Harmen's drum kit coming together

I've located a Sonor hi hat stand and a pair of 14" Meinl Headliner brass hi hat cymbals from our local online auction site, trademe.

Items that I still want to acquire include a splash cymbal a ride and some suitable stands. Not sure yet about tom toms. If I do add toms they will be mounted independently of the bass drum.

I've also constructed a Cajon. I'm waiting for an Auckland supplier to send me the last component, the sound board which is a small panel of 5 ply birch 2.5mm thick. I've based my Cajon on a German Schlagwerk, Cahon la Peru.

Inevitably it is different in several ways from the original, being slightly larger and built from denser materials. As I work my intuition guides me toward my goal. I'm wanting a brighter and fuller response from my Cahon than is present in the Shlagwerk unit.

I am enjoying the Cajon as a percussion instrument. The possibilities are huge and the box is so discreet and portable, perfect for spontaneous musical opportunities accompanying acoustic instruments. The Cajon can be amplified through my bass guitar rig with brilliant results.

A new drum kit for Harmen

For years now I've owned a 1930 Ludwig and Ludwig 24" bass drum.

The label inside reads Ludwig & Ludwig Aero Kraft. The shell is of laminated Mahogany and the hoops are of Maple.

The story behind the Ludwig Aero Kraft label follows. The pages are extracted from the Ludwig & Ludwig catalogue of 1926 from the book "History of the Ludwig Drum Company" by Paul William Schmidt.
I've added the pages relating to drum head manufacture as well because I'm currently curing some skins, experimenting with my own bass drum head construction.

I decided to collect some other bits and pieces to compliment the drum, a snare (Yamaha Stage custom), a kick pedal, a wood block and cow bell. Still to come are a splash cymbal and some hardware to support the accessories. I'm setting up a small versatile kit which will enable me to play along with friends occasionally.

Charley Chaplin in Kerikeri

It's extraordinary to imagine that here in New Zealand we can be but two to three times removed from the greats in history.

Julie and I attended a house concert on Wednesday night featuring Nigel Gavin (Guitar) and Richard Adams (Violin).

The venue was the Trussler Residence a stylish Mediteranian styled holiday house located in a landscaped exotic palm filled garden on the scale of a miniature Holywood mansion. The house was commissioned by a couple of wealthy internationals whose love of the arts leads them to open their home to the arts community.

The performance was most enjoyable something akin to an intimate evening listening to Al Demiola and Jean Luc Ponty. I exaggerate not! these guys can really play.

In the audience was none other than the great Russ Garcia with his lovely wife Gina.
Richard introduced a number early in the performance with a story about the writer "Smile" by Charley Chaplin. Richard impishly asked Russ if he had ever worked with Charlie Chaplin. Gina replied that he had regularly done so!

Later Nigel confided to the small audience that his mother who was living for some time alone in California was wooed by Charlie for some time, though by then his attention was unwelcome. "He's just too old for me" she said.

It occurred to me then how closely interwoven our relationships are.

I was invited to accompany Richard and Nigel for several tunes on my one string bass (which I have to confess I felt quite nervous about).

The audience was made up of well dressed, conservative looking folks, middle aged to elderly. My appearance with the string drum caused some consternation among them until the first notes sounded.
My response to music I had never heard before was informed by years of improvising with Nigel in the Jews Brothers Band. It wasn't long before I had the measure of what was being played and I settled in to the rhythm.

At the end of the first set we were surrounded by members of the audience who were astonished at the instrument I was playing. Russ Garcia himself came up and commented on the intonation that was possible though he was at a loss to explain how I could accurately pitch such a primitive thing.

By the end of the concert and after 3 encores the audience went home feeling very satisfied. Before Russ and Gina left Russ came up to us and he said, "You guys make me feel like a dinosaur, you've taught me a lesson in humility" High praise indeed coming from a man who has arranged music and worked with the likes of Frank Sonatra and Ella Fitzgerald!

If you can go and see Nigel Gavin and Richard Adams wherever they may be playing.

Harmen Hielkema

Joseph Herscher's Cream that Egg

Joseph is the son of Lin and Hershal of the Jews Brothers Band (of which I was a member for many years)
This YouTube clip demonstrate Joseph's extraordinary inventiveness and our equally exceptional sound track called "Bulgar," Track 9 on the Jews Brothers second album "My Yiddish Swing"

Underdogs Reunion Java Jive Auckland NZ

Here's a clip of a live unrehearsed performance I found recently on YouTube.
Featuring Archie Bowie on Vocals and blues harp, Mick Sibley on Guitar, Les Simms on Banjo, Ian Thompson on wash board and Harmen Hielkema on one string bass.

My dream bass

An early 1930s Alcoa aluminum bass, fully polished for the blinding stage effect:

How about this for a beautiful thing?
I want to build one & I intend to do so!

Julie & Harmen Live at Bishop's Wood Kerikeri, Northland

photo by Dimitri Edmonds

Julie Holton & Harmen Hielkema
Acoustic Guitar & Bass Duo.
Performing live at the Bishop’s Wood Restaurant, Kerikeri on Tuesday evening, August 5th 2008.

Julie Holton is a guitarist and vocalist with a beautiful, pure, true voice.
Julie was born into a very musical family on a farm in Kent. Her Grandmother, father and brother were all piano players. Julie’s brother Nigel went on to become a successful composer, musician and producer in Los Angeles.
Julie has played guitar and sung ballads since she was a teenager, busking and performing around the folk clubs and streets of London.
When she first settled in New Zealand Julie fronted a Dunedin Band “The Coast Roaders.” Julie has since continued to perform as time allowed around motherhood and a successful business career.
Julie’s son Eric (now living in London) continues this musical family tradition. Eric is an excellent songwriter, guitarist and vocalist in his own right.

Harmen Hielkema has a diverse background in music having played drums in Auckland bands professionally and semi professionally for 30 years. His father was a classically trained oboe player. Harmen is best known to the New Zealand folk scene for his skiffle bass playing and vocals. Harmen has performed and recorded with the “Gumdiggers Bush Band” the “Jews Brothers Band” and the dixie jazz band “The Blue Bottom Stompers.” He has also recorded and performed with the Ink Spots, Billy T James, Graham Brazier, Diane Ponzio, Nigel Gavin, Neill Duncan, Caitlin Smith, Lorina Harding, Eddie Rainer, Richard Watt, Shane Wills, Michael Young, among many others.

As a duo Julie and Harmen perform ballads from their repertoire of folk music featuring songs from writers such as Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, Joan Baez, Van Morrison, Richard Thompson, Carol King, and more.

Together Julie & Harmen are propieters and hosts of Waima Lodge Guesthouse in the south Hokianga District of Northland.

Waima Lodge specializes in excellent quality accommodation, food, acoustic music and original art. Julie and Harmen serenade their guests from time to time and they also host house concerts featuring professional musicians on a regular basis.

We look forward to seeing you on
Tuesday evening 5th August at Bishop’s Wood Restaurant State Highway 10 Kerikeri.

See www.waimalodge.co.nz of phone 09 405 3808 for further information.