Percussion Is Difficult: Letter to Chris

C

I thought of you last night. I attended a concert, "Jazz for the City: The Bill Cunlife Trio: music from the Movies." Bill and his bass player, Darek Oles, have been together for 20 years. Their improvisations were amazing, tasteful, innovative, surprising, delightful.

After listening to their first two numbers I wondered, "What the hell is the matter?  What's wong?" I was the young drummer, Jake Reed, who obviously has not played with the trio because he's not old enough. And he was definitely not good enough. However, he looks great.

It's like buying an expensive Hi-Fi system. When you get great sound reproduction you start hearing all the imperfections that you didn't

Cunliffe and Oles are so damn good that when Reed on percussion is just off the beat, usually late, or banging endlessly on his largest cymbal with little variety it's really obvious and disturbing.  I found it difficult, but necessary to tune the percussion out and just listen to the piano and bass.

So I thought of you and wished you were there to provide the necessary support on percussion for the other two great players.

Also, I wish I could attend a concert and just enjoy it like most others, but.......Well, you know.

Percussion is really difficult.

R