On drums...

A couple of you guys that I have been in touch with offline know that for the last month or more, and for probably 2-3 months going forward, I have been/will be completely buried in a number of work related, trio related, and general projects that consume more waking hours than I have, and I have not been able to participate much here for a while...

...but I had to make time for this one: Last night, to my complete surprise, I got an email from Jack Berky, my drum teacher in the late 60's and early 70's. This is a guy that I have great respect for, and appreciation for what he contributed in a number of ways to my drumming, and as a friend.

We have lost contact with each other for various spans over the years, but always manage to reconnect. The last time I saw him was 5-6 years ago on one of his gigs, while I was back in CT for a holiday, and a year or two before that in a visit with him at his home.

I had mentioned him in my bio on the River City Trio website, and he happened to come across the website, amd sent me note to let me know that he liked our interpretations of the tunes on the site, and that he was happy to hear one of his students was playing jazz.

A pleasant and proud moment for me, and I think, for him, too.

_________________
Cliff

River City Trio

What if we did all have the same opinions?

Fantastic, Cliff! I have tried on a few occasions to let one teacher or another know how much he meant in my life, only to find he or she had died. How great to actually be able to give validation to someone who poured so much of themselves out for your growth. Just great!

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Gregory

Nice story Cliff.
Little off topic, but....In the late 90's I was working in a drumshop that received a call about a deceased estate auction. Not a lot of high end gear, but a teachers personal equipment, nice Marimba, Yamaha kit, old Zildjians and various odds and ends.
My Boss and I turned up to have a look, and there was my first (in my opinion only) teachers name on the Kick Reso head.
My boss bought everything except the Marimba, and tripled his money. Would have liked to have kept a Cymbal, or something, but Business is business .And I was playing Heavy Metal at the time, and I probably would have trashed it .

Cheers

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Jeff
Gots ta luv da Beech
Australia

Hey Jeff,

It sure would have been nice if you were to make one of those cymbals a part of your set up, eh?

_________________
Cliff

River City Trio

What if we did all have the same opinions?

Yup.

It is nice when you get to let people know they made a difference.

_________________
Cliff

River City Trio

What if we did all have the same opinions?

That too.

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Gregory

WOW...
Meeting someone after a while is great...
Meeting someone after a while that You like very much is even better...
But - meeting a person that influenced you in great deal, and showing him that he has something to be proud about is FANTASTIC!!!

Amazing moments Cliff...


I stumbled upon a student of mine a couple of months back. As You know I was a high school teacher (2005-2009), so the student thanked me for giving him suggestions where to continue his education after high school. It turned out he took my advice and is very satisfied with his college days, and never lost the good part of his creativity that he had back in the days. I must admit - I was overwhelmed with joy...
The idea that you managed to influence (in the positive sense) a person is a reward by itself, but his public gratitude is what stays for life...

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Goki - short from Goran

Let the good drums roll!!!

Okay...I can't re-type all that again right now
Back later.

Start again....all that typing and one missed key on this stupid laptop and poof...gonzo.

This is a great thread.
When I started in my very early teens I met another drummer in town a few years older than me that I ended up spending quite a few years with as best friends.
He influenced me in every area of drumming and gigging and to this day is one of my favorite drummers even though I haven't seen him in years.
We both caught the Sonor bug back then together. Dreamed of Signatures. He was the first one to actually get a Sonor kit. It was a white Phonic Plus kit. Looking back I still can remember thinking how new and modern those things looked. We went to a huge rock club together to check them out as the seller was in a big touring band. Ours jaws dropped, we never heard anything like it before. He bought them.
It was his Slingerland kit I bought and gigged on for the next 10-12 years.
He showed up at a few of my first "big time" gigs and did my sound checks. Offered advice on everything, the do's and don'ts. Saved me tons of headaches early on. Always stood right next to the stage. Speaking to me by signs, pounding fists to hit harder, change the ride cymbal stroke, making corrections when I couldn't hear something. Ran onto the stage a couple times to duct tape something or pick up a falling cymbal or a rolling away cowbell. Total support...loved the guy.
We spent about 10 years renting "band rooms" side by side. Always hearing him drum next door I learned most of everything in those early years.
Enough to be in a great gigging band anyway. That is about all of the "teaching" I had ever gotten.
I don't think he ever acheived his Signature dream. And man oh man if he only knew where I went with it.
I should look him up.

Ah..I just got sick to my stomach. I recalled I traded that Slingerland kit for a car after owning it for about 15 years. We valued it at 900.

I'm going to dig out some pictures of the kit and post them.