Picture story of the month

Here I am at airport in Bujumbura, Burundi, with the band of one of the most talented and tasteful musicians Ihave ever had the privilege to meet and play with; composer, piano player and singer Meddy Gerville from the gorgeous Reunion Island on the Indian Ocean, East Africa. It was one of the most inspirational and beautiful tours I have ever done. We travelled through 14 countries in Africa interacting with amazing audiences, feeding from an endless array of ancient music, drumming and mesmerizing with nature, colors and air with no pollution at all! From Left; Jean-Marie Ecey on guitar, Dominique DiPiazza on bass, Myself and Meddy... Arriving...

Every August most of the great group of friends that stared on the film "A Drummers Dream" get together in Magog, a small beautiful lake town one and a half hours east of Montreal, for a week of intense learning. Every night after one of us presents his concert we end up jamming together… How can we describe Dennis? The great Dennis Chambers, Raul Rekow, Giovanni Hidalgo and myself being pumped by Alain Caron's bass! Joy!!

www.UltimateDrumCamp.com

It's a little bit late (1:55AM) and can't stop looking at it but I want to wake up at 7:30AM to walk my daily 4 miles along the beach getting in shape for the shirtless European summer tour this year with guitar man Marc Ribot!!! But I can not go to bed without at least thanking from the bottom of my heart all the men and woman that make us musicians dream so high. This afternoon I received my new set of drums, all pastel green, custom made in exactly the same color as my eye glasses… all sizes 24, 22, 20, 18, 18, 16, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8 and snares 14x5 1/2 and 6 1/2 a 12x4 and a 10x4. It's the most desirable and unbelievable gift I could have ever had! A Pure Reference, custom design! Thank you so much Pearl Drums!!!!! It's been a great 15 year+ and I promise… you will hear about these drums! They are so amazingly beautiful!... From the Senior President of the company to the shipping department, all my heart and love to you… Love you. THANKSSS!! and now I can go to bed… Goodnight.

This picture is to support the current activities that are happening in Uganda with Kony 2012. I have been moved by this campaign because I remember my trip to Uganda in 2006 taking this picture that was entitles "trading guns for cowbells" as a way to denounce the atrocities that are affecting many children in Africa. Lets take weapons and violence out of our children's reach.