Marshall Music presents
The Sabian Vault Tour featuring
Georg Voros (S.A.) and Dom Famularo (U.S.A.)

If you would like to see more images from the clinic, go to the gallery.

When Marshall Music announced the Sabian Vault Tour featuring Georg Voros and Dom Famularo, many people had never heard the names before. I think it is safe to say that those who were there will never forget those names.
The first ever tour of it's kind, it started in Cape Town with Paul Bothner Music, then went to Durban with Musikland and finally ended in Johannesburg at Marshall Music. Three days, three shows.

By the time the Durban and Cape Town shows were over there was a major buzz in Jhb about the show. Georg Voros was new to the drum clinic concept and spent several months preparing for the clinics. Georg had not really spent much time using the double bass pedal and spent two months training intensively on the double pedal for the clinic. The result was well worth it as Georg played many things now incorporating the double pedal.
Georg was on first and was introduced by Dom. He played a track and then told the audience about himself. Georg has only recently returned from the UK and has had a very busy career. He introduced the audience to his new invention the "Praktakit" it's a practice pad that has multiple rubber pads on a wooden block to represent a drum kit. As well as two small raised "cymbals". The Praktakit allows you to practice from an entire kit perspective. It makes it easier to plan a routine for a piece of music by actually having to hit the different pads on the block. If you would like to know more about the Praktakit, then go to www.georgvoros.com and inquire further. Georg is also the author of "Rhythm of the Head". A great book to read that helps a drummer from a mental perspective. It is to be reviewed soon by Modern Drummer magazine.
Georg finished by playing various tracks from people that he had worked with, showing the various types of music that he has had to play throughout his career.

Dom began by introducing himself and telling the audience a little about his career. It didn't take long for the audience to respond to Dom's sense of humour. By the time Dom started playing to his first track, the audience was already caught in the web that is Dom Famularo. Dom's first track was a surreal experience, no one knew what to expect and you almost got a sense that everyone was holding their breath. Each and every person was memorized by his playing and when he sped off with his first wave of insane double bass the audience was won. When Dom finished everyone in the audience was on the edge of their seats. People hung on to every word that Dom said. Dom spoke about the attitude a drummer should have and how to get that attitude. He used words like Expression and Inspiration. He told stories about his encounters with the likes of the great Buddy Rich. Dom then played an improvised piece. People seemed to be in shock. Every beat and every cymbal that was struck was felt by the audience. When Dom finished he spoke more about his career and his travels and by now the entire audience felt like they had known Dom for years. He has a way of taking you on a "rollercoaster ride" like you've never been on before. The evening ended with Dom and Georg playing an improvised piece. By the time the show was over, we all knew that Dom besides being an excellent drummer was a brilliant person and was a tutor to many of the drummers people look up to. It was only at the end when people really knew who Dom Famularo was, and the genuine emotion that was felt by many in the audience that people realised what had just happened. The title given to Dom by Modern Drummer magazine "Drumming's global ambassador" made more sense than ever.

The most important part of these events are the future they represent. If this clinic was anything to go by, the future for drummers in South Africa is a bright one. If you never managed to get to the clinic I suggest you go to www.domfamularo.com and download video clips to get an idea of what you missed. I would also recommend Dom's books "It's your Move" and "The Cycle of self Improvement". Don't forget to check out Georg Voros' web site and his book "Rhythm of the Head".