[Didjeridu] Portland updates and remembering

[Tom Lange]

Hi Javi n everyone else,

I remember you stopped by at Dave Crowder's 1st Boulder Summer Solstice gathering which was mostly Dave and me playing didj and hanging out with Bumble and his hairless dog... Seem to remember you talking about clearing out bat guano out of a silo that had amazing acoustics...  
I think it was the 2nd year that had a handful more people - Billy Hudson, John Madill, Jason and Karen and lots of his agaves and many others - a group photo by Rob, throat singing lessons by the guy on the Inlakesh album and a group adventure heading to Per & Eileen's to visit their castle/sanctuary/retreat complete with deer in the yard - magical!  Too bad Dave Crowder is now a percussionist instead of didj player but it really suits his analytical mind.  Seven of his sticks are for sale right now.

Anyone hear from Bill Hudson in the past few years?  I'd love to know where he and Bonnie are these days.  Such amazing people.  

Not a whole lot going on in the didj scene in Portland these days - some good music jams hosted by Jeff Lohr & Sara but I haven't been in quite some time.  Margot Monti is playing in a band that's getting some good gigs but I think she's playing about 5 different instruments. (http://www.reynoldsaudio.com/DB.htm) 

I'm still doing lots of my 'sound healing' events with didjeridus, Tibetan bowls, gongs, Native American flute and more - I spend just about the whole time on my feet walking through the room and playing over people so they get the full vibrations of all the instruments.  

As many of you know I really like the deep end - talking didj, of course - nice and low and rumbling.  My girlfriend and I recently came home from a trip to Seattle with about 10 yucca stalks to work with.  I know agave is preferred over yucca but these averaged $12 each and 8-9' tall, many with some decent bells and lots of nice tapers.  Considering my 3 big didjs are all yucca I think my winter project will keep me happy.  I'm also planning on making a few flutes - Native American style as well as trying a couple long transverse bamboo flutes inspired by Romy Benton. (http://www.romyb.com)  In addition to those I'm planning on getting ceramics going again - flutes, didjs, rattles...?? 
 
I've been looking for work for 4 months, barely getting by with odd jobs.  Turns out I'm making more money from these sound nights and cd sales than 'regular' work.  That's just fine for me, I'd gladly do just music if I could.  I'm started selling Tibetan singing bowls, gongs and will be receiving 300 dan moi (Vietnamese jaw harps) in a few months.  If I can make a few decent didjs and flutes and ceramic instruments and get my next cd recorded then all I'd need would be customers!  I don't really have a choice - music and the healing powers of sound are in my blood ever since the first day at the Oregon Country Fair meeting Alan Shockley and his Headbonephones.  That was the defining moment of my life path despite the fact that I had no idea it even existed.

It's snowing here again in Portland, most of us are not appreciating it considering all the chaos and missed Christmas flights it caused for 2 weeks.  Makes me start thinking about another west coast sound healing road trip.  My girlfriend and I did this trip last February, taking our sound meditation evenings to Ashland, Shasta, San Francisco and San Diego where we got the flu.  Had to cancel Santa Cruz and Esalen but got lucky and stayed with Geoff Frost in LA and I got to watch the magic of his gourd didj creations and climb 15' up in his avocado tree for green yummy goodness.  

If anyone is between Portland and San Diego and wants to hook up, probably in April or May, let me know.  I'm starting to pick destinations and routes - many gig locations need to be set up months in advance.  Or perhaps people know of cool spots to play or visit?  We're looking for places like yoga studios or healing centers where we can do our gig, also looking for people we can stay with for a night or two.  

Well, enough rambling for now, who else is out there?

Peace through music,
Tom
www.sonicmassage.com

ps - anyone good with web design and willing to help me out a bit?