StickNews Digest Issue #281 - 01/12/06
An online digest about The Chapman Stick® published by Jim Reilly.Please send your posts and responses here: sticknews@stick.com
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CONTENTS:
THE FIRST TAP OF THE NEW YEAR
- A New Year is here.
- Tapping in Rome.
- Steve takes over NAMM.
- The latest from Mike K. and Greg H.
- NE England Stick players take note.
- Slow and steady wins the race.
- Take advantage of the tuning.
ALL THE BEST FOR 2006
Hello all,
Hope everyone had a safe, happy holiday season, and happy New Year. As 2005 turns into 2006 it only seems fitting reflect on some of last year’s Stick highlights.
The year past saw some firsts: the first Stick Tech seminar in Charlottesville, The Alto Stick began production and Sticks now exist in pressed bamboo. There were some great seminars too in North America and Europe, topped off by Emmett’s visit to the Stick and Tap Guitar Festival in Allaire, France. Last year seemed to be a watershed year for a couple of players too. Tom Griesgraber staked his claim as one of the most in-demand players with his duet work with legendary drummer Jerry Marotta, Steve Adelson announced a major book project and some incredible gigs, we even had the first new Greg Howard recording in too many years.
You may think that’s a hard act to follow, but if the early signs are any indication, 2006 should have little trouble surpassing 2005’s achievements.
Virna Splendore is kicking the seminars off with an event in Rome. There are already rumblings of events in Vancouver, Ann Arbour and Holland. Steve continues his string of high profile gigs, joining an absolutely stellar line up of performers next week at the NAMM show. All this and it’s only the second week of the year.
Many thanks to all those who contributed to StickNews last year, especially Ron Baggerman, Chris Crain and Steve Adelson. Their monthly lessons and tips have been both outstanding and inspirational. We’re all better players thanks to their generousness and hard work.
Good luck to all in the coming year. I’m looking forward to hearing about your adventures in the Stick world, hearing all the new music and seeing you in my travels. Keep those post coming!
All the best,
Jim Reilly
From: "Virna"
Subject: New Website and Italian Stick Seminar
Date: Wed 14/12/2005
I have a new stick website The Official Authorized Italian resource for the stick at www.stickitalia.it
Also:
- Stick Seminar In Rome Feb 24-26 2006
- Teachers Jim Lampi and Ron Baggerman
- On 24 and 25 Stick Nights in two pubs
- Cost 160 euros
- For infos and submissions contact virna splendore: virna@stickist.com or mobile +39 335 5387920
From: SteveAFran@aol.com
Subject: NAMM gig update
Date: Tue 20/12/2005
The roster has been finalized.
Sat. Jan. 21 Anaheim NAMM
Muriel Anderson is staging an extraordinary presentation of her All Star Guitar Night at NAMM, which features the acclaimed women of "La Guitara,"
Muriel Anderson, Kaki King, Patty Larkin, Jennifer Batten, Mimi Fox, Ellen McIlwaine, Vicki Genfan, Alex Houghton. Also starring are Charlie Haden, Pete Huttlinger, Steve Adelson, Robert Conti, Gil Parris and Jeff Berlin with Paul Wertico and Richard Drexler.
Join us early! The evening kicks off at 7pm, Saturday at the Hilton Ballroom D
Hope to see some of you there.
Steve A
From: SteveAFran@aol.com
Subject: NAMM and holiday
Date: Sun 25/12/2005
Happy holidays to everyone. To a healthy and fruitful year and more.
I got a little gift today. My NAMM show appearance on Jan. 21 is now confirmed as a duo with one of my favorite drummers, Paul Wertico. Not sure what we'll play but it won't be Metheny.
Steve A
From: Stickist@aol.com
Subject: Greg Howard Year-end News
Date: Thu 29/12/2005
Hi folks,
2005 has been tough, and I won't be sad to see it go. It seemed like one disaster after another. There were some highlights for me, though. I released "Ether Ore," my first new CD since late 2000. I did have a great time at the Montreal Jazz Festival, and really enjoyed traveling around and seeing those of you who came out to shows. Thanks to the folks of Gabriola Island in Canada, for their incredible response to our Stick Weekend out there. Also, a big thanks to Tom Griesgraber, Jim Meyer, Glenn Poorman, Vijith Assar, Mitch Pulgar, Heiko Hopfinger, Emmett and Yuta Chapman, Dan Chapman, Jim Reilly, John D'earth, Matt Wyatt, Darrell Rose, James McLaughlin, Jack Gray, Bill Baldwin, Jim Sfarnas, Eve Watters, Jamal Millner and many others too numerous to mention who were involved in my shows and recordings.
Special thanks to those of you who bought concert tickets and CDs. Without your support, I'm nowhere, literally.
I've been working hard on recording and some new Stick instructional materials, and hope to have lots of new things for you in 2006. If all goes according to plan I'll be out in Northern California in late February, Bordeaux, France in early March, and the Pacific Northwest in May. I'll be sure to keep you posted.
My best wishes for the new year for all of you. Peace.
UPCOMING SHOWS:
January 18, Wed, Charlottesville, Virginia, Greg Howard's Evolving Collective at Gravity Lounge. 8pm Featuring Jamal Millner on guitar, John D'earth on trumpet, Stephen Nachmanovitch on violin, and Matt Wyatt on drums. This largely improv performance should be really interesting. $6/$4 students. all ages.
January 20/21 Fri/Sat, Richmond, Virginia, Fusion with Matt Wyatt and Jason Gaye on tenor sax 10pm.
details at:
www.greghoward.com/events/
CONTINUING DIRECT DEAL ON GREG's CDs
In addition to Amazon, Music Today, Wayside Music and Stick Enterprises, you can order my music direct from my label, Espresso by PayPal or check. There are lots of titles to choose from:
Ether Ore (CD/DVD double disc) $15
Lift $15
Stick Figures $13
Sol $13
Code Magenta $13
Sticks and Stones $11
Transmigration $13
Water on the Moon $13
The deal is this: 2 for $25, 3 for $35, etc, plus if you order more than one disc, I'll throw in the shipping (within the US), and if you live outside the US, I'll give you a commensorate discount.
HOW TO DO IT:
Just send me an emai telling me what you want to order, and include your postal mailing address. I'll write back with an email to print and include with your check or to copy into the PayPal message you send. It's that easy!
More info about the releases at:
www.greghoward.com/sounds/releases/
Thanks for supporting independent music.
From: Michael Kollwitz [michael@michaelkollwitz.com]
Subject: Old Sac Victory & Happy New Year 2006
Date: Thu 05/01/2006
Hope your New Year is off to a good start and that 2006 will be one of your best ever! The holidays are now behind us and so we start with another clean new slate in January.
January is traditionally my slowest month performance-wise (could it be the weather?). But this January comes with lots of major good news both professionally and personally.
As many of you know, I've been battling Old Sacramento Management since last August to keep my performance permit there from being unfairly revoked because The Chapman Stick happens to be an electric instrument. OSM is run by only one or two people and somehow they felt Old Sac would be better off without a Chapman Stick player.
I asked for your support a few months back and the letters poured in. I kept after OSM and, in early December, the Town Manager, Ed Astone, decided to get out of the loop and turned the matter over to the Old Sacramento Merchants Council.
Early this morning I attended a meeting of the OSMC and it was decided unamiously by the Board that my permit should NOT be revoked. The vote was 12-0 in my favor. The merchants lamented that there are not enough performers in Old Sac and that my music is a welcome addition. They feel it's too quiet in Old Sac and they want MORE music and ambience- not less.
With 5.2 million visitors to Old Sac annually, they are always trying to think of new ways to lure people to the region's largest tourist draw. The merchants do not share OSM's narrow view about my music on The Stick and for that I am very pleased. Common sense obviously prevailed!
Once again I thank you for all the letters of support (almost 120!) you wrote on my behalf. I provided copies of every single one to both OSM and the OS Merchants Council. OSM paid no attention to them but the merchants listened to you. I hope you'll reward them with your continued business in the coming year.
In 2005, I performed at almost 50 festivals and fairs and I'm currently working on my 2006 schedule. I'm also working on not one- but two CDs for 2006 release- one in Spring and the other to be released in the Fall. I'll keep you posted!
On a personal note: at some of my events over the past few years, many of you have met my long-time sweetheart, Christine. We're happy to announce that we've decided we're going to make it official and tie the knot later this month. Wish us luck as we sail into the sunset...
That's all for now. Look forward to seeing you again at a performance this New Year. Thanks again for your continued support of my independent music!
All the best,
~Michael Kollwitz
Chapman Stick soloist
www.MichaelKollwitz.com
JANUARY 2006 PERFORMANCES:
Wed. Jan. 11th, 2006 12:00 PM
WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN NOON CONCERT
1300 N Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
www.westminsac.org/schedule/special_events.html
Price: $free
I'll be giving a Noon Concert (12 pm - 1 pm) in the main sanctuary for the popular Music At Noon series.
Fri/Sat/Sun Jan. 27, 28 & 29th 2006
(*Tenative*) GEM FAIRE
Placer County Fairgrounds
800 All America City Blvd
Roseville, CA 95678
www.gemfaire.com
Price: $ 5.00
If confirmed, I'll be performing indoors from approx. 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm. (*Please double check on my website a few days prior to event just to be sure*)
From: Matt K [mattk@themovingpictureshow.com]
Subject: Cool Dry Place Is Dead...
Date: Sat 07/01/2006
Dear Everyone,
Merry new year to you & yours. We hope you got everything you wanted. So the rumors are true. Cool Dry Place is dead. Kaput. Deceased. Smushed. But you know what? You can wipe those soft pillowy tears away. Because as of late we’d observed a little less spring in our step, we felt a might shut in, twitchy, squished, and consequently malnourished. Usually in this case we’d reach for the nerve tonic and take a hot air balloon ride, but sadly even that wasn’t going to do the trick. It was time for decisive action. It was time for a stand. It was time for a name change.
And now without further adieu - please make room in your pretty heads for Moving Picture Show. Our CD is done and we’d like to invite you out Saturday night January 28th @ 10pm on a date. No heavy petting we pinky swear. We will be mightily performing just about every cut from our first full-length release at this our first ever CD release party under our shiny new name Moving Picture Show. So save the date...More to come soon!
Matt, Amy, Jeremy, Mark
moving picture show
www.myspace.com/movingpictureshow
From: SteveAFran@aol.com
Subject: NAMM
Date: Sun 08/01/2006
Here's the latest on our concert Jan. 21 at the Hilton Ballroom D for Anaheim NAMM Many players at Muriel Anderson's All Star Guitar Night. It will be partly a Tap Fest. I open the show on Stick in duo with drummer Paul Wertico at 7pm. Jennifer Batten and Kaki King will also tap and just added, Stanley Jordan. Plus Charlie Haden, Jeff Berlin, Mimi Fox and a bunch of others. Looks like a 5 hour show (at least). If you're coming to NAMM, I hope you can make this show. It will be video taped for DVD release. Comp tickets at sponsor booths. Email me if you need specs. See ya' there,
Steve A
From: Bowpal@aol.com
Subject: Any Stick players in NE England?
Date: Any Stick players in NE England?
Hi Everyone,
Are there any Stick players in the North East of England that would be interested in playing at a series of upcoming Stick gigs? I'm gigging with a trio (Stick, sax, Handsonic) and we have another Stick player onboard but would like to see if there is anybody else who's up for contributing. You don't have to have masses of material but it's got to be performance ready.
Best wishes
Tony Bowler
PERFECT FOR NEW HOLIDAY FINGERS
From: Chris Crain [stickmusic@earthlink.net]
Subject: Slow & Steday
Date: Mon 02/01/2006
During the next several months, we're going to work on walking-bass lines, with each lesson getting progressively harder. However, this lesson will be "Slow & Steady".
Find everything here:
From: SteveAFran@aol.com
Subject: "The Naval Academy"
Date: Sun 08/01/2006
There's a logic to the Stick's unique tuning that is extremely natural. The relationships of the strings are akin to music itself.
Chords sonically, tend to descend by fives. That is, a G chord will resolve down a fifth to C.
If we take this to an extreme descending progression in the key of C Major:
l B dim l Emi l Ami l D mi l G l C l
These are the chords in the key of C, progressing downward by fifths eventually resolving to the tonic (C). This is also know as the "Cycle Of Fifths."
It keeps on cycling here:
Please send your posts and responses to: sticknews@stick.com.
Copyright 2007 by Jim Reilly, all rights reserved, except where noted. The opinions expressed by subscribers and contributors to this digest are not necessarily those of the publisher. Any business transactions arranged by readers of StickNews are solely their responsibility, and not those of Jim Reilly.
Stick and Chapman Stick are registered trademarks of Stick Enterprises, Inc., and are used in the title of this digest with permission.
Archives of previous Sticknews Digests can be found at sticknews/archives.
End of StickNews #281.