My good friend Tim Heraud has created a website called laughing cloud records featuring all of his writing, songs, e book novel, poems & short stories.
Tim has made available for the first time recordings of our various collaborations over the years.
Bands include: The Hoovers, "LIVE AT THE TEMPLE", 2 albums by Cutting Room Floor “LIFE’S TOO LONG” & “DELETED”
This is "diamond in the rough" music at its very best. I'd buy it if I didn't already have copies myself!
Click on the link in the Links List on your right and spend lots of money, god knows he needs it. Just don't mention the royalties!
Friday, February 18, 2011
Friday, January 14, 2011
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.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
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.
The label inside reads Ludwig & Ludwig Aero Kraft. The shell is of laminated Mahogany and the hoops are of Maple.
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.
Friday, April 9, 2010
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
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
Friday, November 6, 2009
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"
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.
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.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
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!
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