Playlist Week of 2016-10-15

* Purcell: Fantasias For Viols 1680 (Hesperion XX/Savall) (Alia Vox SACD)

* Balkan Spirit (Hesperion XXI/Savall) (Alia Vox SACD)

* John Coltrane: Offering: Live At Temple University (Impulse! 2CD)

* Bobby Hutcherson: Now! (Blue Note LP)

* Philip Catherine: Nairam (Warner Bros. LP)

* Dan Ar Bras: Douar Nevez (Hexagone LP)

* Kip Hanrahan: Days And Nights Of Blue Luck Inverted (Pangaea CD)

* Kip Hanrahan: Tenderness (American Clave CD)

* David S. Ware Quartet: Corridors and Parallels (AUM Fidelity CD)

* Roy Campbell Quartet: It’s Krunch Time (Thirsty Ear CD)

* DJ Wally: Nothing Stays the Same (Thirsty Ear CD)

* Francis Bebey: African Electronic Music 1975-1982 (Born Bad 2LP)

* Miguel: Wildheart (RCA CD)

* Alceu Valenca: Molhado de Suor (Som Livre/Sol Re Sol LP)

* Arthur Verocai: Arthur Verocai (Warner/Kindred Spirits LP)

* Hawkwind: Space Ritual (United Artists 2LP)

* Bo Hansson: Magician’s Hat (Charisma LP)

* Heldon: II: "Allez-Teia” (Disjuncta LP)

* Heldon: Stand By (Egg LP)

* Richard Pinhas: Rhizosphere (Cobra LP)

* Richard Pinhas: L’Ethique (Pulse LP)

* Goblin: Patrick OST (Cinevox LP)

* Goat: Requiem (Sub Pop 2LP)

†=iPod/iTunes

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Commentary:

By far the weakest link in my Gretsch Catalina Club drum set has always been the kit snare -- which is to be expected, of course -- and I have always relied on other drummers to bring their own when recording in my home studio. In anticipation of some upcoming sessions, I decided it was time to rectify the situation.

As with most things, a high-quality snare drum does not come cheap -- and there is a bewildering variety of styles and construction available, each with their own specific character. Not being a drummer, I asked my nephew his advice and, without hesitation, he said, "Well, if you're only going to have one snare drum, you can't go wrong with a Black Beauty."

The Ludwig Black Beauty is handmade out of a seamless sheet of spun brass and has been heard on countless records over the decades, particularly the larger, 6.5" x 14" model. So I figured, "Why mess around?"

It arrived this week and, with the help of the Tune-Bot, I was able to get it tuned up and sounding absolutely massive. One of the key features of the 6.5" deep drum is it's deep tone and multitude of tuning options, from tight and crisp to warm and ring-y. The resonance and harmonics coming out of this thing are simply out-of-this-world and complements the rich, detailed sound of the K Zildjian cymbals.

A quick recording test shows that, like the cymbals, the Black Beauty was worth every penny. I can't wait for a real drummer to play it!

Playlist Week of 2016-05-28

* Vivaldi: “Con Moto”: Concertos, RV281, etc. (Accademia Bizantina/Carmignola) (Archiv CD)

* Stockhausen: Mantra (Mikhashoff/Bevan/Ørsted) (New Albion CD)

* Bobby Hutcherson: The Kicker (Blue Note CD)

* Bobby Hutcherson: Dialogue (Blue Note CD)

* Bobby Hutcherson: Head On (Blue Note LP/CD)

* Bobby Hutcherson: Cirrus (Blue Note LP)

* Cecil Taylor: Conquistador (Blue Note LP)

* Joe Zawinul: The Rise & Fall of The Third Stream (Vortex LP)

* Andy Bey: Experience And Judgment (Atlantic LP)

* Daft Punk: Random Access Memories (Columbia CD)

* Bob Dylan: Fallen Angels (Columbia LP)

* Tim Buckley: Lorca (Elektra LP)

* Linda Perhacs: Parallelograms (Kapp/Sundazed LP)

* Linda Perhacs: The Soul of All Natural Things (Asthmatic Kitty LP)

* Roy Harper: HQ (Harvest LP)

* Roy Harper: One of Those Days in England (Bullinamingvase) (Chrysalis LP)

* Roy Harper & Jimmy Page: Whatever Happened to Jugula? (Beggars Banquet LP)

* John Martyn: Solid Air (Island LP)

* John Martyn: Inside Out (Island LP)

* John Martyn: Glorious Fool (Duke/Atlantic LP)

* This Heat: This Heat (Piano/Modern Classics LP)

* This Heat: Health And Efficiency (Piano/Modern Classics 12”)

* Dorothea Raukes: Deutsche Wertarbeit (Sky/Bureau B LP)

* St. Francis Duo (Steve Noble & Stephen O’Malley): Peacemaker Assembly (Trost LP)

* The Mars Volta: Noctourniquet (Warner Bros. 2LP)

* Chris Forsyth & The Solar Motel Band: The Rarity of Experience (No Quarter 2LP+7”)

†=iPod/iTunes

‡=car

Commentary:

The latest addition to my home studio arsenal is a Yamaha DTX Multi-12, an electronic percussion module with 12 assignable pads which I've integrated into my acoustic drum set. Pre-loaded with thousands of sounds ranging from classic electro voices to gongs, bells, and all kinds of exotic percussion instruments, you can also create looping patterns and load up samples of your own creation via USB. With my current fascination with electronic music, it seemed appropriate to the give the drummer some.

Released way back in 2010, the DTX Multi-12 is perhaps a bit long-in-the-tooth in terms of cutting edge technology -- but that also means you can get them for about half of the original list price. And while the major complaint about these units over the years was the labyrinthine menu system (and teeny-tiny LCD screen), Yamaha didn't abandon its users: Just last fall, they announced the DTXM12 Touch app for the iPad, which makes using the thing much, much easier -- and more fun -- to use. Kudos, Yamaha!

I'm no drummer, but it's been a blast banging along to beats and creating crazy, layered sounds. It feels good to hit things hard with sticks. I really can't wait to have Sam Byrd back in the studio with me -- lots of new colors in the crayon box!