Happy 2010 to everyone.
Ten days into the new year and things are looking
good. Feeling blessed to be feeling healthy and for
having a healthy and happy family.
Come to think of it: things are
always looking good when your health is good.
Ultimately, it's all about being with the ones you
love and being able to do what you love to do. So, I
hope that all of you are feeling equally blessed by
good health, good fortune and opportunity. If I
sound like a Chinese fortune cookie, then blame it
on my old age.
The economy is still a mess - a
lot of people are hell-bent on wreaking havoc and
destruction on others - our society seems to suffer
from ADHD, culturally and otherwise - and yet I'm
still optimistic! Maybe because that's the way I'm
wired, but also because every problem is an
invitation to come up with a solution.
And I'm not more clever than the
next person, but I do like to do my homework and I
do like to connect the dots and I do like to do
right by others, and I do like to pay attention to
things - and I do enjoy life. Put all of these
qualities together ~ as American as apple pie ~ and
innovation can hold tradition's hand while bounding
into the future.
Chances are pretty good that you're a musician if you're reading this
- that, or someone who "gets"�
music. And music is the one thing in life that
always seems to bring people together. It feels good
to be a member of that club. That's all I'm trying
to say, I guess.
2009 ended with a terrific gig in
Hamburg, Germany with the Norrbotten Big Band, led
by trumpeter/writer Tim Hagans. We played two nights
in concert at the NDR radio house, in celebration of
the upcoming CD release (on Fuzzy Music), "The
Avatar Sessions.”
Music. This might be the best
music I've ever recorded in terms of excitement and
swing and
 modernity.
And the big band is tight. Soloists include Randy
Brecker, George Garzone, Dave Liebman, Tim (Hagans),
Rufus Reid and the players of the Norrbotten band.
Recorded by James Farber in New York's Avatar
Studios and mixed by Rich Breen, this CD will blow
your mind.
And then I did a drumchannel.com broadcast with drum
legend Terry Bozzio and synth master Judd Miller …
that will go "live"� again for replay @
drumchannel.com on the 12th of
January - CHECK IT
OUT. We managed to get in a lot of philosophy as
well as a few paradiddles.
Oh yeah! Recorded an album with Bob Mintzer and
Larry Goldings (on organ)! It's a swinger.
 Now
that the Christmas tree has been put away and we've
made our New Years resolutions, life is getting
back to normal. In other words: busy.
Have already gigged twice at
Vitello's jazz room (with pianist Vardan Ovsepian on
the 5th, and pianist Bill Cunliffe, bassist Chuck
Berghofer and saxophonist Bob Sheppard on the 10th
to help raise money for the California Jazz
Foundation); went to a Lakers basketball game as
well as an LA Kings hockey game (sat right behind
the goal/net, 3 rows from the ice - the most fun I've
ever had at a sporting event!), judged the Guitar
Center's "Drum-Off"� event: (congratulations to
winner Ramon Sampson! He and the other 4 contestants
were all excellent! Ramon's solo piece was truly
outstanding!) along with Kenny Aronoff, John
Tempesta, Taylor
Hawkins, Thomas Lang, Jason Sutter, Tony Royster, Jr,
Nisan Stewart and Ray Luzier. Nice to see John
Bonham and Billy Cobham officially recognized as
drumming legends ~ Jason Bonham did a terrific
tribute to his father and Bill Cobham played a great
solo. And so on...
And now, school is starting up (USC) with a new
semester's worth of Drumset Proficiency students …
NAMM is upon us - in addition to the “Avatar
Sessions” CD, we have "The TRIO ~ Live at Charlie
O's"� coming out soon, plus the just-released "Interlochen Concert" online at the iTunes store (w/
Alan Pasqua and Darek Oles).
 And
some new photos on my
Drummerworld page.
And still working on updating the Web site - and my
home studio - working on some new music - planning
my upcoming concert appearances and tours - and,
like so on.
It's all good. It's a thing. It's your thing. Just
happy to be here. Be kind to someone and make some
good sounds. - Peter
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