Maracas

Maracas

My friend Sid Brown is using Maracas in his performances. Sid likes to give the entire audience maracas and everyone shakes together. What fun!

Below is more about this ancient instrument. Some info states that Maracas originated in Morocco while others claimed South American and Caribbean origin. The excerpt below seems to make the most sense. I highlighted in bold a couple points below that were insightful.



Percussion instruments, especially drums, existed as long ago as the Stone Age. Maracas may have originated among several ancient civilizations at almost the same time. African tribes are known to have played drums and a wide variety of rattles and similar instruments from the traditions that have been carried down through the ages. South Pacific Islanders also developed a wide range of rattles by using plants that produced gourd-like seed pods; rattles without handles were even made from coconuts that had been dried out. In South America, maracas linked music and magic because witch doctors used maracas as symbols of supernatural beings; the gourds represented the heads of the spirits, and the witch doctor shook the gourds to summon them.

Just as maracas are essential to today's Latin and South American ensembles, the history of the maracas is best traced through the artwork of pre-Columbian Indians, especially the tribes in Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, and Paraguay. The word maraca is believed to have been given to the instrument by the Araucanian people of central Chile. It is used for all gourd rattles although some also have more specific names. In the region of West Africa along the Atlantic Ocean called Guinea, native people tell the legend of a goddess making a maraca by sealing white pebbles in a calabash, a hard gourd that is also shaped into cooking utensils. Natives of the Congo in Africa and the Hopi Indians in America share the tradition of using turtle shells and baskets for rattles; when settlers brought European goods to America, native Americans collected empty shell cartridges, metal spice boxes, and cans to make rattles. More here.


Although a simple instrument, the method of playing the maracas is not obvious. The seeds must travel some distance before they hit the leather, wood, or plastic, so the player must anticipate the rhythm. More here.

How to Teach Kids to Play the Maracas.


Joropo style maraca solo by Jerry Leake.


Lalo Rodriguez playing Maracas in the great pianist Eddie Palmieri’s band.

Joe Pass Guitar Lessons

This Blues primer has some great advice to novice players. Taking intros. Knowing how to end a tune.



Joe says learn to play with your fingers. He also uses a pick. I like how at 6:12 Joe encourages to adopt a picking style that is personally comfortable. “You don’t need a system. Only what works for you.”



Joe and Ella Fitzgerald performing ONCE IN A WHILE.


Joe and Ella playing the Jobim classic MEDITATION.

Chopping Heads

Dueling Banjo's


Dueling guitars.
Chopping heads with Steve Vai and Ry Cooder. Steve beats himself. Ralph Macchio's blitz at the end is actually Vai.

The ending is based on Paganini 5th Caprice.

Flea Bass Lessons

River Phoenix interviews his friend Flea. The maestro explains in detail his punk slap technique. Flea mentions punk and it's role in influencing rock musicians.



Flea is an obvious and tangible example of how one can translate a beautiful intelligent soul into beautiful intelligent music.

Victor Wooten Bass Lessons

Victor Wooten equates talking with Jamming.


Check out the lessons on Victor's web site.

Here Wooten walks the walk on Bela's Big Country. As the song begins, Bela discusses about capturing inspiration on his voice mail. This arrangement and orchestration is especially pleasing.

Zappa interviews

Click for The Holy Grail.

In this vid Franks talks about making a stand then changing his mind. His ability to self check is apparent.


There are many great Frank interviews, footage and documentaries to be found. These videos document the tireless work of an obsessed and gifted composer. The footage also serves as a historical record of a great American patriot.

Frank did much activism, press and testimony regarding censorship laws and first amendment issues. Frank encouraged voter registration. Not to mention the mega activism that were the songs themselves.

Here Frank discusses drugs and hopelessness in 1988. "In '84 there were kids still throwing joints onto the stage"

Steve Vai on his audition with Frank.


Check out this Steve Vai tribute for Frank. At times Stevie sounds like a melting candle going over a waterfall!

I hope the ZFT will someday put out a video compiling Franks conducting techniques.

Bad Brains Banned in DC

Bad Brains Banned in DC @ CBGB's 1982. Take in the exuberance of this audience. You could power vegas on this energy.


In '89 I snuck into a Bad Brain sound check at the Country Club in Reseda, Ca. Dr. Know was astoundingly cool when he OK'd me to open up for their sold out show. I played 2 songs on my acoustic. One was a cover of the Bad Brain's Regulator. Total Irie of a night.

Never have I experienced, before or since, such extreme energy from both a band and an audience. Disbelief even while witnessing. Functioning as part of that energy. The energy contained in the small building on Sherman Way and Canby grew to be surreal. I am still feeling the shock waves nearly 20 years later.

Here they are in 2006 back at CBGB's. I and I survive.

Observing and being part of a Bad Brains audience is a worthy music lesson as any.

Oscar Peterson Goodbye y Art Tatum

R I P Oscar.



Positive yet haunting. A simple melody that Oscar beats the fleas out of.

Art Tatums influence upon Oscar has been often mentioned.

Billy Preston How Great Thou Art

How Great Thou Art 1988

This version of Billy playing Summertime is a crusher as well.