How long have you been playing?
I'm 56. Been playing music since around1965, recording music longer than that. Dad was recording music in our home and on location for many years and I just absorbed it by being there.
I was recording people and learned to playh partly to understand what they were asking me to do and why. Then I got to like doing, not just recording others.
Played hand percusion on '65 recording, School bigband trombone middle 60's; Merideth Wilson influenced, guitar, bass, banjo and harmonic since late 60's, Dobro, lapsteel, dulcimers and drums since early 70's, MIDI programing and sequencing since 80's, upright bass and mandolin since early 90's, pedal steel since 2003.
I was recording people and learned to playh partly to understand what they were asking me to do and why. Then I got to like doing, not just recording others.
Played hand percusion on '65 recording, School bigband trombone middle 60's; Merideth Wilson influenced, guitar, bass, banjo and harmonic since late 60's, Dobro, lapsteel, dulcimers and drums since early 70's, MIDI programing and sequencing since 80's, upright bass and mandolin since early 90's, pedal steel since 2003.
What was the first concert you ever went to?
Orchestral and big band, jazz combos and folk in a 60's. Many small shows of all types 60-70s, Major rock act Aerosmith '72 in a Worcester Ma. hockey rink. No clue who I was with, the band cranked, the sound sucked, I wanted to mix it.
I worked too much and missed some classic concerts... some I saw.
Jethro Tull; Thick As A Brich, stands out, as well as Zappa, the Terry Bozzio era band, and Mahavishnu Orchestra Birds Of Fire tour. MIles Davis from 1 meter away sitting at his feet. 11th House; Coryell with Randy Brecker and Mike Mandel while sitting a yard from Alphones Mouzones bass drum.
I worked too much and missed some classic concerts... some I saw.
Jethro Tull; Thick As A Brich, stands out, as well as Zappa, the Terry Bozzio era band, and Mahavishnu Orchestra Birds Of Fire tour. MIles Davis from 1 meter away sitting at his feet. 11th House; Coryell with Randy Brecker and Mike Mandel while sitting a yard from Alphones Mouzones bass drum.
What gear do you use?
'92 Fodera, 28 fret, 6 string, custom electric bass, '53 Kay upright bass, Indian made upright bass, '57 J-50 Gibson /Takamin D series acoustic guitars,
Mexican Tele, Ibanez Artist, Fernandez Strat clone,
1912 Gibson A-jr mandoline , Bruce Wei F-model mando, Custom French 6 string electric mando with midi,
'81 Shobud D-10 8+8 and '83 Sierra S-14 pedal steels,
Sonar Drums with Zildjian, Paiste and Wuhan cymbals and Arpeige snare,
Korg X-5 and M-audio electric piano assorted virtual synths and samplers
in Logic Studio, Digital Performer Protools.
Mexican Tele, Ibanez Artist, Fernandez Strat clone,
1912 Gibson A-jr mandoline , Bruce Wei F-model mando, Custom French 6 string electric mando with midi,
'81 Shobud D-10 8+8 and '83 Sierra S-14 pedal steels,
Sonar Drums with Zildjian, Paiste and Wuhan cymbals and Arpeige snare,
Korg X-5 and M-audio electric piano assorted virtual synths and samplers
in Logic Studio, Digital Performer Protools.
Who was your biggest musical influence growing up?
Too many genres to name. I heard so much it's hard to pick one.
Beatles, Jeff Beck, Frank Zappa, Allman Brothers Dr. John, Meters, Tousaint. But this is just being superficial. E. Power Biggs, Edith Piaf, Carl Orff, Beethoven, Bach, Billie Holiday, Benny Goodman, Prof, Longhair, Horace Silver, Brubeck, Ramsy Lewis, Anthony Braxton, Bird and Train, MJQ, Burl Ives, Bill Monroe, Dave Grisman, JPJones/Entwhistle/Oakley/RCarter/Clarke/Jaco.. etc etc
Beatles, Jeff Beck, Frank Zappa, Allman Brothers Dr. John, Meters, Tousaint. But this is just being superficial. E. Power Biggs, Edith Piaf, Carl Orff, Beethoven, Bach, Billie Holiday, Benny Goodman, Prof, Longhair, Horace Silver, Brubeck, Ramsy Lewis, Anthony Braxton, Bird and Train, MJQ, Burl Ives, Bill Monroe, Dave Grisman, JPJones/Entwhistle/Oakley/RCarter/Clarke/Jaco.. etc etc
Are you in a band? Have you been in bands?
I've been in many many bands from Boston, NYC, Paris, south France and Thailand.
Presently just doing pick up jazz gigs or the occasional blues jam, and writing things when the mood strikes. Played; Rock, Blues, Jazz standards, Country, Bluegrass, Salsa, Classical symphony / Chamber and choral, Bebop, Free Jazz, Fusion, Celtic & assorted Euro trad, Speed Metal but not Hair Metal, Neo Post Punk New Wave. We just backed up Danish star Sos Fenger for 2 nights of jazz here on Koh Samui at Rocky's resort.
Presently just doing pick up jazz gigs or the occasional blues jam, and writing things when the mood strikes. Played; Rock, Blues, Jazz standards, Country, Bluegrass, Salsa, Classical symphony / Chamber and choral, Bebop, Free Jazz, Fusion, Celtic & assorted Euro trad, Speed Metal but not Hair Metal, Neo Post Punk New Wave. We just backed up Danish star Sos Fenger for 2 nights of jazz here on Koh Samui at Rocky's resort.
If you could jam with anyone, who would it be?
Big Band drummer & my dad's cousin Peter Donald.
Al DeMeola, Chick, Larry Carlton, Duke Robilard, Dave Grusin, Jeff Beck.
Acoustic
Jerry Douglas, David Grissman, Stuart Duncan, Mark O'Connor, Yo-Yo Ma, Alison Kraus.
Al DeMeola, Chick, Larry Carlton, Duke Robilard, Dave Grusin, Jeff Beck.
Acoustic
Jerry Douglas, David Grissman, Stuart Duncan, Mark O'Connor, Yo-Yo Ma, Alison Kraus.
What's the biggest audience you ever performed to? What's the smallest?
With 'flow' and T-Bone in Patpong Phuket 5-6,000 people in a closed off street, doing a Singha sponsered show. I was playing with 'flow', but when the crowd demanded an encore from headliner reggae/ska/jazz band T-Bone, to my shock they invited me to jam with them, and gave me a bass solo.
The band Risk-A at the Channel Club Boston, 2,600 people . '81
I've mixed FOH sound for around 10,000.
The band Risk-A at the Channel Club Boston, 2,600 people . '81
I've mixed FOH sound for around 10,000.
You're stuck on a desert island and only get to bring one album with you. What do you pick?
Bartoks Concerto For Orchestra. Georg Solti, London Symphony.
I would still be trying to figure out what he did even 20 years later.
Many pick Beethovens 9th, but I've played it, so no mystery any more.
I heard the Bartok 25 years back and still makes me wonder.
Of course I would want an instrument,
but this was the 1 record question.
I would still be trying to figure out what he did even 20 years later.
Many pick Beethovens 9th, but I've played it, so no mystery any more.
I heard the Bartok 25 years back and still makes me wonder.
Of course I would want an instrument,
but this was the 1 record question.
David Donald hasn't uploaded any pics yet.
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La Chevre, performed by Les Kitchs from Ales, Gard dept. S. France. Video by David DONALD A homage to my friend Jean-Luc Imbert's band of nutters. J-L plays tuba and recorder in this song.
David Donald
- Video shooting and editing
Video
Ko Samui, Thailand
A tune by Blind Irish harp player Turrough O'Carrolan. I only had a melody TAB and guitar chord chart to start this from. All instruments are real.
David Donald
- Upright bass and mandolin
Audio
Ko Samui, Thailand
I tried to write something 'hiphop' and it went somewhere else instead.
David Donald
- Everything
Audio
Ko Samui, Thailand
Lockestep by Atmospheres. From 1992
David Donald
- Bass
Video
Ko Samui, Thailand
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