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!

I was glad to finally comprehend what he was saying...

YES! Fantastic!

There’s something to be said about dragging a song that has been a bit of a nemesis to you, for over a year, out to *your turf* to give it another listen. To a faithful car that you have known for many years, and inside of whom you have listened to many songs - over a speaker system that you have memorized. I know what you are doing. You aren’t finished with this piece yet, so you just keep looking and looking. It kind of reminds me of gold-mining in a way: if you quit digging you can’t strike the mother lode.

I always love hearing you sing. Well done!

Ha! Yep, you're a kid - you probably love going to the zoo - if for nothing else but to capture more sound samples. Don't ever loose that. Forget the stove.

Classic Vaisvil! Great mix and video... coupled with some LCPeep guitar work. The percussion was created on a snowed-in weekend, in which my family pronounced that I was to be “persona non percussionata”, fearing that my drums would drive them all crazy. (This is a recurring problem for me at my house, which I have managed to work around in various ways) As usual, I had a powerful jones to drum a bit. So, in the spirit of Cuban slaves, forced to make instruments out of what ever they could find and to Bembe while the Boss was out of ear-shot, I cleverly waited until everyone was napping and constructed a clandestine Illesa pattern, deep in the pantry, utilizing only the dry goods found there. Thanks to powered mics, which pick up even the quietest delicate sounds, it was a perfect crime. Had I been detected, it would have been off with *my* head.

Great voice.

Thank you, Alister.

Hilarious! Yep, I thought I was looking at a Hubble photo. Great example of the power of suggestion. That Flint lens gets me every time - there's no way the photo used here is for real, right? Looks dangerous to me.

Perhaps while you are slow over the next couple months, I could borrow your absynth, whip... and the evil kitty??

Ha! Good one! If I didn't keep my kids out of the studio while I was recording the conga tracks, it would have sounded a lot like this originally. And I want to go to Brian's pub.

Perfect.

Superb (and great job on the bar stool, as well!)

Nice, indeed.

I like how you almost go into "Mission Impossible" around 6:00. Great improv! It's good to hear some live trap-set work.

@ Alister: Ha! I have a cuica - and I'm always looking for an excuse to play it - but I usually associate it with Brazilian carnival / samba music. But now that you have mentioned it, I'm going to fire that up in the near future. And thank you, but Pedro & Mauricio are legend, and light years ahead the stuff I produce.

Yes, an instant classic. (And on this one I think I have actually figured out what the underlying image is behind the "Flint lens" graphic. Well, the title helped a little.)

I just love your bass work here. What a treat!

Whoa! Way to bring Saint Monica across the border! And while she probably doesn't have a current visa, I'm certain she has a smile on here face upon hearing this provocative guitar work. Well done!

Humpin'! Great work!