Even if someone is close by, their heart may be distant. But if someone is far away, if there is a heart-to-heart bond, they could not be closer. The heart is what counts. In the world of the heart, there is no separation. Chanting daimoku erases distance. Faith Into Action by Daisaku Ikeda (p. 219)

WAAAAAAHOOOOOOOOO! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ****************& ******* *****!!!!!!!!!!! YES!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you for the great spirit in the new song; those rhymes are PHAT; I just turned my friend Steve onto the site (he just said he would chant some daimoku :-)and it was so cool that you called out to me; yeah, trying to be UP^^^, UP^^^, UP^^^^(wow, I just remembered the awesome arrows you put on my t-shirt!!!!); thanks for making me see that I'm succeeding!!!!!!!!!!!! Do you know "Now is the Time" by Lourdes, Adrienne, and Jean Roberts? lourdesmusic.com Love, Tara

It is time for humankind to turn away from narrow, individual self-interest and toward the welfare of the planet as a whole. It is time for humankind to develop a common indentity as global citizens.

Dudes! Tara, Chris, Franz whattup! I am in a great mood. There's nothing like community huh? Nothing like friendship and comeraderie . You guyz are my comerades. Tara! Is that you? New name? You are so up these days. :-)I love dialogue. I had a big philosophical encouraging uplifting discussion meeting tonight about the spirit of !NOW! That is doing my best from now. Not with a negative attitude from the past. But with a positive attitude of self improvement NOW! :-) I rapped my latest lyrics. Chris thanks for asking about meta-calls... I was born 70% deaf. So I have been telling myself I had to learn sign language for decades... Finally in 1995 or so, I was walking past the ASL school of sign language for the millionth time in my old neighborhood in NYC 23rd street and 6th and I said for the millionth time " Soon I should study sign language" Well to make a long story short, I finally took baby steps and started my studies. Now I still study bit by bit. The meta-calls just came as a logical extension. IN my video "Just Advance" I include a dancing sign language interpreter, so even the deaf can consume my music. :-) My playing of drums with one hand came about from me adjusting my hearing aids with one hand without losing the beat with the other hand. :-) So walking by the ASL headquarters I finally had the spirit of "What's important NOW... and I went in and took "!ACTION!". It was perfect timing. :-) Check this out ...I just wrote this 5 hours ago... (fell asleep wow now it's 12/15/01 8:26AM... OK here is the lyric I wrote 14 1/2 hours ago. :-) Peace Y'all. :-) Now (K.Dennard) G7SUS4 ll: Now!... When’s- the time... to do- your best when’s- the time... to do your best :ll I don’t need no guarantee from no one else I got faith way deep down in my self. I’m gonna say it and spread it far and wide until there just ain’t no place for you to hide. ll: Now!... When’s- the time... to do- your best when’s- the time... to do your best :ll From the joy of life The joy of peace The joy of friends the Sweet release You can’t hide from eventual victory When you know the real cause for all to see. ll: Now!... When’s- the time... to do- your best when’s- the time... to do your best :ll You say why not go and take care of ME And erase all my problems one two three? Well I know it can happen; can’t you see: When you see the deep cause of your victory. ll: Now!... When’s- the time... to do- your best when’s- the time... to do your best :ll F7sus4: The universal Law of life. -no matter what religion or creed in life- Compassion and unity forever. Deep Joy in ANY kind of weather. I’m gonna do my best -cant you feel it.? I’m gonna rock I’m gonna make it real it’s All so clear And plain to see devotion to compassion is victory. ll: Now!... When’s- the time... to do your best when’s- the time... to do your best? :ll With out my friends to encourage me now I wouldn’t be here I just woulndn’t have made it no how So let me issue forth a visceral cry Deep appreciation from way down inside. Thank ya thank ya Thank ya thank ya Thank ya thank ya Thank ya thank ya 1. give it up give it up 2. ll: Now.! When’s the time- to give it up -when’s the time to give it up?...Now :ll THEY encouraged me do my best with out even tryin. They just embrace compassion and I ain’t lyin’ Every thing good just fell in place and so now that’s why I got my face in this place so. 1. ll: Now.! When’s the time- to give it up -when’s the time to give it up?...Now :ll 2. give it up give it up I’ll never give up from this moment on. I’m gonna always try to sing my song about the view that now’s the time not to hesitate. I won’t wait and wait til it gets too late! ll: Now !...when ‘s the time -to do your best when’s the time to do your best! :ll

Hi Kenwood!!!!!!!!!! The site looks great!!!!!So much positive energy; thank you everybody; Kassira (someday I'll send you pics from FNCC), Charsan, Tim, and the person who sent the beautiful teaching exp about the 13-yr-old!!! That helped me a lot. My old roommate Ann Hairston (in Boston, then) is an awesome drummer, and bass-player, and other stuff too. Thank you for everything, Kenwood!!!!! Tara

Hi, Kenwood, with furthr look into your "meta calls" I noticed that a lot of the calls are dirived from sign language. When did you get that idea to turn a world known language of the deaf into and bend it and take a few of the signs and help create it into your own musical language? I think it's a great idea. How did it come about?

Hello everyone, I recently produced several burnin jazzfusion video clips in LA at www.fpzmultimedia.com which feature Steve Lukather, Dennis Chambers, Marcus Miller, Simon Phillips, Bunny Brunel and more....enjoy

Wow! This will be my first entry since my first tour of a new era... a tour of Newfoundland. For me it is a New-found-land... a beautiful beautiful land with beautiful people! Suavecito! Esther! Maggie! You are all too kind and wonderful. Maggie, I've never heard a boyfriend call his girlfriend so many times. You must be amazing. Esther You have my deepest admiration and respect. Suave: you are an artist - world class! First degree! "The artist can make a difference!" -Kenwood Dennard- 09/11/01 9:15AM in Funk Lab at Berklee in Boston. Think about it peeps! :-)KASSIRA! YOU ARE THE BEST! Thank you for your profound post. Thank you for your help and inspiration. Let's pray for peace in the four corners of the globe. Austin. Welcome to the family. I loved Jaco with all my heart and I still do! Mark Egan, too. Mark and I have shared the deepest and most significant experiences of my life. Playing on the road world wide. Austin that's what I love so much about Jaco. ereeeeek! Eric!!!!! Pujar!!!!! sending that good love vibe throughout the universe! u de man for REAL, bro! Geof Cullerton. Welcome back!How was China? NO one can take away our sense of hope pride dignity commitment to Human happiness Let's continually advance NO MATTER WHAT! :-)

Hi Kenwood, Just wanted to let you know that not only did you do a wonderful job in all your performances; but you did a fantastic job spreading the messages of peace and love, encouragement and prosperity. You touched quite a few hearts while you were here in Newfoundland and I am glad to be one of them. Cheers, Esther

Hi Kenwood! I just want to say hi and thank you for taking care of Luisito during the East Coast tour (St. Johns). We listened to his recordings last night. You guys sound really good together!!! "Suavecito" says hi too!...hahahaha LOVE & PEACE Maggie (Luisito Orbegoso's girlfriend)

HELLO EVERYBODY-I'M A NEW MEMBER TO KENWOODS FAMILY. AND AN HONOR IT IS. I HAVE WAY OUT IN CHINA-NOW-AND COMIN BACK SOON-AN AMAZING PLACE-FILLED WITH WONDROUS PEOPLE- BEEN PLANTING THE SEEDS FOR THE EVENTUAL ARRIVAL OF KENWOODS CARNIVAL TO THE MAINLAND. THEY LOVE THE JUST ADVANCE RECORD OUT HERE. WHAT A DIFFERENT WORLD SO MANY LIVE IN.EH?

Bonjour Woody !!! Inner Riddim is definitely Out !!! The Bhuddha is Widely, Widly out ... Thanks u so much !!! More Human Happiness !!! peace and love always noi matter what !!! Aum, Om, Amen, Ainsi-soit-il ... Cosmogonic P.A.X ... E. the One ...

Hey Kenwood, I saw you perform with The Gil Evans Orchestra in Perugia Italy. I saw you two nights in a row, and I thought the performances were awesome. I have two questions: 1. Is there any kind of video or CD of those performances? 2. What is it like playing with bass players such as Mark Egan or Jaco? Thanks, Austin

"We must rapidly begin the shift from a 'thing' oriented society to a 'person' oriented society. When machines and computers, profit-motives and property rights are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, materialism and militarism are incapable of being conquered." Dr. Martin Luther King Jr: "Where Do We Go from Here?" 1967 "If you care anything about your personal security, you should first of all pray for order and tranquility throughout the four quarters of the land" Nichiren Daishonin The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin,p.24) "I extend my heartfelt sympathies to the people of the United States. Let us work for kosen-rufu (world peace) in order to create peace in the United States and in the world." Daisaku Ikeda-September 11, 2001 President-Soka Gakkai International (The Lay Nichiren Daishonin Buddhist Organization) Many prayers, safety, protection, harmony and joy to everyone. Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, Kim Kassira

What? Rich? Did you play that night at the jam session in Montreal? Sheesh ! I missed ya! I did play one of those nights. Oh well you and I have a metarhythm with a looong duration. Hopefully the next event will ocurr Sunday soon. Oops I mean someday soon. Peace!

What's up jazzers? Woody, it's been a while but just wanted to let you know I really enjoyed the Gil Evens Orchestra at the Montreal Jazz Festival in July. What a collection of smokin' musicians in the band, Bullock, Brown, Egan, Berg, Hunter, Soloff, Evans etc., etc..... and YOU of course. Great rendition of Teen Town! Don't think I ever heard the entire rhythm section play the head before. Aine and I enjoyed ourselves immensely. The jam session at the Windham hotel the 2 nights I was there was a blast. Roy Hardgrove, James Carter, Larry Wilkins, Lenny White, James Genus, George Thorogood, Prince's drummer (can't remember his name?), and a host of other cats were there. Had alot of fun sitting in, thought you'd show up. Anyway, great to catch you at the festival. Peace and metarhythms. You You know how to make a million dollars playing Jazz? Start with 2 million! Rich

Varun! I offer you my humble congratulations for making a"Just Advance".

hello everyone! i'd just like to give a brief testament on the uniting power of drums. the other day the Ku Klux Klan held a rally on the steps of my state's capitol building, in st. paul, minnesota. as a form of non-violent protest, my friend and i had brought along a little portable drum set, some congas, a djembe and a vast array of bells and shakers and noisy things to the counter-rally just across on the capitol lawn. my friend and i set up slightly aloof from the other counter-rally protesters, and started jamming. within minutes a man walked up with a drum and joined us. just minutes after that, a steady stream of people followed the music and joined us in our celebration. it was like, i blinked, and then all of a sudden there must have been thirty people involved in a wonderful drum groove, and at least 300 additional people, watching and dancing. the klan became a non-issue, the focus shifted to unity, and a sense of purpose. what could have been a violent confrontation, elevated to become a celebration of life and harmony. the drums spoke to people, and along with positive intention, our humble gesture created a powerful synergy... you gotta give it to the drummer!!!

Sean, Theo, Kassira, Al, Rasmus and Elizabeth. Thank you for saying Hi!!!! Sean that was Sandeep Swadhi on tablas... Theo, please send me an e-mail about the videos, Kim, thanks so much for going there, Al beyond the Golden Rule? that sounds reall deep you say let's go beyond treating others as we wish to be treated? whoo hoo! wow can you elaborate abit for us? Rasmus Hi... yes I offer a serious course. please e-mail me if you like about that... anyway bye everybody! Peace! :-)

Hi everybody ... I'm in Kobe, Japan right now, just touching base to see how all the groovegetting buddies of mine are! :-) I'm here with one of the people from Koyo Conservatory... His name is Yutaka ... He is the Director of curriculum and head of the bass cepartment and head of computer music... He says "Hello everybody... I hope to enjoy you in Kobe maybe one day in the future." :-) guys (and girls-) I am having a ball right now on the road. I am listening to the Berklee students' portion of our perfurmance. Then I will be performing with some musicians from Japan Kiyoshi Takeshita, a wonderful and tasteful and sincere pianist, and Hatsumi Kamiyamasaki, a REAL SWINGIN' BASSIST! :-) How wonderful it is to share culture and music with those of other countries. okay See you all later when I get back to Boston... Peace! :-=)

Hi Kenwood: Just saw your show last night at the Milky Way; what a show. I especially liked your mixing it up with Falguni and the tabla player (name?); but I was really bummed that you had to end the set so early ( and that other band then spent an hour just setting up!!!). Anyway, your work was creative and powered to the max, hope I catch it somewhere else in the Boston scene. Sean

I'm originally from Phila/SouthJersey and I've been living up north off and on for approx. 5 years now.I would love to purchase vols. 1&2 but would also like to find out how much the online lesson is.I'm presently touring with a blues band.We tour constantly.Anyway I'd like a chance to just advance.Your playing on "Stone Blue" w/Pat Martino is killin' me.I pump that everyday.

Hey everybody out there in Meta-Land! Wanna' experience the most mega Metarhythm of your life?! Join Kenwood's extended family, friends, fans and Mee THIS SATURDAY, JULY 28TH IN NEW YORK at THE WETLANDS @ 161 Hudson Street at the corner of Laight in Tribeca. The Woodmeister will be jammin' one of his newest creations, MetaTronica 2.0 with Frank Heiss aka TUBE. The show is at 12 Midnight. Tickets are $10 in advance (like JUST ADVANCE) and $12 at the door. You can contact THE WETLANDS at (212) 978-0838 or (212) 966-4225 for more info. Everyone come out, support the Stick Master and, most of all, JUST ADVANCE!

'Wood', Greetings to you and all the other groovilizers!! I regret not being able to take you up on your initial offer. I just happened to be surfing, and saw the nice things that were said. Please, allow me to recipicate and really say that I enjoyed seeing your Just Advance tape and the thing I was able to glean from viewing it, is how infectuous your attitude is while playing! It's a beautiful thing to be so intuitively in touch with the beauty of music and allowing it to show! I would like to take you up on your offer. I would like to know if it will serve a purpose of advancing my knowledge of the tools you are offering through the course or are we just talking shop? I am not sure if there is a forum or set of rules to govern what we will discuss. It's alittle unnerving to be called out by the 'master'(!) unbeknownst to the unsuspecting 'pupil'!!! I also hope that you didn't take my inquisitive nature inquiring about your course, in a defensive manner. It certainly was not my intention to do so. Oh, to answer one of your questions, for me the 'Golden Rule' is just the beginning. Hopefully, in our coming dialogs in the future, we will go beyond the basic scope of the 'GR' and embrace the spirit/principles it was originally written to convey. Peace.

Hi there Kenwood!! My name is Rasmus Diamant (16 years old) and i live in sweden and play the bass... (electric and contra) I am studying at a jazzgymnasium in a city named Gävle... I´ve got a movie with u (if u are the real Kenwood Dennard , I guess u are) Scofield an Jaco...It is GREAT!! But u don´t really care i guess... I just wonder how u came in contact with all the big peaple?? and how u met jaco?? Right now I am actually practising and i went out on the net to search for teentown notes (u don´t have any i guess ;) so i ended up here... pretty cool... I hope that u read this mess and that u are full of energi so u can write me back. I would really apurshiate (i cant spell the word) it. ;) thanx in forehand??!! (¤&/#"& my english) Seeyaa!!

Kenwood Live Meta-Tronica 4.0 Tuesday night 7/10/2001 Lizard Lounge 1667 Mass Ave Cambridge Late Night drink Coffee! DANCE dance DaNcE, Frank Heiss, Falguni Shah, more...

Kim Kassira! u are deep! You sang your tail off at the June 25th Berklee concert. Heartfelt thanks Laurie After. Good to hear from you. What is your e-mail? Nicklaus! Yes I am constantly playing with G?il Evans Orchestra, but please don't lament. Be happy you take care of your health. I hope you advance with a cheerful attitude. Elizabeth! Yeah! Dance! :-) Thanks for the good vibes. :-) Chris Rivelli, I'm coming back to Danbury as you may know: July 3rd. Thanks for everything! :-) Peace

Tonight...Kenwood...Berkley Performace Center...Be There

Tonight...Kenwood...Berkley Performace Center...Be There

Hey Groovatalizers!!! Kenwood will be playing live next Thursday, June 21st at The Milky Way in Jamaica Plain. A project called Metatronica with Frank Heiss (Heiss means "Hot" in German). This is a show not to be missed...electronic drum and bass dance music - YEAH!!! Please come down and support your favorite Drummer, I know I'll be there Dancing dancing dancing. Peace:)

Hey Kenwood, just writing to say thanks for the great show at Colorado Brewery in CT. The originality, creativity, groove, and sense of humor in your playing serve as a major source of inspiration for me. As a teacher your sense of musicality and focus in the classroom has helped me very much as a player and continues to help me grow. It was great to be able to open for you and thanks very much for the kind words.

I miss you and the wonderful energy you have.I'm awakening very slowly say hello to gloria

I miss you and the wonderful energy you have.I'm awakening very slowly say hello to gloria

Hello again Kennwood! Thanks for the reply! Yeah there was some big talk about you on the "Talking Jazz" section ( a bulletin board) of www.billycobham.com You should search for your name there to find it. Or just say hello on the site!!!! BTW what do you think of Alphonse Mouzon? I would love to see ya live sometime here in AUSTRIA!!! When was the last time you were here?? Any plans to come to Innsbruck? Please don't tell me that you were here with the Gil Evans Bigband a few years ago - it was one of the concerts I couldn't go to because I became ill and it sucked so hard!!! :-) Peace and thanks for your great music Nikolaus from Austria

Thanks for the acknowledgement, Dig, and thanks for listening. Guess I should reiterate what I touched on before...what does the term "Global Citizen" mean to anyone out there in this forum? What does it mean to anyone in this forum to be a citizen of the world? Does it mean to be knowledgeable about other cultures, accepting of other cultures, for one to open one's heart to the possibilities of other human beings, or to just travel a lot? What about the people out there who don't have the opportunity to travel around the globe? Can they still be "Global Citizens", too? To me to be a Global Citizen not only means to embrace everyone in the world no matter what the cultural (or racial, or religious, or gender) differences may be, but to actually get out into the world and creat happy people with my voice. As a singer, it may appear to be an easy task to some. But what about the other musicians out there? What about the other "artists" out there? The painters? The videologists? The writers and journalists? The audio technicians, the designers, the architects, the chefs, etc.? Which brings me to my next question..."What is an artist?" In my opinion, an artist is one who creates...period. Would that not make everyone in this world an artist? So...what is a "Global Citizen" and what is an "artist"? My heart is open to honest dialogue and opinions on these and other subjects of discussion. My heart is open to the world! Till later...peace! ;-D Kassira

Funny...I just wrote Your name on my calandar (for June 25th) then I looked at the Just Phrases and my name was there! Yoodig? Thanks for responding to the dancing thing with the respest to people not participating at shows. I have another recent experience to share...I went to see Poncho Sanchez -WOW - my kind of music - at Scullers. NO ONE WAS DANCING - Why ??? I was freaking out in my body ready to explode with Mombo, Cha Cha, Salsa, etcetera. Finally Poncho said, (and I'll be paraphrasing here), "Get Up - don't wait until the last song, because then it will be over!" I was so relieved. I had been contemplating screaming out in between songs, "Does anyone care to dance?" But believe it or not, I couldn't bring myself to stand out that much. I rejoiced in the fact however, that Poncho was watching me and smiling for the rest of the show - I'm sure he knew my request in his heart! Thanks Poncho...Next time I'll just get up on my own.

Elizabeth Migliozzi...sincere appreciation for great vibes on the site. I totally relate to your description of dancing dialogue 100%. Nickolaus... thanks dude, I'll check out the Cobham! Peace! If anybody wants to come see me play I'll be in Boston at the Berklee Performance Centeron June 25th sing and playing more than one instrument (pan-sonic coordination)...Showtime is 7:30PM ...and get this: I'm practicing for a change. My Berklee gig has greatly facilitated my acual implementation of a cool practice routine. :-) yaaay that is rare! :-)... I haven't practiced so much since 1976 When I experienced my own commencement from Berklee...soon I'll post a review of the 2001 Berklee commencement concert! Peace! gotta go teach! :-).

Hi Rich Lamana feelin old yet, bro? your not getting old , you're getting ADVANCED! lol. Cullerton: u de man when backlogged, I' m just advancingKim Kassira, don't think I didn't notice...u had a great topic for discussion and I'd love to pick it up...check out Kim Kassira's heart of dialogue peeps let's see what just phrases people come up with ... Chris... we're jammin?...Ah yes. I have May 26th at 5:30PM... is that correct? Tony u're a webdesigner? That's a cool field. Hope the "downturn" has turned out positive for you in some shape or form... I tried Pete riley... haven't reached the site yet http://www.peteriley.net ? Ms Mac Master you are the best! Did somebody say I was mentioned on Billy Cobham's site? Cool I've never seen his site. I'll check it out! Peace out!.

Ever look at a person's eyes and you can tell that they are genuinely moved by something cause their eyes are wet? Well that's how I look now... TONY STIX WICK ROCKS! Yes I am happy about the tone of this forum! :-) peace!

I am touched by SEP from Singapore! I have never been to Singapore! Wow! Well I would like to amplify what he /or she said! SEP said HE/SHE felt there should be a section for sayings of kindness... Yes! I agree! Let's follow SEP'S lead and try it...a phrase or sentence of kindness is a Just phase, right?Here and now is the perfect place for a saying of kindness... right Jeff Muzerolle? I think your epiphany about "NOW" is wonderful. Just so happens, my fellow groovists, that I know Jeff. It is wonderful that he has found this idea of playing what's appropriate in the moment. He has a vast vocabulary! Congratulations for seeking just the right words, Jeff...hey, Jeff let's see if we can follow sep's lead... wanna? Why don't we each on this bulletin board say something kind to one person whom we have NOT said anything kind to in the past...hmmm.... seaching....ok: my "JUST PHRASE" GOES TO ...AL RICHARDSON: Hi, Al, we have never met before, but I'd like to offer you a sincere thanks for inquiring into my online teaching materials. I believe that a "JUST PHRASE" reflects a sense of justice from my heart . I need not wait for someone else to treat me first. I feel that a kind phrase is a just phrase. I love the golden rule, don't you? "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you... :-) I feel that is a JUST PHRASE. It is a wonderful inner directive. I do my best to apply this golden rule stictly to MYSELF. I do not use this rule as an excuse to tell others what to do! :-) Accordingly, I find the most fulfilling just phrases involve the golden rule of ACTION! In this case the action I am taking is to type my most heartfelt just phrases to a fellow grooooovistic groove-alot-osopher: Al Richardson...ON or before June 30th , 2001 I hereby invite you to avail yourself of a free e-mail question and answer session with me on drumming! :-) Please feel free to contact me at yoodig@aol.com and we can schedule it and discuss it... ok? Peace! together let's Just Advance! yaaaay! :-) Bye! ... okay room why don't we give SEP'S idea a chance! :-) are you thinking about it? ...remember John Lennon? Let's give peace a chance! Let's just advance! :-)

Hey Kenwood. I look forward to Jamin' with you on the 26 this month. Thanks for being so cool to a wanna be jazz kid. I just want to say that I am truly HONORED to play with you. Thanks man~ Christopher

I would like to correspond with anyone who has taken advantage of Kenwood's 10 week online internet course. I would like to find out how it helped you in pursuing your goals of becoming more efficent as a musician. Did you find the format and the way it was presented helpful?Please hit me back at the email address above. If by chance you are located close to the Wash. DC/Maryland area, email and I will pass on my home #, so that we can rap. Many Thanks Big Al

Hey Woody!!!!! How r things? All is well for me. I experienced a metarhythm last week! I went to see Col. Bruce Hampton (formerly of Aquarium Rescue Unit). He had a smokin' band; they played a mix of rockabilly/country/blues that had the house goin' nutz. Anyways, I took a step back in my perspective of the moment and noticed that the whole vibe in the room was so beautiful, I cannot put it into words. The musicians were all wearing a smile and having lots of fun and the audience was also 'movin and shaking something automatically' (to quote the great Maceo Parker). I had been struggling recently with finding enjoyment in performing live and I realized that I had been approaching live performance totally wrong. You see, while I was at Berklee, I strived to Just Advance and be the best I could possibly be. I created very high standards for myself and when I was in the shed, I was a perfectionist. This attitude spilled over into the live performance realm of my career. I realized that I must approach practicing and performing differently. Now when I perform live, I play the very best I possibly can, but it is all for the moment. What I play specifically depends entirely on the moment. If the moment calls for a very simple rock groove, that's what I'll play. If the moment calls for a very intricate polyrhythmic pattern in 15/8, that's what I'll play. In a nutshell, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MOMENT. After all, life is just a bunch of moments strung together. I believe that if we can make the most of every moment, we can live full and fruitful lives. YOO DIG?! Yaaay!! Thanks Kenwood, I've experienced a JUST ADVANCE!! Peace and love brother. - Jeff

Yoooooooooooo dig! Whassup? Stopping in to say hello on this wonderful spring eve--Check this out, earlier tonight I was getting out of car at rehearal (which is near a river) and heard chorus frogs chirping, yet at the same time it was snowing (yes it snowed earler, just a wee bit but it snowed!) It was pretty cool! TTFN :)

Earth to Diggy, Earth to Diggy, where are you Diggy?...Come in! Hope when you land all is well. Let's dialogue more on the term "Global Citizen", what it means to you and how we can all accomplish this dream. :-D

I think you should add some sections for sayings of kindness.

Hello Kennwood!!! Cool talk here! I am Nikolaus from Austria and I am a drum-talk member - and I was at the live-chat last summer. It was very nice. Hopfully, we can set up another chat in the future? I would really love to do it again with all the guys. The site got bigger and bigger all the time! Since then , I checked out your work. Also there's/was much talk about you on Bill Cobham's bulletin board, which is also one of the finest places in the whole WORLD! I purchased Pat Martinos "Joyous Lake" and PDB with Jaco and Hiram. I love "Joyous Lake" it has some of the finest fusion drumming on it! YOU'RE A KILLER! Love the bass-snare drum work especially and the drum sound. Which sticks did you play back then? I think they were very slim. PDB was quite dissapointing, but not because of the music , which was absolute on TOP ( "Three Views of Secret" is a masterpiece and has some of the tightest drumming on it! Love it!), but the sound quality is THAT bad. Really. Did you ever hear it? You'll agree , I'm sure. What are you working on currently? Any new Cd plans? Please let me know! Do you think you will come to Austria sometime in the future? Would be awesome to see you "live". I have more questions , but I think that's all for now. I hope I will hear from you soon!!!! THANKS SO MUCH!!!!!! Peace NIKI DOLP / www.drummerphotos.com I've a couple of questions:

I would like to purchase your Just Advance video instruction tapes, Vol.1 & 2. Would you please give me the cost of both and whether you would be able to deliver before 4/12/01. I would also like info on the the costs of the online lesson, for future reference. Thanking you in advance! Also, thoroughly enjoyed seeing excepts of Vol 1, after my lesson. I was stoked! You do so much with so little! Kindest Regards, al

Woody, as I sit here listening to 'A Full Heart' off my newly acquired (just today) copy of 'Just Advance' I feel the urge to praise you and your merry men for having created a funk masterpiece. You all truly groove on this CD. Marcus Miller was such a fine choice for the album...yet another fine rendition of 'Teen Town' from the funky bassmeister! Kenwood, may I be a bit cheeky and ask a favour? A UK drummer called Pete Riley ( http://www.peteriley.net ) has just embarked on his internet journey, and I've set him up as best I can. He now has a forum, and I was wondering if perhaps you and your very warm hearted and musically spiritual bunch could perhaps post on it, to start it off on the right musical foot? Your forum here is a good example of how a cool sharing drum-forum should work, with no egos, just genuine good vibes :0) Hey, 'Today' has just come on the headphones....Gotta go!!

Kenwood, Happy Birthday!!! Yes, indeed, I do believe the bird of happiness, adorned in all it's gilded and effulgent plumage has rested in our land from time to time. I will be watching to spy a glimpse of it when it does arrive next. Thanks for your kind thoughts, Rich.

if backlogged-just advance-right?-see you there-

Hey cats! (male and female ones) Dig this! I just now experienced a wonderful MET-RHYTHM. ( see the metarhythmic dictionary) Here it is: rao: "I am currently taking my percussion classes from Vikku. Yes, he is my Guru !! Yes, he and two others (Zakir & L Shankar) were with John Mc Laughlin, formed the legendary group for contemporary Jazz, namely SHAKTI..." JA, rAo >> KD: "Wow! Vikku is your Guru! whoo hoo congratulations to both mentor and disciple! :-). This is a wonderful example of a METARHYTHM! I am answering your e-mail at this time and look! This is amazing! I just am right this second listening to MA NO PA by Zakir Hussain from the cd entitled Remember Shakti on Verve Records. I just finished reading in the special thanks section: " I express my sincere grattitude to my beloved gurus: TH VIKKU VINAYAKRAM , TH Subash Chandran, Zakir Hussain without whom I would have never become a percussion artist..."- V Selvaganesh- Yaaay! what perfect timing. That's a rhythm in my life, but it transcends the every day rhythms because of the wonderful synchronicity of human hearts! Yours and mine! So I call it a Meta-rhythm! :-) Peace! This music sounds wonderful! Remember Shakti! :-)

Yoo dig! Hi Elizabeth! In terms of the recent topic of audience /artist relations, When I was in India last year, I was reminded that the audiences in India have a special relationship with the artists... Not only do they share emotions spontaneously with the artist, but they actual count the "tala" (a counting system) so intellectually they are closely linked with the artists art as well. It's beautiful. Let me share a recent e-mail concerning Indian music with you all... Hi KD, Thanks for the (many) replies, that you sent to me !! Regarding the backlog, that's ok !! As regards the correction in solfeggio, thanks !! I feel very nice (and proud) that Indian music system is really globally acceptable. And very happy to note that you are into Indian percussions, too !! Hoping to keep in touch with you, for the sake for mutual good !! Just advance, rAo >> Yeah. Just had a tabla lesson. Wonderfull Also I am trading tabla lessons for drum lessons and my friend introduced me to an indian claassical singer who demonstrated sarigam tonight for me...incredible. She was subtle , expressive and beautiful sa-ri-ga-ma-pa-da-ni-sa- sa-ni-da-pa-ma-ga-ri-sa. She embellished so beautifully. I shared with her Donna Lee (Charlie Parker) and some jazz harmony and theory. All in all I met some wonderful people tonight. :-) This is Kenwood signing off... peace and together, Let's Advance! :-)

This is a great topic Kenwood! I have always felt that the people listening and/or dancing to live music in the same room is an ongoing communication...Subject to change unendingly as the music progresses - especially with improv stuff. As an audience member I know that I've had to contain myself at times because it seemed like I would have interfered with the sound in the room. Other times I have had to shout out loud because I feel overwhelmed with happiness at something I heard - and at that moment I've seen the musician crack a smile because I know that they knew what I was responding to. I do know what you mean about the jazz shows, the ones that I've attended seem to have this different vibe where everyone is holding their stuff in, I've been moved to dance at Jazz shows before and haven't because I thought it might go against Jazz Show Etiquette or something!

Hi Kenwood, well, what do I do? I'm a webdesigner in the day, and a husband and father (to a 2 year old miracle) in the evenings and weekends. I play drums in a rock blues outfit similar to Hendrix and SRV, and listen to my main men Harvey Mason, Kenwood Dennard and Dennis Chambers whenever I can on CD....I'm rediscovering my passion for learning through Pete Riley (www.peteriley.net) and am having more drumming fun than ever before. Well, you DID ask!! I've just ordered JUST ADVANCE from CD Now....bring it on, Mr Postman :0)

Hey Groovosophers, there was a comment by someone named Peter which I should like to call attention to. I like it very much. Peter said: I have always wished that people (especially musicians) would enjoy music as pure sound rather than idolize the musicians performing the music. we are not gods to be idolized but, human beings expressing the human condition. we should let the purity of the harmony and the melody uplift us. Art is all about being enlightened and being uplifted. Not a single creator failed to do this and i believe that we shall continue to do this as creators of art. That's a nice topic for dialogue I think. Question: What are the merits of idolizing a musician (if any)? What are the merits(if any) of deeply enjoying the music that musicians make? Q: Which is better? Idolizing the musician or enjoying the music? Thanks Peter for making us think. :-) When I was a teenager in and around 1969, I would play and listen to jazz in small night clubs. During that time, the relationship between the audience and the musician was demonstrably different than it is now in the 00's :-) Every squeak of the sax uttered in cathartic anguish or honest human struggle or joyful ecstacy was mirrored by hootin hollerin squealin and shoutin in equal measure from the audience. We in the audience would frequently encourage the artist, but we were not objectifying the artist so much as empathizing with the artist. Many times when I was onstage, I came to view it as natural for someone in the audience to scream after some spontaneous wholehearted effort I put out on the drums...It never occured to me during that time that the scream meant anything other than " I feel deeply and intensely about life just as you do...I empathize with you". Nowadays, when I perform a jazz concert, it seems that sometimes there is no emotion at all from the audience. Sometimes the audience members are trying to transcribe or analyse the music. Other times it seems the audience is judging the quality level of the music. If there is any emotion displayed, it seems nowadays there are many other kinds of screams and shouts that occur. Some of the screams seem to say "I idolize you" others say "I like the way you look." "You have fast technique" What if you imagine for a moment coming home after work running to your girlfriend and expressing all the intense feelings of the day which you had not had the opportunity to express up to that point. Would you rather she say: "Darling I feel you deeply! I empathize with you" or " Wow! you're good. You talk fast!" "You look GREAT". Well? What say ye workagroovaliterous friends?

Kim, Elizabeth, Scott Deogburn, Rich Lamana! u de man, and u de ma'am respectively and respectfully. With respect to groovagitilizing to the Max the maximum funk and swing derive from the pocket of the natural born Universal law of life and death and Metafunk! yoo dig? Don't u think so?.

Tony. Thanks for the kind words.What do you do in life? Hey Geof Cullerton! Welcome! we are moven and picken and shakin!

Great site, great philosophy. I wish I had your amazing energy and zest for all things musical. You are very inspiring as a drummer. J Funk express is a constant fave of mine, and when Maceo lets the drummer get wicked on Planet Groove I get shivers down my spine. Keep it up!!

Mister Kenwood, Happy Birthday my friend and drummer, percussionist extraordinare. It is a rare person indeed who keeps his vision and dreams focused, like a lazer beam, in the realization and achievement of his artistic expression. You indeed are that rare person. I salute you and look forward to playing and recording with you again soon on the next project. Ciao, Rich.

Let me be the first on the site to say: HAPPY BIRTHDAY WOODY! So, here's a sentiment for you, K. "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." -Ralph Waldo Emerson, author, poet, philosopher (1803-1882). Didn't you come up with that in the first place? LOL Congratulations on your life and achievements and successes and sorrows and joys and karma-changing up to now. Here's to lifetimes of the same, yet better! Who Digs Ya'? MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE Dig!

Let me be the first on the site to say: HAPPY BIRTHDAY WOODY! So, here's a sentiment for you, K. "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." -Ralph Waldo Emerson, author, poet, philosopher (1803-1882). Didn't you come up with that in the first place? LOL Congratulations on your life and achievements and successes and sorrows and joys and karma-changing up to now. Here's to lifetimes of the same, yet better! Who Digs Ya'? MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE Dig!

The complete second set of the live performance of Kenwood, Alex Acuna, Othello Molineaux, myself and others constituting The Last Word at the Van Dyck is now up and ready for listening on my web site. Check out some spectacular percussion work between Kenwood and Alex Acuna. For those of you who remember Woody playing with Othello in Jaco's Word Of Mouth, this is some classic playing. Enjoy, Rich

Oh yeah...check out Murali Coryell's wesite. http://www.wild-rose.com/blues/murali/ And YES. Larry is his Daddy. Peace, E

The wonderfully talented, world famous, Buddhist -Drummer, Kenwood Dennard will be at the House of Blues this Tuesday, January 23rd to back up our favorite, soon to be a Living Legend, Blues Vocalist/Guitarist/Composer ...Murali Coryell Please come out and support him. Bring all of your wild, loud, hootin' & hollerin' dancing friends and you'll be guaranteed a musical experience never to be forgotten. House of Blues 96 Winthrop Street Cambridge, MA (Harvard Square) 617-491-1250 Tuesday 1/23/2001 9:00 pm Be there. (or cut your hair) You don't want to miss WOODY!!! Peace and Love, E

We ve got fried neck ties for only $2 in Simcity.

Hellooooooo, Human Being and all. Hey whaz up? Just want to let you know that I just put an mp3 of "The Last Word" performance live at the Van Dyck, April 21st, 2000. I am almost finished mastering a new cd of the performance with Kenwood, Alex Acuna, Othello Molineaux and other cats. I hope to release the cd this year. Go to my website and check it out. It's grooving!!! Kenwood loved your playing and interaction with Alex that night. It was awesome to hear you and Othello play together again. Bye all, Rich.

Yo, Woody What UP???? What a great site.....I look forward to more bashing with you in the future.... Peace.....Scott