John Von Ohlen

[benrand]

Got my discs in the mail today...

He was a smoooooth player, great right hand and he played those odd times with power. Much more intense than I thought it would be, some parts are pretty straight up rocking. That ride sounds amazing, and a great touch on it. I like his comping ideas, he does really kick the BD hard.

It's odd to hear the drummer more integrated into the band rather than over the top like Buddy in this setting, that's what I'm used to hearing.

Great recording.

[Gary Husband]

Originally posted by benrand:
Got my discs in the mail today...

He was a smoooooth player, great right hand and he played those odd times with power. Much more intense than I thought it would be, some parts are pretty straight up rocking. That ride sounds amazing, and a great touch on it. I like his comping ideas, he does really kick the BD hard.

It's odd to hear the drummer more integrated into the band rather than over the top like Buddy in this setting, that's what I'm used to hearing.

Great recording.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Ooah yeah, intense, kicking hard and rocking and swinging. What about that guy eh? Does he mean it or what!!???

Thanks for buying the record on the strengh of my endorsement. Makes me proud to talk of him a little and get that vibe heard by guys who may not know of him.

Check him out throughout on "Malaga" ... and the way he steams in on the second section of "Chiapas", ... (which is a tune I covered by the way on my Force Majeure DVD) ... or again on track 1 where he kicks in with that arresting 6/8 pumping kick drum stuff.

I just love this guy. This guy sent me when I was twelve. I listen to it in 2005 and the effect is exactly the same as I felt it back then. It actually brings me to tears when I hear him, it moves me so much.

Wonderful.


GH

[Dazzler]

Gary (sorry to deviate here) am I right in thinking that you studied at Leeds College Of Music with Ronnie Bottomley? Me too! From 92-95. Do you still keep in touch? How is he? Have you ever studied with Hassell?

PS, just ordered my copy of Today from Amazon, thanks for the heads up!

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ June 02, 2005 08:44 PM: Message edited by: Dazzler ]</font>

[Gary Husband]

Originally posted by Dazzler:
Gary (sorry to deviate here) am I right in thinking that you studied at Leeds College Of Music with Ronnie Bottomley? Me too! From 92-95. Do you still keep in touch? How is he? Have you ever studied with Hassell?

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">No, I never attended the college. I used to sneak in there to rehearse with a guitarist I'd just met - Steve Topping. As a matter of fact I'd been asked repeatedly not to be going in and playing with people, but used to ignore it and do it anyway.

I knew Ronnie, sure. He gave me a couple of lessons, but ... not at the college. My dad knew him as he used to work often with Willie Hurst and the band at Wakefield Theatre Club. That was a good band!

I was thinking only recently about Ronnie. I hope he's still around. He was hip, and I admired him.

Dave Hassell? No, I knew him - worked with him on a Manchester TV show when I was with Syd Lawrence, and he was in the main television band. I played his drums on the show for our spot - single headed Pearls - got it on video. It was around 1976.

Regards,


GH

[benrand]

"Steams" is a good description. Hisright hand is like the hand of Sister DePazzis, a nun that taught me first grade, SMACK, very present and direct.

What I really like about this recording is that the louder you crank it up, the better it sounds. [img]wink.gif[/img]

The music is very rich and full of interesting timbres with the horns fighting for space.

[davfrancis]

I know that John Blackburn (sometime HOD poster) is currently studying at Leeds and from what he tells me it sounds like Ronnie is the same old Ronnie.

When I was at Leeds Ronnie's enthusiasm and love for music was important to me - he seemed to believe in me and that meant a lot.

Cool guy.. and quite a character!