December 4, 2005

Hi there Drummers-Paradise Worldwide TeaM!

So it DID ALL coMe together>>> The Launch HAPPENED & was a HUGE SuCeSS!!!>>>

It was a Dark, Moody, Rainy & Foul Night here oN the South Coast of the UK, oN Thursday 1st December 2005>>>However, this seemed not to dampen the Spirits of Local Jazz Fans one bit >>> There was a Fine, Enthusiastic croud who turned up for the FIRST EVER Live Appearance of The Friendship and Respect Trio @ The Centre Stage Venue in Bournemouth UK>>>

On offer was a FINE Night of ENTERTAINMENT first from “The Europa String Choir” a Beautiful Electric Violin & Electric Guitar Duo ( & Married Couple ) Cathy & Udo >>> They started the Event with SUBLIME Modern Classical Compositions which established a Calm & Uplifting Mood for the Main Act “The F&R Trio” Performing for the First Time Our Debut CD “Rainshine”>>>
The Venue was PERFECT, with a Large Stage, A Great Sound & Lighting Rig & a Caberet~Style Layout, with Tables & Comfortable Chairs for the Audience to Relax & Enjoy the Musical Experience on offer>>>
The Line~Up of This Particular Trio is Andy Stone on Acoustic Guitar, Bobby Burke on Piano, Keyboard & Acoustic Guitar & Myself ( The DF ! ) on My Mouth~Wateringly GORGEOUS Main Drum Kit >>> Gold~Glass~Sparkle Orange County Custom Drums with a Yamaha Bamboo Custom Snare & a LARGE Assortment of Zildjian & Sabian Cast Cymbals, Including the DEEPLY SEXY 22″ K Custom High Definition Ride to Drive the occasion along!!!>>>

Within Moments of launching into the first Composition “Savage Water” We could sense on Stage that We had ALL done Our Homework & that this Gig was going to be A HUGE SUCESS!!!>>> I exchanged glances with both Andy & Bob during the course of this first Tune & the Mood of Euphoria, Power & Freedom was Set for the rest of the Performance!>>>
WHAT A GREAT BAND!!!>>>

Stand~out Tracks in Our Perfomance included the Excuisite two Guitar& Brushes Masterpiece “Pulse Sublime” which was the First time I’ve EVER Performed & Displayed My LOVE of Brushes~Work infront of a Live Audience >>> I was in Heaven, displaying My own Unique Brushes Style infront of an Enthusiastic Croud>>>Perfect!!!

“Hidden Light” ( soon to be heard on the Player on THIS VERY SITE! ) moved effortlessly within the Structure on the Album Recording>>>Demonstrating Our Extensive knowledge of the Material ( it is SUCH a Joy to Work with SUCH FINE Musical PROFESSIONALS! ) but this Track also Rocketed into Wildly Passionate, Improvised Areas which blew My Socks off!!!>>> This Gig was at any given time at least 50 to 60% Improvised which was in equal parts Exillerating & a little Terrifying!!!

The 11/8 Piece “Seabreeze 11″ is a Firm Favourite of particularily Andy’s & Mine & it Transported Us to Spiritual Extascy on Stage >>> What a Beautifil Tune! >>>Oceanic Flights of Fantasy!! ( Hear it NOW on FREE MP3 on the
Friendship & Respect Site)

I have been to an ENOURMOUS amount of High~Profile Jazz Concerts as an Audiece Member with My Gorgeous Partner PantherKitten & Even with some VERY BIG NAME Players, You are NOT always Guaranteed a Good Gig>>>
JAZZ as an IMPROVISED Form is Unpredictable at the Best of times>>> There is a Danger to it, an Unexpected Quality which I Love & Respect>>>
That is Why We were All SO over the Moon when it was SO Evident that Our Concert was Going to be SUCH a Musical TRIUMPH!>>>
There was a Magical Flow of Communication between the 3 of Us which was a JOY to be a part of, the Performances were both Sensitive & Powerful in equal measures >>> Our Audience seemed to FULLY Understand & Appreciate what We were doing & An ELECTRIC Atmosphere prevailed throughout the Evening>>>
This was the kind of Gig You Dream of as a Working Musician & for Me it was a Fitting return to form after 3 & a half Year absence from the LIVE Arena>>>
Thank the Angels of Creativity for this Enriching, Fabulous experience!!!>>>
The NEW CD “Rainshine” was LAUNCHED with a BANG & We were Honoured by Rapturous Applause from the Audience>>> it couldn’t have been better!!>>> Well….. We could have Sold MORE CDs on the Night but I’m Very Confident that they will start Selling extremely Well on this lead up to Christmas 2005 & on far into 2006 >>>

If You wish to sample this Fine Jazz Please go to www.friendshipandrespect.com & Check Out the FREE MP3, Mail~Order a Copy of the Album & keep an eye on the Photo Gallery for Photographs by the HUGELY TALENTED Amanda@pantherkitten.com which will CONSTANTLY be refreshed & Updated over the coming Weeks & Months>>>

As the Promoter & Mover&Shaker of this Project, I will be Booking Up MORE GIGS in MORE VENUES around the UK in the New Year, SO WATCH THIS SPACE for further Developments in this Exciting & Colourful Jazz Journey!!!

So back to My RelaXing, Recovery~Sunday>>> My ONLY Day~of~Rest in ANY Working Week>>> Time to Read a Great Novel & Open a Decent bottle of Red I Feel!!!

Deep Peace & Funky JOY to You ALL Out There,

***< <<<< SiMoN the Daddy Funk >>>>>***

November 4, 2005

What is the FUNK? >>>

Well in My Educated yet Humble opinion it’s got alot to do with attitude, Style, Sex~Appeal & the Passionate NEED to be Different, Exciting & COOL!!! >>>

In Music, the FUNK plays an essential part in My Working day, defining Who I AM & WHY I do what I do! >>>

Super Heroes have got the FUNK!!! >>> There is absolutely NO QUESTION about this! >>>
I have been an AVID Comic Book & Super Hero FaN since I first started buying Comics as an 8 Year old boy in the town of My birth~ Wimbledon in South~West LoNdoN, way back in 1973! >>> The seed of the “Daddy Funk Vibe” was sown being BLOWN AWAY by AWESOME Marvel Comic Book Genius! >>>Such unforgetable Characters as “Conan the Barbarian”, “Spiderman”, “Nick Fury agent of S.H.I.E.L.D”, “Thor”&”The Fantastic Four”. >>> Fabulous, Magical, Modern Titans to fill My Young Mind with Passion, Joy, Excitement & Hope! >>>
I was inspired enough to Draw many of My own Comic Books & Write regularly to Marvel in the UK asking all sorts of Questions which filled My Young Brain to bursting point! >>>

In later Years as an Art Student at the Arts Institute of Bournemouth & Poole, Super Heroes again affected & Influenced My Art, Design & Early Music Making & Song Writing >>>

I Visited & Subsiquently Lived iN the Mighty New York City in 1986 as a 21 Year old MaN where Music, Culture, Art, Women & Super Heroes were an important part of My every day exsistance >>>

Moving back to Live in the thick of LoNdoN in the late 80s, My passion became an all consuming Obsession with the discovery of the “Graphic Novel” >>> Holy Bat~Funk Robin!>>> This Shit was INCREDIBLE!!! >>> Frank Miller’s “The Dark Knight Returns” re~Invented The Batman (a DC Character) in a way that seemed SO RIGHT, GRITTY & REAL & was the PERFECT Mind~Fuel for My Song Writing, Drumming, Latin Percussion Playing, Clubbing….. Infact EVERY element of My Life at that time in My Life! >>>

& OH MY GOD that LOGO!!! SO COOL, SO SEXY!!! & a HUGE influence on the Daddy Funk “DF” Logo I use, in ALL My Business today.
The Batman became My MAN in the 80s & I had every GREAT title by ALL the ground~breaking Artists & Writers during that period >>> BATMAN was Dark, Driven, obsessed, COOL & above all SUPER~FUNKY!!!!!!!!

These Days with Many Hollywood Movies on the subject of Comic Book Heroes ~ Some GREAT, some TRUELY AWEFUL!!!! My LOVE of Comics & Comic Heroes is as Fresh as EVER! >>> As an adult I have More Money to spend on the subject (YIPPEE!!!) & My Passion grows & GROWS!!! >>>
I’m reading X~Men Comics at present & LOTS of Daredevil & Witchblade >>> So I seem to have Returned (with the exception of the Witchblade) to My original LOVE AFFAIR with ALL THINGS MARVEL! >>>

&&&&& I wish to state INFATICALLY that “Batman Begins” ( Directed by the Brit, Christopher Nolan & Starring Christian Bale, Michael Caine & Gary Oldman ) is without a doubt THE BEST Batman & Super Hero Movie EVER MADE!!!!! >>> There I’ve said it! >> Panther Kitten & I saw the Movie twice in New York this July & were COMPLETELY BLOWN AWAY!!!>>> May all Blogging Hell break Loose if You disagree!!!!! >>> >>>>> I DARE YOU ! < <<<<

Well, must get back to Drum Teaching & BEING PHAT & FUNKY!

Peace & Hero~Love from Daddy Funk & the Panther KitteN,

***<<<<< SiMoN the FuNk >>>>>***