the last five months

hello.

i have not been able to devote any measure of time to my self-built cyber-shrine lately. it’s not because i haven’t thought to, or felt it unimportant, but life happened in a way that even when i had a moment, i either had nothing to say or needed to spend it elsewhere. i ask your pardon, and will attempt to catch you up; an awful lot has changed.

in march or april, i finished building my second drumset with my dad. it’s birch wood, with 45-degree bearing edges; 12” tom, 14” floor tom, 20” bass drum. i modeled it after the 70’s yamaha studio kits i love the sound of, because i needed a kit suitable for the styles my beautiful mahogany kit—now five years old—is inappropriate for.

you can hear me play this kit plus an extra studio floor tom on three songs by the band ZAUB, listed below.

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another record i’m on has just come out for pre-order: drumming, singing, and melodica-ing on ‘you by me volume two,’ by tohkay, with sycamore smith. we cover three of his tunes, which are all really lovely, and he covers three of tomas’s tunes. i’ve been waiting for this to be announced, and i’m going to be on vinyl. bonus: unlike the first record i’m on with this band, there are presently no lawsuits preventing its release.

i was fortunate to be asked to review some excellent cymbals by istanbul agop for modern drummer magazine, the first of which was published last month and the second will be published in two months.

nextly, in five days time i will perform a colindectomy on my beloved city of angels, and move to las vegas, nevada (as opposed to las vegas, arizona, where they share urinals). i will be pursuing a master’s degree and teaching one of the jazz ensembles at the school. i adore la, and more than a few people within it, but i’m looking forward to a new set of experiences, and more opportunities to make music.

the largest change, which i’ll discuss more in the next post: just over two months ago, my dad Peter Woodford died from complications of the cancer from which he suffered on and off for 23 years (18 more than we were originally given). he was a wonderful musician and a wonderful man. most of you never got to meet him, and i wish that weren’t the case. the moments when it’s impossible are those of imagined conversations with him. to say of someone who’s passed that they 'aren’t in any more pain' is pretty over-worn, but here it is a real if complicated solace.

if you’ll permit me, three indulgences:

1) tell people you care about them

2) set up an advanced directive for your loved ones

3)      a) if we’re friends, i’m massively grateful for your company and candor

         b) if we’re not yet met, i look forward to it

        c) if you’re a prat, get off my website.