Lenny White's new CD out April 14th

http://www.abstractlogix.com/xcart/product.php?productid=24563&cat=277&page=2



Abstract Logix Label Release. Shipping April 14

Lenny White (Drums);
Nick Moroch (Guitar) ; David Gilmore (Guitar);
Tom Guarna (Guitar); Jimmy Herring(Guitar); David Bendeth (Guitar);
George Colligan (Keyboards); Bernard Wright (Keyboards);
Donald Blackman((Keyboards) ); Vince Evans (Keyboards); Victor Bailey (Bass); Richie Goods (Bass); Charles Fambrough (Bass); Stanley Clarke (Bass)





___________________________________

Outtasight
Colin

WOW!! Can't wait!! I've always loved the fact that Lenny's such a free spirit!

Thanks Colin - I've been waiting for Lenny to record stuff again. Sounds like it's going to be great!

Track 9 has
Mike Clarke -Drums left
Lenny White -Drums Right
6 mins 47.


Bliss.



This CD is Jazz /Rock
the last track , 12
has Lenny on Spoken Word
I am glad it is the last track
as I skip that one.

9 Outta 10
CD


__________________

Outtasight
Colin.

Well Colin that's only 1 out of 9 tracks. Unfortunately, Omar Hakim's Groove Smith is all the tracks except two having only one as being good fusion. I don't know what was on Omar's mind when doing that recording. My thoughts on it is that he may have been going through a love thang

I love Omar, but that CD disappointed me extremely. But as I mentioned before, i basically purchased it for collection purposes of such a great drummer...................not singer!

Have you or anyone had a chance hearing that recording?

Peace,

rac

Some of these guys are better off leaving the singing to folks who can actually SING!

How can I put it fuzit? With respects to a fine drummer I'll say he can sing somewhat but not as a lead. I believe he knows it but could've been for contractual reasons why singing was so predominant on this particular recording - meaning, he may have been obligated in fulfilling a contract that states catering to more of a mainstream/commercialised audience. I did notice that after that recording, Omar was not heard of in the lime light as a solo artist for quite some time. I could come up with some plausible reasons why he did it or not being heard there after, but that would be immature on my part. But we all can agree that he is a Hall of Famer of great drummers for sure!

My thoughts,

rac

Racman wrote:How can I put it fuzit? With respects to a fine drummer I'll say he can sing somewhat but not as a lead. I believe he knows it but could've been for contractual reasons why singing was so predominant on this particular recording - meaning, he may have been obligated in fulfilling a contract that states catering to more of a mainstream/commercialised audience. I did notice that after that recording, Omar was not heard of in the lime light as a solo artist for quite some time. I could come up with some plausible reasons why he did it or not being heard there after, but that would be immature on my part. But we all can agree that he is a Hall of Famer of great drummers for sure!

My thoughts,

rac

Regardless, like fuzit said, you get the right people to do the job right! I have not heard him sing but if it was as disappointing as you say, he had no business doing it.

D, his singing was not too shabby in my estimate. I just think if the motive was to compete with mainstream singers (stuff on the radio), it did'nt cut the cake. Not because Omar's a bad singer but because of his being recognised as a drummer and not a singer - he was marked.

It's interesting how Phil Collins did make the mark in terms of mainstream music - he hit the charts on a few songs. Collins, as we know, came from a musical school that was sort of avant garde yet wrote music that touched an audience that finally came out of the closet in admitting ....this guy is good! Thus, the millions materialized was attributed to that kind of mass-public response.

I think that there are certain things that happen were there is really no explanation except somebody made it and made it....huge - injuries an all. We may call it as it might have been;... Luck? Timeing?

I think it was Collin's sensibility to the pop-industry aspect of music and the skill to engage it to the what, when and how to write stuff that turned the hearts and pocket books of the majority. We also see this exception occuring with George Benson - Breezing, George Duke, etc.?

You see, to the teeny poppers at the time never new he was a drummer until later in his career. They just simply liked his stuff and thought he was just another upcoming pop artist. This is typical of teenagers is that they don't care about individuality nor what instrument one may master. They just like lyrics that speaks to their hearts and music that feels right. This is the populace....this is the market that jazzers do not have friendly entrance to even if they try. So yes D or Fuzit for that matter; These musical giants have no need or business going there.

Shalom my friends,

bro rac

I tend to look at it more direct than that, Rac. If he did a good job singing then it's only going to add to what he already does as a player. No ones going to say:

"I just think if the motive was to compete with mainstream singers it did'nt cut the cake."

Instead what would be said is:

Hey, have you heard Omar Hakim sing?! Man oh man! Or at the very least that he did a good job and not that he didn't cut the cake.

Again, I have not heard him sing, but your post leads more to the degree that he shouldn't have.

You're right....it should'nt have only if there was motive to be recognised as a mainstream pop artist. But who am I to say what a person chooses to do in his/her life. I'm aware that it's not totaly Omar's intention but having the 'possibility' it may have been orchestrated by record producers in collaboration with Omar to regarding it as purely another financial venture.

And yes, he did a good job but I thought it was better than just good. Being that I'm a devoted fan of Omar, my baism at this point may be noticed. But for some reason, for what it's worth, is that I personally feel that Omar was simply going through a phase in his musical journey having taking interest in mainstream sales. Which is'nt a bad thing unless his personal agenda was to sell out, if I may put it, and go mainstream pop. At this point I'll take that chance and play the prophet...it won't happen, because unfortunately it did'nt.

I believe one needs to know what they do best and where it will be appreciated best. If there is no recognition or affirmation of what the artist is attempting, then it lays dormant. And that's not demeaning him in any way. His reputation as a incredible drummer, whether it was with Weather Report, Prince to Sting then to Madonna, it don't matter -his proven credentials was already reknown in mainstream arenas as a reputable drummer and not singer. Further more, the man, as we know, is a legendary giant and going into mainstream pop as the singing drummer mayhave been a waste of valuable time and finance that could've been invested to further the mission of perpetuating fusion music. Now mind me, this is all occuring in markets that are agressively leaning towards the capitalisation of what fancies a youth's ears over the appreciation of music as purely an artform.

But D, that's my opinion and I may be totally wrong or dated at some point. But never the less, it's just me.
And I need to keep in mind that this should be a thread on Lenny White - another of my faves.

With all respect and aloha,

rac

Rac,

have you ever heard of Deen Castronovo? He is one of the best progressive rock drummers around. I have an instructional video from him and he is quite an incredible drummer. Well some years after I acquired his video he landed a gig playing for Journey. with his playing skills I never thought that it would be a problem for him, and it wasn't. What I didn't know is that he could sing and along with the drumming chair took the role of lead vocalist in the band. When I heard him sing I was blown away! His range is equal to if not better than Steve Perry's. This guy belts out vocals as well as he plays, if not better.

My point being, WHATEVER Omar's motives were for singing, had he done a good job, it's just another asset of his that's going to grab you in a POSITIVE manner when you hear it. We can sit around and speculate why he did what he did for the rest of our days. Whatever those reasons were, you were disappointed with the project nonetheless, and that's all I'm really trying to say. It's either good (or at least well done) or it ain't.

Anyway, here are two clips of Deen. The first is from the video I have called "High performance drumming" and the other is a live performance of him playing and singing with Journey.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKQ9H7FeBjo&feature=related

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qIleW-ntj4&feature=related

I bought the same disc, when
it came out and was as disap-
pointed but am the first to say
that I have seen and heard
him so many times that I am
willing to allow him anything.



I feel the same way about
some of Walden's work.

These - two of the very best
drummers, in my book.



Regards,

I hear you about Walden, Pete. The difference is though he had hits. Such as his pop tune: "I should have loved you." His voice isn't fabulous but it doesn't have to be. It only has to work within the context where it's being used.... Narada made all the elements fit and made it work.

It was well done.

Walden I can take...Just don't push your luck, Walden my man! To answer Mr. Rac's question, which I didn't in my first post, no, I haven't heard the Hakim album you're talking about. I was on the verge of buying it years ago, but I didn't.

Sounds like I made the right choice!