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My Music – Then and Now
I began to play
the drums at the age of seven. After moving to Denmark with my family in
1969, I began playing music professionally at the age of 15. My
instruments are drums, congas, timbales,
bongos and hand percussion. The styles I play range from Rock and Funk
through Cuban, Brazilian, Fusion and Jazz.
Dr. Dopo Jam
I started my musical career in Denmark playing with a progressive rock
band from Roskild called dr. Dopo Jam, lead by keyboard player and
composer Christian Pommer. I recorded two albums with Dopo Jam: “Entrée”
and “MAD Dogs and Danishmen.” I played with Dr. Dopo Jam at the Roskilde
Festival for the first time in 1971
Buki Yamaz
At the age of 16 I was asked to play with the first funk/ fusion/latin
band in Denmark – Buki Yamaz. Kasper Winding was the first drummer in
the band, and when he left I was asked to join. I played drums and
percussion on the first two albums recorded by the band: “Buki Yamaz”
and “Secundo.” These albums are considered to be milestones in the
progressive instrumental fusion style of music in Denmark in the 1970s
and 80s.
Danish Radio Big Band
I played percussion with the Danish Radio Big Band (also called the
Danish Radio Jazz Orchestra) for 27 years. I started when I was 18 years
old, as the latin-percussionist of the band, under the leadership of
Thad Jones. I have recorded over 35 albums with this band, and have
toured and recorded with such artists as Miles Davis, David Sanborn, Van
Morrison and many more.
I played with the Danish Radio Big Band until 2003.
Cox Orange
I played drums with Cox Orange for many years and recorded the
first albums during this period. This band was one of the leading funk
and latin bands of the 1980s. It was a large, dynamic band with a horn
section, and it became one of the most popular bands of its time on the
dance scene, due to our mixture of funky instrumental arrangements and
own versions of popular vocal tunes from, among others, the Beatles' songbook.
Entrance
I played as percussionist and second drummer in the version of Palle
Mikkelborgs Entrance with which we recorded the album “Journey To… in
1984. The line-up was Palle Mikkelborg, Jesper Nehammer, Thomas Clausen,
Bjarne Roupe, Bo Stief, Lennart Gruvstedt and I. Entrance in this
version was the foundation for the Danish Radio Big Band productio o of
the recording “Aura” with Miles Davis. This album was recorded after
Miles Davis had been awarded the prestigious Sonning Music Prize in
1984. The recording took place in Easy Sound Studio on Østerbro in 1985.
Crème Fraiche
Creme Fraiche is known in Denmark as a big band that was established in
the late 1970s through the 80s, lead by trumpet player and
acomposer/arranger Lars Togeby.
Crème Fraiche in its original form was a medium-size ensemble, with
three horns and rhythm section. The rhythm section had Ben Besiakov on
keyboards, Bent Clausen on drums, Kim Daugård on bass. I played congas
and percussion.
Blast
Trombone player and bandleader Bjarne Thanning started the funk big band
Blast in the beginning of the 1980s, after an inspiring music semniar at
the Brandbjerg music summer school. I was the first drummer on the band,
along with, among others, Birger “Krølle” Sulsbruck (leader of Salsa Na
Ma) on percussion. With three female vocalists in front – Lise
Dandanell, Tine Schaefer and Hanne Boel – and with a full big band line
up, this was the biggest and best funk and sould big band in Denmark.
Flair
The vocal pop group Flair, lead by Lasse Lunderskov and with lead
vocalists Sanne Salomonsen, Tamra Rosanes and Jannie Høeg, recorded two
albums at the Abbey Raod Studio in London, released in 1977 and 1978. I
became the drummer for the band in 1978, with among others Gert Rostock
on bass. We played a big concert at the Tivoli Garden’s concert hall
during this period. And somewhere out there, there is a video recording
from the Bellevue Theater studio, with this band, featuring us all with
helmet-hair and collars the width of the wings on a jumbo jet!
Flair played power pop, with intricate vocal arrangements. With three of
the best female vocalists in Denmark, this was an impressive band.
Current bands and activities
Cosmofunk
Bjørn
Jeppesen,
voc
Lars
Fenger,
perc,
voc
Karsten
Sørensen,
key
Thomas
Risell,
bas
Niels
Oldin,
sax
Per
Vissing,
trp
Bob
Jackson,
sax
Ethan
Weisgard,
dr
Finn
Gustafsson,
gui
The music
is power funk - Sly Stone, Tower of Power, Chaka Kahn, Larry Graham,
Tavares, Cool and The Gang m.f. Check our homepage:
www.cosmofunk.dk
Salsa Na Ma
I began playing with Salsa Na Ma from its inception in 1978. Salsa Na Ma
was the first genuine Salsa orchestra in Denmark. I went with the band
to Cuba for the first time in 1983, for a one-month tour, starting in
one end of the country and ending in Havana. We went back to Cuba with
Salsa Na Ma in 1999 to celebrate our 20th anniversary. We recorded an
album in Havana, and played to great acclaim in some of the best venues
in the city. The CD we recorded is called Salsa Na Ma in Cuba and can be
purchased through Slagtøjcentret (The Percussion Center in
Frederiksberg).
Bottom Line
Bottom Line is a four-piece band that originates fromthe 1980s band Cox
Orange. Karsten Simonsen plays keyboards and writes the original
materail. Flemming Ostermann plays guitar, and Hans Frydendal is on
bass. I play drums in this band. Bottom Line went to New orleans to
record our first CD ” At The End of The Day,” that consists of original,
instrumental material. The tunes are written by Bottom Line. The music
is stylistically influenced by funk, rock, latin, New Orleans style,
country and much more.
Bottom Line also plays as a party band, with Flemming Ostermann on
vocals, as well as guitar. The style of music is 60s and 70s rock and
rock and roll, with numbers ranging from The Stones and Beatles, to
Carol King, Simon and Garfunkel and much more.
The Organizers
Funky Hammond-based jazz, under the guidance of Kjelld Lauritzen
(Hammond organ) and saxophone player Bob Rockwell is what The Organizers
is all about. My dear, respected colleague Klavs Nordsø – the first real
conga player in Denmark, who I played with in Buki Yamaz – is the steady
conga playerin this band. I have recorded two CDs with The Organizers –
the album “The Organizers + 1” with American guitarist Randy Weston, and
“Yes, Yes, Yes” with guitarist Per Gade as guest artist. I play with The
Organizers as steady substitute.
The Latin Lounge
The Latin Lounge is an instrumental trio that I put together, with Niels
Thybo on piano and keyboards and Niels Lichtenberg on bass.I play congas
and percussion in this band. The repertoire conists of smooth latin
jazz, with tunes from the great latin american songbook, in instrumental
renditions. The Latin Lounge is perfect for initimate arrangements such
as parties, gallery openings, dinners and other gatherings, where the
need for tasteful and understated music, played at low volume is the
key.
Blue Confetti
Blue Confettei
is a trio, with Steen T on guitar and vocals and Henrik Bjørn on bass. I
play drums in this trio. The music is a magical mixture of evergreens,
classical themes, film music, rock’njazz, blues and original songs –
poetic and whimsical. The trio plays with understated vibrancy – and at
a volume that makes it perfect for situations such as dinners,
receptions, at café’s and parties and many more settings.
Peter Suwalski World Club
World Club is an 11-piece latin-jazz and salsa ensemble, with Peter
Suwalski as conga player and bandleader.
The band has, among others, drummer Calixto Oviedo – the former drummer
of NG La Banda from Cuba – in its line-up. World Club is a perfect blend
of latin jazz and salsa – easy to dance to, and perfect to just sit and
listen to as well. With great soloists and well-arranged charts.
Blue Confetti
Blue Confettei is a trio, with Steen T on guitar and vocals and Henrik
Bjørn on bass. I play drums in this trio. The music is a magical mixture
of evergreens, classical themes, film music, rock’njazz, blues and
original songs – poetic and whimsical. The trio plays with understated
vibrancy – and at a volume that makes it perfect for situations such as
dinners, receptions, at cafés, parties and many more settings.
Freelance
Throughout my career as a drummer and percussionist I have had the honor
to work with some of the best musicians Denmark has to offer. It has
been a pleasure. I have had amazing experiences: playing a one-nighter
with saxophone great Jesper Thilo’s group, with Dizzy Gillespie as
featured soloist. I have been called in at a minute’s notice when Cuban
bandleader Machito’s son played in the old Montmartre, and needed a
conga player. I played a concert at the Philharmonic Hall in Essen,
Germany with Carla Bley and Steve Swallow, on a huge set-up with drums,
latin-percussion and a forest of multi-percussion - combining latin,
jazz and chamber music for a wonderful, magical mixture of music. I have
“not” played with superstar Lionel Richie on a TV gig, where we, as the
house band, had to play to the prerecorded music that he was singing to.
Lionel Richie commented that he would much rather have played with us
for real, he could hear that we were playing much to his liking, even
though we were ”unplugged!”
As a freelance musician, you really get to experience the wild, strange
and wonderful world of music – what a joy!
For further information and for booking, please contact me at
Tel.: 4086 3212
Mail:
ethan@weisgard.com
Drum and percussion lessons
I teach drums and percussion at all levels, from beginners to advanced.
As well as teaching drums and percussion at the Ingrid Jespersen
Gymnasieskole in Østerbro Copenhagen, I have taught at the Rhythmic
Music Conservatory and The Royal Conservatory of Music in Copenhagen,
and Århus Music Conservatory, teaching group classes as well as
individual students.
I teach individual private lessons as well as group classes.
I am a student of Bent Lylloff. Bent Lylloff was one of the most highly
esteemed percussionists ever in Denmark in the world of classical and
modern classical percussion. Lylloff was a master of stick technique,
and he specialized in the “matched grip” – the technique in which you
hold the drumsticks with the same grip with both hands.
Being able to play all the different single- and double-stroke
combinations with the matched grip was Lylloff’s speciality. He had a
very clear and precise method for teaching this technique.
I was a student of his for one and a half years, and the teaching that I
received from him has been a great influence on the way I instruct my
students in the important area of stick control. Stick control forms the
base of all drumming.
Using stick control as a foundation for my teaching, I also work with my
students on important areas such as coordination, improvisation and
grooves in all styles of music – such as Latin (Cuban and Brazilian),
Rock, Funk, Reggae and Jazz.
For information regarding lessons, please contact:
Tel.: 4086 3212
Mail:
ethan@weisgard.com
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