New member, #3 from France

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 18 Feb 2003 3:37 pm

Bonjour le monde. This is my Crowbear recomended official howdy do to the forum. Gotta go with tradtion.

I am originaly a Boston boy.
I have been a dobro player since my father left his C&W studio's Mosrite Dobro in my care back in 1970. I still have it, E6 of some sort right now. And also for 10 years now a '60 Supro Lapsteel, classic mother of toiletseat white, presently C6/A7. Doing Don Helms licks in an acoustic country band here; Blackpowder.

But I also presently play french Jazz Manouche (Django style) and Bach's Kantata #4 is kicking my butt on upright bass in a 40 piece choral orchestra.

I have been a studio rat since birth. I started assisting recording with Ampex tube recorders and Norelco mics at age 7. I have had 5 different studios in Mass. N.H. Ct. And now the south of France. Plus 5 years editing video and computer animation, playing bluegrass and symphony music in NYC before I moved to France.
I have worked most as an electric bassplayer because it was most in demand. But since NYC I have done more upright bass. I have an '54 Kay 3/4. But I also have a Fodera custom built 28 fret 6-string electric bass, a great soloing bass.
I have played everything from folk, Western AND country; electric and acoustic. Through jazz ; swing, fusion, funk, latin, salsa. To Classical ; Beethovens 9th, Caramina Burana with 450 voices and Rachmaninoff's 3rd Piano Concerto. All of which I recorded, if possible.

So with all these influence I am composing a second album of not "too out" original jazz fusion. Very latin influenced but drawing from all of the above. Sax, keys, 5 string electric violin, guitars, drums and I play bass, guitar, lapsteel and mandolin.
I have a 64 Channel Protools Mix3, some tube preamps and enough mics to what I want, including my fav Brauner Valvet. A very long time Paris friend, Sooch, designed my studio's acoustics.

I have been hearing PSG in my head for several years as a solo instrument and alternative to piano and organ in jazz. Every since Buddy Cage was at one of my studio openings and he just rocked the house.

Since I now have the country band here also, I figured I can get used to the extra strings and pedals of a PSG in this band and record my jazz as my chops grow. The learning curve for PSG is formidable, but chalenging at the same time. A VERY cool instrument.
Time to make the leap. A old D-10 will get me the missing notes the Supro never seems to have. I have been reading the forum and it is very helpful and has a sense of family to it. Cool! Et voila
I hope this wasn't too long....
Good pickin' to y'all![This message was edited by David L. Donald on 18 February 2003 at 03:55 PM.]

Jeff Evans · Post by **Jeff Evans** » 18 Feb 2003 5:41 pm

Escargots au fromage.

Pardon my French. And welcome...

Melinda Dauley · Post by **Melinda Dauley** » 18 Feb 2003 5:45 pm

Let me say howdy!
Melinda

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Just remember: Bi-valves can't play steel. And if they ask, just say no.

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 18 Feb 2003 7:09 pm

Welcome to the forum and buckle up.

Do you play Jazz Manouche on Dobro? I'm trying, but it's more like Jazz Manure, the way I play. I'd love to attend Samois en Seine in June.....maybe

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 18 Feb 2003 11:53 pm

Hi David ! Welcome to this great Fo'rum
i've known David now for the past month and he keeps sendin' me these tunes that he comes up with and i must say they are more than wholesome ! what amazes me is just how David manages to create so many tunes !
This dude just does'nt stop !

David is in the market for a ShoBud D10 and right now he's tryin' to get that ProII 8/6 that's on Buy + Sell. i hope you get that one Man.

Well, there aren't many of us here from France (Nick Allen,David and myself)
Now just where are the steelin' frogs ?

nick allen · Post by **nick allen** » 19 Feb 2003 12:06 am

Salut, and byangvenoo!

Hope to get to see/hear you some time! I'm in the Paris region, but I have a cousin down your way (Albi)
There are a few other reader/non-members in France that I know of, but it's a *very* small community!
Enjoy the Forum!
Nick

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 19 Feb 2003 1:21 am

Merci for the nice hellos.
And also especialy to Crowbear, who has been veeery heeelpful with advice and links etc. Thanks for the nice comments on my music too, dude. I had hoped CB could sit in with my band Feb. 27, but he has a 2 night gig at home. Domage pour moi, tres bien pour lui!
I will have you over and record on some tracks fo sho. And cook you some fine food too. When I get the PSG, we will visit, here, there or both, check it out and tweek it etc.

There is another steeler in Nimes Stephane Bizet, Zum U-12, A fine player. But his english is not to strong, le meme comme mon française, so that may be why he isn't on the forum. He has given me a lesson and will record something for me also. The U-12 may not totaly apply to a D-10, but every bit helps.

Hi Nick. too bad we never met when I lived in the Paris 18eme for 2 years. I played some Salsa, irish and also a little "bleugrass" at Coloumme. My last Paris gig was an italian jazz singer with CBass and piano. I also played with John Matthews a lot, a total variety of influences, but not varaietée. A great singer / player.
Nimes is bit off the beaten path from Paris even with the 3 hour TGV, but we don't mind "les Parisgo ici". I am not close to Albi, but I want to visit there ; A main stronghold of the Cathar heritics. I heard it has a great cathederal, built by the side that wasn't roasted.

Melinda, Howdy mam'. I know you can steal bi-valves, but it's not recommended. Still, I have seen a 2 foot stainless steel coahog sculpture.

Hi Howard. Vat's not t' like. How is New Yawk now, sledding in Central park. I was there in Jan. recording some grand piano tracks on my stuff at Astoria Soundworks. Never got south of Houston though.
Do you know Sheri Wagner? She's a fine country / jazz / blues singer and electric guitarist. And a good friend. PSG would sound great with her act. Or my fav NYC lapsteel player Dan Hovey. He recorded some stuff for me on C6 dobro. Does a killer Sleepwalk!

I play jazz manouche on contrebasse and mandolin. I was playing last night. Dobro would be "juste fou" unless your Jerry D. But mandolin works well and I can see some PSG possibly in the future. The two guitarists I play with studied with Romane, and some of the other big names. They have played with Bereli LaGrene. They worship Tchavalo Schmitt. (no relation to Crowbear I think) Our violinist plays anything (manouche, swing, fusion, country) and never sounds like Grappelli.
When I lived in Tribeca I played in Minnetta Creek Bluegrass Band for almost 4 years, with Bob Sadenburg on Dobro in the last incarnation. Fine player. Runs the Sun Mountain jam now.
I saw Grappelli at the Bluenote, with my arm on the stage, 4 inches from his foot, as he sat. His violin less than 3 feet from my ears! Bucky Pizzarelli was on 8 string gt. One of my all time favorite shows. I then met Stephane at a concert of Le Orchestra des Contrebasse de Paris. He remembered me and was very cool. We posed for a picture. He will be missed!

Hi Jeff "Snails at Cheese"....your french is nearly as bad as mine LOL. Pardon mon mauvais française! But I live here and have no excuse. I am a chef de cuisine in about 10 styles. Cooking for the french grandmothers is like playing violin in front of Jascha Heifetz : scary. But I pull it off. My first successful french conversations were all about food.

Well onward through the fog.[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 19 February 2003 at 01:44 AM.]