Damien Masterson

Hey Everybody!

I’ve had writer’s block lately. It’s not that I don’t have any faith in you guys, but if I don’t announce 1 gig, then not sending anything out for the second event is twice as easy. Kind of like cutting class.

Actually, some of the musicians I admire the most don’t do any of this stuff, and seem to be plenty busy… it makes me wonder if the promise of the internet and computers has only really just distracted us from what we really should be doing. Not an original thought, of course…technology is kind of terminal in that sense (no pun intended).. Once you get educated how to use something, and invest time in using it, it makes it all that much more impossible going back to the old way. Even your luddite technophobe friends start calling for help, and while you commend them on not giving in to cell phones and computers, you wonder why you never hear from them or see them anymore unless they have a problem with their microfiche. One positive thing I can say (Well, maybe positive) about porn, it appears it’s gotten over half the people using the internet where they are today.. that’s according to statistics, not personal experience….There are a good portion of people out there who I don’t feel too bad about: We find ways to waste our time sufficiently with or without computers!

As always, if you’re here and you don’t want to be, please respond with “remove” in the subject line. If you have already requested it and it hasn’t happen, your patience is appreciated while I figure out which of your 63 email addresses to remove.

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The Harmonica, Classically speaking…

I’ve played some good gigs here and there… The Damien Masterson Ensemble, featuring the harmonica on classical melodies and arrangements, had its debut in Palo Alto. We’ll be playing some concerts in coming months, including the Freight & Salvage in November. For more info:

http://www.princesf.com/damien

This stuff is hard work! It’s not as easy to play timeless melodies that everyone knows “on the fly”, as we do with jazz. I suppose that’s why a lot of Jazz sounds mediocre and uninspired nowadays. I’m sure I prayed for this at some point in the past… something like “Please help me be more disciplined” or “Do something to force me to practice harmonica 3 hours a day”… I can’t remember now….

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Skool is tres Kool!

As some of you know, I’ve been teaching at the Jazzschool for a while now. The harmonica program has grown, and now the school is offering Beginning, Intermediate/Advanced and Ensemble classes. It’s been a lot of hard work getting the word out, but hopefully things will take a life of their own.

Some of you are also aware of how fanatical I have been about African music in recent years, and that has manifested itself in my life in many different musical ways. Every Monday at my house, we’re having a Mbalax (Senegalese) rehearsal/practice session featuring Idrissa Gueye, master sabar drummer and percussionist extraordinaire. Usually afterwards we watch African movies and have dinner. Idrissa has cooked Maafe twice, the second time Wendy helped so she could learn. I’m still anxiously awaiting the Ceebu Jën, but Idrissa says that may be better at Lam Toro in Oakland. We’ll see… Wendy and I are also planning a trip to West Africa at the end of the year, primarily Dakar and Bamako. Festival in the Desert or BUST!

Well, another manifestation has been my facilitating two courses at the Jazzschool for African music studies. Of course, saying “African Music” is really such a generalization, it borderlines ignorance. There are several dozen different “countries”, home to thousands of ethnic groups and languages, and all of these groups have their characteristic spins on rhythm and time. I really do believe the untapped potential in music alone from the African continent is awe inspiring. Yet most of us remain ignorant of even 10 genres, let alone the other thousand.

2 classes have been created at the Jazzschool to try and tackle these countries and their music with the intention of probing a bit deeper. The first is a sampler course focusing on 3 areas: The Congo D.R. and Congolese music, which will feature Shimita, Samba Ngo and Jeff Simons. The second 3 classes will be on Senegal, taught by Ibrahim “Ibou” N’gom, Idrissa Gueye and Chris Miller, and the last 3, the music of Mali, by Yacine Kouyate. Together with an introductory course, there will be 10 classes. Also, Yacine will offer a 10 week course specifically on the music of Mali, with history, culture and language included.

I’ve worked really hard to build these courses up, and the Jazzschool has been very generous to include them in the Fall ‘08 catalog, starting September 22nd. Please tell your friends and come learn about some of the most beautiful music ever. Whatever your previous contact, either through personal interest or pop music crossovers like Paul Simon’s Graceland, these courses are certain to open up all kinds of doors!

For more info, got to the website - The Fall courses are not on the site yet, but you can download the catalog:

http://www.jazzschool.com/html/classes.html

Check pages 26 - 27 for info about the harmonica courses, and the African Music courses under “History”…

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My newest CD is mixed and ready to be mastered. That and a few other formalities, like artwork and reproduction, and it will be done.
I feel like it’s my best work yet. That said, I’ve run out of money and have about 8 boxes of my older CD’s in the garage, so I’m in no hurry.
If anyone would like to buy some advance copies to help pay for the completion, send me an email. 100 copies should take care of the initial pressing.
I think you guys are gonna like this one… Wendy says it’s her favorite!

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I’ll be in Santa Barbara the weekend of August 29 - 31st, playing music for Gem Faire all 3 days:

Santa Barbara, CA
Earl Warren Showgrounds
Exhibit Hall, 3400 Calle Real

Fri. 12noon-7pm
Sat. 10am-7pm
Sun. 10am-5pm

General admission
$5 weekend pass
Children under 12 Free

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That’s it for now… Saturday I’m headed of to the mountains for my first real vacation in a while… long overdue!

Thanks all so much…

Damien Masterson http://www.damienmasterson.com
or enter my name in any search engine
http://www.myspace.com/damienmastersonmusic
http://cdbaby.com/all/damienzm
415 305 7138 dzm@damienmasterson.com
Damien Endorses Hohner Harmonicas and Audix Microphones

This was posted on Sunday, August 31st, 2008 at 12:56 pm and is filed under Damien's Thoughts, Upcoming Engagements, World Music News. Comments are open.