Robert Walter

[Soul Stream]

Jim, have you been taking mind altering drugs and living in a commune? Of course there are exceptions to the rule like Medeski who I would call an organist but doesn't have a concept of the bass, pedals ect. (or maybe he does?). But I won't call a piano player who plays piano an organ an organist.

Does it really matter? Yes, I think it does. People have a misconception that organ is just another kind of a piano. I don't play piano, never had a piano, and wouldn't call myself a pianist. However, I can sit down at a piano and play it. Does that make me a pianist? Maybe to some. Not to me.

[Jim Alfredson]

I think The Dropper and Uninvisible were, in ways, their best yet though!

Uninvisible is my favorite of theirs so far.

Jim, have you been taking mind altering drugs and living in a commune? Of course there are exceptions to the rule like Medeski who I would call an organist but doesn't have a concept of the bass, pedals ect. (or maybe he does?). But I won't call a piano player who plays piano an organ an organist.

Does it really matter? Yes, I think it does. People have a misconception that organ is just another kind of a piano. I don't play piano, never had a piano, and wouldn't call myself a pianist. However, I can sit down at a piano and play it. Does that make me a pianist? Maybe to some. Not to me.

I certainly don't call myself a pianist either, but that's the problem with keyboard-based instruments... they are extremely easy to sit down and play. You don't have to worry about embrochure, breath support, reeds, lip strength, limb independence, dexterity, etc. Of course to be good at piano or organ, you have to learn independence and dexterity, but to just sit down at one... anyone can do that and start to play.

[johnagrandy]

but to just sit down at one... anyone can do that and start to play.

Tendinitis, arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, thigh pain, etc. It's the whole keyboard-mouse related repetitive stresss injury syndrome.

Keys players should take note of the following: Seat at correct height to drop arms with natural 90deg bend at elbows. Don't use a cushion if possible (force the body to build the muscle). Middle finger joints also at near 90deg angle. "Pistons to the keys: Up/down motion discipline, whenever possible." Don't rest arms on any sort of support. Hang either arm down at side when not used. Hold head up looking straight ahead: get music stand to read sheet music that sits vertically, not horizontally.

Minimum: 15min break every 2hrs. 1hr break every 4hrs. Walk around. Figure out a stretching program, that includes hands AND legs, especially hamstrings. Be very careful and incremental about stretching the hands. Rubber bands are useful.

Don't get fat. Don't eat while playing. Don't let abdominals get weak. Don't wear shoes that start hurting during a concert.

Read a book on ergonomics. Every minute you spend at a non-ergonomic computer setup, you're damaging your keyboard career.

[JSngry]

from what I've heard Johnny V. is kind of the man when it comes to NO style drumming.

Have you heard Zig?

[johnagrandy]

Yeah, apparently Johnny V was Stanton's mentor during his teenage and/or college years, but Stanton was such an original that Vidacovich knew the sound-alike wouldn't last long.

Stanton says Zigaboo is one of his and Galactic's primary influences, especially in terms of sparseness and finding the swing/straight percussive middle-ground. Actually, Zig is probably one of the top ten primary influences in all jam band music.

(Or so I have read and heard -- I just know all this stuff from listening and reading the web, mags, and books.)

The Robert Walter "Super Heavy Organ" disc is very interesting to me 'cause I can really hear the difference in Stanton and V, even though they're both playin' the same basic style on essentially the same music.

It's all relatively new to me and I'm really diggin' it 'cause I was such a Blakey, Jones, Lewis, Williams, DeJohnnette, Chambers, Smitty, Kilson kind-of-guy ... I mean I always liked my drums BUSY. (But I do like Roach a lot too.)

Edited February 4, 2006 by johnagrandy

[JSngry]

You might want to consider getting to know Zig. He's not a dead guy yet!

[johnagrandy]

You might want to consider getting to know Zig. He's not a dead guy yet!

Maybe he'll be at Jazz Fest 06 ... 'cept how hot is it in Orleans in April? I hate hot weather.

[johnagrandy]

Somebody's gotta pick up this "Super Heavy Organ" CD so I can talk about it with them. Heh heh.

This shit is so killin' I can't turn it off -- and I got 5 new CDs this weekend.

It's just not a RW thing. It's the whole band. This session just cooks and cooks and cooks like a primo oxtail stew ... who is this cat Tim Green ???? He cuts-up the funk like Jack The Ripper.

Now I gotta save some $$$$ for all these Galactic, Greyboy Allstars, Soulive, and 20th Congress CDs that got linked into this thing by Pandora.com

Not sure about the following guys though: Russo/Benevento Duo. Same genre, rave reviews, etc, but saw them live and seems like they got stuck in these endless repetitive grooves and thought it was just the best thing ever. (But when everyone in the audience is that fucked-up ...) Plus Benevento's way too into electronic loops and computer samples and a dozen keyboards and all that shit. Should stick with a single B3 and a few effects pedals.

Edited February 5, 2006 by johnagrandy

[.:.impossible]

I was about to ask b-3er about THE DUO. I missed them when they came to town, but I remember Rooster Ties posting a link to the NEW MUSIC SEMINAR a few years back. They played Paranoid Android in completion as an organ drums duo and I really liked the other material on that disc.

Jim, have you heard them? What's the word?

[Jim Alfredson]

I got their first disc off CDBaby called "Darts" and I thought it was pretty cool. The one on ropeadope (or was it Nonesuch?) didn't do anything for me, just listening to the samples but if I find a used copy I'll pick it up and see what the mess is.

[johnagrandy]

Here's a little Stanton Moore funk drumming instructional thing I found:

http://www.youtube.com/w/Stanton-Moore--Sp...nton%20moore%22

Too short unfortunately.

The tune is Stanton's "Sprung Monkey". The only recording I know of is on Garage A Trois' "Emphasizer" CD.

Edited February 9, 2006 by johnagrandy

[johnagrandy]

I am in complete disbelief that not a single soul on these boards owns Robert Walter "Super Heavy Organ".

Hey Robert are you here somewhere ? You probably own it right ?

Edited February 12, 2006 by johnagrandy