There and Back Again: A PASIC Tale
by Bart Elliott
This year’s Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC), held in Indianapolis, IN, is exceptionally noteworthy – not only has it been twenty-eight years (1981) since Indianapolis hosted PASIC, but this is the first time in history that the Percussive Arts Society (PAS) offices, museum, library and international convention have all been located in the same city. Coupled with the fact that PAS was incorporated in Indiana back in 1969, PASIC 2009 has indeed left its mark in this significant homecoming.
For those who have attended PAS conventions in the past, you know there’s never been a shortage of talented artists with high quality clinics, master classes, labs and performances. Although the slow US economy affected the convention slightly with fewer attendees and exhibitors, as compared to prior years, PASIC 2009 was a huge success with plenty of memorable moments to be had by all.
I personally attended PASIC 2009 from Thursday through Saturday, November 12-14, reporting on behalf DrummerCafe.com. Although I took hundreds of photos and shot over 5-hours of video footage, with so much to see and do during the convention, that I simply couldn’t experience it all. I will say, however, that I did my best to break the time barrier, moving from master class to clinic, performance to exhibit hall, often times within the same hour of the day, much to the chagrin of my feet, legs, back … you get the picture. Despite my arduous trek, PAS did a fine job of structuring the event, making prudent use of the newly remodeled Indiana Convention Center, now the seventeenth largest convention facility in the USA.
What surprised me the most about the clinics I attended is that I came away with far more than what my photos and video could possibly capture. Thoughts and feelings from each musical expression, as well as all the nontraditional, unconventional, creative and bizarre experiences, all mixed together in one big melting pot of memories. Some of my favorite remembrances (in no particular order since they are mashed together), include:
- Jack DeJohnette working a mic on his cymbals, creating an interesting sonorous effect, as well as his tribute to the drummers of Motown.
- Sergio Bellotti, every few minutes during his clinic, A Practical Approach to Apply the Rudiments to Everyday’s Playing, would pull out a Vic Firth rudiment poster that was hidden somewhere on his person; there were at least four posters.
- I Ketut Gede Asnawa and The University of Illinois Balinese Gamelan mixing sonic strength with visual beauty.
- Nicholas Ormrod having students perform orchestral excerpts on three different Joyful Noise snare drums during Symphonic Snare Lab.
- Benny Greb with his humor and incredible playing. The surprise on his face upon receiving a standing ovation very early in his clinic.
- Christopher McLaurin playing a duo, his triangle and a spectator’s phone which went off during his Symphonic Accessories Lab. I actually caught this on tape.
- Layne Redmond getting everyone in the class to stand-up, move their feet and count out-loud using onomatopoeic type syllables as she fused Brazilian and Mediterranean rhythms on tambourine.
- Akira Jimbo with his “very good” product endorsement descriptions, all done in broken English, which he also played up.
- Pius Cheung with his confidence and command over the marimba.
- Dick Sisto and Ed Soph performing together at Club.PAS.
- The Friday evening concert with Amores Grup de Percussió who captivated the audience as they effortlessly moved from composition to composition with, what seemed to be, without a break.
- Ed Shaughnessy still giving to the drumming community at the age of 80.
Lot’s of good memories; and those were just a few.
I never seem to have enough time to fully explore the exhibit hall however. There’s always so much time with so little to see; wait, strike that … reverse it. Still my time winding through the percussive labyrinth was productive. The PASIC exhibit hall had just about all that one might expect to find, but what I had hoped to find, the new and/or unusual, were there to greet me as well.
Some of the gear highlights include Drum Craft (www.drumcraft.com), 
a new drum company from Germany, featuring a wide selection of Snare drums and drumsets, available in a wide assortment of finishes and hardware platings. The Black Swan (www.theblackswandrum.com),
a new custom built, tuneable box-type instrument (ala Cajon) that incorporates an interchangeable drumhead for its playing surface. It’s available exclusively at Tommy’s Drum Shop in Austin, TX. Super Drum (www.superdrum12.com) is a making 12-lug drum in limited quantity (only 100 manufactured), and is endorsed by drumming legend, Bernard Purdie. 
The Percussive Harmonic Instrument, a new MIDI Steel Pan by Panadigm Innovation, Inc. (www.panadigm.com), features its own sound module with unique, original samples (not just Steel Pan) recorded in Trinidad. A new gut-snare strainer from Cooperman (www.cooperman.com) 
was unveiled and should soon be in production. Matt Nolan Custom Cymbals & Gongs (www.mattnolancustomcymbals.com) was also on ‘hand’ with several new sound sculpture creations. Great sounding instruments!
For more coverage from PASIC 2009, check out my full report, complete with photos and video footage, at the Drummer Café (www.drummercafe.com).
