"High Life" is a musical genre that originated in Ghana in the 1900s and spread to Sierra Leone, Nigeria and other West African countries by 1920. My friends from that part of the world consider this be the "go-to" rhythm for just about anything…
the recording on this one is exceptionally good. I think you may have perfected the perc mic up over this last year. is there a hint of reverb?
Nice one, really warm malaria-like sound
"High Life" is a musical genre that originated in Ghana in the 1900s and spread to Sierra Leone, Nigeria and other West African countries by 1920. My friends from that part of the world consider this be the "go-to" rhythm for just about anything…
@ Kirk& Kamachi: excellent observation, and you are correct. As most of my patterns are built around clave, and as clave is structured upon so many off-beats, to get my metronome to "click" on some key clave beats, I set my metronome at double time- so my bpm notation reflects what my metronome setting was dialed to. Here is a clave link that graphically shows how many times clave percussion scores are transcribed in 2/2 (cut time) to make it easier to read... but if one is counting 8th notes instead of quarter notes, the bpm will be doubled.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clave_(rhythm)?wasRedirected=true
"High Life" is a musical genre that originated in Ghana in the 1900s and spread to Sierra Leone, Nigeria and other West African countries by 1920. My friends from that part of the world consider this be the "go-to" rhythm for just about anything…
"High Life" is a musical genre that originated in Ghana in the 1900s and spread to Sierra Leone, Nigeria and other West African countries by 1920. My friends from that part of the world consider this be the "go-to" rhythm for just about anything…
"High Life" is a musical genre that originated in Ghana in the 1900s and spread to Sierra Leone, Nigeria and other West African countries by 1920. My friends from that part of the world consider this be the "go-to" rhythm for just about anything…
"High Life" is a musical genre that originated in Ghana in the 1900s and spread to Sierra Leone, Nigeria and other West African countries by 1920. My friends from that part of the world consider this be the "go-to" rhythm for just about anything…
@ Richard: many thanks- recording accoustical percussion is sometimes tricky and I'm still learning the skill sets required for that. I mount my own skins from bulk rawhide (so not actually tanned) but I don't actually make the rawhide from animal skins... that's a lot of work on a non-industrial level and there are some health concerns when it comes to working with (especially imported) fresh animal skins. Many of the (nonterrorist) cases of anthrax reported involve folks making their own drum heads, so I just use commercially cured cow skin from the USA for the latin drums and buy pre-made drum heads for the African drums, which are usually water buffalo, goat or some sort of deer.
"High Life" is a musical genre that originated in Ghana in the 1900s and spread to Sierra Leone, Nigeria and other West African countries by 1920. My friends from that part of the world consider this be the "go-to" rhythm for just about anything…
the sound quality is great,,, i can almost see/feel the bending/vibrating of the skin,, do you make,, tan etc your own skins?,,, this has a wonderful warm quality,, great piece
"High Life" is a musical genre that originated in Ghana in the 1900s and spread to Sierra Leone, Nigeria and other West African countries by 1920. My friends from that part of the world consider this be the "go-to" rhythm for just about anything…
"High Life" is a musical genre that originated in Ghana in the 1900s and spread to Sierra Leone, Nigeria and other West African countries by 1920. My friends from that part of the world consider this be the "go-to" rhythm for just about anything…
"High Life" is a musical genre that originated in Ghana in the 1900s and spread to Sierra Leone, Nigeria and other West African countries by 1920. My friends from that part of the world consider this be the "go-to" rhythm for just about anything…
"High Life" is a musical genre that originated in Ghana in the 1900s and spread to Sierra Leone, Nigeria and other West African countries by 1920. My friends from that part of the world consider this be the "go-to" rhythm for just about anything…
@ Dave: thanks for listening! This recording is 8 tracks, consisting of 2 (stereo) bass drum, cowbell, clave, chinese blocks, and 3 tracks of various sized conga drums playing their parts. Traditionally it is performed by a group of percussionists, which I would *love* to assemble- but that rarely is possible for me to do where I live.
Perhaps I should move to Africa.
"High Life" is a musical genre that originated in Ghana in the 1900s and spread to Sierra Leone, Nigeria and other West African countries by 1920. My friends from that part of the world consider this be the "go-to" rhythm for just about anything…
Thanks Norm, I posted the lyrics. Now then on to this great groove, Yeah baby thats really moving isn't it. Is this one track or a few tracks overdubbed together? I am moving every part of my body to this groove.
"High Life" is a musical genre that originated in Ghana in the 1900s and spread to Sierra Leone, Nigeria and other West African countries by 1920. My friends from that part of the world consider this be the "go-to" rhythm for just about anything…
"Afoxe" is a rhythm played by carnival groups from Bahia in Northeastern Brazil. It is named after an instrument that is traditionally used to play this pattern: an afoxe is a beaded gourd; aka "shekere". In this rendition, I replaced the shaker…
A 3 track improvisation on 7 congas roughly tuned by ear to a chromatic scale.
LYRICS:
I walked a mile with Pleasure;
She chatted all the way;
But left me none the wiser
For all she had to say.
I walked a mile with Sorrow,
And ne…
A 3 track improvisation on 7 congas roughly tuned by ear to a chromatic scale.
LYRICS:
I walked a mile with Pleasure;
She chatted all the way;
But left me none the wiser
For all she had to say.
I walked a mile with Sorrow,
And ne…
"High Life" is a musical genre that originated in Ghana in the 1900s and spread to Sierra Leone, Nigeria and other West African countries by 1920. My friends from that part of the world consider this be the "go-to" rhythm for just about anything…
"High Life" is a musical genre that originated in Ghana in the 1900s and spread to Sierra Leone, Nigeria and other West African countries by 1920. My friends from that part of the world consider this be the "go-to" rhythm for just about anything…
"Afoxe" is a rhythm played by carnival groups from Bahia in Northeastern Brazil. It is named after an instrument that is traditionally used to play this pattern: an afoxe is a beaded gourd; aka "shekere". In this rendition, I replaced the shaker…
"Afoxe" is a rhythm played by carnival groups from Bahia in Northeastern Brazil. It is named after an instrument that is traditionally used to play this pattern: an afoxe is a beaded gourd; aka "shekere". In this rendition, I replaced the shaker…
Shout out to Tom Waits, one of my favs. Rumor has it, he has had a similar problem with his piano.
I didnt think I would make it signing this way to the end of the song, lol.
Throat lozenge anyone??
Last of the archives for now. A set of reels from the Last Nights Fun album. I did pipes, whistle and guitar on the last tune in the set. There's a live version of this up here too. This is the studio cut
This is a recording of Norm and me playing together a few months ago. I didnt have any percussion instruments so Norm was on a Roland electric trap set and I had a cello. I looped some of the stuff we did that night, and retrofitted the rest…
Norm played the percussion first, which is a Bembe pattern; I couldnt help playing a melody and creating lyrics for this perc track. Thanks for the listen, Enjoy!
this was originally a song about breaking through paradigms but turned into a song about a girl.
Keys and string samples from Korg, MIDI with the old Ensoniq,
one diving board.
Thanks for the listen ,enjoy... RW
A collab with Tod Wolfe and Ken Davidsen - Awesome dudes!
Tod - Drums
Ken - Crunchy guitar, effects and solos
Me - Vocals, plunky/strummy uke parts and bass
Gene sent me over this beaut of a funky backer of the song by Tower of Power a real tounge tister i'm guilty of the vocals Gene did the good bit Thanks Gene
Gene sent me over this beaut of a funky backer of the song by Tower of Power a real tounge tister i'm guilty of the vocals Gene did the good bit Thanks Gene
When we were kids, my brother used to wake me up before dawn and we would schlep across this field and wait for the unobstructed sunrise. At that time, it seemed like the coolest thing ever!
I have officially stopped with CD 's and now have decided to mail zip drives. I tried mailing these in a regular envelope. (FAIL lol)
One guy got postage due of $2.51 and the other, the envelope was destroyed with no zip at all. For my brother…
Another recent song somehow not posted to AT (?) cleaning house this weekend.
Had the privilege of playing around with a cello in the house.
Dont know how to play the damn thing but too fun not adding it in the mix
Comments on Norm's stuff
the recording on this one is exceptionally good. I think you may have perfected the perc mic up over this last year. is there a hint of reverb? Nice one, really warm malaria-like sound
@ Kirk& Kamachi: excellent observation, and you are correct. As most of my patterns are built around clave, and as clave is structured upon so many off-beats, to get my metronome to "click" on some key clave beats, I set my metronome at double time- so my bpm notation reflects what my metronome setting was dialed to. Here is a clave link that graphically shows how many times clave percussion scores are transcribed in 2/2 (cut time) to make it easier to read... but if one is counting 8th notes instead of quarter notes, the bpm will be doubled. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clave_(rhythm)?wasRedirected=true
Excellent playing. But +1 here for the 110 BPM perception :-)
Excellent! I find it interesting that in almost every one of these that you list the BPM I feel them in half time, so I would think of this as 110 BPM
glad to be back. good stuff here.
@ Richard: many thanks- recording accoustical percussion is sometimes tricky and I'm still learning the skill sets required for that. I mount my own skins from bulk rawhide (so not actually tanned) but I don't actually make the rawhide from animal skins... that's a lot of work on a non-industrial level and there are some health concerns when it comes to working with (especially imported) fresh animal skins. Many of the (nonterrorist) cases of anthrax reported involve folks making their own drum heads, so I just use commercially cured cow skin from the USA for the latin drums and buy pre-made drum heads for the African drums, which are usually water buffalo, goat or some sort of deer.
the sound quality is great,,, i can almost see/feel the bending/vibrating of the skin,, do you make,, tan etc your own skins?,,, this has a wonderful warm quality,, great piece
I heard the style somewhere but you perfected it. Thanks for uploading.
Phenomenal - almost, pheromonal!!
i played this in college. fun.
@ Dave: thanks for listening! This recording is 8 tracks, consisting of 2 (stereo) bass drum, cowbell, clave, chinese blocks, and 3 tracks of various sized conga drums playing their parts. Traditionally it is performed by a group of percussionists, which I would *love* to assemble- but that rarely is possible for me to do where I live. Perhaps I should move to Africa.
Thanks Norm, I posted the lyrics. Now then on to this great groove, Yeah baby thats really moving isn't it. Is this one track or a few tracks overdubbed together? I am moving every part of my body to this groove.
Absolutely brilliant.
Great brilliant top job mate.
@ Jarvis: Ha! I'm vocally challenged, but to hear the lyrics, go here: http://alonetone.com/vaisvil/tracks/walk-with-sorrow-norm-rick-chris-emily
Cool job ...but hey lyrics and no vox ?
Yet another good one. I love how you always post the style and a bit of history with each track. It always helps me understand the song better.
excellent! I like the way the congas answer each other.
Great stuff Norm! I must make some time to jam with some of your tracks
Beatiful!
Comments made by Norm
Great! I wish that it went on much longer. I thought that you were lulling me into a perfect wave and were then going to hit me with a Tsunami.
I hate it. Wait! No, I love it.
HOLY SHIT!!! Maybe you and I should have a small fight out on the lawn...
I hope you get fat.
Oh Tess...
Hmmm, Walker. Who on Earth would ever put such dangerous music into the hands of such an impressionable youg man?
Too much fun!
Long live the trilogy!!
Worked!
Ha! I haven't had to listen to this one in over 2 years. Progress! An epic recording. Very important to me.
So GREAT to hear from you again.
Great lullaby. Please play me just one more. Whaaa? Where did Launched come from? I had given up hope!
BUMP CITY!
One of the coolest songs ever.
I am grateful for those memories...
ZZLOVEIT!
One of the best technical songs ever. Now, regarding the Hurdy Gurdy... Well done my bold brother. And Merry Christmas.
Typical USPS. Congrats on the new throne! I can't wait to steal it.
Damn that Desirea. She does that to everyone...
Didn't you have a graphic of the original lyrics for this? :) Great remix.