Here's one for you!

Cy Twombly is dead

I first heard about Cy Twombly a number of years ago when reading a writeup in the local paper about a solo drum performance I was doing at this place called the Tugboat in Portland Oregon.

The writer mentioned "...he even resembles a pensive young Cy Twombly".

Well at that point in my life I said huh? Cy who?

I investigated the man (who I saw little physical resemblance to) and his art (which I loved).

In recent history I moved to Philadelphia a mere few blocks from the Art Museum where every 1st Sunday I take my son, who, after requesting to go see the "Armor" rooms (knights in shining armor, swords, etc) a time or two, also asks to see Cy Twombly.

There's a series of Twombly's on the 1st floor, huge, messy, wonderful.

Last night I heard he passed and found myself thinking of him all day long.

Here you go old man!

Waiting for beans and rice to cook

Just walked to Kimey's to get some icicles for Sonny

Free?!

What do you play? Whatever I want. Its hard to get away from time, rhythm, playing drums, the trap kit is a trap if you don't want to mess with time, no time, "rag time to no time", there's much to be said for just a drum.........people do all sorts of beautiful things with vibrating membranes drums skins, specialists in texture sound using dowel rods bows rosin on things you can get lost in that world.....you get some cymbals up and add some toms and kick and have a certain feel there's no escaping pulse so what can you do? I like to do everything as it happens, I don't mind repeating repeating repetition or playing time swinging pulse or make friction happen with any number of implements on surfaces static noise void and cluttered rhythm cymbals bouncing all over the place.

Its really a lifelong journey to figure out this thing. The kit as instrument. Going where others have gone and taking stealing changing rearranging evolving the thing that you do. There are walls that get in the way that will always be scaled knocked down however you see it. For me so many things have done this from Milford Graves to Billy Mintz to damn near every drummer I've heard to honest with you. I'm not looking for a name or fame or you or anyone knowing who I've played with or where I've been. I intend to lose myself in the process each and every time and if this happens to be in the public context then that's sharing what others have shared with me, that thing, whatever it is, sorta like you're leaving you're body and watching the music happen you're watching yourself channel this sound action from somewhere.............maybe it can be seen as mystical too far out hippie dippy freakatoni this is how it is I just go on and keep playing at some point I may be old if I am there I'll be playing whether anyone listens or not.........

As I sit here sweating damn boy its hot here in Philly and the humidity makes it sticky my drums are behind me and are fairly in tune I might just go play them with a pair of mallets make some music for the room and the moisture!

For Ed Blackwell!!

Oh yeah, its raining!

riverrun, past Eve and Adam's, from swerve of shore to bend of bay, brings us by comodius vicous of circulation back to Howthe Castle and environs...........................................................