnoy


INDUSTRY AND PRODUCT CATEGORIES
Best Drum Kit–WINNER: DW Collector’s Twisted Exotics.
Runners-Up: Pearl Masters MCX, Tama Starclassic Perfomer Bubinga/Birch, Ludwig Legacy
Best Snare Drum–WINNER: Black Panther Thick Flame Maple. Runners-Up: Tama 13″ Warlord Limited Edition, Pro-Mark 50th Anniversary, Yamaha 14″ x 5.5″ Kabuto
Best Custom Drum Maker–WINNER: SJC. Runners-Up: Pork Pie, Craviotto, Orange County Drums & Percussion
Best Cymbal –WINNER: Zildjian Armand Series. Runners-Up: Sabian 20″ HHX Evolution O-Zone Crash, Paiste Twenty Series, Zildjian 22″ K Medium Dark Ride
Best Drumhead–WINNER: Evans EC1. Runners-Up: Remo Powerstroke X Snare, Remo Vintage A, Aquarian Super-2
Best Sticks–WINNER: Vic Firth Danny Carey Nylon Tip Signature. Runners-Up: Vater Limited Edition 2007 Stewart Copeland Standard, Zildjian Backbeat Series, Pro-Mark Chris Adler model
Best Hardware–WINNER: DW 8000 Series Pedals. Runners-Up: Tama Iron Cobra Rolling Glide Pedals with Cobra Coil Speed Spring, Pearl 900 Series, Tama Stage Master
Best Percussion–WINNER: LP John Dolmayan Mini-Timbale. Runners-Up: Pearl Travel Conga, LP More Cowbell Ridge Rider Bell Pack, Remo Key-Tuned Djembe
Best Accessory–WINNER: Zildjian Travis Barker Artist Series Bags. Runners-Up: Vater Safe ‘N Sound Earplugs, SKB Roto-X cases, Aquarian Super-Thin Kickpads
Best Electronic Percussion–WINNER: Roland HD-1 V-Drums Lite. Runners-Up: Yamaha DTXpress IV, Roland PM-01 Personal Monitor, Alesis DM5 Pro
PERCUSSIONIST CATEGORIES
Best Percussionist of the Year–WINNER: Luis Conte. Runners-Up: Giovanni Hidalgo, Fausto Cuevas, Taku Hirano
Best Rising Star–WINNER: Cesar Espinoza. Runners-Up: Carlos Maldonado, A.B. Bermudez, Eric Velez
Best Latin–WINNER–Richie Flores. Runners-Up: A.B. Bermudez, Giovanni Hidalgo, Poncho Sanchez
Best Jazz/Fusion–WINNER: Sammy Figueroa. Runners-Up: Richie Flores, A.B. Bermudez, Cyro Baptista
Best Percussion Clinician–WINNER: Jesus Diaz. Runners-Up: Giovanni Hidalgo, Alex AcuÒa, Valerie Naranjo
Best Rock/Pop–WINNER: Luis Conte. Runners-Up: Fausto Cuevas, Raul Rekow, Jim Donovan
Best Worldbeat–WINNER: Valerie Naranjo. Runners-Up: Zakir Hussain, Taku Hirano, Cyro Baptista
Best Percussion Ensemble–WINNER: Hip Pickles. Runners-Up: Blue Man Group, San Jose Taiko, Concord Blue Devils
Best Drum Circle Facilitator–WINNER: Jim Donovan. Runners-Up: Valerie Naranjo, John Scalici, Chet Doboe
Best Studio–WINNER: Luis Conte. Runners-Up: Lenny Castro, Emil Richards, Robert Vilera
Best Live Performer–WINNER: Marc QuiÒones. Runners-Up: Alex AcuÒa, Hip Pickles, Jim Donovan
MEDIA CATEGORIES
Best DVD–WINNER: Secret Weapons for the Modern Drummer by Jojo Mayer. Runners-Up: In Constant Motion by Mike Portnoy, Ultimate Realistic Rock by Carmine Appice, Billy Cobham Live At 60 by Billy Cobham
Best Book–WINNER: On The Beaten Path: The Drummer’s Guide to Musical Styles and the Legends Who Defined Them by Rich Lackowski. Runners-Up: Drumming Out of the Shadows by Jason Bittner, Hands, Grooves and Fills by Pat Petrillo, Jimi Hendrix: Smash Hits Play-Along
Best Drumming Album–WINNER: Hellyeah by Hellyeah. Runners-Up: Obzen by Meshuggah, Avenged Sevenfold by Avenged Sevenfold, Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace by Foo Fighters
Best Hand Percussion Album–WINNER: The Magician by Sammy Figueroa. Runners-Up: Global Drum Project by Mickey Hart, Akir Hussain, Sikiru Adepoju, and Giovanni Hidalgo, Raise Your Hand by Poncho Sanchez, Marimbula by Luis Conte
Best Web Site–WINNER: drummerworld.com. Runners-Up: pearldrum.com, drumsmith.com, drumbum.com
Best Print Advertisement–WINNER: Pearl “Chad Smith Grammy Magnet.” Runners-Up: DW “My Name Is,” Pro-Mark “Say It With Your Music,” Tama “Blue Man Group”


About Enter Music Publishing
Founded in San Jose, CA in 1992, Enter Music Publishing, Inc. is a leading publisher of drum/percussion magazines, with distribution in 40 countries. DRUM! is the flagship publication of Enter Music Publishing, Inc. and continues to set the industry standard for editorial quality and innovation. In addition to DRUM! and DRUM! Digital, the company publishes Traps and HOW TO PLAY DRUMS. Additional information about the company can be found at: drummagazine.com.

[drummergirlamie]

Nice post. Impressive on the part of Neil for he's so very deserving of such an honor most familiar with the man would concur, quite naturally. His percussion and lyrical contributions have indubatantly made Rush what they are today and have been since His arrival. Did you here about John Rutsy's passing, by the way? God rest his soul. A damn good drummer but nothing in comparison to Neil most all know. Neil is truly an ATG. There may never be another quite like him and I'm not even certain that's a bad thing. Thanks for the post/info.

[John Watt]

Hey, uh, drummer40, you're not Steven Page of The Barenaked Ladies gangbanging online, workin' out some legal sweat, are you? Just uh, not joking, scrolling down to the picture. Let's get musically serious and be real here, before the hype and star turns.

Going to Hamilton with a friend who bought a car, tripping around the big downtown in 1970, we decided to pay a $2 cover charge to see a hard rock band, and it was Rush: Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and John Rutsey. They were one of the first bar bands using their own lights and three-way P.A., being rich kids from Toronto. Mostly known for being as loud and imitating Led Zeppelin(who played a six-nighter in T.O.) playing "In the Mood" and "Fly by Night", originals. Alex and Geddy wore frilly shirts with same colour satin jackets and pants, one blue, one kinda pink. They stood beside the stage, side by side between sets. John Rutsey, white t-shirt and faded jeans, sat at the bar with a drink. I went up and was able to shake their hands, but they weren't conversational.

Onstage, with Marshall stacks, Alex had a roadie do everything except play his wah-wah and turn his guitar down. These guys were tall and imposing, but John was hunched over a small and beaten looking set of drums. He was a heavy beat, energetic drummer, very John Bonham, doin' that thing. The clash between his presence and their stiff attitude and one dimensional riffing was odd. But then, they were a power trio, and no-one danced.

Neil Peart was another rich kid, his father owning a plumbing business. We would hitch-hike to St. Catharines for weekend festivals, and saw Bullrush, a five piece band, where he was a Keith Moon clone. Neil is 6'3" and had long hair and a big mustache, with his kit tilted up and a fan blowing his hair back, or keeping him cool. His wife managed a Sam's The Record Man in Welland, my home town, so I would see him around. Bullrush played around, changing members, and I jammed with him at The Atlas Hotel during a matinee. Only because he sat behind his drums, drumming so no-one else could use them. The Atlas was famous for its 3:00 matinee, musicians and bands in the area showing up, starting at noon straight through to 1:30 closing when it was hot.

You heard about him going to England to make it big, but after half a year he came back, looking. You heard he joined Rush. He must have made a conscious decision to sound like anything but Keith Moon, but his kit grew another quarter acre onstage. Being in their previous stomping grounds a lot myself, I'm not going to comment on the revised history mostly Geddy seems to be portraying, seemingly now being band leader, after Alex's Florida arrest, seemingly having punished Neil for his deserved sojourn.(souljourney in Gaelic) I lost any interest when Geddy got synthed up. After all these years, hearing about them jumping onto flights to France to have a certain wine with a meal, and flying back, basically avoiding the public, I can't imagine them getting into a blues, or what Geddy would do if someone harmonized with him.

They did create one big influence in the music business back then. Not having any hit singles, not selling a lot of albums, they put all their best tunes together as a live album that started selling, starting a live album greatest hits trend. And if you are a serious, dedicated, spiritual, enthusiastic and rich fan, even a friend, I can introduce you to the man who posed for the cover of, you know, the naked guy. He hasn't moved to Californication. Ooops! I'm quoting another band. Obviously, I don't know how to do quotes here. I'm going to have to bike-hike to Lakeside Park one more time this year.
And as much of a fan as I'm not, Mr. Neil Peart, I can't drive on the Queen E. north of Saint Catharine's without looking and thinking of you. Amen.

[drummergirlamie]

Hey, uh, drummer40, you're not Steven Page of The Barenaked Ladies gangbanging online, workin' out some legal sweat, are you? Just uh, not joking, scrolling down to the picture. Let's get musically serious and be real here, before the hype and star turns.

Going to Hamilton with a friend who bought a car, tripping around the big downtown in 1970, we decided to pay a $2 cover charge to see a hard rock band, and it was Rush: Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and John Rutsey. They were one of the first bar bands using their own lights and three-way P.A., being rich kids from Toronto. Mostly known for being as loud and imitating Led Zeppelin(who played a six-nighter in T.O.) playing "In the Mood" and "Fly by Night", originals. Alex and Geddy wore frilly shirts with same colour satin jackets and pants, one blue, one kinda pink. They stood beside the stage, side by side between sets. John Rutsey, white t-shirt and faded jeans, sat at the bar with a drink. I went up and was able to shake their hands, but they weren't conversational.

Onstage, with Marshall stacks, Alex had a roadie do everything except play his wah-wah and turn his guitar down. These guys were tall and imposing, but John was hunched over a small and beaten looking set of drums. He was a heavy beat, energetic drummer, very John Bonham, doin' that thing. The clash between his presence and their stiff attitude and one dimensional riffing was odd. But then, they were a power trio, and no-one danced.

Neil Peart was another rich kid, his father owning a plumbing business. We would hitch-hike to St. Catharines for weekend festivals, and saw Bullrush, a five piece band, where he was a Keith Moon clone. Neil is 6'3" and had long hair and a big mustache, with his kit tilted up and a fan blowing his hair back, or keeping him cool. His wife managed a Sam's The Record Man in Welland, my home town, so I would see him around. Bullrush played around, changing members, and I jammed with him at The Atlas Hotel during a matinee. Only because he sat behind his drums, drumming so no-one else could use them. The Atlas was famous for its 3:00 matinee, musicians and bands in the area showing up, starting at noon straight through to 1:30 closing when it was hot.

You heard about him going to England to make it big, but after half a year he came back, looking. You heard he joined Rush. He must have made a conscious decision to sound like anything but Keith Moon, but his kit grew another quarter acre onstage. Being in their previous stomping grounds a lot myself, I'm not going to comment on the revised history mostly Geddy seems to be portraying, seemingly now being band leader, after Alex's Florida arrest, seemingly having punished Neil for his deserved sojourn.(souljourney in Gaelic) I lost any interest when Geddy got synthed up. After all these years, hearing about them jumping onto flights to France to have a certain wine with a meal, and flying back, basically avoiding the public, I can't imagine them getting into a blues, or what Geddy would do if someone harmonized with him.

They did create one big influence in the music business back then. Not having any hit singles, not selling a lot of albums, they put all their best tunes together as a live album that started selling, starting a live album greatest hits trend. And if you are a serious, dedicated, spiritual, enthusiastic and rich fan, even a friend, I can introduce you to the man who posed for the cover of, you know, the naked guy. He hasn't moved to Californication. Ooops! I'm quoting another band. Obviously, I don't know how to do quotes here. I'm going to have to bike-hike to Lakeside Park one more time this year.
And as much of a fan as I'm not, Mr. Neil Peart, I can't drive on the Queen E. north of Saint Catharine's without looking and thinking of you. Amen.

Us Rush fans our special people I've gathered...and not the Short-Bus Special, BuddyBoy. In the future, pls. focus on a few, if not one specific point, Please. Thank you, kind Sir.

[sunwaiter]

hey drummergirlamie don't get too mad at him uh? he just likes writing, and not just three lines like the post i'm writing right now. sometimes we focus on things that don't need any uh, focus. By the way do you know the drummer from dutch band focus?

[John Watt]

Sunwaiter! Thanks for the props. Focus was a great band. Radar Love and it's rhythmic rock beat influenced a lot of bands. Great flutist too. They really evolved. And for you drummergirlamie, let me explain. When I went to grade nine, high school, it meant going for the first time without my brothers. I took typing to have a class with girlfriends from grade school. My music fingers let me be the fastest getting the highest marks, so my parents bought my a typewriter for Christmas. That's '66-'67? Back then, if I typed a love letter or friendly letter, girls would complain it wasn't personal, I typed it. Now you're complaining about my output in 2008. That reminds me of Mozart, accused of too many notes. I'm stridently against robots taking jobs from humans, especially computer managed ones, so it surprised a lot of friends and customers with heavy investments in computers when I said "Don't you know how to type?" and started riffing. I'm riff riff riffing at you now. It's nice, watching the letters trying to catch up to my train of thought. It's more than sweet seeing all these fields of font growing under my fingers. I see what you're holding in your avatar fingers, pointing that at me, but I'll only ever finger you on this keyboard, and if you ever see me live onstage, I'll only finger you with my fretboard, and if I'm ever jamming with Frederik Magle I'll only finger you with my fingerboard. Yeah! drummergirlamie, what you say? I say Elvin Jones and Max Roach overall, Aynsley Dunbar, Mitch Mitchell and Carl Palmer for rock, and Jubal, named in Genesis as the first musician on earth. He had to be a drummer, furthering communication. Being from Vegas you might not realize this, but drumming, farming and carpentry are the oldest professions of man.
And, drummergirlamie, if you're not careful I'll tell you an old Buddy Rich drummer joke. But you have to... ask.

[drummergirlamie]

hey drummergirlamie don't get too mad at him uh? he just likes writing, and not just three lines like the post i'm writing right now. sometimes we focus on things that don't need any uh, focus. By the way do you know the drummer from dutch band focus?

Never heard of the band. I'm always up to hear new stuff though. Gotta safe link? I'm on my new computer which is the latest VAIO, so if it's even questionable, let me know and I'll hook up the old one. Oh, and that was just me razzin' the Jimi fan up there. No ill-intent.

[drummergirlamie]

Sunwaiter! Thanks for the props. Focus was a great band. Radar Love and it's rhythmic rock beat influenced a lot of bands. Great flutist too. They really evolved. And for you drummergirlamie, let me explain. When I went to grade nine, high school, it meant going for the first time without my brothers. I took typing to have a class with girlfriends from grade school. My music fingers let me be the fastest getting the highest marks, so my parents bought my a typewriter for Christmas. That's '66-'67? Back then, if I typed a love letter or friendly letter, girls would complain it wasn't personal, I typed it. Now you're complaining about my output in 2008. That reminds me of Mozart, accused of too many notes. I'm stridently against robots taking jobs from humans, especially computer managed ones, so it surprised a lot of friends and customers with heavy investments in computers when I said "Don't you know how to type?" and started riffing. I'm riff riff riffing at you now. It's nice, watching the letters trying to catch up to my train of thought. It's more than sweet seeing all these fields of font growing under my fingers. I see what you're holding in your avatar fingers, pointing that at me, but I'll only ever finger you on this keyboard, and if you ever see me live onstage, I'll only finger you with my fretboard, and if I'm ever jamming with Frederik Magle I'll only finger you with my fingerboard. Yeah! drummergirlamie, what you say? I say Elvin Jones and Max Roach overall, Aynsley Dunbar, Mitch Mitchell and Carl Palmer for rock, and Jubal, named in Genesis as the first musician on earth. He had to be a drummer, furthering communication. Being from Vegas you might not realize this, but drumming, farming and carpentry are the oldest professions of man.
And, drummergirlamie, if you're not careful I'll tell you an old Buddy Rich drummer joke. But you have to... ask.

What's the joke, Baby? Throw it at me.

[John Watt]

Okay, but it is a Buddy Rich joke from long ago on Johnny Carson when being executive and executing bosses orders was, uh, hip. He had a good trombonist and bassist joke too. I've come across these in mags too, so I remember details.

There was a trumpeter new to town, wrapping up the gig, not doing too well post-bop, and he walked out early all alone. He decided to take a cab and asked the driver where the party was. The cabbie says you should check out this new club at the edge of town. When you go in you enter the first room, and if you're not enjoying it, you try the second room, and if it's not there, you try the third, ya'dig? Yeah, let's do it. So the guy gets there and walks into the first room and there's all these people standing around in suits and dresses with mixed drinks talking mostly in foreign languages, some vocalizing parts, so this guy decides to pass. In the next room everyone is sitting around tables discussing bookings and venues, making connections with lots of shots and a water cooler on the side, so the trumpeter keeps going. In the next room there are a lot of clean but cheaply dressed men and women with families talking about their savior, carrying hymnbooks not a drink in sight, everyone starting to stare at him, so he keeps moving, thinking this is too weird. So he decides to go right to the end, pushing open a creaky door to see one unkempt and downbeat individual sitting on a stool, looking up suddenly saying "where's the sticks?"

drummergrrrl, I can tell once is not enough.

Buddy Rich once went to Africa, thinking he had to find the Afro roots some of his players accused him of not having, being just swing. As he got off the plane he could hear drums in the distance, thinking this must be drummers heaven. He asked the stewardess as he deplaned, what's with the drums, and she said watch out for when the drums stop. Riding to town in the limo, he could hear drums coming at him from both sides, so he asked the driver and the driver said be careful for when the drums stop. This mystified him, so he asked the bellhop who said you better worry when the drums stop. Even after checkin, going up the elevator the attendant said he worries when the drums stop. Sitting in his room, drums, drumming, starting to tap along, the drums stopped. He heard cries out in the hall. He ran out and yelled what's happening?
Everyone turned to say "oh no, bass solo".

I can tell you need to come down off that one a little, drummergrrrrrrrl, so

What's the difference between a trombonist cruising down the road with his trombone in the back seat and a frog pedalling the other way on a bike? The frog has a gig.

Here's something totally unfunny, American style. Every four years Americans like to feel good about themselves, calling it an election. Electing Barack Hussein Obama does look good to the rest of the world, even if the disUnited States is split on it. But a lot of Americans are going to look back, after global computer gangbanging makes the hand ledgered Great Depression look rural school, and blame the first "black president" in their history.

What stays in Vegas is now being dug up, D.N.A. tested and analyzed in public documentaries as entertainment. Drummergirlamie, get your cash while you can.

[sunwaiter]

here is trilok gurtu and joe zawinul. i hope the link works:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=922Lu...&feature=email

for focus, just type "focus" on youtube. lots of videos.

i like the frog joke.

i'm glad youmentionned Buddy Rich. i regularly listen to "big swing face" (norwegian wood, the bet goes on, etc). he was powerful. that's what is needed in music sometimes. i like sepultura guitars, samuel barber's strings playing full volume, basil poledouris' theme from "conan the barbarian" (the opening sequence of the movie is one of my all time favourite), and buddy rich hitting hard.

for various moods, you can go there:
www.myspace.com/olivortex

[John Watt]

Thank you Sunwaiter for liking the frog joke. Jimi Hendrix played high-hat with effects to great effect, a picture of him doing that inside Electric Ladyland. Just so you know I'm a fan, one of Buddy's 60's albums featured an unexpected and physically astounding manual interpretation exceeding Jimi's tricks. I didn't know Buddy did acid. And Conan the Barbarian is one of my favorite movies, as you say musically, but especially for the scene of the fog covering the plain, the camera moving in until you can make out a tree, then seeing vultures, then Arnold crucified, apparently dead, until he lunges and grabs a bird with his teeth, sucking the blood and discarding it into a growing pile, surviving for a long time until his friends find him. Usually, that's cut for T.V.
It was nice watching Buddy Rich on Johnny Carson all the time, playing drum solos. If my skirling parents didn't like him they wouldn't have let me stay up to watch. Gene Krupa did more for me.

Ultimately I'm an Elvin Jones style gottabe. I never saved albums, my fifteen Elvin Jones records and ten McCoy Tyner's usually half of my collection. I would put one on and jam along like a band was in the room. That total was enough to repeat without getting too familiar with the songs. I hope you exercise your improvisational muscles too. John Coltrane's "After the Rain". And as Basil Poledouris said a ils etoile when he got to Paris, "Que avec toute le neige? Ah-node, je retourne!".

[drummergirlamie]

Okay, but it is a Buddy Rich joke from long ago on Johnny Carson when being executive and executing bosses orders was, uh, hip. He had a good trombonist and bassist joke too. I've come across these in mags too, so I remember details.

There was a trumpeter new to town, wrapping up the gig, not doing too well post-bop, and he walked out early all alone. He decided to take a cab and asked the driver where the party was. The cabbie says you should check out this new club at the edge of town. When you go in you enter the first room, and if you're not enjoying it, you try the second room, and if it's not there, you try the third, ya'dig? Yeah, let's do it. So the guy gets there and walks into the first room and there's all these people standing around in suits and dresses with mixed drinks talking mostly in foreign languages, some vocalizing parts, so this guy decides to pass. In the next room everyone is sitting around tables discussing bookings and venues, making connections with lots of shots and a water cooler on the side, so the trumpeter keeps going. In the next room there are a lot of clean but cheaply dressed men and women with families talking about their savior, carrying hymnbooks not a drink in sight, everyone starting to stare at him, so he keeps moving, thinking this is too weird. So he decides to go right to the end, pushing open a creaky door to see one unkempt and downbeat individual sitting on a stool, looking up suddenly saying "where's the sticks?"

drummergrrrl, I can tell once is not enough.

Buddy Rich once went to Africa, thinking he had to find the Afro roots some of his players accused him of not having, being just swing. As he got off the plane he could hear drums in the distance, thinking this must be drummers heaven. He asked the stewardess as he deplaned, what's with the drums, and she said watch out for when the drums stop. Riding to town in the limo, he could hear drums coming at him from both sides, so he asked the driver and the driver said be careful for when the drums stop. This mystified him, so he asked the bellhop who said you better worry when the drums stop. Even after checkin, going up the elevator the attendant said he worries when the drums stop. Sitting in his room, drums, drumming, starting to tap along, the drums stopped. He heard cries out in the hall. He ran out and yelled what's happening?
Everyone turned to say "oh no, bass solo".

I can tell you need to come down off that one a little, drummergrrrrrrrl, so

What's the difference between a trombonist cruising down the road with his trombone in the back seat and a frog pedalling the other way on a bike? The frog has a gig.

Here's something totally unfunny, American style. Every four years Americans like to feel good about themselves, calling it an election. Electing Barack Hussein Obama does look good to the rest of the world, even if the disUnited States is split on it. But a lot of Americans are going to look back, after global computer gangbanging makes the hand ledgered Great Depression look rural school, and blame the first "black president" in their history.

What stays in Vegas is now being dug up, D.N.A. tested and analyzed in public documentaries as entertainment. Drummergirlamie, get your cash while you can.

Your a hoot, Johny. Good stuff.