Featuring the song "Back to the Bottle" by Grady Hoss and the Sidewinders
Return to Grisly Manor
Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of recording drums and percussion for the soundtrack to Fire Maple Games' new title, Return to Grisly Manor.
The game features an original score by David Decker of NeoSonic Productions, along with percussion parts composed and arranged by yours truly.
Return to Grisly Manor is now available for iOS and Android devices - and features a free version to give the first level a spin without commiting to the purchase.
Ballad of a Thin Man
Today is Bob Dylan's 75th birthday. That alone is enough of a reason to pay tribute to the great songmaster, who is still touring the world and releasing albums. A hero in the highest degree, his artistry is matched only by his longevity. Dylan's stature in the pantheon of musical greatness is becoming more lonely these days as his illustrious generation begin to shuffle off, so respect is due while he's still here to receive it.
As a small offering, I decided to repost a live recording from a 2008 recital in Philadelphia. I was charged at the time with constructing a solo piece for drum set, and I chose to arrange Dylan's "Ballad of a Thin Man" from Highway 61 Revisited. I wasn't especially interested in pure solo drums at the time, so I arranged the verses around my vocal. It was an interesting challenge to adapt the tune for drums and vocal with no harmonic accompaniment, and am grateful for the inspiration to test the limits.
Have a listen to the rest of the recital, or just go listen to some Bob Dylan records. Seriously.
R. Hyde Guitars Promo
UPDATE: Hyde has launched a Kickstarter campaign!
My good friend Ryan Hyde builds exquisite bass guitars, and I'm honored to have my music be a part of his vision. Here's a recent promo video for R.Hyde Guitars, featuring music from Megalodon's first release, Edible.
![Edible [CD]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5159a2fde4b01288f25138bb/1463157174110-31U8KMQPXIXHPT2LY0KE/megalodon+cd.jpg)
Artisan Luthier Ryan Hyde is building some of the most forward thinking, futuristic bass guitars yet. And He's doing it all by hand.
"I've created a distinct new line of bespoke bass guitars that epitomize the fusion of modern and classic design.
These Instruments satisfy the stringent needs of modern musicians, and address design issues such as weight, balance, tonality, and reliability; Yet each model occupies a unique /original niche in the cloistered world of custom basses.
Bassists are always working to expand the vocabulary of music and I'm trying to expand the vocabulary of the instruments they play."
Source: http://www.rhydeguitars.com
Freddie Mac Commercial
I recently took a trip over to NeoSonic Productions and tracked some drums and percussion for this commercial. So, buy a house, I guess?
Required Reading: Rick Latham's Advanced Funk Studies
Required Reading refers to the necessity that you, the music student, read this book! Lauded as some of the best educational publications available, the manuscripts covered in this series come highly recommended to anyone interested in expanding ability and musicality.
John Eddie's "Won't Be Me"
Many of my students are looking for compact charts to help them learn songs, but may find many traditional resources provide too much or too little information. Looking for a custom, concise chart of your favorite tune? Contact me and I can make it happen for you!
Here's a guitar/vocal chart that I made for John Eddie's "Won't Be Me".
Grüvis Malt's "Aggression"
A partial transcription of a gnarly tune from Gruvis Malt called "Aggression" from their album ...With The Spirit of a Traffic Jam.
If you haven't heard of this band, seriously scope them out.
Download PDF
Grüvis Malt
The Rudiments
These succinct rhythms and sticking patterns are the like the alphabet in drumming language. International canon for decades, the Percussive Arts Society offers this and many other essential drumming resources at their website.
Jimmy Cobb's timekeeping on "Freddie Freeloader"
The great Jimmy Cobb with the great Miles Davis on the great album Kind of Blue. Here's Jimmy's timekeeping right up until the beginning of Miles' solo on "Freddie Freeloader".
Elvin Jones' timekeeping on "Bessie's Blues"
The masterful Elvin Jones here with John Coltrane on one of my favorite blues heads of all time. Transcribed is Elvin's timekeeping on "Bessie's Blues" from the landmark album Crescent.
Max Roach's drum solo on "Joy Spring"
The masterful Max Roach showing off his musicality - with brushes! One of my early transcriptions, and still a favorite tune.
Lewis Nash's drum solo on "Illuminations"
Here we have Lewis Nash trading 8s with McCoy Tyner and an all-star band on the title track from 2004's Illuminations.
Philly Joe Jones' drum solo on "Blues By Five"
Behold! At once fluid, disjointed and mystifying, Philly Joe's drumming is unparalleled. Starting at 7:22 in the track, Philly trades fours with Coltrane, Cannonball, Miles, Bill Evans... whew.
Dig in particular the third set of fours he throws out there - a nearly untranscribable Philly Joe-ism that I would personally dedicate to the great Jim Paxson. Long live the masters!
Philly Joe Jones' drum solo on "Four"
A more succinct set of traded fours on the famous tune called Four, Philly Joe throws down some more classic bop licks. Featuring a more basic attempt at the untranscribable menace Philly plays in the fourth four. On Four. Dig?
Grady Hoss & The Sidewinders - These Lonely Nights
1st video for the song "These Lonely Nights (Ain't Makin It Easy)" from Grady Hoss's debut EP "Over & Out".
Hanon Simplified
Stroup and Soul Battery - Blue Light Sessions
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Grady Hoss & The Sidewinders - Over & Out
Grady Hoss "Over & Out" EP album sampler Part 1Check out a sample of a few tunes from the upcoming Grady Hoss EP. We threw in a montage of pics taken by Keith Emmerich and Steve MacLaren from the recording sessions to share with you guys! Stay tuned to the Grady FB page for when the release date will be! Cheers!
Posted by Grady Hoss & The Sidewinders on Saturday, August 1, 2015
The new EP from country-western originals Grady Hoss & The Sidewinders.
Featuring an ace lineup of seasoned players, including: Dusty Reigns, Bucky Vennerson, Jebediah Barnswallow, Grady Hoss and Earl Smokesman.*
Recorded in February of 2015 in McSherrystown, PA, this collection of tunes was penned by Hoss and the boys and tracked in a weekend. Highlights "These Lonely Nights", "Birdfeeder", "Philly I Love You (But You're Bring'n Me Down)" and three more songs round out this EP with a classic vibe and smooth swagger.
New videos are up on Grady's YouTube channel.
Visit the band's Facebook page for updates and info.
*Dan O'Neill-bass, Vince Federici-guitar, Dave Van Allen-pedal steel, Lance Davis-vocals, and Charlie Heim-drums, respectively.
