Billy Martin

Riddim: Claves of African Origin
$24.95
I have been playing drums for about two decades. I'm probably an intermediate drummer and have focused mostly on playing rock music. I totally recommend this book. There is a lot to learn and play in it. I've never worked on total limb independence much, but I achieved it in the first few pages of the book.

Ode to Billy Joe [VHS]
$14.98
Product ordered was delivered in excellent condition with a speed that I thought wasn't possible. Will do business with this co. again if needed.

Mago
$16.98

"Mago" is a great Medeski, Martin and Wood (MMW) side project. Perhaps 'side project' is too strong a descriptor given that it's MMW without Chris Wood. The sound is rewarding. Rather than reinvent the wheel, "Mago" is similar to what MMW has been doing on their regular albums for the past few years. Thus it will resonate with fans of "End of the World Party" and "Uninvisible." For the most part, the guys stick with their time tested formula of jazz, rock and funk. 'Crustaceatron' and 'Bamboo Pants' are two of the highlights. While most of the music is accessible, avant-garde is well represented by 'Introducing Mago,' 'Thundercloud' and 'L'Aventura.' These self-indulgent pieces will resonate with fans that enjoyed "Notes from the Underground" and "Farmer's Reserve." The musicians are in as fine a form as ever. At times, John Medeski forces the listener to do a musical double-take at what sounds like a bass. Billy Martin employs his typical arsenal of acoustic and electronic drums. "Mago" asks a million dollar question: can such a project be successful without Chris Wood? While it definitely works, the effectiveness is debatable. The potential listener might think that without Chis Wood, Billy Martin might come out more on the drums. Instead, "Mago" just sounds like MMW without a bass. It's not like Billy Martin was marginalized in MMW, waiting for a duo to truly express himself and musically actualize. "Mago" doesn't sound great because it lacks a bass, it works despite the absence of Chris Wood. Most likely, this dynamic would have been different had Medeski and Martin played music outside the MMW paradigm. Considering the benefits and drawbacks, "Mago" is a CD that deserves to be in any Medeski, Martin and Wood collection.

Billy Martin: The Man. The Myth. The Manager.
$9.95
Watching this DVD gives one a deep appreciation for how good of a manager Billy Martin was. Suffering in Milwaukee with the Brewers reveals how much a talented manager can in fact bring to a ball club. You were and will always be #1 Billy.