Drum Stories

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The Ultimate Honor

My friend, John Lengel, plays drums for <A HREF=http://www.lasectaallstar.com/index1.php> La Secta </A>, a Puerto Rican rock band. He got me started on drums (with Neil Peart, of course), and we both evolved from Neil fans to Vinnie fans, and all other drummers in between.

On their original 6-song demo was a tune called "Bombon De Azucar (sugar bonbons)." Around the same time Ricky Martin's people were gathering tunes for his forthcoming album, A Medio Vivir, and took fancy to "Bombon..."

After all the politics was done, John and the lead singer find themselves in Los Angeles to do odd jobs for Ricky's album. John's credit appears at the bottom of <A HREF=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=MISS70307290801&sql=A5do7gjqro6i w> this page </A>.

If you scroll up towards the top of <A HREF=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=MISS70307290801&sql=A5do7gjqro6i w> the same page </A> you will see Michael Baird as one of the two drummers brought in for this album. The other drummer was none other than Vinnie Colaiuta. And wouldn't you know it, Vinnie lays the track down for John's "Bombon...".

Hence, the ultimate honor.

<marquee width="150" loop="infinite"> Link to the track coming soon... </marquee>

Ok...here goes,

Back at a NAMM show in LA, maybe around '95 there was this very young little kid playing one of the model kits. He might have been Tony Royster Jr as a eight or nine year old. This kid was soloing and a crowd drew. Most were just there for the cute little kid playing drums, but he started to do some combinations that were obviously taught to him. Then he really started to put some stuff together. For a little kid, it was crowd gathering worthy--and they loved it! There was about 35 people standing around.

All of a sudden the guy next to me yells, "Allright, right on...go for it!" It was Vinnie. As soon as he yelled (he was still with Sting at this time) the crowd shifted and some rather big name players sort of melted, like a kid around their dad, surrounding Vinnie.."Oh...hi Vinnie...how are you...would you sign my...?"

It was great.

Ptrack,

You do DC a disservice by talking so badly about it in your posts. Just because one dude sucks and talks poorly to Vinnie...fuck'em. I live here too and think it's great. Blues Alley is not the only place to check out jazz and improvisational music. In fact, Blues Alley is way too expensive for my taste. What about Twins on U st? Have you checked out HR-57 or the Chi-Cha lounge? What about Columbia Station in Adams Morgan? Blues Alley would probably be DC's equivalent of NY's Blue Note or LA's Catalina Grill (I'm assuming...) Way too fuckin' expensive. DC rules. Minor Threat and Fugazi hail from here. Dischord records started from here. Dave Chappelle grew up here. Grady Tate teaches drums at Howard U. Steve Fidyk teaches drums at U. of MD and George Mason University. We have all sorts of great players here every night of the week. You just gotta open your eyes. Don't try to front like DC ain't the shit.

PS- what the hell are you talking about saying something like "that sort of ignorance runs rampant here in DC."? Maybe you assert yourself poorly to the wrong crowd. I've never experienced that. Get out if it sucks so bad.

Yo Boyz...not on my thread [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Back to the stories...
I was in Bally's working out and afterwards entered the sauna (in a bathing suit). I was sitting on the top bench and this guy walks in. He looked familiar, but I couldn't place him.

Then, all of a sudden I was taken back to junior high school and my first drum book, Realistic Rock. Yes, Carmine Appiece sat in front of me. I told myself if I just sat there like a woose and said nothing I would kick myself later, so I said, "Carmine?"

He turned around and was the coolest guy on planet earth for those 30 mins we rapped. Ironcially, I told him I drove him ten years earlier in college when I worked for a limo service. That was also a freak meeting out of nowhere.

I have a couple of drum stories but I will just mention one due to space considerations. I heard that Vinnie was going to be playing at a Carlos Vega memorial concert so I took some vacation time off from work to go see the show. It took me 2.5 hours to drive through traffic and reach the show. It turned out that Vinnie was not there. I was feeling a little disappointed because he was not there. As I was sitting by the bar, a gentleman came by and sat down. I looked at his face and he looked very familiar. He happen to be wearing a denim jacket with a "Tom Petty and the Heart Breakers" logo on the back. I realized that I was sitting by Steve Ferrone! Even though I was awestruck, I managed to tell him that he was one of my favorite drummers. He seemed to be a very friendly and down-to-earth person.

well this isnt my story, its my dad's but i smile each time i hear it.

He was playing a gig at a hotel in London and the gig turned out to be real bad. the band was aweful and sounded poo. he couldnt wait to get off the band stand.

he got in the lift and as it stopped at the next floor, in walked......Buddy Rich! my dad was probably the biggest rich fan on the planet. he couldnt believe it! buddy said "good evening" and the lift carried on up. Buddy got out on the next floor.

to this day my Father doesnt know why he didnt say anything, the words just didnt come out. all he hopes is that buddy didnt see him playing with that shit band!!!

The scene: Blues Alley Washington DC

The show :John Pattitucci Quintet featuring Vinnie
2nd set

Is walking up to the bathroom during the set break.I noticed Vinnie was on the phone in a heated discussion.I left him alone.I went and did my business and walked to see some old man bustin Vinnie's chops up saying stuff like "Your not gonna be intimidated by Pattitucci are you?"
To my shock Vinnie did not say anything for a few seconds..He then stood in this guys face and said "I think that I've proven that I am not intimidated by ANYBODY!"...Who the heck does this old nobody think he is verbally confronting someone like that?? Ignorant Bastard!!! Anyway , old man wandered off like some arrogant jerk..I told Vinnie "That guy is full of shit!!You are the man."...He was silent ..I left him alone again and found John P and started talking to him...The band started playing.. Vinnie was TEARING it up..Everyone in the house (fellow bandmembers included) Were simply drooling at the master at work..Every song Vinnie ripped it up so hard that at times Pattitucci just broke out into joyous laughter ..That was great,considering the 1st set was very mellow and tasteful....
This old fool with no guts was not present at the end of the gig.(I guess he had to fix his pacemaker or something.)
It was the best show I have EVER seen..Sadly VC has not been to Blue's Alley since..As much as I would love to see him in a jazz club context again.I would not ever expect him to play that place again or anyother jazz club in DC for that matter...The ignorance runs wild in the Nation's Capital....And that explains why DC is not regarded as a respectable music town ..
Sadly being a DC bound musician,I later met that foolish old man and chewed him out..It costed me some gigs..But with the way things are here. I am fine with that...
So dont come to DC to play music that's my suggestion...Considering what I have seen of this community in my tenure here.It's safe to say I'll be leaving ASAP!!!

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ July 30, 2003 12:56 AM: Message edited by: ptrack ]</font>

Nikk,

I live in Adams Morgan...I've played shows with almost everyone in the DC/Va/MD scene..I've played in the Jazz,R&b,Contemporary,Blues,Reggae,and Rock cirles here.....DC is a small town...WHO DO YOU PLAY WITH???? People who play this scene regularly also agree with my view...You live in Springfield VA....Perhaps you do not see this as much as I do...DC is not the shit you would like it to be....I've been and played at all the sessions in town (Twins,HR57,on and on)...A majority of the folks have a screwed up attitude (ie they posture way too much amongst other things)..I've lived here all my life...I know what goes on...Perhaps you need to take your blinders off and check out what really happens with the political crap that pervades this town..
You think DC has got some stuff going...Buddy you could not be more wrong.....Yes I've played in the wrong circles in my time...Perhaps maybe you should try to get in the scene so you can see what I am talking about....It takes a deeper view to see this stuff..Try it and you will see...

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ July 30, 2003 03:04 PM: Message edited by: ptrack ]</font>