Acid Test

After fitting a coated Remo Emperor drum head and loosening the snares, my new 12" Traps snare drum sounds quite reasonable. Of course the acid test will come tonight when I use it at a gig for the first time. Its robustly built, although the snare throw-off will need to be checked from time to time - its primitive, if functional. It always takes a little while to break in a new skin and get the tuning just right. When playing the blues, the snare is the cornerstone of the sound - all those shuffled ghost notes played on the snare with the left hand...

Catch A Fire is an album by The Wailers (Bob Marley) that I heard for the first time today. Including Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer, the album showcases drummer Carlton 'Carly' Barrett. As part of my studies of reggae drumming, I intend to transcribe one of the tracks, 'Kinky Reggae'. Its an instrument heavy track in which Carly really cuts loose. Every bar is a study in Roots Reggae drumming, perfect.