Grand Pianoramax
It’s has been way too long in between posts, but I am back now and ready to roll. I have been playing gigs, recording, and touring overseas. It has been lovely. But, as before, I always like to return with a little gem of music that has been inspiring me. This is something a little different.
If you haven’t heard of Grand Pianoramax, you may have to clear your head a bit before listening, but it has some of the tastiest playing in a groove, fusion, hip hop sort of way. The album is “The Biggest Piano in Town” and it features Adam Deitch and Deantoni Parks on the kit. I find it really entertaining. The songs are simple in the instrumentation, but sophisticated in melodies and grooves. There’s a bit of rappin’ and storytelling. The playing is spot on, and the recording is one of the most interesting I have heard in a while. Whoever recorded these sessions was masterful in their detail. And, who doesn’t love the sound of a Moog synth?
One person who definately loves that sound is Leo Tardin. He is the mastermind behind Grand Pianoramax, and he really shines on this album. His piano and Moog soar on the entire recording. It was also produced by Michele Locatelli, who has done other work on the Obliqsound label. From start to finish, it is really inspiring music.
Ultimate In-Ears
While on tour in the UK a few months ago, I decided to get some dual driver in-ear earphones. I have used dual driver in-ears before, and they really make a difference in the low end, with a driver for the mids and highs, and a driver for the low end in each ear.
So, after some Googling around, I decided to get the Ultimate Ear super.fi 5 Pro™. Ultimate Ears have a great reputation, and a huge client list which I think is a good indication that they weren’t a bad choice. Plus, they were inspired by Alex Van Halen, which is a big selling point for me!
I located a distributor in London, and on a day off I ventured in to the Tube for the hour long trip to Hand Held Audio in Northumberland Park. I can say that the trip was more than worth it. My kick drum has never sounded so huge in earphones before. The high end is just right, with a perfect balance of mid-range.
They come with a complete accessories/fitting kit which consists of small, medium, and large rubber ear tips, foam ear tips, 1/4 inch adapter, 1/8 inch line level attenuator, a cleaning tool, and a metal hard case to carry it all. You will need to try the different tips on to figure out which is the best fit for you, but since there are so many choices, you shouldn’t have trouble getting a good fit. One big selling point for me was the fact that they have a replaceable cord. How many times have you had a cord that died on you?
As for their customer service… after about two months of use, I had a problem with the right ear bud. I contacted UE’s customer support and they had new ones to me within a 1.5 weeks. Being in Australia, that is pretty quick. That is just a sign of a good company, doing great things for their customers.