TRAP - The Rhythmic Arts Project

The grooves that make you move can also help to heal you—drummer Eddie Tuduri is living proof. Eddie had a burgeoning music career working with major rock artists when his life was instantly changed in a body-surfing accident in 1997. Totally paralyzed for a time, as soon as sensation began returning to his hands he did what any serious drummer would do—he asked for a pair of drumsticks.
While hospitalized, Eddie found that making rhythms was very healing and, with characteristic generosity of spirit, shared his discovery with other patients in the ward. Soon he had an entire “band” of accident victims and people with chronic diseases and disabilities playing enthusiastically along with him. It was evident to both the staff and patients that these impromptu rhythm sessions seemed to improve skills like patience, coordination, and short-term memory skills.
By the time Tuduri left the hospital—walking out on his own after six weeks—he was the head of a bona-fide program that was helping people with a wide range of mobility, speech, and developmental disabilities. Since then TRAP has mushroomed to include nearly 40 facilities in eight states, and countless in-home applications using the Parent TRAP which is designed to enhance home schooling and therapies for kids.
TRAP uses percussion instruments to aid in leaning concepts like counting, learning left from right, colors, shapes and so much more, plus it is FUN! A step-by-step exercise book is included with each package to explain how to implement the program.
Pearl Drums has enjoyed a two year alliance with TRAP committing their considerable manufacturing and marketing powers to the project. The various Pearl TRAP percussion packages are ideal for organizing ongoing therapeutic drumming sessions in clinical, institutional, or home settings. Learn more by visiting www.traponline.com.

My top 3 drum performances of 2006

1. Billy Kilson with Chris Botti at the Britt Music Festival in Jacksonville, Oregon. I had heard of Kilson, but this was the first time I'd heard him play. Freakin' awesome. A ten-handed powerhouse. The rest of trumpeter Botti's band were also stars in their own right - Billy Childs on keyboards, New York studio ace bassist James Genus, and guitarist extraordinaire Mark Whitfield.
   
2. George Recile with Bob Dylan at the Long Beach Arena, Los Angeles. Recile has been in Dylan's touring band since 2002, and with understated elegance provided the perfect anchor to the band's rhythm section. Out of Hammond, LA, Recile has worked with many pivotal musicians in the New Orleans music scene. He obviously had a lot of chops, but kept most of them on the shelf, flawlessly navigating the deep-pocket blues shuffles and laid-back rock riffs that Dylan's music calls for.
3. Manas Itene with Michael Franti & Spearhead, at the Britt Music Fest in Jacksonville Or. Itene hails from Nigeria, West Africa, where he played with the Mandators, Nigeria's top reggae band, as well as other famous Nigerian acts like Sonny Okusons and Majek Fashek. Another groove merchant, Itene kept the band rocking with heavy roots-reggae and pulsing highlife and rock riffs. He also contributed vocally, covering most of the "toasting" and rap on their hip-hop and dancehall material. A high-energy individual.