drumFantasy.10 August 11-15,
2010
Hyatt Regency Hotel
Cleveland, OH
Drum Fantasy Camp wrapped up its fourth annual event
on August 15, 2010.
The 2010 teaching staff included Peter Erskine,
Tommy Igoe, Thomas Lang,
Jojo Mayer, and Dave Weckl.
Additional classes included drummer Joe Goretti's
"Career Course" and a valuable class with
world-class sound engineer Dennis Moody. Musicians
Baron Browne (bass), Chrissi Poland (keys/vocals),
and Vinny Valentino (guitar), who ran the nightly
jams, also ran a groove workshop.
The first day was a busy one. Beginning at 8:00
a.m., the crew unloaded and unpacked gear from a
completely full 16-foot truck. Drums, hardware,
cymbals, rugs, and electronics were systematically
laid out on the House of Blues stage.
By 9:00 a.m., most of the travel-weary instructors
had arrived to help assemble, position, and tune
their kits. Meanwhile, sound engineer Dennis Moody
directed the House of Blues staff as they set up
microphones and fired up the venue's impressive
sound system.
By 11:00 a.m., all five drumsets were completely
assembled, tuned, and soundchecked. A pretty amazing
feat! The instructors took a break for lunch while
eager campers and local drummers filed in for the
clinic.
At Noon, the clinic began with each drummer walking
on stage and playing a short solo. Once all the
drummers were on stage, they played together briefly
before sitting down to begin the discussion.
For the next two and a half hours, the five
instructors engaged in a discuss that ran the gamut
- from ideas about technique and practice routines
to applications in music, education, and careers in
the industry.
At the end, the instructors once again played
together, closing out a compelling three-hour
afternoon session.
While the instructors spent time talking to the
attendees and signing autographs, the crew got back
to work, setting up for the evening concert. Mike
Stern and Tom Kennedy arrived at 3:30 p.m. and began
setting up. Shortly thereafter, the drummers
returned to the stage to soundcheck with the band
and rehearse a bit.
At 6:00 p.m., doors to the House of Blues reopened.
Hundreds of eager fans filled the beautiful venue.
Then, at 7:00 p.m., the band took the stage to a
rousing applause.
Dave Weckl accompanied the band for a 60-minute set.
Dave tours with Mike throughout the year, so this
set the table for the second set, when each of the
other drummers took the stage for a song and solo.
Each drummer was brilliant. With little preparation,
their professionalism shined through with relaxed
and creative performances and exciting solos. The
crowd loved Mike Stern's blend of jazz, funk, rock,
and blues. Plus - his enthusiasm for the show was
infectious.
At the end, all five drummer played together -
trading solos and bringing down the house in a grand
finale. An amazing night!
The next four days saw each drummer moving into his
own classroom and teaching two three-hour master
classes per day. Campers moved from class-to-class,
experiencing each instructor throughout the camp.
The classes explored a myriad of concepts and were
very interactive.
In the evenings, campers gathered for nightly jams,
taking turns playing with Baron, Chrissi, and Vinny.
The band played a wide repertoire, allowing drummers
to choose songs that made them comfortable.
The drumming instructors were generous during the
jams - watching the performances and also jumping in
to accompany the campers on percussion. Each camper
got an encouraging pat-on-the-back after their song.
The instructors also took turns jamming with the
band. Some highlights included Peter Erskine playing
"The Chicken," Tommy Igoe trading solos with Thomas,
Jojo, and Dave, and a fun "duel" with Thomas and
Dave with antics that had everyone laughing.
The camp closed out with a concert at Nighttown
restaurant in Cleveland Heights. Peter Erskine
joined Baron, Chrissi, and Vinny for a night of
wide-ranging music. Peter tore it up, while Chrissi
showed her stunning and complex vocal range. Baron
locked in with Peter for some great moments, and
Vinny led the way with his blend of jazz and funk.
The concert closed out another fantastic year at
Drum Fantasy Camp. It was one for the ages...
