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!

Keep pushing that envelope! Tell me again, as you recorded this, are you listening to the tuning as we hear it in the recording?

Lovely!

Provocative and powerful.

Great to hear some other Virginia musucians on this great website. You rock strong. I'm proud that you are from the Commonwealth. Look me up when you are in Roanoke if you would like to jam with a percussionist. Strong work!

Oh, how did I miss this rocker? Strong on many levels.

Yes! This rocks hard.

This is a lovely song with great lyrics. It stands on it's own without any percussion - to my ear it was too delicate to put any percussion to except just a touch of shaker. Nice work! As usual from you, great vox.

Ahh, Vibraphone & Piano: 2 of my favorite *percussion* instruments. I'll go on an expedition with you any time! (Way hip kite surfing photo)

Ha! This was great fun for me generating a large number of interesting spooky noises -all acoustically- in my laboorratory. The chilling errie wind sound was created with a long spring, attached to the head of a small hand drum (known as a “spring drum”, of course) and the “opening crypt” sound was generated by running my thumb nail down the spring under tension. And any time I get to hit the 30” Paiste gong, you know I’m smiling –evilly in this case.

Yes, RW's sitar works very well here. Nice! I confess that I don't know what a tenpura is, but then I thought a hurdy-gurdy had something to do with a busking monkey... now I realize its a wheel fiddle, which I've never come close to seeing or hearing. I still want one of those things with the monkey hitting folks up for change in his little cup, whatever it's called.

Which ferret is the witch ferret?

I agree with Beth: definite Spanish flavor to this one. Very nice!

@Jarvis: A bandoneon is a type of concertina, sort of like an accordion, popular in Argentina... Piazolla is considered to be one of the masters of this instrument, (good question... I had to look it up myself). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandoneon

Ha! That's rich. All he wants is a regular cello, "like all the other cello people". But you gave a nice pitch for the electric bitchin' cello... I feel your pain, brother! A million drums and my kids want to play sax, flute and piano! Very nice work here, Dylan!

Still fresh and new, once again. Outstanding.

This is still fantastic. I'm sorry about your toothbrush.

Still awesome!

Exotic.

Wow great song. Your inspiration must be something else! Well done! Great collaboration.

Most excellent!