StickNews Digest Issue #291 - 22/02/07
An online digest about The Chapman StickŪ published by Jim Reilly.Please send your posts and responses here: sticknews@stick.com
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CONTENTS:
BRAVE NEW WORDS
- I'm just an excitable boy
- New Website - http://www.emmettchapman.net - now online
- Stick magazine in Spain
- Some reviews (for real)
- Heartland Stick Seminar, Carbondale, Illinois, April 14-15
- February 2007 Newsletter
- A nice gig
- Stick Seminar April 28 weekend, Staten Island, NYC
- Stick Retreat in British Columbia May 25-27
- New StickStand now available
- Casey's Movie on TV
- LOS INCONSEGUIBLES DEL ROCK ARGENTINO!!
- Stick for sale
- Nathen Aswell's "Little By Little" CD release party on March 16th
- Tap-Twister #1 - navigating 4ths in the melody
- Cause and Effect
- CD Review, Nathen Aswell's "Little by Little"
BRAVE NEW WORDS
Hello All,
Those of you who know me know that I'm not usually the excitable type. More often than not, my laidback Canadian side gets the better of me and I tend to take things pretty much in stride, without getting too worked up. Well, you can throw all that good-natured Canadian-ness out the window! I am totally pumped about the new emmettchapman.net site http://www.emmettchapman.net.
Greg has been working on the site for a while now, and I'd like to congratulate him. It looks great. I'm honoured to have some of my writing featured on the site, along with some engaging pieces from Greg, Emmett, Sean Malone, and Emmett's daughter Diana. At the moment, my favourite piece is Greg's story about playing tennis with Emmett. I've played tennis with Emmett too, and he beats me pretty regularly as well (of course I've never almost killed him - you'll have to read Greg's story if you want to know what I'm talking about).
For my piece, I dusted off one of the first (previously unpublished) biographical essays I wrote about Emmett. I updated it, the results of some recent long talks with Emmett about his life and work, and am very glad to be sharing it with everyone via this new site. In Greg's post below he calls the site a "living site", and invites others to contribute. I'd like to echo his words and invite all to share their stories about this wonderful man, and this truly unique, exciting life.
Take care,
Jim
THINGS TO DO, PEOPLE TO SEE
From: Stickist@aol.comSubject: New Website - http://www.emmettchapman.net - now online
Date: 18/02/2007
Hi everyone,
After seeing the lack of biographical info about Emmett online, I decided it would be a good idea to put up a page that explored his life, ideas and interests more than what you might find on a commercial site like stick.com. The new site is up-and-running, with contributions form several other writers, including Jim Reilly and Sean Malone, and a blog of essays and posts by Emmett. This is a "living site," with a network of writers, which will continue to grow. I hope you enjoy it and if you feel like contributing something please do. You can find the new site at: http://www.emmettchapman.net
Happy Reading,
Greg
From: epakta [epakta@gtrsynth.com]
Subject: Stick magazine in Spain
Date: 15/01/2007
Hi
I'm the webmaster www.sticksynth.com A new e-magazine for stick
players in Spain
Angel Argilés (Epakta)
From: SteveAFran@aol.com
Subject: Some reviews (for real)
Date: 02/02/2007
A little PR never hurt anyone:
#1 Adventures in Stickology nails the entertainment aspect from track 1. I like the cover art a lot . The album has good pacing throughout, a nice range of feeling and edgy musical styles.
Stephen Rekas (Mel Bay publications)
#2 I just got the CD yesterday. STEVE! Oh He's goooood! Nice artwork on the back too. All tunes have the 'professionals' playing edge to all the performances. You have to have 'played' and been a musician with a lot of experience to pull those kind of nuances off. Sure, you can copy stuff but Steve and company pull off their music from the heart and spirit of 'being' a player. There's no substitute for that.
I really enjoyed the track with Tony Levin (OKAY okay I'm a bassist at heart... forgive me!). Steve's solid foundation while Tony put that smooth lead distortion bass melody over top. Just deluxe really. AND, but wait there's more. I enjoyed Steve's bass work
Wonderful guitar playing as well, excellent selection of diverse players.
I could go on and on but just listen for yourselves, there's something there for everyone. Great work is great work. Good one Steve. AND one of my favorite renditions of one of my favorite Stevie Wonder tunes. Which tune is it???? Get the CD.... Gol darn cliff hangers, I hate those.
Take care,
Don Schiff
#3
Nice from start to finish. Really! The interplay between you and the various guitarists is excellent. I'm finding that, these days, I'm appreciating the Stick in an ensemble a lot more and have been a bit bored with the "solo Stick" thing so this was right up my alley as far as listening goes. Good job!
Glenn Poorman
...Stickology reviews cont'd...
From: stickist@aol.comSubject: Heartland Stick Seminar - April 14-15 Carbondale Illinois
Hi everyone,
I'm really happy to announce yet another Stick seminar for the spring. This marks a first one in this part of the country since we had one in Abilene Texas several years ago (I know, not really the same part of the country....).
David Parr and I will be teaching. David is an experienced instrumatalist and an accomplished singer/songwriter, so for the first time we'll be able to offer a class on playing and singing, along with all the others on the various aspects of Emmett's "Free Hands" two-handed tapping method we normally cover.
These include basic physical technique, independence training, chord structures, Stick setup, right hand melody, and interdependent techniques like two-handed bass.
Carbondale is a little southeast of St Louis.
This seminar is open to all experience levels, and there are 16 student spots available.
For more information please see:
http://www.greghoward.com/events/heartlandseminar
Thanks to Jim Storm for putting this together. Looking forward to it.
Happy Tapping,
Greg
From: Michael Kollwitz [michael@michaelkollwitz.com]
Subject: February 2007 Newsletter
Date: 02/02/2007
Holy cow! It's already February. My oh my- where does the time go? At any rate, I hope that 2007 has started off well for both you and yours. It's certainly been exciting around here so far! Here's what's happened:
Many of you have met my 13 year old daughter, Kimberly, over the years because she regularly accompanies me to many of the summer festivals I've performed at. If you have met her, you already know what a great kid she is and that's why I wanted to share this story with you. more...
From: SteveAFran@aol.com
Subject: A nice gig
Date: 06/02/2007
As part of my new CD publicity campaign..........
March 25 in NYC, I'll be performing on a bill that will also feature a jam with some invited guests including some of the Allman Brothers who are in town for their annual visit. Should be fun.
More specs as they become available.
Steve "I've Been Tied To A Sticking Post" Adelson.
From: Stickist@aol.comSubject: Stick Seminar April 28 weekend, Staten Island, NYC
Date: 15/02/2007
Hi everyone,
Well it's been many years since we had a seminar in New York, so I'm really happy to announce the:
Stick Seminar '07 in Staten Island
April 28 and 29 (with a meet and greet n Friday night)
Steve Adelson and Greg Howard instructing
all skill levels welcome
details at: http://www.sticknyc.com
The entire event, seminar and Stick Night (Sat the 28th) are all happening on Staten Island.
We are limiting the number of student slots to 20 so please sign up early to ensure a place.
Many thanks to Tony Rodriguez for putting this together. I'm looking forward to sharing teaching duties with Steve, I always learn something from watching and listening to him. Our playing and teaching styles are quite different, but the goal is the same, to help you make music.
If you have a Stick on order and it won't be delivered in time, there will be a few extra instruments available.
Looking forward to meeting some of you for the first tme and seeing old friends.
Happy Tapping,
Greg
From: Jim Meyer [jim@jimmeyer.ca]Subject: Stick Retreat in British Columbia May 25-27
Date: 18/02/2007
Greetings StickNewsists!
The 2007 Stick Retreat will take place on Gabriola Island in beautiful British Columbia. Stickists will arrive on the island the afternoon/evening of Thursday, May 24, then have 3 days (Friday-Sunday) of Stick instruction with top Stickists Greg Howard and Tom Griesgraber. I'll be helping out with the beginners, too.
Everyone is invited to perform at the White Hart pub on the Saturday evening, and join in on the Sunday jam. All registrants will stay at The Haven, a waterside resort in a beautiful, natural surrounding.
For schedule and other details, check out:
http://www.jimmeyer.ca/stick
Any questions? E-mail me direct: jim@jimmeyer.ca
Thanks and hope you can join us!
Jim
From: Stickist@aol.comSubject: New StickStand now available
Date: 15/02/2007
Hi everyone.
The New StickStand™ is now avialable from Stick Enterprises. It is a customized Ultimate Support guitar stand that works great for all of our Stick models, including the NS/Stick and Alto Stick.
You can find out more at:
www.stick.com/accessories/stand/stickstand.html
I've had a prototype of this for a while, made by Canadian Stickist Karl Gans, who came up with the idea. Emmett thought it was a good enough design that we should make it available. The previous design by Moses is also still available, so now you have a choice of stands.
The new stands are now in stock.
Happy Tapping,
Greg
From: Kira Arrillaga [arrillaga@verizon.net]
Subject: Casey's Movie on TV
Date: 17/02/2007
[Unfortunately this will have aired by the time you read it. I wanted to include it in this issue anyways because it sounds like such a great project. Congratulations Casey! - Jim]
Hi everyone! Casey from Third Door Down here. I wanted to let you all know about something that's been going on since TDD has been less active. This project involves not only me, but Kira sings on the soundtrack, Teresa acts in it and Barry mixed the sound.
What it is: I''ve been working on a movie for the last six months or so. This is much more than the usual deal where I write music for a movie. This time I've been involved from start to finish: writing, producing, and of course doing the music. I've been blessed with wonderful writing and production partners and very blessed by the support of all of you who have known and encouraged me over the years.
Well, it's finally time to unveil the movie. It's called "Odicie" and it's a half-hour special playing this Sunday at 12:30 Pacific/Eastern on BET. BET comes standard with pretty much any cable or satellite service, so check your local listings, or just tell Tivo to go get it for you. If you have cable then "Odicie" shows at the same time on both coasts (12:30 pm) but is "time zoned" in the middle states. If you have satellite, then it's one feed for the whole country, so 12:30 there is 9:30 here. My advice to people is always "check your local listings." The good news is, if you have satellite and you miss the show, you can run over to a friend's house and see it on cable :).
"Odicie" will also be distributed to schools across the country through the Black AIDS Institute and Kaiser Family Foundation, who funded the project. As you may have guessed, the movie tackles issues of AIDS and homophobia, two things I'm passionate about.
I hope you'll all get a chance to see this project into which I've poured so much of my heart and soul.
I wish you all the best, and thank you for all you've done to help me get here.
Casey Arrillaga
www.ArrillagaMusic.com
From: Pablo Gigliotti [gipstick@hotmail.com]
Subject: LOS INCONSEGUIBLES DEL ROCK ARGENTINO!!
Date: 03/02/2007
HOLA AMIGOS!!! LES PASO UN LINK DONDE ENCONTRARAN....
LOS INCONSEGUIBLES DEL ROCK ARGENTINO!!
ES EL LEGITIMO CONTINUADOR DEL BLOG ORIGINAL "INCONSEGUIBLES DEL ROCK". Un blog en el cual encontraras los albumes y grabaciones de rock argentino que siempre quisiste tener y no pudiste conseguir. Sin grabaciones "ineditas", sin discos que nadie quiere escuchar, sin "hallazgos historicos". Solo buenos discos que por alguna razon son dificiles de hallar. Asi, que , a disfrutar!.
http://losinconseguiblesdelrock.blogspot.com/index.html Al cual, han sumado mi "petite site"....inconseguible!!!
http://www.myspace.com/gipstick
CABE SOLO UNA PALABRA.....GRACIAS!
pAbLo
GigLiOtti
please visit my "petit site": www.myspace.com/gipstick
From: SteveAFran@aol.com
Subject: Stick for sale
Date: 01/02/2007
After some heavy contemplation, I think it's time to sell my famed "Cobra Stick"
Reason: I don't use it.
I've been playing my other Sticks exclusively and have neglected the Cobra.
For those who don't know:
Twelve String, maple, standard tuning and standard pickup with rod frets. Custom maple snakes (green and blue) were added by an independent luthier in Montreal as a feux body. In mint condition. One of a kind.
If interested email me directly please.
Steve A
From: Nathen Aswell [nathenaswell@shaw.ca]
Subject: Nathen Aswell's "Little By Little" CD release party on March 16th
Date: 14/02/07
Hi everyone -
I very much hope that YOU can join me on March 16th. The details are on the poster below. (In consideration of the folks who will be handling things at the door, please order your tickets in advance.)
click for full-size poster
BIG thanks,
- Nathen :-)
P.S.:
- You can listen to audio clips of "Little By Little" at
http://www.nathenaswell.com/page1/page1.html
- My CD is available online at
http://bruha.com/Music_Store/music_store.html
and from CD Baby at http://cdbaby.com/cd/nathenaswell
All of these links are on my web site http://www.nathenaswell.com
TAP A LITTLE
From: Greg Howard [stickist@aol.com]
Subject: Tap-Twister #1 - navigating 4ths in the melody
Date: 24/02/2007
Practicing scales is a fine way to learn how keys sound and feel, but scales only give you some of the interval and fingering combinations you're going to encounter in real-life music situations. This is the first of a series of exercises designed to help you negotiate an interval whose fingering isn't prescribed by scale fingerings, the 4th. These exercises are called Tap-TwistersTM, like toungue-twisters for your fingers. Practicing them will make you more limber and help you more easily figure out how to finger melodies as you read them or work out arrangements... full article here:
From: SteveAFran@aol.com
Subject: CAUSE AND EFFECT
Date: 14/01/2007
I just recorded a great tune along with guitarist Donnie Celenza and drummer John Favicchia called "Cause We've Ended As Lovers". It's on my latest CD. It was written by Stevie Wonder and immortalized in a rendition by Jeff Beck. It has a great melody and interesting but fairly easy chord progression. It's an intense ballad that has a jazzy sophistication with a very bluesy feel.
(Click here for the rest of the tune and some soloing ideas.)
From: Jim Reilly [sticknews@stick.com]
Subject: CD Review, Nathen Aswell's Little by Little
Date: 17/02/07
When Vancouver, British Colombia's Nathen Aswell talks about his debut CD "Little by Little" one can't help but think that he's talking about a journey. In the liner notes, he writes about the journey of making the 13 tracks that make up the CD. The cover shot features a path through the woods, no doubt taken on one of those crisp fall days that the West Coast of Canada is famous for. And the songs themselves reflect a multi-faceted journey: a musical quest and a personal one.
I first met Nathen at the Stick seminar he hosted in Vancouver back in the mid-90s. At the time he was playing Stick. Since then, he has moved to NS Stick, yet another journey. On NS/Stick, as this CD shows, Nathen has found his instrumental voice. Originally a bass player, the bass grooves on "Little by Little" are tight, solid, and crisp, with no shortage of pop-funk feel. The NS/Stick chords and melodic accompaniments are likewise crisp and can't help but bring reflect the influence of another wonderful NS/Stick player: Don Schiff.
Nathen's musical voice is strong - think of well crafted, Police inspired pop rock tunes - but the real highlight is Nathen's actual voice. This guy can sing! Open, honest, real, enveloping, you can hear all this and more the instant Nathen's vocals start. The lyrics are coming from a deeper place and it is as if Nathen has found a way into that deeper place and effortlessly lets those words launch themselves, with passion and commitment, out into the world. Of course the amount of effort it takes to sound effortless is obvious, but since the art is to conceal the art, then Nathen's singing can only be described as masterful.
Two songs stand out for me. The title track, "Little by Little" has gotten into my head, and pleasantly doesn't seem to want to get out, and his voice on "psalm 92" is simply too much to try and define in these words.
I keep going back to the idea of "Little by Little" as the reflection and representation of a journey. It sounds like Nathen's journey towards music and personal discovery, or perhaps little snapshots taken along the way. Either way, many thanks to Nathen for sharing both the road and some of his stops along the road with me. If you're looking for some inspirational, self-affirming music to accompany you on your journeys, I invite you to check out Nathen's music too.
All the best,
Jim
You can find more information at: http://www.nathenaswell.com
StickStand is a trademark of Stick Enterprises, Inc., Tap-Twister is a trademark of Greg Howard.
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 #291.