A Jam ...an Experiment with lots of guitars. ENJOY!

Grungy Pungey Puddin Pie

Raan E Summers AKA - CINDER BLOCK PARTY/PARTIES/FOUNDATION - Composer, Musician, Mixer, Engineer, Producer, Promoter, Man of many hats/Computer Doctor/Technician/sometimes Psychiatrist. The Doctor is "IN" states Lucy's wooden roadside show in "Peanuts".
 Introduced to my first Synthesizer back around 1980 - given to me as a present from David Lucas in San Diego, California. I LOVED it,... even though it was merely a simplistic Casiotone (toy-like?) only measuring probably around a foot long in total length! I started writing songs with crappy equipment along with guitar extraordinaire Eric Baecht regularly after a while and for some time with what we both thought good success. Tape overdubbing, Jury rigged effect units, and a basement with water pipes running below the ceiling. Looking back on it,,,it was a blast! Eric is FAMOUS now...works with many very popular and famous rock bands.  Cool! Jams with various best friends on occassion- David Lucas (I owe the greatest thanks to YOU, my good friend),Scott, Dwight, Nick, Larry, Bob, John Kirby (what ever happened to you???) Dave Late-and lots and lots of recording (thanks to you guys, I am where I am today)also a wonderful woman named Lisa -Thanks ....Whew.... Needless to say, after 35+ years (Wow) of playing around with recording / producing my own music, and writing (if one calls some of that old stuff songs even) using various: Roland, Sequential Circuits Pro-One, Yamaha, Casiotone, Korg, That ole Yamaha CS-15,, Arp Odyssey, Fretted and fretless Bass Guitars, Radio Shack Sound Effects Generator(I still have and use that lil sucker every now and then!)Toy Synthesizers, (a Mattel Synsonics even!) Doctor Rhythm Drum machine,Virtual Synths& VST's,, Even that old SK-1 Sampler...I've owned like 3 or 4 of them and still use it for stuff today on occasion. These days, I typically use a Roland D-50, a few different Yamaha Synthesizers, a CasioSK-1 mini-sampler, an Acoustic Guitar, a harmonica, Fx Units, VST's, A BOATLOAD of software, Etc...and whatever I get my hands on at the moment. Yes,  I do have a wonderful Computerized Studio set-up. Also, I have a very large and extensive SOUND LIBRARY (way over 100 -200 GIGS) that I draw from, and enjoy playing with preferably self made sounds and loops-I do use loops made by companies and individuals made for this royalty free, but try not be too reliant on those types of Compositions as much. I focus more on INSTRUMENTS and SOUNDS  - then make my own measures and loops note by note. If I find what I am looking for on a commercial loop cd/dvd, I almost always change the sounds and notes in ways that are "mine"This makes me feel like I am not taking others material; completely and I turn what notes and or sounds I do use on occasion into something I did. Personally, I wish I could play every instrument in the world proficiently. In the meantime, I'll stick with sounds until I get there! Well, I hope you likie the MUSIC- Thanks for listening and reading. Raan-Cinder Block Party

BTW- Many people laugh when I say, "if I can't play it...I program it one or two or a few notes at a time or Sample cut/paste/edit refine...hopefully when it is done, it's in time and Yes, VERY much my own creation. . It really isn't all that funny or strange... time consuming-yes...EASY?....no. I love programming though, and I feel at home in front of a computer. =)This kind of Music Technology has only been around say 30-40 years. Imagine what people will be doing with it in 100+ or more??? Innnnnteresting!

Influences: Gary Numan, Godley and Creme, Front Line Assembly, Ventures, Revolting Cocks, Soundtracks, Sect, Wax Trax, Japan, Mick Karn, Pino Paladino, Jaco Pastorious, Michael Hedges, Ultravox,  James Brown, Old School Metal, Metallica, Eric Baecht, David Lucas, My Friends, My Two Children ~(Daddy loves you Sophie and Adrian) and...My Mom(Love ya Mom!)

Grungy Pungey Puddin Pie

Cinder Blocks Party