Brilliant drummer and master clinician, Dom Famularo, presented an enjoyable, informative, and at times electrifying clinic to a standing room only crowd of drummers and other musicians at Wentworth Music in Kelowna, BC, Canada last night. Blessed with true humility, great personality, and an encyclopaedic knowledge of jazz and drumming, Famularo took his audience on a journey through drumming past and pointed to its future.
Famularo’s combination of an easy-going manner and a clear deep passion for his craft, as well as the obvious joy he gets from sharing and imparting knowledge to others literally around the world ensured that all in attendance would be lifted, both musically and emotionally. He began with stories from the early 1900s about the birth of jazz and the new sensibilities that the genre demanded from drummers. He would his way both through the advancements in drum technique and in the physical hardware changes driven by the drum community. Drum set history is rich in and of itself. Famularo brought it fully to life in this clinic.
Famularo spoke fondly and with great respect for each generation of previous drum masters and heroes. He also spoke of the dedication and commitment required to achieve one’s full potential as a drummer and in life. He cajoled, challenged, inspired and even led the audience through simple exercises to develop as musicians. Much laughter was shared by him and the audience as he injected all sorts of humour into his material.
Of course, a drum clinic would not be a drum clinic without the clinician spending sometime behind the kit, actually playing. Here again Famularo awed and inspired. His technique is the stuff of legends. His creativity is a beauty to behold. Splendid musicality combined with other-worldly technique and a sense of experimentation and pushing the envelope fused into something that was so much more than a great drum solo..... it was simply gorgeous music.
Famularo continues a 7 cities in 7 nights tour of Canada before returning to New York briefly and then heading over to China and places beyond. Check out Dom’s site at www.domfamularo.com for other clinic dates and for access to his material and other information.
Masterful clinic from a passionate yet very humble and warm human being. If you can get out to one of his clinics, I highly recommend it.
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