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Jay & the Americans’ Rick Van
Horn
2009-11-12
Hello, MD online readers! This is Rick Van Horn. Yes…that Rick Van Horn. It’s been a while since most of you have seen my name, so I thought I’d take this opportunity to let everyone know that I haven’t dropped off the face of the planet. In fact, since leaving the MD staff in February of 2008, I’ve been pursuing a widely varied freelance career.
To begin with, in May of ’08 I became the touring drummer for the legendary ’60s singing stars Jay & the Americans. I’m part of the USA Band, traveling with the group to gigs across the U.S. and Canada. It’s a great feeling to return to full-time professional drumming, and it’s exciting to be doing that drumming on a national scale for the first time in my long career. Of course, any touring gig comes with its share of good, bad, and sometimes just plain crazy experiences, and this one is no exception. I hope to share some of those experiences with you in future blogs. In the meantime, you can check us out at our Web site, which is listed below. (Click the USA Band icon for bios and photos of the band.)
Along with my J&TA gig, I’ve also been playing in the house bands for a variety of oldies shows, backing such acts as the Drifters, the Crystals, the Duprees, the Chantals, the Teenagers, and Speedo & the Cadillacs. (Where do they get these names?) These are fun but high-pressure situations where I often don’t know what songs I’ll be playing until I see the charts at soundcheck!
At home in New Jersey I’m involved in a totally different sort of musical project: a high-energy eleven-piece cover band called ThirdValve. With a lineup that includes two guitars, two keyboards, bass, drums, percussion, trumpet, sax, trombone, and a lead singer, it’s the largest band I’ve ever worked with. Our repertoire ranges from classic horn-band music to full-on rock ’n’ roll. This is a labor of love for everyone involved. We recently recorded a six-track CD called ThirdValve: IPO, and you can hear MP3 versions on our Web site, also listed below. I’m doing all the drumming, many of the background vocals, and the lead vocal on “Midnight Hour.” Check ’em out and let me know what you think.
In addition to my live drumming, I’m still very active in the world of drum journalism. In fact, world is the operative word, since my columns and articles can now be read in Drumscene (Australia), Batteria & Percussioni (Italy), and Bateristas Al Sur (Argentina). Here at home, the April 2009 issue of Percussive Notes featured my article on “The Fine Art Of Listening.” As you might expect, my articles pretty much focus on my favorite topic: being a working drummer in the real world.
I’m also pursuing a variety of educational activities. I’m currently on the faculty of the University Of The Arts in Philadelphia, where I teach two classes. One is for entering freshmen drummers, on the subject of (not surprisingly) how to be a working drummer. I also teach a graduate class in music journalism at UArts. And this past August I took my working-drummer theme on the road with a clinic appearance at the Drum Road Trip weekend-long event in Webster, New York. I had the pleasure of sharing the bill with Rod Morgenstein, Zoro, and Johnny Rabb.
That pretty much brings me up to date. I’m keeping busy, but I definitely want to keep in touch with everyone in the drumming community. To that end, I’m on Facebook, so check in from time to time to catch my updates…or drop me an email on FB to communicate directly with me. I’d love to hear from you.
www.jayandtheamericans.com
www.3rdValve.net
www.reverbnation.com/3rdValve
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Percussionist Ramon Yslas
2009-11-08
Hi, MD readers! I want to say hello and fill you all in on what I’m currently up to. I’ve been touring the U.S. with Colbie Caillat, promoting her latest CD, Breakthrough. After that I’ll be going to Europe with the band early in 2010.
A little bit about me: I’ve played percussion with Christina Aguilera, Stevie Wonder, Patti Labelle, Juan Gabriel, Maxwell, and many others. I’ve been fortunate to record on Grammy award–winning albums with Christina and recently with Luz Casal, Pepe Aguilar, and Peter White.
I have my own CD out as well, Radio, which is a blend of rock, Latin, funk, and other styles. I also co-lead Sinverguenza with Tariqh Akoni, featuring Wally Reyes Jr. on drums.
Thanks for listening! Much love,
Ramon
For more on Ramon, go to www.sinverguenzamusic.com or www.yslas.com.
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Carmine Appice
2009-11-06
Hey, MD! I’ve never written a blog before so I’ll just fill you in on what I’ve been up to. I recently released my Guitar Zeus project’s double CD Conquering Heroes with Tony Franklin on bass. The featured guitarists are Brian May, Slash, Ted Nugent, Mick Mars, and many more. I’m always doing drum festivals and clinics, including a recent one in Germany for ddrum. In November I’ll be doing in-store promos for Guitar Zeus. I’ll be at Best Buy in Pasadena, California on November 7 and at J&R Music in NYC on November 19. My group SLAMM will be appearing in NYC at Archlight Theater on March 19-20 for three weekends.
I also just finished shooting a DVD for my book Realistic Rock For Kids. We held a contest with MD and ddrum and came up with a great eleven-year-old-drummer, Peter Biggiani Jr., from Toms River, NJ. Peter won the contest and will star in the video. So it’s been crazy with meetings, shooting the video, stopping by the MD offices to see my friends, doing some radio interviews—one with Eddie Trunk—then editing the DVD. It’s been nuts, but a lot of fun.
Until next time, C ya, and thanks!
Carmine
For more on Carmine and SLAMM, including tour dates, go to www.carmineappice.com.
Photo by Paul La Raia
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