One more from the series 'unusual instruments in ITM'.
I've got myself a cajon recently. It's the shape of a loudspeaker box, you play it with both hands like bongos and it sounds like a wooden snare-drum.
I got it for the band to accompany songs like Follow me up to Carlow. It could give some tunes the much-loved ceilidh band sound . Has anybody got a cajon? What do you think of it?
It means ' large box ' in Spanish, the word for a normal box being ' caja '.
It´s just a large loudspeaker size resonating box and is used a lot in flamenco groups.
Unfortunately, like the bongos and the bodhrán, it´s one of those instruments that everybody thinks they can play, so keep it out of reach of curious punters that have had one too many.
Someone had one at a house session in CT several months ago... he played it extremely well - and was surprisingly sensitive to the music. Also played djembe and tabla, and what appeared to be a large, middle-eastern jug.
When percussion is done well, it's fantastic, and this guy really knew his stuff. You'd have to be, to know tabla 'language'. But murf's still right - everyone thinks they can play, and it's usually a mess.
I'll 2nd that Ron P.
It's certainly the worst beast ever to hit our Portrush session.
Just imagine if you will the wonderful sounds Dee Havlin produces on the Flute suddenly interupted by an eedjit beeting the bjeasus out of a Djembe as loud as he can!!
Now, to be fair his rhythm was good on the Reels but when we started into a set of Jigs - he just kept playing 4/4 Aaaaaagh!
I'm all for experimentation, but I can't understand those folk who come to a session & play so loudly that they can't actually hear anyone else.
Of course they are just tripping on their own magnificence I know, or what's that other word for it? Oh yes - w a _ _ ing!!
Must admit, I'm dreading the day one of these cajons walks into our session!
What? Oh sorry, you were asking where my session is, yeah sure, it's in the pub called the 'Crows Nest' on that cluster of rocks, just off Cape Town.
Yeah sure, you can come along any night you like, with your cajon!!
Abe Doron, an ex-Riverdance percussionist now playing with a couple of Irish / "Celtic" groups in Israel, has embraced the cajon and gives evidence to the claim that in the hands of a specialist, in particular on stage (rather than at a pub), it can work well.
I have no idea what he keeps inside.
Weel, weel, I think I'll start to build these bloody cajon things - they just seem to consist of a wooden box with a feckin hole in them - look how much they cost!!!
I suppose they are useful, in that they double up as seats - but therein lies the problem, if you see one coming into a session near you, it's no good saying that all the seats are taken!
I paid 79 € for my cajon and it has a snare-drum mechanism inside it. I don't know if the expensive ones have various drum-sounds. It is not very loud but I wouldn't take it to a session anyway. Just wondered if anybody else uses it in a band.
keuc
What's that old Scots saying?
Oh yes - "A fool and his money are easy parted!
Various drum sounds?
Sounds to me like you would be happier with some kind of percussionified synthesizer - very traditional.
Reminds of the time I was in a pub & this dude was sitting playing a Piano Accordion, that dreaded 'easy listening' music stuff.
Anyway he stood up, set the Accordion on the table next to him & went to the bar for a drink - of course the Accordion just kept playing the tune!!!
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh - a vision of hell, me thinks!!
We had a guy who came over for a session with cajon recently. It was absolutely dreadful. He at least could keep his rhythm, but was loud and absolutely insensitive to music - a bit like a drum machine. When I told him to stop banging and spoiling the music, he went a bit quieter, but refused to stop.
To his credit, for the next session he came over with a bodhran and was much more sensible with playing.
Also for the next sessions, his past sins paled and shrunk, overcast by a racket from a bloke who came in with hurdy-gurdy, couldn't tune the drone string, couldn't play the thing, and insisted on noodling during every set.
Dick, I was looking for a good word to describe that kind of behaviour in sessions. Your definition is spot-on. Thank you.
I first heard cajons in bands from the Cape Verde Islands, where it is an old and regular part of indigenous music, then in some Brazilian folk bands. Very, very nice stuff (as has been said) in the hands of sensitive and experienced players.
All the ones I've heard have been simple, low-sounding boxes, without the 'snare effect', and in the above-mentioned bands were played softly, so there was a great, subtle low pulse that one felt more than heard.
Definitely utilitarian, it can be used to store food and drink as well as for a seat. <GG>
As for one in ITM... well... "Teach your children well..." I guess...
You'll get a good look at one on the video. It was me first encounter with this versatile percussion instrument..
Now that I've seen and heard one, I want to get one.
Cajon in ITM
Cajon in ITM
One more from the series 'unusual instruments in ITM'.
. Has anybody got a cajon? What do you think of it?
I've got myself a cajon recently. It's the shape of a loudspeaker box, you play it with both hands like bongos and it sounds like a wooden snare-drum.
I got it for the band to accompany songs like Follow me up to Carlow. It could give some tunes the much-loved ceilidh band sound
# Posted on August 28th 2005 by kuec
Re: Cajon in ITM
sounds like the perfect place to store your shakey eggs.
# Posted on August 28th 2005 by kris
Re: Cajon in ITM
Is it anything to do with cojones?
Trevor
# Posted on August 28th 2005 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Cajon in ITM
Great idea kris, it's even got a hole at the back so you can reach inside.
Sorry, I only know coyotes, so I couldn't tell you,Trevor.
# Posted on August 28th 2005 by kuec
Re: Cajon in ITM
It means ' large box ' in Spanish, the word for a normal box being ' caja '.
It´s just a large loudspeaker size resonating box and is used a lot in flamenco groups.
Unfortunately, like the bongos and the bodhrán, it´s one of those instruments that everybody thinks they can play, so keep it out of reach of curious punters that have had one too many.
# Posted on August 28th 2005 by murfbox
Re: Cajon in ITM
Someone had one at a house session in CT several months ago... he played it extremely well - and was surprisingly sensitive to the music. Also played djembe and tabla, and what appeared to be a large, middle-eastern jug.
When percussion is done well, it's fantastic, and this guy really knew his stuff. You'd have to be, to know tabla 'language'. But murf's still right - everyone thinks they can play, and it's usually a mess.
# Posted on August 28th 2005 by Q
Re: Cajon in ITM
Is it loud as well?
Q, I have to say, I think the djembe is one of the worst things I've ever heard played at a session - so LOUD!
# Posted on August 28th 2005 by Ron P
Re: Cajon in ITM
I'll 2nd that Ron P.
It's certainly the worst beast ever to hit our Portrush session.
Just imagine if you will the wonderful sounds Dee Havlin produces on the Flute suddenly interupted by an eedjit beeting the bjeasus out of a Djembe as loud as he can!!
Now, to be fair his rhythm was good on the Reels but when we started into a set of Jigs - he just kept playing 4/4 Aaaaaagh!
I'm all for experimentation, but I can't understand those folk who come to a session & play so loudly that they can't actually hear anyone else.
Of course they are just tripping on their own magnificence I know, or what's that other word for it? Oh yes - w a _ _ ing!!
Must admit, I'm dreading the day one of these cajons walks into our session!
What? Oh sorry, you were asking where my session is, yeah sure, it's in the pub called the 'Crows Nest' on that cluster of rocks, just off Cape Town.
Yeah sure, you can come along any night you like, with your cajon!!
# Posted on August 28th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Cajon in ITM
Abe Doron, an ex-Riverdance percussionist now playing with a couple of Irish / "Celtic" groups in Israel, has embraced the cajon and gives evidence to the claim that in the hands of a specialist, in particular on stage (rather than at a pub), it can work well.
I have no idea what he keeps inside.
# Posted on August 28th 2005 by sixholes
Re: Cajon in ITM
Weel, weel, I think I'll start to build these bloody cajon things - they just seem to consist of a wooden box with a feckin hole in them - look how much they cost!!!
http://www.tonecajon.com/?page=available
Must be a lot of mugs out there on planet cajon.
I suppose they are useful, in that they double up as seats - but therein lies the problem, if you see one coming into a session near you, it's no good saying that all the seats are taken!
# Posted on August 28th 2005 by Ron P
Re: Cajon in ITM
Come back Bodhran's - all is forgiven!!!
# Posted on August 29th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Cajon in ITM
So it's not a typo! I thought you really meant combing Cajun and ITM or something =P
I think my cousin mentioned playing something like that in the Philippines.. one in the same perhaps?
Cheers,
Armand
# Posted on August 29th 2005 by armandale
Re: Cajon in ITM
I paid 79 € for my cajon and it has a snare-drum mechanism inside it. I don't know if the expensive ones have various drum-sounds. It is not very loud but I wouldn't take it to a session anyway. Just wondered if anybody else uses it in a band.
# Posted on August 29th 2005 by kuec
Re: Cajon in ITM
keuc
What's that old Scots saying?
Oh yes - "A fool and his money are easy parted!
Various drum sounds?
Sounds to me like you would be happier with some kind of percussionified synthesizer - very traditional.
Reminds of the time I was in a pub & this dude was sitting playing a Piano Accordion, that dreaded 'easy listening' music stuff.
Anyway he stood up, set the Accordion on the table next to him & went to the bar for a drink - of course the Accordion just kept playing the tune!!!
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh - a vision of hell, me thinks!!
# Posted on August 29th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Cajon in ITM
We had a guy who came over for a session with cajon recently. It was absolutely dreadful. He at least could keep his rhythm, but was loud and absolutely insensitive to music - a bit like a drum machine. When I told him to stop banging and spoiling the music, he went a bit quieter, but refused to stop.
To his credit, for the next session he came over with a bodhran and was much more sensible with playing.
Also for the next sessions, his past sins paled and shrunk, overcast by a racket from a bloke who came in with hurdy-gurdy, couldn't tune the drone string, couldn't play the thing, and insisted on noodling during every set.
Dick, I was looking for a good word to describe that kind of behaviour in sessions. Your definition is spot-on. Thank you.
# Posted on August 29th 2005 by Janek
Re: Cajon in ITM
I first heard cajons in bands from the Cape Verde Islands, where it is an old and regular part of indigenous music, then in some Brazilian folk bands. Very, very nice stuff (as has been said) in the hands of sensitive and experienced players.
All the ones I've heard have been simple, low-sounding boxes, without the 'snare effect', and in the above-mentioned bands were played softly, so there was a great, subtle low pulse that one felt more than heard.
Definitely utilitarian, it can be used to store food and drink as well as for a seat. <GG>
As for one in ITM... well... "Teach your children well..." I guess...
stv
http://cdbaby.com/Culchies
# Posted on August 29th 2005 by stv culchie
Re: Cajon in ITM
Impromptu jam on the shuttle to the North Texas Irish Festival with Alan Doherty of the Grada Irish Band
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiG6AT40Aco
You'll get a good look at one on the video. It was me first encounter with this versatile percussion instrument..
Now that I've seen and heard one, I want to get one.
-- b0dhran (b zero dhran)
# Posted on April 3rd 2007 by b0dhran