Happy Christmas.

Merry Christmas to you and a very Happy New Year!

Mika Yoshida - Download Mika Yoshida Music on iTunes

Mika Yoshida - Download Mika Yoshida Music on iTunes: "- Mit Google Toolbar gesendet"

Live At Voce by Steve Gadd - Download Live At Voce on iTunes

Live At Voce by Steve Gadd - Download Live At Voce on iTunes: "- Mit Google Toolbar gesendet"

DRUMMER CAFE ~ Steve Gadd Transcriptions by Krzysztof Filipski | Books | Reviews

DRUMMER CAFE ~ Steve Gadd Transcriptions by Krzysztof Filipski | Books | Reviews: "- Mit Google Toolbar gesendet"

Happy Christmas to one and all!

Before I wish you a Cool Yule and a Merry Christmas, I'd like to tell you about some of the great regional differences of Yuletide. Having been born and raised in England, I was used to receiving presents on morning of 25th December, Christmas Day. Then a big festive dinner of Turkey and many side dishes. After that a Christmas Pudding soaked in brandy. But here in Germany, it's slightly different. Here Christmas Eve is the big day for gifts. After an somewhat frugal meal of sausage or fish, the presents are given in the evening. Then carols are sung around the Christmas tree and some people go to Midnight Mass at church. It's very much a quiet, pensive feast. In England on the other hand, I remember it being far more social, with cocktail parties and invitations to "come round for a drink". In Germany the main dish on Christmas Day can often be goose, duck or sometimes turkey. This is also served with a large variety of vegetables, but often noodles are involved. No Christmas cake or pudding, but a rather nice tradition is to bake a big selection of cookies, ehich some people exchange with their friends. But Christmas Day in Germany is very much a family festival. As opposed to New Years Eve!
But wherever you are, I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Best wishes and Good Health"

yungcutup (yungcutup) on Twitter

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Mikarimba Madness with Gadd and Gomez

Mikarimba Madness with Gadd and Gomez: "- Mit Google Toolbar gesendet"

Mikarimba Madness with Gadd and Gomez

Mikarimba Madness with Gadd and Gomez: "- Mit Google Toolbar gesendet"

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Hedgehogs Taking Baths: Pics, Videos, Links, News

Hedgehogs Taking Baths: Pics, Videos, Links, News: "- Mit Google Toolbar gesendet"

Meeting the girlfriends parents Japanese style

I have a charming Japanese penpal. At 65 little older than myself, and also with a 30 year old daughter. He recently told me how his daughter brought her new boyfiend home for the first time. They all sat together in silence in a darkened room drinking tea. The only sound they could hear was the boiling water, he said. Of course that was a new one on me. He said they all enjoyed their first meeting. Now in my case, I have 3 sons and a daughter, but each time any one of them has brought someone new to our home, it's been a rather embarrassing encounter. For both sides. Sitting across a table in broad daylight, it's hard to know what to say and where to look. However polite and friendly everyone tries to be, it is in essence an examination. Sitting together in a darkened room, without having to speak sounds so much more pleasant to me. I think I'll try that next time myself. It is apparently a Japanese custom.

Tims thoughts of the day: Learning to appreciate art and music

Tims thoughts of the day: Learning to appreciate art and music: "My sister used to make my Dad furious by playing Rolling Stones LPs at max. volume. He said it wasn't music, just a noise. I bet his father ..."

Learning to appreciate art and music

My sister used to make my Dad furious by playing Rolling Stones LPs at max. volume. He said it wasn't music, just a noise. I bet his father told him the same, when he listened to Benny Goodman on the radio.
What I'm driving at, is each generation seems to have it's own type of music which is often a form of rebellion against the older generation and their old fashioned ways. Personally I've never been keen on following the masses and had three heroes when I was young - Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald and Lester Young.
When I found myself yelling at my sons to turn the sound down on their rap music, I had a flash back to my dad. Then I said to myself "Whoa there!" and decided to try and be open minded. Well, time has passed and now I have the pleasure of listening to my granddaughter Gianna learning to play violin. What I like about her, is if she hears music, whether it's pop, classic or jazz, she has no prejudice at all. Likewise art galleries. I can hear my dad saying "What's that supposed to be?" when I look at pictures by my favourite painters. But if I try seeing things through the eyes of a child, I get far more pleasure.
George Crumb was the first composer of minimalism that I heard, this was soon followed by a performance of Steve Reichs music and others like Terry Riley and Michael Nymen came along after that. I've since even grown fond of Steve Reichs music and Arvo Pärt too. But the strange thing is, this all happened to me with virtually no musical training! Unless you can count Be Bop. Like my granddaughter Gianna, I just listen and if I like it - Fine! But if I don't like it, that's fine too but I just pass on. So simple, but it works for me.

Steve Reich in NYC

Steve Reich Ticket Giveaway!
community.boosey.com
Magnus Lindberg Ticket Giveaway

...Steve Reich Hey NYC'ers - Wanna see Steve's "Sextet" this weekend? For free?? http://community.boosey.com/2010/yale_reich/

James Carter, Harry Carney, Joshua Redman Kenny G & Hans-Christian Dellinger. What do they all have in common?

Well, they all play or played saxophone. But what I mean is "Circular Breathing".
Ever since hearing Harry Carney play "Sophisticated Lady" with Duke Ellington, I've been fascinated by the ability to sustain a tone for what seems endless time. I was baffled. When does he breath? He must have lungs the size of zeppelins. Well, the answer is not in how much air the lungs can hold but in mastering circular breathing. The are umpteen websites on the subject, but I've asked Hans Christian Dellinger how he does it, and he explained it's breathing in while at the same time breathing out. To try this you can blow your cheeks up and using just the air in your mouth, slowly breath out whilst breathing in and out through the nose.
If you listen carefully, you will notice how all the people above have perfected this technique to a fine art. It's not easy. I even read once that Kenny G. holds the world record for playing the longest note on the saxophone without taking a breath. I think it was over an hour!

Mika Yoshida

I get invited to some interesting concerts round here. Just latetly I've noticed how marimbas have become popular as a solo instrument, but also in bands and orchestras. As you know, they have a very pleasant, deep woody sound. There are some African bands that play the granddaddy of marimbas, the Balaphon. That's made of special wood and quite hard to play. Anyway, I've heard several excellent percussionists playing marimbas in concert and like it a lot. But by far the finest marimba player, in my opinion is Mika Yoshida. She lives in NYC and will be playing at the Carnegie Hall in January. If you're in New York, don't miss this first class concert
:-Mikarimba Madness with SteveGadd& EddieGomez!
Location: Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall
Time: Friday, 07 January 2011 19:30

Hans Christian Dellinger live

Hans Christian Dellinger, whose CD "Streaming" I've been talking about on my blog, will be playing live in concert this Saturday :-
11.12.2010 | 20.00 h
H2-Zentrum für Gegenwartskunst
Glaspalast Augsburg
www.zukunft-musik.de minimal-post
music by Michael Nyman, Marc Mellits and Graham Fitkin (HARD FAIRY for soprano sax and two pianos)
He has several other forthcoming concerts, which are all on his website www.hans-christian-dellinger.de

Tims thoughts of the day: Ad Campaigning

Tims thoughts of the day: Ad Campaigning: "For people like me, who have virtually no computer skills, this Google Blog system is ideal. I reckon that's about as simple as it can get. ..."

Tims thoughts of the day: Music business

Tims thoughts of the day: Music business: "Now most my readers will have noticed that I'm no professional when it comes to music management. I do know quite a few professional musicia..."

Tims thoughts of the day: Talent

Tims thoughts of the day: Talent: "I go regularly to concerts of up and coming musicians. It seems to me that nowadays there are more talented young soloists than ever. I'm am..."

Talent

I go regularly to concerts of up and coming musicians. It seems to me that nowadays there are more talented young soloists than ever. I'm amazed at the high standards and at the same time it's a little frustrating to realise that personally, I'll never reach that level! In these days of global exchange, with travel becoming easier and faster this abundance of talent means that competition is growing stronger on all levels.
When hearing a splendid concert with young musicians, I always like to think they have a great career ahead of them. But if this trend continues, only the really exceptionally talented artists will become successful. I hope to be gathering more information here about the situation in orchestras. Are there more suitable candidates than jobs? Is the required standard of proficiency higher than it was?
As for me, I'll keep plodding along at my own pace, while enjoying the high standards of others.

Music business

Now most my readers will have noticed that I'm no professional when it comes to music management. I do know quite a few professional musicians from various fields, jazz, classical, pop and session musicians. Talking to them I've come to the conclusion that it's not so much how well you play, but who you know. But I also get the impression that since so many musicians are self employed, there's not so much cameraderie as there is amongst, say, postal workers! On the one hand you need as many contacts as you can get, but on the other hand, it's rather difficult to make friendships that will stick.
If you're an artist, it doesn't automatically follow that you're an astute businessman as well. So a manager might be a great help. Here again though, the manager has to be paid, which could make life difficult. An agency, so I've heard is more concerned about getting their books filled, so they'll send the musician to the strangest gigs, often places he or she would never dream of contacting. Agencies can be costly too. It's a tricky business and something I'm learning by doing, in my old age! I'll keep you informed.

Ad Campaigning

For people like me, who have virtually no computer skills, this Google Blog system is ideal. I reckon that's about as simple as it can get. Of course, I've been spending the whole day getting Twitter, Facebook and now this blog all set up, but it seems to be working. As I said, I'd like to make my friend Christian Dellingers CD better known outside our locality and hopefully we'll succeed.
I keep thinking back to former times, when I'd probably be having leaflets printed and standing out in the cold, distributing them. What's more remarkable is that I donb't actually have a tangible CD to sell, but rather Mp3 downloads from Amazon. CDs do of course exist and Amazon have them on sale too, but stocks are running low. Instead of re-recrding or re-pressing CDs, it seems better to keep on with the MP3 version. I have no crystal ball, but I could well imagine CDs soon becoming a thing of the past, like walkmen and Video. I still have a few 78s tucked away, but not many people even remember those!

I now have a Twitter account : www.twitter.com @TimothyYeo2010. I also signed up to www.facebook.de - just look for Tim Yeo.
I hope to be giving my friend Christian Dellingers new CD Streaming some boost.
It would, I'm sure make a splendid Christmas present. You can buy it as a normal CD from here:- http://www.amazon.de/streaming-Hans-Christian-Dellinger/dp/B002QO8HFS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1291492808&sr=8-1
But if you feel you don't need the nice art work and booklet, you can download it for 8,40€ from here:- http://www.amazon.de/Streaming/dp/B003BSLEDA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1291492808&sr=8-3
On Facebook I've started up a fan website http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001596295113#!/pages/Hans-Christian-Dellinger-Saxophonist-Pianist-und-Komponist-Artist-Fansite/179955682014996