The Feb. 28 C.G. Ryche concert has been cancelled. Tickets are refundable at the place of purchase.
Right with the
rhythm
By Luanne J. Hunt, Photos by Gabriel Luis Acosta and Eric Reed
When he was a teenager, C.G.
Ryche remembers telling his family and friends what he wanted to do for a living: "I'm going to be a rock star, so deal with it!" Few took him seriously.
And while the percussionist and songwriter admits he hasn't had the last laugh yet, his success has put an end to the negativity. Ryche has played on recordings for Disney movies, the NFL and performed for thousands of fans at drum festivals around the world.
Not bad for a high school dropout with his head in the clouds.
"People told me I was living in a dreamland and would never have a shot of becoming famous," said Ryche, 40, who will perform Feb. 28 with his band in "echoes of silence" at the Riverside Municipal auditorium.
"I don't let people dictate my goals or life," he continued. "You have to believe in yourself and just hang in until things work out the way you want them to." Inspired by Ozzy Osbourne's drummer Tommy aldridge, Ryche taught himself to play on his father's drum set. after dropping out of Redlands high school, Ryche played in two Christian heavy metal bands, holy Rite and Ironwrath. Eventually, he grew tired of heavy metal and moved on to giving drum lessons and producing music for other artists.
Ryche also started studying other styles of percussion with some of the top players in the world.
"I fell in love with afro-Cuban, african, Brazilian and Japanese rhythms," said Ryche, a Rancho Cucamonga resident who has released three independent CDs.
In 2000, Ryche paired with local guitarist Benise and honed his new drumming skills playing on street corners, at county fairs and in Borders bookstores. as time went on, he added more players to his act and put on concerts at venues throughout Los angeles and the Inland empire.
Ryche's audience grew, inspiring him to create the musical extravaganza "echoes of silence." he describes the production as a musical journey that pushes the boundaries of sight, sound and imagination. It spotlights Ryche's elaborate drumming and also features a full band and several vocalists singing his original compositions.
Each song is highlighted by various types of drumming styles performed by Ryche and a 10-man, multi-cultural drum line.
"I'm not about having a cookie- cutter sound just to appease the record industry," Ryche says.
"I have taken all of my influences and put together something that is uniquely me. I'm hoping to break some new ground."
DRUMLINES
C.G. Ryche on some of the drums he uses in "Echoes of Silence" and how they help shape his unique and innovative sound:
CONGAS
Derived from African drums made from hollowed logs, the Cuban conga is shaped like a barrel, which is what they were originally made from. Congas typically have been used in Afro-Caribbean religious music and are the main instrument in Rumba. Congas are now widely popular in Latin music, and are frequently used in salsa, merengue, reggae and American pop music. "If I was stuck on a desert island and could only have one instrument, I would definitely choose the congas."
TIMBALES
Timbales were invented in the early 20th century as a portable substitute for the standard timpani used in Afro-Cuban orchestras. The shallow, single-headed drums are mounted on a stand and can be played with drumsticks or more traditionally with timbale sticks, which are straight sticks with no shoulder or head. These drums produce a wide range of percussive sounds and lend themselves especially to Cuban music. "When I want to get in someone’s face musically, I bring out the timbales. They produce a very powerful sound that catches people’s ear immediately."
CUICA
Crafted with metal, the cuica, (pronounced KWEE-kah) is frequently used in samba music. It produces a high-pitched squeaky tone, which is why it has been nicknamed "laughing gourd." This drum adds vital rhythms to all styles of samba music. It is especially popular with Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival groups.
Many artists — including Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder, Barenaked Ladies and Dido — have used the cuica in their recordings.
"The thing about the cuica is that it always makes people smile."
TAIKO
Japanese taiko drums have evolved into a wide range of percussion instruments that are used in both Japanese folk and classical music.
They are typically hollowed out of a single piece of wood and include heads on both sides of the drum body and a sealed resonating cavity. Taiko also have a high amount of tension on the drum heads, with a pitch that is relative to body size.
"The taiko is the No. 1 favorite drum that I use. And I’ve really broken the mold using it in pop music. As far as I know, no one else is doing that and it adds a very unique component to a song."
TOM-TOM
Part of the American drum kit, a tom-tom is a cylindrical drum with no snare. It originates from Native American or Asian cultures and was added to the drum kit in the early part of the 20th century.
A typical tom consists of a shell, chromed or plated metal hardware and head, ranging in diameter from 6 to 20 inches, with heads to fit. They can be fitted with an adjustable mounting for a floor stand, or can be attached to a bass drum.
"The greatest thing about the toms is they lay a powerful foundation in the music and I can use them to mimic some of the drums I don’t have. They give a song a certain feeling and you can use them to take an ordinary tune and turn it into something really unique."
PERFORMING ARTS
Not bad for a high school dropout with his head in the clouds.
TIMBALES
