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Well, I have had some fairly ambitious plans for Music here in Belize, and I wanted to tell you about the plans and how they are going. This may be a little esoteric for the non-musical in places, but just skip over it if it seems so. The bottom line, right here at the top, is that it is going according to plan, which indicates to me that this is what the Lord wants me to do (among other things.)
THE PLAN
As I mentioned in an earlier Chronicle, we secured a place for rent which has a giant (for Belize) living room, 12x20, and decided to use that for a music room. The musical equipment (listed below) takes about 1/3 of the available space in the distant end of that room. (Pix later) The equipment includes:
2 14"x28" PA Enclosures with 10" woofer & horn
3 17"10" Monitors with 8" woofer & tweeters
500W Behringer 9-input PA Mixer/Amplifier
Tama Drum Set, 3 Toms,3 Cymbals
Ibenez "Soundwave 65" Bass Amp
Fender "Blues Jr." Guitar Amp
Ampeg "Jet II" Guitar Amp
MusicMan HD-210-130 Guitar Amp
4 Shure Mikes w/Stands
Instruments for use by anyone
Squier Jazz Bass
Squier "Mini" Electric Guitar
Fender "Jag-Stang" Electric Guitar
Pan Acoustic Guitar w/Pickup
Yamaha PF15 Electronic Piano
Dekley S-10 Pedal Steel Guitar
We also have recording and playback capability for CD's and Tapes. (A Fostex 8-track digital recorder, and a Tascam 4-trak tape recorder.)
This equipment takes up about one-third of the room, leaving the rest (by the door) for listeners. We have one table, 6 chairs, and a futon "couch" so far for listeners. My plan is to invite visitors to bring their own chairs (and tables) and we will label them personally so that they always have a guaranteed seat!! We plan to put a 4" ledge around the edge of the room so that people can set their drinks on the ledge and sit next to the wall. There is lots of room on the porch and in the car port for more tables and chairs for people who might not like to sit too close to the music. (!!)
People can bring their own beer, wine & liquor. "Mr. B's Super" -- across the street, sells ice cold beer for $2 dollah a bottle. We do not plan to sell beer or liquor.
PROGRESS
Progress has been phenomenal!!
1) Brad & Eric & I started practicing on Sax, Bass & Guitar. "Raunchy", "Tequila", "Honky Tonk", "Night Train" -- the neighbors were enthralled.
2) Israel (one of my old students) and his posse, learning and playing Reggaeton -- a Puerto Rican derivative of Reggae -- for an upcoming assembly -- have come over and practiced five or six times. His keyboard player -- second form -- was AWESOME -- ultimately improvising jazz lines!! They put themselves on hold, because of the strikes -- the assembly may not be until next semester!
3) Hugo (my old partner) on Bass, "Chach" -- who played for 15 years in Mexico, on Drums & Vocals -- Ed, on Alto Sax & Flute, and Rick on Guitar; playing funky jazz & Christian praise music with a different beat. (Latin beats for traditional gospel hymns!) This week when we played, the place filled up with neighbors who came to listen!! Bookings forthcoming.
(New: Click here
for pictures of the group.)
4) Christina (Brad's wife) and Freddie Martinez are recording a CD, with Christina on rhythm guitar & vocals, and Freddie, who is 76, playing Nick Lucas-style guitar backup. Freddie is a national treasure, and we are happy to be recording him. 5) Willie Hurerra's Kids. (see http://belizenorth.com/amigos_sitins.htm) Willie lives RIGHT NEXT DOOR, and his kids come over and use my setup to practice. Darrin -- one of the best young natural drummers I've ever seen -- practiced here one night, and then went back home and set up his drums at home so he could practice every day, every hour, if possible!
6) Viktor (Hugo's son) came over TODAY, and practiced "heavy metal" for an hour -- altho, thank goodness, it wasn't very heavy. And then, he switched to guitar, and Darren (from next door) played drums for a while.
The bottom line is -- it's happening. People are coming, and playing, and that was the whole idea.
I will give some lessons, and that will bring in a little revenue. We have a "donations" jar, which covers incidentals like ice, "current", water, etc. The thing is -- musical things are happening at 15 Eighth Avenue in Corozal, Belize, Central America. Praise The Lord!!
If you're in the area, please stop in!!
Senor Reek
New:
Click here to see pictures of RIX Music Hall
Newest.
Be sure to read my Last Chronicle -- The Musical
Chronicles, which is complete with links to many pictures of my musical
friends.
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