The tambourine gets a bad rap because a bunch of people abused them in the 70s. I saw a guy use one in lieu of a kit at a gig recently and it worked out really well. posted by chuckdarwin at 8:50 AM on May 6, 2007
Tambourine. Bad rap. Good one. posted by DU at 8:58 AM on May 6, 2007
The tambourine gets a bad rap
In the interest of accuracy, that's not a tambourine, it's a pandeiro, an instrument from Brazil, and an entire, very sophisticated playing technique is associated with it. Mostly used in samba.
Mister Seewi is certainly a very flashy player, an amazing technician. As far as whether he has rhythm, it's a little hard to tell as he doesn't stay with any particular ryhthm longer than a few seconds. None of the beats he demonstrates lasts longer than 2 or 4 bars, max. All that stick throwing and catching and filligree and fast rolls with 4 sticks in hand and such, for me that's more akin to a display of athleticism than a display of rhythm. I'd like to see him settle into, and really sit on a groove. And make it groove. Haven't seen that in any of these links, though. posted by flapjax at midnite at 9:07 AM on May 6, 2007 [2 favorites]
Still a tambourine, just pimped out. posted by found missing at 9:22 AM on May 6, 2007
OK, thanks! Not being a percussionist, it was an easy mistake to make. posted by chuckdarwin at 9:32 AM on May 6, 2007
Amen, flapjax, amen. Percussion solos often drive me nuts precisely for this reason. Drummers seem to want to show off how they can get rid of (and return to) a groove at will instead of laying it on really thick and playing with variations. posted by noahpoah at 9:32 AM on May 6, 2007
He also has a whistle that he plays insistently (not safe for migraines). posted by moonbird at 9:36 AM on May 6, 2007
I'd like to see him settle into, and really sit on a groove. And make it groove. Haven't seen that in any of these links, though.
Me, too. Though in fairness, the one link I clicked on appeared to be a compilation, so there's always the possibility he played for longer grooves. Kinda like the guy who does live drum and bass. posted by Civil_Disobedient at 9:45 AM on May 6, 2007
These are mostly taken from a set of DVDs he has done where he demos his very flashy stuff. In his music (he's also a guitarist/songwriter) he can groove quite a bit. It's sort of beside the point. He's a great musician, but this is supposed to impress in a Buddy Rich sort of way. (He juggles the sticks man).
Rhythm != Groove. You can demonstrate rhythm (keeping time) over a complicated 2 bars. posted by phrontist at 9:48 AM on May 6, 2007
love to see some him playing out a little. these are more like instructional videos, and i'm not a drummer. posted by facetious at 9:55 AM on May 6, 2007
Yeah, but Neil Peart also writes the lyrics. posted by fungible at 10:02 AM on May 6, 2007
He's shown briefly in this video as "Petite Mamady" performs for him. Just hearing his students gives you a sense of this guys connection to the drum. There's no one like Mamady. posted by ageispolis at 11:57 AM on May 6, 2007
I can't even spell rhythem. posted by stavrogin at 1:45 PM on May 6, 2007
(It's normally difficult for two to perform.) posted by LooseFilter at 2:33 PM on May 6, 2007
Not bad. I was impressed by his finger technique on the congas, something I only use on thinner-skinned hand drums. posted by kozad at 3:00 PM on May 6, 2007
When I was gigging, the tambourine was something for the singer to do during instrumental breaks. So, it was a real revelation to me when, some ten years after the fact, I saw "Standing in the Shadows of Motown" and Jack Ashford's tambourine playing.
"Hey!" I said. "It's an INSTRUMENT!" posted by Trochanter at 3:35 PM on May 6, 2007
"Hey! Mister pandeiro man
Play a song for me..." posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:17 PM on May 6, 2007
LooseFilter...isn't that only true for the performer who has to do the phasing? The one who's keeping their part unchanged has a much easier time of it...the only tricky bit is remembering when to stop... posted by Jon Mitchell at 6:01 PM on May 6, 2007
That said, that Evelyn Glennie clip is fantastic. Thanks! posted by Jon Mitchell at 6:03 PM on May 6, 2007
isn't that only true for the performer who has to do the phasing?
Yeah, but sooner or later they've all gotta phase the music.
/ba doom
the only tricky bit is remembering when to stop...
Wait a minute. Are you saying they're supposed to stop?
I just flew in from Juilliard, and boy are my arms tired.
These, and other classical quips can be found in Flapjax At Midnite's latest compendium of melodic standup, Phase The Music, And Danse including his popular skit The Glass-Reich Moving Company, set in San Francisco, and following the musical misadventures of Phil and Steve as they run their own business. It's The Office for music geeks!
Orders being accepted now: dial 111-11-1-11 144 times to reserve your copy! posted by Jon Mitchell at 7:33 PM on May 6, 2007
Jon Mitchell: yes, one player does just clap (or play) the pulse for the whole time. But my experiences performing minimalist works have shown me that even the simplest thing gets hard if you have to do exactly right for long enough. Plus, it's tiring.
So I guess that clip showed great rhythm and pulse!
(Please send ordering information for flapjax at midnite's compendium....i've been dialing 111-11-1-11 for a couple of hours now, and i'm not sure i can keep it up.) posted by LooseFilter at 9:29 PM on May 6, 2007
And friends, if you dial now, you'll receive these fine viola jokes at no extra cost:
Q: Whaddaya call 100 violas at the bottom of the ocean?
A: A good start!
Q: What's the difference between a viola and a lawnmower?
A: You can tune a lawnmower!
Eh? What's that you say? This is a drum thread?
Oh. Okay, so...
Q: How do you know the drum stage riser is level?
A: The drummer drools from both sides of his mouth!
Q: What's the last thing a drummer ever says to his bandmates?
A: Hey guys, let's do one of my tunes!
Folks, you've been a wonderful audience! I'll be here all week! Try the veal! posted by flapjax at midnite at 11:46 PM on May 6, 2007
Q: What's the difference between a drummer and a drum machine?
A: You only have to punch the track into the machine once.
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posted by chuckdarwin at 8:50 AM on May 6, 2007