New member, #3 from France

David L. Donald · From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand

Bonjour le monde. This is my Crowbear recomended official howdy do to the forum. Gotta go with tradtion.

I am originaly a Boston boy.
I have been a dobro player since my father left his C&W studio's Mosrite Dobro in my care back in 1970. I still have it, E6 of some sort right now. And also for 10 years now a '60 Supro Lapsteel, classic mother of toiletseat white, presently C6/A7. Doing Don Helms licks in an acoustic country band here; Blackpowder.

But I also presently play french Jazz Manouche (Django style) and Bach's Kantata #4 is kicking my butt on upright bass in a 40 piece choral orchestra.

I have been a studio rat since birth. I started assisting recording with Ampex tube recorders and Norelco mics at age 7. I have had 5 different studios in Mass. N.H. Ct. And now the south of France. Plus 5 years editing video and computer animation, playing bluegrass and symphony music in NYC before I moved to France.
I have worked most as an electric bassplayer because it was most in demand. But since NYC I have done more upright bass. I have an '54 Kay 3/4. But I also have a Fodera custom built 28 fret 6-string electric bass, a great soloing bass.
I have played everything from folk, Western AND country; electric and acoustic. Through jazz ; swing, fusion, funk, latin, salsa. To Classical ; Beethovens 9th, Caramina Burana with 450 voices and Rachmaninoff's 3rd Piano Concerto. All of which I recorded, if possible.

So with all these influence I am composing a second album of not "too out" original jazz fusion. Very latin influenced but drawing from all of the above. Sax, keys, 5 string electric violin, guitars, drums and I play bass, guitar, lapsteel and mandolin.
I have a 64 Channel Protools Mix3, some tube preamps and enough mics to what I want, including my fav Brauner Valvet. A very long time Paris friend, Sooch, designed my studio's acoustics.

I have been hearing PSG in my head for several years as a solo instrument and alternative to piano and organ in jazz. Every since Buddy Cage was at one of my studio openings and he just rocked the house.

Since I now have the country band here also, I figured I can get used to the extra strings and pedals of a PSG in this band and record my jazz as my chops grow. The learning curve for PSG is formidable, but chalenging at the same time. A VERY cool instrument.
Time to make the leap. A old D-10 will get me the missing notes the Supro never seems to have. I have been reading the forum and it is very helpful and has a sense of family to it. Cool! Et voila
I hope this wasn't too long....
Good pickin' to y'all!

[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 18 February 2003 at 03:55 PM.]

Jeff Evans · From: Cowtown and The Bill Cox Outfit

Escargots au fromage.

Pardon my French. And welcome...

Melinda Dauley · From: Tacoma, Washington, USA

Let me say howdy!
Melinda

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Just remember: Bi-valves can't play steel. And if they ask, just say no.

HowardR · From: N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville

Welcome to the forum and buckle up.

Do you play Jazz Manouche on Dobro? I'm trying, but it's more like Jazz Manure, the way I play. I'd love to attend Samois en Seine in June.....maybe

CrowBear Schmitt · From: Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France

Hi David ! Welcome to this great Fo'rum
i've known David now for the past month and he keeps sendin' me these tunes that he comes up with and i must say they are more than wholesome ! what amazes me is just how David manages to create so many tunes !
This dude just does'nt stop !

David is in the market for a ShoBud D10 and right now he's tryin' to get that ProII 8/6 that's on Buy + Sell. i hope you get that one Man.

Well, there aren't many of us here from France (Nick Allen,David and myself)
Now just where are the steelin' frogs ?

nick allen · From: France

Salut, and byangvenoo!

Hope to get to see/hear you some time! I'm in the Paris region, but I have a cousin down your way (Albi)
There are a few other reader/non-members in France that I know of, but it's a *very* small community!
Enjoy the Forum!
Nick

David L. Donald · From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand

Merci for the nice hellos.
And also especialy to Crowbear, who has been veeery heeelpful with advice and links etc. Thanks for the nice comments on my music too, dude. I had hoped CB could sit in with my band Feb. 27, but he has a 2 night gig at home. Domage pour moi, tres bien pour lui!
I will have you over and record on some tracks fo sho. And cook you some fine food too. When I get the PSG, we will visit, here, there or both, check it out and tweek it etc.

There is another steeler in Nimes Stephane Bizet, Zum U-12, A fine player. But his english is not to strong, le meme comme mon française, so that may be why he isn't on the forum. He has given me a lesson and will record something for me also. The U-12 may not totaly apply to a D-10, but every bit helps.

Hi Nick. too bad we never met when I lived in the Paris 18eme for 2 years. I played some Salsa, irish and also a little "bleugrass" at Coloumme. My last Paris gig was an italian jazz singer with CBass and piano. I also played with John Matthews a lot, a total variety of influences, but not varaietée. A great singer / player.
Nimes is bit off the beaten path from Paris even with the 3 hour TGV, but we don't mind "les Parisgo ici". I am not close to Albi, but I want to visit there ; A main stronghold of the Cathar heritics. I heard it has a great cathederal, built by the side that wasn't roasted.

Melinda, Howdy mam'. I know you can steal bi-valves, but it's not recommended. Still, I have seen a 2 foot stainless steel coahog sculpture.

Hi Howard. Vat's not t' like. How is New Yawk now, sledding in Central park. I was there in Jan. recording some grand piano tracks on my stuff at Astoria Soundworks. Never got south of Houston though.
Do you know Sheri Wagner? She's a fine country / jazz / blues singer and electric guitarist. And a good friend. PSG would sound great with her act. Or my fav NYC lapsteel player Dan Hovey. He recorded some stuff for me on C6 dobro. Does a killer Sleepwalk!

I play jazz manouche on contrebasse and mandolin. I was playing last night. Dobro would be "juste fou" unless your Jerry D. But mandolin works well and I can see some PSG possibly in the future. The two guitarists I play with studied with Romane, and some of the other big names. They have played with Bereli LaGrene. They worship Tchavalo Schmitt. (no relation to Crowbear I think) Our violinist plays anything (manouche, swing, fusion, country) and never sounds like Grappelli.
When I lived in Tribeca I played in Minnetta Creek Bluegrass Band for almost 4 years, with Bob Sadenburg on Dobro in the last incarnation. Fine player. Runs the Sun Mountain jam now.
I saw Grappelli at the Bluenote, with my arm on the stage, 4 inches from his foot, as he sat. His violin less than 3 feet from my ears! Bucky Pizzarelli was on 8 string gt. One of my all time favorite shows. I then met Stephane at a concert of Le Orchestra des Contrebasse de Paris. He remembered me and was very cool. We posed for a picture. He will be missed!

Hi Jeff "Snails at Cheese"....your french is nearly as bad as mine LOL. Pardon mon mauvais française! But I live here and have no excuse. I am a chef de cuisine in about 10 styles. Cooking for the french grandmothers is like playing violin in front of Jascha Heifetz : scary. But I pull it off. My first successful french conversations were all about food.

Well onward through the fog.

[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 19 February 2003 at 01:44 AM.]

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