drumman, thought you'd like this

New (Live) music from Billy. Interesting rhythms and time signature.
I think it's 13/8 or pretty close to. there's also some 7 going on also.
Cool piece.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_rddzuPhJ8

Wow, thanks D.Slam...nice find...
is that Boomers gold sparkle absolute kit he used with Jazz is Dead in 1998?

Who is that on Bass, looks like a new guy?

Yeah, it does look like that set of drums.

The bass player is Michael Mondesir who I
believe started out as a sub for Fifi.  But I
notice Billy is using him more and more.

The keyboard player to the left is new as well.

Here's another one you might like.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rorTZyGlLFA

Awesome solo, that is the Rolls Royce of drum kits Boomer is playing...Lol.

I can't make out what snare he is using, it is hard to see it.

I can answer that for you drumman.
It's an old 8 or 9" Ludwig maple that
Billy's been using a lot of lately.

Sounds killer!

They can say what they want about
Ludwig but their snare drums have
always been among the best in the
industry...  Top 5 category, no problem.

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I remember that snare, it look like the lugs & throw were changed on it.
Do you know anything else about the snare?

Thank for the info.

drumman wrote:I remember that snare, it look like the lugs & throw were changed on it.
Do you know anything else about the snare?

Thank for the info.

drumman,

I inquired Billy about the drum via email. His reply is quoted below:

That snare drum is 66 years old, Don. I have a super sensitive steel shell that is in the realm of 1970's or so and a classic 1959 super sensitive that was actually my first snare drum and reward for passing my examination into Music & Arts High School back in that day. I have lost a screw or two on 'one or more' of the drums but the main factor has been shell integrity support of the wood drum you've shown. I have to watch how I play it since it has some hairline cracks in it. Weather has to continue to be its friend. So far so good. wrote:

'Is called "Tales From The Skeleton Coast". It's in different permutations of "9" - "3" and lastly ending in "7" beats to the bar. It is the title piece of the 3rd volume of music to be released in a series dedicated to my folks. This project is now in the mastering stage and should be available at the beginning of January, 2014. I am also working on the art work while on summer vacation now. I think you'll find that this particular project goes in directions normally not associated with me. I will say this much and let you wait to check it out to form your own conclusions.

Boomer

The kit in the video is my Champagne Sparkle drum set that was returned to me from an adventure we had in the Caribbean where the drum set never made it to Guadeloupe because, I was told, all of the Customs departments receiving it could not believe that they were only drums, a musical instrument. So, they kept getting held up in Florida, then in Jamaica, then I was told Haiti was the next stop for the ship before they finally arrived in Guadeloupe the day I was returning back to Europe. I received them a month after that in good shape so, just to make sure, I took them out on the next tour we had scheduled. That's how they ended up on the band stand otherwise, I would have taken out the Phoenix kit since I feel that they are are heads hands and feet a better quality drum set than the C. Sparkle or any other drum set then made by Yamaha. For what I seek to achieve they work just fine for me and yet, I don't get to play them as much as I would like because they are a side of Yamaha that's a musical aberration in that most people cannot afford them and even if they could, they still have to know what to do with them in performance setting. Most players are not seeking the qualities of that drum set day in and day out and therefore see the kit as more than they need with a heavy price tag to boot. One important point to make regarding endorser and corporate relations is to put the product in the forefront that will help attract the average customer or be popular to the masses. Maple, Birch, Oak generally fit that "billing" thus, I play them live and record more often than not with the Phoenix as my drum set of choice.

Boomer

Thanks for all the info, B. Interesting about the drums
being stuck in customs. What did they think, that you
were smuggling drugs?

I've always liked that set assuming its the one you used
with JID and the late 90's BC and George Duke project.

I also really love the PHX. kit you used in the Evans solo
video. Beautiful to look at and listen to.

That setup looked a little different in that it looked like the
largest tom was dead center. but it may have just been the
camera angle because it sounded higher in pitch to the one
on the left (your left) end when struck.

I would also like to hear more about the new setup configuration
you mentioned some time ago.... Of course I need to know this
when it's my time to do your setup.  

Don:
That Champagne Sparkle kit is still with a 15" rack tom on the stage right side so, what you see in the middle is actually a 14" tom. Aside from that the set up is fundamentally the same. It's a drum set that I have not been using too much in the past few years but thought to bring it back for old times sake and really enjoyed performing on it. There is something to say in support of drum maintenance and playing on the old stuff in general. They take on a mind of their own in some ways.
Phoenix can be great or bad depending on what one is seeking from it hence the exorbitant price tag: If you know what you're doing then by all means "take the dive" and see how you fare out in terms of performance. for some it can be a steep learning curve if you don't have a solid idea of where you want to go with the set.
My next set up will incorporate electronics on a large scale. You will see in September as I am just getting my thoughts sorted out regarding it. More later

Boomer

Thanks B. But I guess I wasn't clear, when I mentioned
what looks like the larger tom in the middle, I was referring
to the PHX. setup.

You know, though I've never taken the time to ask you, I've
always wanted to know if you ever planned on incorporating
electronics into your drumming arsenal again.

Okay, so let me ask you this; Is there any consideration to
bringing back the triple threat?!

"Thanks B. But I guess I wasn't clear, when I mentioned
what looks like the larger tom in the middle, I was referring
to the PHX. setup.
My mistake, Don I misread your comment here and was thinking about the Sparkle set as being unique for the qualities that accompany it and not in regard to the PHX kit. Regarding a larger drum in the center of the PHX, I don't remember what I was thinking then to put a different configuration together then. It didn't last though as everything is pretty much the same as it has been until the addition of the electronic dimension now for a while.

Okay, so let me ask you this; Is there any consideration to
bringing back the triple threat?!"
I can't afford to make that move yet but the idea is still on the table. Let's see what tomorrow brings.