This was a cool clinic. Definetly worth the 3 hour drive and the ten bones. What I liked most about the clinic was the fact that all the clinicians were very professional, approachable, humble and they exemplified a great deal of knowledge about their craft. No big heads here. These cats were serioulsy down to earth.
Lil John Lumpkin ( The Definition of Groove) did an excellent rendition of “Spider” from the Ronald Bruner Jr. CD. which if I may add is NOT and easy song to play.(Good lookin out Drumma-Sheen for putting me up on that CD like 2 years ago). If you are a drummer and haven’t heard this yet, you need to find it. Lil John's Bass player (CRAZY NICE), Sax player, and percussionist
were all on point. Anyway what I like about John was his dynamics. He is very explosive and will catch you of guard and make you P on yourself if you aint careful. Natural Beastly Instincts. Great job homey!
Consistency and Repetition!! Well Said Bro.
Calvin's Rodgers presentation was simply awesome. He didn’t start of with a bunch of technical jargon, he said a couple of brief words sat down and went right into “Where the Praise are” by Vashawn Mitchell. Now let me add that he had every song tracked out to include the lead and Background vocals just as it was recorded. Everything except the drums. So it was almost like being at a concert. Now if you have the Vashawn Mitchell CD you know that immediately after “Where the Praises are” comes “ No Way” And Yes, Calvin played right into it just like on the CD. Around the sanctuary musicians began to put there hands in the air praising God. When that song ended, without saying a word or giving us a chance to catch our breath Calvin went right into “This is the Day” by Fred Hammond. Okay! Now we were officially having church. I could not sit down anymore I had to find my way to an isle because I know that song back and forth and I knew what was coming. You all know that part of the song that im talking about. He did a fill that was so stupid people were literally running around the sanctuary and fallin out like somebody sprayed tear gas in their faces. DUMB! When he finished, somebody could easily have got on the organ hit a B flat and a shout would have broke out. Lil john was laying on the seats yellin OH….. OH…….OH……OH……I couldn’t do anything but laugh because I wanted to say the same thing. It was basically like we had to have a praise and worship service because after those three songs that atmosphere was charged. Calvin finally stood up whippin his face with the towel and trying to hold back form laughin and Lil John who was crazy funny that night. Calvin spoke a few words that I cant remember because I was still high of the first three songs. He went on to do “Tell the Devil Im Back” and the song that introduced him to most of us outside of Chicago. “God Of Mercy”. BRUTAL!!! He answered some questions and did one more demonstration and that was it.
Now this next statement might warner some sour grapes and cause a thread locking debate but I have to give credit where credit is due and this is not to down play anybody because everybody did an outstanding job but I have to say that…………………………….......... .
JOHNATHAN DAVIS WAS THE FREAKIN MAN THAT NIGHT. PERIOD That dude is Half man Half amazin. Be very afraid this cat is hazardous material. He forgot to bring his sheet music (YES, SHEET MUSIC) for his presentation but he made up for it 5000 fold with his insanity on the kit. That skinny dude is crack on the set.
Look out for Jamison Ross. You did your thing too homey.
Shout out to all the Jacksonville musicians who showed up and did their thing. Lil John thanks for making a brother feel welcome on foreign soil. Steve thanks for making me feel welcome and for putting on a great clinic. Sorry it took me so long to reply but yall know I log in once every quarter.
Peace!
