A Cajon Drum is a kind of a percussion musical instrument that existed in the eighteenth century or even earlier. Its origin can be traced from the slaves of Africa and Peru which makes it known worldwide as an Afro-Peruvian musical apparatus.

There is also a great possibility that the box-like drum came from the same type of musical instruments that were being used in Angola and Antilles earlier on. These may have been imitated by the Peruvian workers and slaves by using the materials they salvage from wooden crates and drawers.

Another theory on the origins of the drum dates back to when the Spaniards colonized the African territories and banned music. The African slaves notwithstanding the risks it would cause them kept these drums and played with them secretly. The Cajon’s were made to appear like chairs and pieces of furniture so as to conceal their true nature.

The Cajon Box Drum became very famous around 1850 and towards the end of that century. Musicians, particularly the Cajon players, started experimenting with the designs and features of the drum thereby causing different beats and sounds to come out of the instrument. The drum has greatly evolved since then.

This instrument is made up of wood. The front side which is called the head is made up of thin plywood. This is the part where the musician slaps the palm of his hand to make a musical sound. A hole is located on the back of the box in order to release the sound. The musical player sits on the drum and slaps the head of the Cajon situated between his legs.

Other modern versions of the Cajon Drum have features that can adjust the tones and timbres in order to produce a variety of sounds. The percussionist or drummer may also slap the sides of the box with his hands if he wants to create further sounds. These types of drums are now being widely used globally. It has been known for its versatility and style that not only percussionists are playing this instrument nowadays but other musicians as well.

A view from my 6th floor studio/apartment showing the bees that live outside my window.

Despite the huge amount of different instrument manufacturers in business today, most players settle on buying the same brands over and over again. There are a great number of really superb instruments which players won’t even consider, simply because they aren’t a mainstream brand. This article aims to change all that by reviewing a Sandberg bass guitar which really does hit all the right notes, the Panther Special.

I want to start off this review by stating that Sandberg basses are not cheap guitars, the majority of their models cost the best part of £1000 and aren’t intended for the casual player. However if you can look past the rather intimidating price tag you will begin to understand exactly why they cost what they do.

The Panther Special uses a blend of different exotic tonal woods. It’s body is made out of maple which is finished off with additional layers of maple and walnut. The Special features a walnut top and uses rosewood for the fretboard. Players who like their necks fast and small will find this bass really agrees with them, the thin neck makes the instrument incredibly comfortable to play and easy to move around on.

The Panther Special Sandberg bass combines its unique blend of tone woods with an incredibly elaborate electronics system to produce a sound which is unlike anything you will find on any other instrument. The guitar features dual power humbuckers; these work in combination with the in-built 3-band EQ to really perfect the tones. Players have the opportunity to use these pickups at the same time; this is great for light passages which require a cleaner and even tone. If you’re into your shrills and slaps then you will definitely make use of the EQ knob, this allows you to adjust the levels to extenuate your slaps.

Right, now here’s the bad news. The Panther Special retails at around £1300; this is a huge investment and bassists really need to be serious about their playing if they considering purchasing one. If you do decide to take the plunge you can rest assured that you’ve bought a completely unique instrument which has its own distinct sound, no other instrument provides the same quirky combination of tone woods and elaborate electronics that the Panther Special does. If you can’t quite meet the price tag of this model but are interested in a Sandberg bass, you may want to check out their basic ranges, these offer superb value for money and excellent tone.

Here’s a review of my most recent CD, Saxual Healing, done by Betsy Graziani Fasbinder, a writer here in the Nevada City, CA area:

I’m a relative newcomer to the Foothills, so maybe natives are familiar with Mark Maxwell, but this local musician is a new discovery for me. When asked to review Maxwell’s new CD release, “Saxual Healing” (clearly a Marvin Gaye allusion) I’ll admit that the title initially made me scratch my head–just a little. I’ve now enjoyed the collection several dozen times. Like a good merlot, these songs get better with each sip.

Maxwell’s music cannot be described without using the word smooth. His sax is sultry and as easy on the spirit. The sound quality is clear and uncluttered. Nothing jarring, no dissonant, anti-melodic jazz riffs, no frantic, over-played melodies—just a silky sax melody that seems as if it’s conjured with human voice rather than by an instrument. While the musicianship is abundant, it doesn’t intrude with any musical muscle flexing. As a novelist, I found it easy to write with the CD playing around me. As the title would imply, this is also great background for, eh-hem, other activities besides writing.

Don’t let the word “background” make you nervous. “Saxual Healing” is no elevator music, with flavorless, instrumentals that plant subliminal ear-worms of annoyance. Nobody wants Muzak intruding on their romance, only to find the mood broken with the question, “Hey, isn’t that ‘Like a Virgin’?” From start-to-finish “Saxual Healing” sets a mood, with not a single note that breaks it.

As I listened to Maxwell’s music for the first time, I thought about how much it appealed to a woman’s sensual sensibilities. No pounding bass line. No abrupt changes of tone. The cover liner and website (www.saxualhealing.com) validated my hunch, noting that this music is co-produced by Mark Maxwell and his wife, Roberta Maxwell. The musical story is intended as a woman’s expression of sensual essence. I love when I’m right.

Seven of ten of the pieces are Mark Maxwell originals, among which is the especially gentle and playful “By Her Side”. One of my surprising favorites (given how much I loved the original) is “Falling”, an Alicia Keyes cover that is simply so sexy that it makes you want to put the kids to bed early.

Now that I know Mark Maxwell’s music, I’ll be checking into his other recordings and hoping that I find him playing around the community. Until then, I think I’ll tuck the kids in and put the CD on—as background.

Betsy Graziani Fasbinder is a local writer, and psychotherapist–currently without a couch. She lives for characters, songs and stories that take her out of her own noisy head and transport her using her heart, mind or funny bone as vehicles.

Thanks, Betsy!

I did a radio interview recently with Bernie Schumacher from the KK Radio Network up in Park Rapids, MN.

I ran into Bernie and some of her friends when I was doing a show down in Tubac, AZ. She and her friends were a hoot, very friendly, very upbeat and fun, we had dinner, etc., and Bernie asked me to appear on her radio show. Here’s the mp3 of that interview:

Interview