Tuesday, May 20, 2008

TCNJ Percussion - Class of 2008








Congratulations!

(L to R) Katie Kellen, Caryn Feder, Steve Goldberg, John Holmok (Magna Cum Laude), Tony Padron, Liz Lagerstrom (Summa Cum Laude!)
(absent) Vikki Bell (Magna Cum Laude)

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Elias Tanenbaum, 1924-2008















I had the honor of performing and recording numerous works by Elias Tanenbaum. His music was original and very moving. His work "Last Letters from Stalingrad" (Albany Records, #TROY247) is a masterpiece, and extremely profound.

bio: http://composers.com/eliastannenbaumsbio
obit: http://www.sequenza21.com/index.php

Friday, August 24, 2007

"It's Time" - Max Roach 1924-2007




3 Haikus for Max Roach



Your bass drum
Soloing our Blood.

Sifting
Breaths into The
Beat......unbeat.

Your hands
Shimmering on the
Legs of rain
-- Sonia Sanchez

Reflections on Max's funeral today:

Performances by: Cecil Bridgewater, Reggie Workman, Billy Harper, Elvira Green, Randy Weston, Cassandra Wilson, Billy Taylor, Jimmy Heath, Gary Bartz

Readings by: Rev. Dr. James Alexander Forbes, Jr., Maya Angelou, Amiri Baraka, Bill Cosby, Sonia Sanchez, Charles Rangel, David Paterson, Phil Schaap, Maxine Roach, Rev. Dr. Calvin Butts

Quotes of the day:
"Max Roach has modulated from time into eternity" - Rev. Dr. James Alexander Forbes
"When a great tree falls, it is wise to worship the ground from which it sprung" - Maya Angelou
"...and you played, and your hands reached out to God" - Sonia Sanchez
"Hey, Miles! Now that we've learned to play fast, Bird is gone!" - Max Roach, as told by Billy Harper

I wish I could quote Bill Cosby's monologue: "Max Roach is the reason I became a comedian"
Basically, Cos copped licks from well known drummers, until he saw Max play, and realized that only Max had hands that could move that fast. Years later, when he met Max, Cos told him, "You owe me $75 for that set of drums I bought."

Monday, August 06, 2007

Car Music Project @ Lincoln Center

Lincoln Center Out of Doors - 8/5/07


Tuesday, May 08, 2007

Ryoanji performance with Lifedance

This is a link to a fabulous video of a performance I did with
Gloria McLean & Lifedance in April. There is some of my music,
and also John Cage's "Ryoanji" for oboe & percussion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAXmSwSqz1Y

Saturday, February 03, 2007

BT on Letterman

Brooklyn Philharmonic on Letterman, accompanying Nellie McKay:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5NqWlnFBCE

Friday, August 18, 2006

Car Music Project @ Grounds for Sculpture - 7/06



Car Music Project @ Philly Fringe - 9/05



Welcome

Hello! Welcome to my site. It is still a work in progress as I figure out everything I can do here. Any suggestions are welcome, and if you have any photos of me that you're willing to share, please let me know. TTFN!

Bill