The Enjoyment of Music: Essential

No musical background is required; just a harmonica in C and 15 minutes of practice daily.

Essential Percussion follows the alt.rockdrums collection as George Pendergast's second contribution to the massive Sony Creative Software catalog. This set stays true to the Pendergast form — great performances on fine instruments, captured using ultra high-end gear, and edited to perfection for instant usability and enjoyment. Essential Percussion library is packed with inspiring patterns played on custom kits and a wide variety of hand percussion including congas, bongos, djembe, doumbek, slit drums, timbales, bells, cymbals, shakers, tambourines, blocks, and more. In addition to patterns, an extensive one shot collection is included, so you'll be able to customize your tracks and achieve results that are unique and yours alone. Perfectly suited for rock, pop, experimental and alternative music, the Essential Percussion library takes a non-traditional approach to providing sounds and rhythms that will integrate easily with a wide variety of styles.

Why does it seem that the bands without pianists seem to be producing the best current interpretations of Monk material? Last year we had Ben Riley's gem, and now, (Plays Monk) - this thought provoking beauty - features the unlikely amalgamation of drummer Scott Amendola mixing it up with clarinetist Ben Goldberg and bassist Devin Hoff. Wisely, this trio doesn't try to recreate the sound of Monk's music; more often they take the melodies of these lesser known songs from the Monk canon and take them to the next idiosyncratic step. For instance, Goldberg's mid and lower ranged foray on Reflections perfectly captures the ponderously pensive mood. Amendola and Hoff furtively create a bustled rhythm on Little Rootie Tootie, while Goldberg restrains the melody by playing restrained and held back loopy notes. The tension between these two forces is joyfully palpable. The band is also able to reach the out layers of Monk's cerebellum, as on the wild and wooly Teo and & Four In One. Hoff's bass work on the latter is a roller coaster ride in itself. The idea of taking off road excursions with Monk's vehicle was a smart concept, and these guys do some remarkable ATVing with it.