Steely Dan. Average White Band, DJ Shadow, Ojos de Brujo, Ernest Ranglin, Disco, Funk, Jazz Funk, Funk Fusion, Afro Beat... that's a start
Check out the Doo Woppy nature of The 45 Men:-
.. ..>
Movies
Latcho Drom, Delicatessen, Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Standing in the Shadows of Motown, Master and Commander, Gladiator, The Jerk, Man with Two Brains, Pan's Labyrinth (best film of 2007!)... that's a start
Television
University Challenge, Dr Who, Top of the Pops, Green Wing, Peep Show, The Mighty Boosh, Later... that's a start
Books
2007 read: Cider with Roadies - Stuart Maconie. The Lovely Bones - Alice Seybold.
2006 read: The Shadow of the Wind (Zafón), 1984 (Orwell), About a Boy & How to be Good (Hornby), Drumming At Edge of Magic (Hart), Jonathan Strange & Mister Norrell (Clarke), Carter Beats the Devil (Gold), Book of Illusions (Auster), The Pleasure Garden (Davison), Indide Out (Ward) ... that's a start.
Weeelll, I'm a drummer, vocalist
& percussionist. Based in Colchester in England.
And YES I teach drums/percussion. So
if you're interested in learning or improving your technique then get ..in touch. 077 965 955 23
I'm also experienced and available
for studio sessions.
I've played and sung since I was 17. I had a 10 year break from around 1986-96
when I travelled and studied (Spanish at Leeds since you ask).
I'm now a rhythm anorak. I practice every day. I play funk/reggae/afro style
with lively percussion-led World Grooves Fusion Band The
Scoobs and put some some rock-steady
rhythms with The
SweetBeats. Occasionally playing some lovely swinging Doo
Wop in The 45 Men.
The drumming styles that I feel most comfortable with are pop, funk, hip hop,
trip-hop, RnB and acid jazzy kinda things. I keep myself entertained
with a smattering of a few 'world' grooves from Cuba,
Senegal, India, Brazil, Jamaica etc. I'm as happy holding down the groove with
live musicians as I am with playing with a click-track these days - but it's
taken some time to learn!
I work as a drum teacher and give workshops in rhythm studies and body percussion.
I'm also a designer (latest website Almost
Adult). Occasionally work on short film productions as Gaffer
or Grip (check out my videos for award winning short Chrysanthemum's
the Word). Sometimes teach courses in PhotoShop,
web design, QuarkXpress, Microsoft Office. And have worked in the past as IT
Manager specialising in Apple Macs and been sub-editor/proof reader for various
magazines.
I used to be a "Mechanical and
Production Engineer" and then a Heavy Goods Vehicle (Class 1) driver. But
I don't talk about that much nowadays...
Blogged! Check out the track Crystal
for some Lenny Kravitz/John Bonham style
drums.
Recorded in the Netherlands
and the UK. This is the latest recording where the drums were added over
a click-track.
In one day, and mostly first takes - ouch!
The 45 Men Live
at Colchester Arts Centre (2006)
The blog above is a live
recording of doowop band The 45 Men recorded at Colchester Arts
Centre, Sat Sept 23 2006.
I love this kind of swing music
and it took me a looong time to get it to feel as good as this - and sing
n dance at the same time!
I sing lead on Shaboom
& She's the Most.
(For the drummers - the snare's a Premier 2000, the cymbal's a 1960s Zildjian
A Series Flat Ride)
Recorded in the Netherlands
and the UK. On this I
played kit and djembe
("additional drums & percussion") a click-track
challenge as always these days...
This CD also made the Top 10
of Best Blues Albums of 2006 in MOJO Magazine - which is nice.
Formed in 2003 The SweetBeats
are a 7 piece RockSteady dance band, the melodic and soulful missing-link
between early '60s upbeat SKA and the chilled-down Reggae music of early
'70s Jamaica - topped with an occasional frosting of Dub.
Fri Nov 13 - Athens, Greece @ Gazarte Sat Nov 14 - Athens, Greece @ Gazarte Sun Nov 15th - Thessaloniki, Greece@ Block 33 Mon Nov 16th - Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria @ Melon Thur Nov 19th - Buhcarest, Bulgaria @ The Gang Fri Nov 20th - Istanbul, Turkey @ Caprice
Hello! My new website mrballad.com is up now, I'd really like any feedback!
My new album The Amplification of Mr Ballad is available now direct from my website and also from itunes, CDBaby and Amazon
For a limited time, if you buy the CD direct from mrballad.com, delivery is free anywhere in the world and you will receive an exclusive mp3 download. You can listen to all the tracks from both my albums at mrballad.com
Thanks for reading Speak soon CHAPMAN mrballad.com Join the Mailing List Twitter FaceBook
Hey Gary thanks a bundle for hooking up! Your cyberfriendship is highly valued. SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY OFFER: £60 for live/rehearsal/recording photosets or only £50 if you add me to your top 10 friends (conditions apply).
P.S. Soularia made a videogreeting for "ROCK GEGEN KINDERARMUT"(Rock against child poverty). Copy/Paste the following link for the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvyqizt685o Would be great, if you check your possibilities to support this Organisation!
Thanks for adding us. Love the 45 Men tracks. They bring back a lot of memories. My Girlfriend was a regular part of the set when John & Drew were in Yakety Yak many years ago, Crazy Crazy Party was one Drew & Mick used to do with Sonny King & the Sons Of Swing in the early 80's and Bim Bam is still part of our repertoire today (was on our Alley Palais CD)
hi gary we saw you last year at new buckingham as i am sure you recall iona had a trojan t shirt on!we shall see you again soon we hope -big shame about alton ellis you guys do his songs so well keep it up
howdy bouy, just noticed you read the 'cider with roadies' book, i just finished it, was great! hope all is well in the colchester, let me know if ur playing in the london town :P
