Thursday Night Fever

What is it about Thursday nights?

This fall I've been double and even triple booked on Thursday nights. When I worked in banking, the 20 somethings told me that was the big night to go out with work colleagues and party. For them, Friday night was recovery night, and then Saturday night was 'couples' night. Not sure if that is still the case, but even then, Thursday night was very big.

This fall, Thursday nights have presented marvelous options, but I have stuck to my first commitments, while wondering if it's foolish to do so if something more interesting comes along. The possibilities have been tantalizing: music concerts; debut author book readings; literary association panels; author talks and all kinds of meetings.

I conclude that the Thursday Night pile-up is the usual super-heating of the greater Boston culture scene right before the holidays. It seems everyone wants to finish their events before Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hannukah. But even more importantly, before the snow begins to come down with conviction.

December is filled with holiday-related events. January is the Deep Freeze Month, but stalwart souls organize events and people actually show up at them. However, organizers are gambling that a big Nor'easter won't blow up and stop the city in its tracks. My friend Lisa Esperson and I are organizing a Khaliji (Gulf) women's folk dance workshop for the last Saturday in January on Cape Cod. Are we nuts? Only time will tell. I remember going to a church event on Cape Cod in mid-January when about two feet of snow had fallen the night before. The sun was out, it was as beautiful as a Christmas card, and despite the hassle of coming out in the winter, the church was packed. So I'll take heart from that.

Rowan Storm and her new drum line

This past week, Los Angeles percussionist Rowan Storm was in the Boston area, to visit friends and to perform with Iranian musician Nima Janmohammadi in Vermont. During her whirlwind visit, I had the chance to catch up with her. Cape Cod percussionist Lisa Esperson joined us too.

I've known Rowan for a long time. We've sent friendly e-mails cross country and across the world for years, and always hoped to meet in person. So it was a delight to finally manage a face-to-face conversation. We accomplished our rendezvous at a very busy Starbucks in Needham, MA, the town where I grew up.

Rowan has had a lifelong passion for Middle Eastern music. She spent many years focusing on classical Persian music, developing a special expertise in that field. Now she teaches and performs a wide range of Middle Eastern percussion styles. She also founded and directs a group called the Sazandeh Women's Ensemble, dedicated to Middle Eastern women's frame drum, singing, dancing and storytelling. She is also a regular faculty member at the popular Mendocino Middle East Camp.

Rowan reached into her drum case and pulled out a sample of her latest project - a signature line of beautifully nested frame drums, called the Rowan Storm Thinline Frame Drum by Remo.

These drums were Rowan's idea. She wanted frame drums to be thin enough so they can be played with her new technique, what she calls the 'Partner Hand Symmetrical Frame Drum Method.'  If both hands play in a balanced manner, Rowan says, more types of drum beats are possible. Furthermore, playing in a balanced way strengthens a drummer's left hand, resulting in improved performance on other drums. The Remo frame drums are lightweight and compact. And, she stressed, they're economical. You can get a set of six for under $200. Here is a link to the Rowan's site - check out the instructional video too at the bottom of the page.




We will keep reporting on news from Rowan, since she has many projects in the works. Tonight she's flying back to the west coast, one day ahead of a snowstorm. Timing is everything - in drumming, and in life.