Search - Billy Martin :: Solo Live Tonic

Full of emotion

N. Lang | K-town (Kiel), WI | 01/21/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Billy Martin is a percussion guru who has worked with artists such as Bob Moses, Chuck Mangione, the Lounge Lizards, Iggy Pop(believe it or not), and the avant-garde trio Medeski, Martin, and Wood.

Aside from working with other musicians, Billy has released several solo and duet albums dedicated solely to percussion. "Solo Live Tonic 2002" is the latest installment. The first three tracks are on the drumset, with some extra trinkets (cowbells, more bells, woodblocks). "Boquet" is a subtle intro, moving around different tempos, pulses and such. By the time "Max Moon" has started, Billy has settled on a steady tempo for the most part. All hell breaks loose by the third track "Winding Road to Tree House"; he flurries around the toms with little drags on the snare. He then solos over the top of a faster samba bass drum pattern.

He then does a piece called "Six Grandfathers" consisting of mainly bass drums and gong. This is from his 2001 release "Black Elk Speaks". After this he provides some background information on "Black Elk".

The rest of the disc covers a vast array of percussion toys. Talking drums, bird whistles, and burundi drums, to name a few.

This live disc that clocks in at just over an hour, does a lot to convey Martin's vast knowledge and background in many different areas of percussion. It's like knowing five different languages, but you can always tell it's him. So, he's speaking all of these languages of percussion, but each one with a unique, Billy Martin inflection.

Be sure to check out some of his other percussion discs."