Big Drum Thump

Grover Pro Percussion announces that they will have no price increases for their Grover line of concert percussion products in 2009, despite rising material costs and the state of the U.S. economy.

“I know that our retail partners and customers are feeling the pinch due to economic conditions,” states Neil Grover, President and Founder of Grover Pro Percussion. “We’ve made the investment in efficiency improvements that allow us to hold 2008 pricing,” continues Grover. “As we enter 2009, I know that our customers will really appreciate our holding 2008 pricing. They will know that Grover Pro Percussion is not only sensitive to the market condition, but that we value the shared interests of our retail partners. Holding 2008 pricing is a great way to show our commitment to the percussion marketplace,” comments Grover.

“Our ability to hold pricing really shows our customers that we care about them,” states Jim Simonian, Worldwide Director of Sales. “It’s important that our customers know that we not only make the world’s finest percussion products, but that we understand the retail side of the business,” continues Simonian. “The fact is that we actually are lowering pricing on two of our products; woodblocks and chime mallets, how many companies can claim that?” Simonian queried.

[via Harmony Central]

Put your lowly cabasa player out of job with Meinl’s new foot bling. The clever little pedal allows you to play cabasa rhythms with your foot while your hands are free for conga, timbale, or kit thumping. It features a steel-chain drive, a stainless steel cylinder within a wooden cabasa body, and a black powder-coated pedal. The instrument can also be set to sound on downstrokes only or both upstrokes and downstrokes. It’s all yours for a $259 MSRP.

Fausto Cuevas, the percussionist in Stevie Wonder’s band, is giving an exclusive masterclass at the Institute of Contemporary Music Performance on September 29. Want to go? Of course you do, but you’ll have to dust off your passport for this one: the ICMP is located in London. Cuevas has also played with Julio Iglesias, Celia Cruz, Cheo Feliciano, Al Jarreau, Roy Hargrove, Britney Spears, Queen Latifah, and Sheila E, so dude will definitely put on a great show. Send us some bloody pics if you manage to make it.

…is up and running and fairly chock-full of tambourine videos. C’mon, you know you’ve always wanted to learn how to do a one-minute thumb role.

It’s been eight years since Tito Puente left us, but thankfully he’s in no danger of being forgotten. NPR and drummer/percussionist Bobby Sanabria recently  discussed Puente’s life and work, including his seminal album Tito Puente And His Concert Orchestra.

Daihachi Oguchi, the guru of contemporary taiko drumming, was hit by a car Thursday and died Friday of excessive bleeding. He was 84.

We here at BDT admittedly know precious little of the rich history of taiko (save of course that it must be hellaciously fun to whack ginormous drums with big sticks), but if the vid performance below is any indication, the fiery and loud-lunged Oguchi will be very much missed. We’re betting he didn’t go quietly into that good night.

[Update: His obit appeared today in the New York Times.]