Meeting with Tony Williams in Japan

Meeting Tony Williams was a special moment in my life. Even though at the time I didnt realize how much of a force he was. As a matter of fact when I was young, I used to follow all these famous drummers. In fact I studied with Chad Wackerman. And I loved Terry Bozzio’s drumming. And thought Vinnie Colaiuta was some kind of drum diety. Well after years of playing and listening to drums I began to hear Tony’s influence in some of my drum hero’s playing.

I was lucky enough to meet Tony Williams (thanks to the dude on bass in this video, Bunny Brunel​). In fact one day while on the road with Kazumi Watanabe’s band Bunny asked John Wackerman and I if we would like to meet Tony. Of course we wanted to meet Tony! At the time we were all staying at the Keio Plaza. And Tony was in the lobby of the hotel. So we went to the lobby and there was Tony Williams! Of course Tony was kind and cordial. Unlike his We didn’t say too much to each other. But he had a depth to his presence that I have not sensed in many people. In the end I can only say that Tony still has a huge influence on me. And that to this day I try to borrow his creativity and individuality for my own art.

Tony Williams Bunny Brunel Boston
Here is a picture from the Kazumi Watanabe tour Boston. A year or so before this story.

Roy Burns (My Mentor)

my mentor

I ran into my old mentor Roy Burns today at the 2017 NAMM show in Anaheim California. I first studied drums with Roy back in 1982 or so. At that time he was just starting his company Aquarian Drumheads. He taught me about drumming with the help of his books and his mentors books (Jim Chapin). And he also taught me how the mind and emotions could interfere with one’s natural capacities via books like “Zen and the Art of Tennis”.

I was standing in front of the Aquarian booth waiting for John Wackerman to say hello to the company that supplies drumheads for promotional purposes. I saw Roy there with the usual crowd of people around him. I think John, Chuck Wackerman or maybe it was Chris Brady told Roy that his old student Ken was here. Roy said I thought that was Ken but it looks like he lost 100 pounds. Roy told me to sit next to him and that he was very happy to see me. He told me a story about his drum mentor Jim Chapin and in that moment I felt he was on some level speaking about he and I. He spoke of pride and its effect on one’s ability to embrace change. I felt as if I was 18 years old again listening Roy talk philosophy.

Someday I may write a lot more about Roy, he has this endless understanding of human nature mixed with conservative ideals. Truly someone you would want to sit and talk with for a long time. Im lucky to say that he has always felt comfortable enough around me to share some deep concepts.

 

I have never met anyone like Roy Burns and I have a feeling I never will. Thank you Roy I heard everything you said, and you had a profound impact on my life.







Christmas Land by Shoot The Moon

Christmas Land by Shoot The Moon
Shoot The Moon CD

Christmas Land by Shoot The Moon. In the first place, I was at a point in my life where the feeling one gets from the Christmas Season began to fade. For the purpose of, remembering a good holiday season I decided to write a set of Christmas songs. Equally important, I asked my friend and bandmate Joey Grijalva to join me. Ultimately, we called our Christmas Album Moon Christmas.

Furthermore, the working title for this song was Christmas Land, looking back I probably should have called it Christmas Show. As a matter of fact, my original intent when writing this song was to make a story about remembering and hanging on to the good parts of Christmas. Furthermore, to sort of go back to that person you were when you really loved the Christmas holiday

As far as I remember, I composed this in Studio Visions (one of the early DAW’s). I remember mapping out the song with keyboards. And asking Joey and John to play along to the recording. In fact, they are amazing musicians because many of these tracks did not have click tracks. The wonderful backing vocals are Julie Van Duren.

 

Cover photo was made by Dave Sparks. Cassette sleeve created in Pagemaker. And we had this album pressed at Rainbow Records.

Recording gear used

Christmas Land by Shoot The Moon was recorded in my (home studio) garage, on an Akai MG1214 aka Akai 12 track (the same unit used to record the U2 album Rattle and Hum). Additionally, used an old Studiomaster mixing board (I bought off Chad Wackerman or John Wackerman), Studio Visions DAW, Quadra 650, assorted 421, 414, sony, and Shure mics, Alesis compressors, timecode machine, assorted keyboards, Yamaha spx90.

Thoughts of Murray Spivack

When I studied with Murray he was in his late 80’s. I was his last student of the day on fridays so it was my job to drive him to Farmers Market get some corned beef and cabbage then go to his apartment and dine with him. During our meals together we would talk about all the famous drummers he had taught, he talked about their skill levels temperament etc. Since I had a personal interest in sound engineering I would pick his brain about his audio career. Murray would talk about which mic Julie Andrews or Barbra Streisand preferred. How he balanced all the rounds in the parade scene of Hello Dolly. I even have some recoardings he made for me from his personal reel to reel of the board mixes from West Side Story. His apartment even had some Hollywood history. It contain his academy award from the original King Kong. And was party central for the likes of actors such as Fred Aster as well as the heads of the major studios.







Chuck Flores 11-24-2016

When I play the drums my teachers influence “sound” out of my hands and feet. Greg Perry, Kenny Peters, Roy Burns, Roy Mcurdy, Rick Latham, Chad Wackerman, Murray Spivack, and Chuck Flores. Im so sad to hear that drummer Chuck Flores passed away yesterday. I studied drumset coordination with Chuck Flores back in the 1990’s at his house. His studies made a huge difference in my overall coordination on the drum set. And he was a really decent and generous person.