i have been practicing/learning new scales like never before - ya need a bit of discipline to last at carnatic boot camp but i'm doing pretty well with it - these guys are really amazing - they are coming to nyc and touring the states in february - more details later - gotta say its a little exhausting at times - yesterday i was supposed to go to a concert - laid down for a minute - short nap at 7 pm and woke up at 1 am then practiced till 4am fell asleep until 6am woke up...
eating bananas beneath the mad spinning fan watching a nadaswaram duet - one of the drummers used a stick with his left hand and has what looks like empty shotgun casings taped to to the fingers of his right hand spanking machine gun staccato riffs while a sad eyed harmonium player drones mournfully on - then went out on a photo shoot - today was auspicious incredible cow morning! went to a new/different chennai neighborhood - really funky - lots of wood - the primitive lumber yards of the sub continent and lots of machinery in various form of disrepair and decrepitude - shot lots of pix but having a hard time finding an internet joint that can downloawd them - photos coming soon i promise - today shrinivas and rajesh will play at the festival - it was a great meeting - beautiful house with a formidable doberman in the courtyard - we sat in the outer room - shrinivas' hall of fame with cases filled with awards, gleaming plaques and great photos honoring the "adorable child prodigy" - a servant brought us delicious coffee with lots of milk n sugar on a silver tray, and backed out of the room bowing - we talked about music mostly but then the discussion turned to bush - i said he was not worth our breath and they agreed - the brothers love new york city - thought bill clinton was okay - everything went very nicely - lots of smiles, laughter, and bows and handshakes - i am practicing to play with rajesh on x-mas day and we'll see if it feels right to record together - he said he's already contacted record companies about the idea - here's keeping the blue lotus fingers of lord krishna crossed!
hanging out with cameron an ex nyc guitarist/investment banker moved to portland oregon and got turned onto the mrdangam - he's got a solid grip on the south indian dynamic and the "calculated calculations" -
the mosquitoes in this town sure know where to find one free giant kosher smorgasbord - in room #213 at the lake view park hotel - did i happen to mention - THERE IS NO LAKE - just like most of my home state of new jersey its been filled in years ago -