Spring Break

Spring Break for me isn't a trip to Mexico.
It's simply not doing anything on this website and blog for a month.
Not much to do, of course. I don't have an ax to grind, or a political motive to further.
But I feel obliged to write something.

So whoever does read this doesn't think I am not doing anything...which I am. Until now.

Vintage Colorado Photographs

I found a number of great vintage Colorado photographs this week at a sale. I put them up in a slide show on my gallery. Take a look here.

There are pictures taken on the Continental Divide - Independence Pass between Aspen and Buena Vista. There are pictures taken at Red Rocks. There are horseback riders, bicycle riders, and more. One of these photographs had 1945 written on the back, so I assume most of them were circa 1945.

I also have a number of vintage Hi 8 home movies from Colorado that I am working on digitizing. There are already a few up on www.colorful-colorado.com You just need to look for the video link on the main page.

But I am having a bit of trouble transferring the films. If I can only get a decent working projector. The first one ruined an old film. The second one I got seems to run slow, so it is quite jittery. So I will work on those vintage movies.

In the meantime, take a look at the vintage photographs, images, and items. Let me know if you have any to contribute.

Enjoy.

Philosophically Blogging

Instead of philosophically speaking, I am philosophically blogging.
I was thinking today that it is probably going to be much easier for the younger generation to blog, and create visual and media diaries of their lives. Simply because they are working from point A to point B. Going forward, it will be much easier to upload their favorite moments in life...because they are happening now. By the time they are old, their entire lives may be almost completely digitized for them and anyone to view.

Of course, there will be millions of people having done this. So the novelty will have worn off. Then the question "what does this all mean" may become more relevent. Their digital life will be only one in millions of digital lives. Meaningless? Or meaningful?

At least, it will be a much easier process for the younger generation, because they will live a day, then digitize it. Live another day, then digitize it. But for those of us who have lived half their life already, it is more work to digitize years that have gone by. It is possible. I have a lot of memorabilia that might get passed down. Or it might get lost, stolen, damaged, or forgotten. Now there is another option. I could start digitizing it. While the process of digitizing "new" events, pictures, and experiences is happening, the process of digitizing "old" events, pictures and experiences is also taking place. But only by those doing it. For those not doing it, will their "media" be lost and become irrelevent? Or does it matter anyway? (Philosophically blogging.)

So I might digitize past years of experiences. I do have a few interesting things that could be uploaded and shared. But once again, philosophically blogging, what does it mean? If everyone has their own story, what weight does one have over another? Philosophically blogging....none. Check out Ecclesiastes - and you will better understand what is meaningless....and what is meaningful.

Billy Cobham 1978

Billy Cobham is a great drummer. Yet from the further end of the jazz rock spectrum known as fusion. He became famous for his extremely powerful bursts of energy, his very large drum set, and his ambidextrous abilities to play equally with both left and right limbs. He played fusion with Miles Davis, Chick Corea and the Mahavishnu Orchestra, and rock fusion as well



In 1978, I had the chance to see a weekend drum event (see below) that featured a number of greats. Billy Cobham was matched together with legendary drummer, Louis Bellson! Students got the chance to see the rehearsal of the concert, the concert itself, then also a clinic. We met the drummers, and even got to pick up a broken drumstick for a souvenir.

Cobham's playing is special. Unique. Very powerful. The drumstick I have (Promark 808 Billy Cobham signature) has cuts in it from the impact he made on the cymbals. The cymbals slice into the wood.

Cobham plays equally with all limbs, so he may emphasize accents with the right hand first, then switch to the left and lead with the left. All the while, keeping the groove.

To see Cobham switch solos with Louis Bellson, was a once in a lifetime opportunity, I think. Bellson (my favorite jazz drummer) was "melodic" on his drum solos, meaning he was more musical, in a sense. Cobham was more rhythmic in his solos - yet he was able to blow your socks off with his quick bursts of energy and power. Read more about Cobham here.

This video shows Billy's outstanding power, energy and speed.


Here's a 1968 drum solo of Billy Cobham. Check it out.

William F. Ludwig Jr.

Perhaps the most important drum maker in the past century is Ludwig. Any drummer knows the name and certainly knows the name, William F. Ludwig Jr. This autograph may not seem interesting to the casual viewer, but for drummers, I think it is considered quite an interesting autograph. William F. Ludwig Jr. himself!

I was fortunate to attend a very big event in Winnepeg, Manitoba, Canada in 1978. Put on by the Percussive Arts Society (of Manitoba?) it featured many great drummers. I will post more about them, and their autographs soon. I thought I would start will William F. Ludwig Jr.

When I first started taking "formal" drum lessons in fifth grade, I learned from the book many dummers leared from. It was a Ludwig "Collection Drum Solos" book containing the thirteen essential rudiments, plus nine contest solos from the W.F.L. Solo Collection.

I learned the "Downfall of Paris" solo, and performed it for the regional and state music contests. So to meet the one and only William F. Ludwig Jr. himself was a once in a lifetime thrill!

Click here to see the Ludwig website!

Buddy Rich

Watch and listen to the video above from 1980!
I found myself digging through memorabilia today. I was looking for a number of autographs and pictures I had of some great jazz, fusion and rock drummers. In the late 70's I was quite focused on drumming. I was planning on moving towards being a professional drummer. Of course, I still have that in the back of my mind, but it took a back seat after I attended college, got a degree (not in music) and then met my wife. My focus changed. I had the offer to go to California and play in Tahoe with a great jazz pianist, but I figured it would not be conducive to my new relationship. I was also headed in another direction (video journalism) which also allowed me to be creative. And it was a steady day job. I still would love to play in the big leagues. Who knows?

I had the chance to see the best drummers, and meet them in person. So I thought I would start sharing some of those experiences. I will start with (some call) the best: Buddy Rich.

Buddy Rich and His Killer Force! I can't remember the year. I will have to look it up. I will guess it was 1978. My mom took me to North Dakota State University to see the show. Somehow, I got a front seat. And fortunately, it was right next to the stage door.

I watched and listened in awe as the legendary Buddy Rich played harder than any drummer I have seen, ever. When you describe a jazz drummer, you might say, "he cooked." Well, Buddy cooked alright. He was boiling hot! Seriously.

Whether it was all "natural" or not, Buddy Rich played so intensely that sweat was dripping off his shirt, and down his face. Wow!

Towards the end of the concert, there was a man standing near the stage door. I don't know how it happened (whether my mom had something to do with it or not) but the man came over to me and said, "Come with me." I was taken backstage and got to meet Buddy seconds after he finished playing. I had this poster for him to sign. It was just me and Buddy. The sweat dripped onto this poster. But I kept it boxed up for more than 25 years. What a blast.

More greats to come!

Colorado Songs and Lyrics

Bob Seger performs tonight at the Pepsi Center. My wife and I saw him at McNichols Arena ten years ago (his last tour.) Tonight on 99.5 The Mountain they played a set of Bob Seger songs. "Get Out of Denver," was one. (I think that is the title.)

That made me think. How many songs about Colorado are there? Of course there is Rocky Mountain High, the John Denver classic (I wish I would have seen him at Red Rocks in 1983.) There is "Rocky Mountain Way," (I did see Joe Walsh perform that last summer at Red Rocks with the James Gang.) I saw the Dead sing, "I Know You Rider," at Red Rocks. That includes a line about Colorado.

What songs can you think of? I will start a thread over on the Message Board, so you can add your song to the list. Let's come up with the definitive list.