As I look at the calendar I sadly realize I have fewer and fewer days left on the island. The last month has passed in the wink of an eye. Instead of wondering how I’m going to spend all my time here in paradise, I’m left wondering how I’m going to get everything done that I would like to do before I leave!

Connecting with Flutist John Dumas

John Dumas plays the flute at our sound healing event In Hawaii.

One of my greatest pleasures on this trip has been a connection to a man of tremendous integrity, inspiration, and enthusiasm: my friend John Dumas. Not only has John been an inspiration to me as I learn to play the flute more proficiently, but I am also in the process of learning how to play the didgeridoo thanks to his encouragement! Boy, that’s sure funny! I have been blessed to experience public performances with John as well as some spontaneous healing events that have occurred at social get-togethers here at the house in Kapaa.

I met John about 10 years ago in Sedona. We made a good connection at an evening event where I drummed and talked a bit about the shamanic work that I do. We didn’t connect again until last year at the Kauai Wellness Expo, even though we have traveled in the same circles and many of our friends know both of us. I am profoundly grateful to have met John! In addition to being an amazing flutist, John can drum like a madman!

Spontaneous Send-Off Ceremony

One event that John and I did together that was entirely spontaneous and on-the-fly was a ceremony to send off a friend back to her home in Japan. I received a call from John asking if we could connect and do some sound healing at a gathering that was forming spontaneouly. Those of you who know me know that I’m pretty good on the fly! So, of course, when it comes to having fun, drumming, and playing music, my answer is almost always, “Yes!”

John Dumas and I drumming in the jungle!

I headed off to John’s house, where we left and drove deep into the jungle to a beautiful little hideaway where the event was taking place. After driving through the jungle for a time, we ended up in a cavelike structure in the middle of a bamboo forest. These photos are a bit dark, but they show the feeling of the beautiful evening as we shifted between drums, didgeridoo, and flute.

It was kind of wild, because the room was very small and crowded. Many unexpected friends were there, so the vibe was very family-oriented. As we started to drum, people began to dance,  and as the dancing elevated in its intensity, the send-off party commenced.The energy of the group continued to build and it was clear that the young lady heading off to Japan was going to miss her island very much.

Energetic Community Celebration

John Dumas working his magic.

To keep the vibe of the party powerfully etched in her memory, John and I laid her on the floor. As I stood over her and started to drum, John took his didgeridoo and followed the lines of her body, infusing her energy system with the beautiful melodic and rhythmic drone of the didge.

It was definitely a night we will never forget, powerful with community, energy, friendship, and love. And as always, the drum jam continued until our hands were sore and no one could continue to play.

We ended the evening with hugs to the young lady heading back to Japan, trekked out of the jungle, and then made our way home. What a fantastic night!

The final track on my sound healing album, Tribal Medicine, is “Celebration Dance.” The album features different healing energies with each track, and this one is one of which I’ve been getting a lot of positive reviews. The intention behind Tribal Medicine was to offer listeners an opportunity to heal their hearts and souls through the rhythmic power of the drum, and this is definitely achieved with “Celebration Dance!”

Celebration Dance

“Celebration Dance” is an up-tempo, fun, shake-it-loose type of song. We all need to lose ourselves in music like this—not just every once in a while but often! “Celebration Dance” is a song I encourage you to play while giving thanks. Its rhythms complement nicely the gratitude we express when the ancestors and spirits respond to our requests and bring to us the things for which we’ve asked.

As you know, I am always encouraging people to be thankful! As we focus on being grateful for what we have, we invite more good things to come our way. “Celebration Dance” is a song of proclamation that our lives are full of good things.

Over the past few weeks I’ve talked about each track on Tribal Medicine. This CD features healing rhythms that are intended to restore listeners’ hearts and souls as the sensations of the healing drum infuses the body. Each of the five tracks engage different energies that create different healing experiences.

This is due to the album’s strong roots with tribal connections. Listening to Tribal Medicine is like partaking in an ancient indigenous ceremony where the wisdom of African, Native American, and Eastern shamanic healing traditions take over the listeners’ body and restore health and vitality through the beating of the drums!

Tribal Medicine features me, Healing Drummer Toby Christensen, on djembe drum and percussion, and the talented Rebecca Holt on vocal toning. Skilled artist Carolina Woodrich shared her stunning original artwork for the album!

To purchase a copy of this healing rhythms CD, please visit my shop. I invite you to engage your body, mind, and soul with the powerful rhythms of Tribal Medicine. Enjoy!

Over the last few weeks I’ve been sharing with you inside looks at each track from my new CD Tribal Medicine. Tribal Medicine is one of my favorite albums to date. It offers listeners restorative healing rhythms to infuse their hearts and souls. Each track on the album features intoxicating drumming, various sounds, and specific intent that embodies different healing energies. By creating a varying, yet powerful, healing album like this, I’m proud to offer listeners a rejuvenating sound energy session.

I’ve talked about the energetic and spiritual rhythms of “Call of the Ancestors,” the indigenous conversation of “Tribal Spirits,” and the transforming healing energy of “Sacred Chant.” The next track I’d like to discuss is the he fourth from Tribal Medicine called “The One.” 

I’ve received a lot of positive feedback about this song. This is a soundtrack for being in the presence of the one who heals us all and who can guide us to overcome any obstacle. “The One” is about being in the presence of the Creator and accepting our life circumstances for what they are, no matter what they are.

“The One” is also a form of spiritual guidance that encourages us to ask for the eradication of things from our lives that are not helpful. It’s a great song by which to meditate and ask for peace in the place where we are carrying turmoil, for health and wellbeing in the place where we carry illness, and for abundance in the place where we carry emptiness.

Tribal Medicine offers listeners powerful inspiration through its tribal connections—as so many responses from people have indicated. This album as a whole resembles closely an ancient indigenous healing ceremony. All listeners have to do to experience the wisdom and powerful healing of African and Native American ancestors and shamans is bring positive intent, an open heart and mind, and close their eyes for the great escape of Tribal Medicine!

Tribal Medicine features me, Healing Drummer Toby Christensen, on djembe drum and percussion, and the talented Rebecca Holt on vocal toning. Skilled artist Carolina Woodrich shared her stunning original artwork for the album!

To purchase a copy of this healing rhythms CD, please visit my shop. I invite you to engage your body, mind, and soul with the powerful rhythms of Tribal Medicine. Enjoy!

Nechema Robinson, director of KinderWorld Tracks, recently spoke with Toby about his life and healing gifts. The following is the final excerpt from this three-part interview.

Toby’s Influences & Heros

Nechama: I’d be interested to hear who your childhood heroes were, [and] who do you look up to now?

Toby Christensen

Toby: My first and most profound influence, musically, were The Beatles. I remember seeing them on The Ed Sullivan show. I saw Ringo up on that stage and knew that’s what I wanted to be. I then later fell in love with the likes of Eric Clapton, Frank Zappa, and many of the jazz greats.

Although I had a very tumultuous childhood, my father has always been a very big hero to me: [he’s] very calm and wise.

The other person that has influenced my life tremendously all through my childhood and into my adult years is my uncle Mike Flo. He was a very successful businessman, and at 90 years old continues to be a very positive influence in my life.

I would say Wayne Dyer is another huge influence. He was the first presenter of what we might call “alternative” perspective in my life. I had a tape set of his back in the early ‘90s, and I’m pretty sure that I wore those tapes out listening to them over and over and over again!

Nechama: I can understand how so many people would want you as an influence in their lives. Your life is a testament to the possibility of a kind of broad-spectrum success that seems to require no compromise. Would you agree?

Toby: I would certainly like to think so! My work centers around people coming into and claiming their power! No guru in my world: I help people become their own guru

Nechama: Yes! I have noticed that in your message over and over again. Clearly, I am not the only one who finds that appealing and empowering.

How Drumming Can Help Parents & Children

Nechama: Many of my readers believe that playing with rhythm has benefits for their children. Does your work relate to anything you enjoyed doing as a child? Are there children in your life? If so, how is your relationship to them affected by your work?

Toby: I would agree with your readers very much! I started drumming when I was about five years old. It is a gift that I was born with. My entire childhood was filled with music, and drumming is the one area of my life where I was supported very strongly by my family. I do not currently have children in my life, however I work with children from time to time, both young children and adolescents.

When I was raising my stepson, it was interesting as my work shifted from the more “ordinary world” things—such as the coffee business and a restaurant—to the more “otherworldly” business that involved the drumming. He was a little uncomfortable with what to tell his friends [about what] his stepdad did.

One time, I was hired by fashion designer Donna Karan to do an event at her flagship store in Manhattan. My stepson, Adam, came with me to that event, and as he saw some of his favorite movie stars dancing and enjoying my drumming, it gave him a whole new perspective. It was a way to bridge ordinary and non-ordinary reality.

Finding Rhythm

Nechama: I love that story! What do you think are the most significant benefits of giving children the opportunity to play with rhythm? And, if you could give one tip to parents looking to maximize that opportunity for their children, what would it be?

Toby: I think the biggest benefit [for children] is the benefit of self-expression. In our culture, we are constantly programming the restraint of freedom and a conduct that is predicated on how other people will perceive us. So, self-expression is something that the drum facilitates beautifully.

When I had my restaurant, I had African décor, and there were drums sitting around on the floor. Every once in a while, someone would bring a child in and they would head immediately for the drum and start banging on. The parent usually would run frantically to make sure that the child did not hurt the drum or disturb anyone. Usually, that was the time when I would start an impromptu jam session with the child! The patrons loved it!

Let your child be free! That is the most profound tip I could give. So much of our restrictive behavioral conduct has hugely damaging effects when a child comes into adolescence. Most of the time, substance abuse and “inappropriate behavior” are just a way for our children to fight against a repressive cultural system that denies them their genius. In the village where I’ve studied, my teacher Malidoma Somé says each and every person is born a genius. It is the job of the village or community to acknowledge and support the genius that resides in each and every person. Let your child be a genius and let that genius shine!

Nechama: And that just might be my favorite story of all!

Thank you, Toby, for an absolutely riveting interview! I hope we can do this again some time. I will certainly be following your work. Please don’t hesitate to contact me for any reason. Would you like to say anything else before we say good-bye?

Toby: It was an honor to be interviewed by such a skillful and conscious being. Thank you! I look forward to further contact. Be well.

Thank you to Nechama Robinson, MA, director of KinderWorld Tracks.

Those who have already listened to my new album Tribal Medicine can attest to its powerful inspiration through its tribal connections. So many reviews have been coming back to me, and one common remark is that listeners often feel as though they are taking part in an ancient indigenous healing ceremony! Tribal Medicine is a great escape for those who wish to close their eyes and experience the wisdom of African and Native American ancestors, as well as experience Eastern shamanic traditions through the powerful healing rhythms of the album’s songs!

For instance, “Sacred Chant,” the third track on the album, is about the vision of a medicine person residing in solitude on the top of a mountain, calling to the healing spirits. It’s a truly beautiful song that was written with those in mind who are suffering and are in need of some sort of healing—be it from a serious or debilitating illness, the crushing and despondent force of depression, or any other mental or spiritual malady.

“Sacred Chant” is a healing song in which the medicine person calls to the spirits through sacred chant. These calls are requests for healing and comfort for those in pain, and to restore health and vitality to those in need of a transformation.

Tribal Medicine as a complete album offers healing rhythms that restore the hearts and souls of those who listen. I am quite proud of how this album turned out—the drumming is incredible and infuses the body with its intoxicating rhythms. While “Sacred Chant” is just one of five powerful tracks on the album, each song embodies a different healing energy. Through various rhythms, sounds, and intent, individual tracks offer listeners different sound energy sessions. As a whole,Tribal Medicine is a restorative treat!

Tribal Medicine features me, Healing Drummer Toby Christensen, on djembe drum and percussion, and the talented Rebecca Holt on vocal toning. Skilled artist Carolina Woodrich shared her stunning original artwork for the album!

To purchase a copy of this healing rhythms CD, please visit my shop. I invite you to engage your body, mind, and soul with the powerful rhythms of Tribal Medicine. Enjoy!

I’ve recently released a new album called Tribal Medicine. This CD features healing rhythms that are intended to restore listeners’ hearts and souls as the sensations of the healing drum infuses the body.

Tribal Medicine offers inspiration through tribal connections. I’ve been told over and over again that while experiencing the album, a sensation of being present at an ancient indigenous ceremony often comes over listeners. It’s a powerful experience to feel the wisdom of African, Native American, and Eastern shamanic healing traditions through healing rhythms!

African Djembe Drums

Each track on Tribal Medicine supports a particular energy and offers different rhythms and sounds that, collectively, make the album a powerful healing experience. Let me tell you about my intentions with the opening track of the album, “Call of the Ancestors.” In the Dagara cosmology that my work is based on, the ancestors are those who have come before us, whose blood runs through our veins. Because we are part of them, they have a vested interest in our well-being. So they are the ones that we call to when we need help.

The chanting in “Call of the Ancestors” brings to mind a person in great need calling upon the ancestors in a language that is beyond words. It is a language of emotion and raw spiritual energy, calling for the ancestors’ help and guidance in life. The voices overlaid on the track are from different cultures: African, South American, and Native American voices all calling to their ancestors for healing of their minds, bodies, and spirits, as well as the world!

Listen to a sample of “Call of the Ancestors.”

Call of the Ancestors

Tribal Medicine features me, Healing Drummer Toby Christensen, on djembe drum and percussion, and the talented Rebecca Holt on vocal toning. Skilled artist Carolina Woodrich shared her stunning original artwork for the album!

To purchase a copy of this healing rhythms CD, please visit my shop. I invite you to engage your body, mind, and soul with the powerful rhythms of Tribal Medicine. Enjoy!

Toby and Guy Hanging Out After a Gig

In previous postings I’ve talked about the amazing joy that I have experienced reuniting with some old childhood friends with whom I used to play music. One of these friends is Guy Johnson. On my last trip to Seattle, I was able to spend quite a bit of time with Guy. He is a kindhearted person who takes good care of his family, works hard, and is one amazing guitar player! On a video posted at my website www.healingdrummer.com I show a video of Terry King, Guy Johnson and I in Guy’s basement, jamming on acoustic guitars and having an amazing time.

This kind of joy of spontaneous music is what has been such a wonderful element throughout my life. It occurred to me that afternoon that joy, connection, and creativity is not just a good thing when it is presented on a stage or before a large group of people. I thought driving home from that afternoon that if this was the last experience that I had in my life, it would be a great one.

Shining Your Light in Public or with Friends is all Good

The night after our informal basement jam, Guy was performing at a benefit concert to help a friend raise money for medical bills. The video below is one of my favorite songs of Guy’s. He has an uncanny ability to channel Jimi Hendrix—he has since he was about nine years old. It was so interesting to watch Guy as a young child listen to Hendrix play, pick up an old Stratocaster, and play note-for-note what he heard Jimi playing. Well, some things never change. Guy, in this video, shows his amazing talent and doing it for the good of the community that he is part of.

Spontaneous Footage

I was sitting at a table in the restaurant where the fundraiser was being held, and Guy begin the first few notes. I knew the song he was going to play and fired up my iPhone. Although it is not a professional film quality, I think you get the idea of how amazing it is to be in the presence of this gifted musician. You’ll notice that at one part of his solo in the middle of the song, he goes out into the audience where he plays his guitar with his teeth, a spoon from the table, and some mysterious object handed to him by one of the men at the table. Either way, Guy Johnson is a consummate performer and amazing entertainer. He knows how to win the hearts of the people he plays for.

Whether it is in the basement playing an old beat-up acoustic guitar, or on stage with a crowd of people, Guy always comes from the heart. It is my pleasure to share with you this video of my good friend. Please check out other videos of Guy Johnson on YouTube and, of course, at TobyChristensen.com.

Reflecting on Warmer Times

Today as the temperature drops and the rain begins to fall, soon followed by snow, I think back on the summer where I spent two months on the island of Kauai, Hawaii. It was a magical time of climbing the mountains on the island, walking the pristine beaches, absorbing the most amazing sun and experiencing one of the greatest highlights… Playing as the drummer for the Kauai Vibe Tribe. The Kauai Vibe Tribe is a group of local musicians headed by Francesco Garripoli who sings and plays guitar,  Master Will Lydgate on bass, the talented and lovely Ms.Elle on backup vocals and ukulele, and yours truly on djembe.

Therapeutic Rock and Roll

In most of my travels I play on my own primarily any therapeutic manner so to jam with these guys and play this fun music was a real thrill. The first time Francesco came over for us to rehearse was a great experience. He is a prolific songwriter, and really comes from the heart as he plays his beautiful Taylor guitar, (or Fender Strat if he’s in an electric mood) and sings with passion. As I entered in with the drum a beautiful smile came on Francesco’s face and it was clear that there was a merging of souls as well as music. The first time the group got together to practice  it was clear that the same connection existed between Will and myself. As Francesco began to play his first song I could feel the  funky vibe laid down by the bass guitar. Without looking, I began to lay down a beat complementary to the bass line I was hearing. The  groove got tighter and I looked up to see a huge smile on  Will’s face as our rhythms merged to create a beautiful foundation for Francescos song. All in all it was a fantastic experience.

Practice Pays Off

We performed at the Trees Lounge  in Kapaa. The place was jammed and we rocked the house all night long. One of the funny stories involves Francesco and one of the residence on the island. One of the songs that we did, I think it was the only cover, I take that back it was one of two covers that we did, is a song called  “ Wooden Ships” by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. It just so happens that Graham Nash lives on the island and from time to time will pop in to local bar to check out the music. It suddenly hit Francesco’s awareness that Graham could very possibly come to Trees that night to hear us play. So in a respectful and somewhat intimidated voice Francesco says “if Graham is there, I am not singing Wooden Ships”. Will playfully responded “come on Francesco, Graham is a really nice guy and would be honored to hear you sing his song”. Well Graham never showed up and we did a great job on the song and believe it or not I’m actually going back for an encore.

Come and Join Us This January

You have nothing more important to do in the month of January 2011. On January 22,2011 the Kauai Vibe Tribe will be making another appearance on the island. This time in addition to the rocking band that we  had we will be featuring the amazing Mr. Terry Kingen on lead guitar. This will be an amazing show. January is a beautiful time to go to the island. The whales are jumping all over the place, breaching I guess is the correct term. The Kauai Vibe Tribe will be playing at some local venue, to be announced, And the following weekend will be the Kauai Wellness Expo! So there are all kinds of wonderful reasons to head to the island in January. And for those of you looking forward to a summer vacation, I will be facilitating three workshops this coming summer on the island so stay tuned for more information.

Please Check Back

Well I guess it’s time to do a little work, make a drumming video, and handle some paperwork. Thanks for sharing this delightful memory with me I look forward to reading your comments!

This is my favorite song my World Unity CD. It is dedicated to the peace makers. So enjoy the sounds and think of ways you can bring more peace and harmony to the world! As a famous musician once said, Give Peace a chance!

While on Kauai last month I had the pleasure of attending the Kauai Wellness Expo. What a great event! I was in some great energy and met a bunch of people who are committed to making the world a better place. One such person and one of my favorite people in the world is Danny Hoshimoto. Danny is kind, loving and the true embodiment of Aloha. He is also a master raw dessert maker! I enjoyed many of his amazing creations while at the expo. Below are Danny and I posing while I take the shot! and Danny creating his favorite Coconut Cream Ambrosia. It is the most delightful food I have ever tasted!!!

Another aspect of the expo are the celebrities that hang out incognito. You never know who you will run into. I have seen music great Taj Mahal, actors Jeff Bridges and Pierce Brosnan, Bill Kreutzmann from the Grateful Dead and many others. While walking about I ran into a friend who I just came to know is a world famous Qigong Master, Francesco Garripoli. This guy is amazing. Each morning he leads the people at the expo through a Qigong routine. Here is a little scoop on him from a website I found.  Francesco Garri Garripoli is the Chairman of the Board of the Qigong Institute and enjoys being an author, television producer, Qigong practitioner and wellness advocate. He began his formal training in Eastern healing in Hawaii in 1977 after leaving a full medical school scholarship. His documentary Qigong: Ancient Chinese Healing for the 21st Century, airs on PBS Television, where he has produced programs for 20 years. Francesco teaches Qigong workshops around the world and through www.wujiproductions.com and is a past Chairman of the National Qigong Association. Author of Qigong Essence of the Healing Dance and Tao of the Ride, Francesco currently resides on Kauai, Hawaii at the non-profit Kahuna Valley Retreat facility www.kahunavalley.com . Here I am with Francesco, he is also a prolific song writer and guitar player.

I also ran into this person who requested to stay anonymous. Any ideas????

We shared some of Danny’s raw chocolate delight and then it was time for me to hit the beach. Thats the report from the Kauai Wellness Expo 2010. ALOHA!

Well I just retuned from my annual winter trek to Kauai. Here is a rainbow that appeared while we drummed on the beach one evening.

It was my best trip yet! I spent lots of time on the beach, climbed Sleeping Giant a bunch, worked with my good friend Kirk on the new HealingDrummer website and reunited with my friends. As always, I spent plenty of time at Larry’s Music with my friend Sam. here we are jamming on the ukuleles. Check out YouTube video for Sam’s “I’ll Be There”.

Kirk in addition to being a masterful creator on the web, allowed his tribal drummer self to emerge! Here he is whipping out a heavy Fire Rhythm during a 5 Element Drum Workshop I held on the beach in Kapaa.

Keep your eyes on the HealingDrummer schedule for the workshops I’ll be hosting in 2011!

That’s it for now! Aloha!

Here is your music clip for the month of January.

As many of you have read on the blog, I reunited with some old friends this past year who I used to play music with.

This clip is a remix of track 1 of my Four Doors Open CD. Terry Kingen has laid some beautiful guitar over the drums to balance the intensity of the drum with the melodic flow of the guitar.

This blog is the operations central for the HEALINGDRUMMER WORLD PEACE PARTY that will take place December 20th. For the past three years I have ended every event with a few minutes of DRUMMING FOR PEACE. What I mean by peace is summed up in the statement below. I’m not asking anyone to change their mind or agree with me in every way I only ask that we focus on our similarities so strongly that we have no time to fight about our differences! Check Back for details.

To honor this passionate cause I produced a CD called World Unity. The following are the words on the jacket. The song posted is Wake Up! It is my call for people WAKE UP to PEACE!!!

“This CD is dedicated to the Peacemakers of the world. It is for those who realize that we are held lovingly in the arms of the universe, and that since we are here not only to survive, but to THRIVE together, then we must begin to act with peace and harmony in all that we do. This is to act peace with the air, the water, the land, the animals, and with each and every one of our fellow humans. May we all find through this music the ability to focus on our similarities so strongly that we have no time to fight about our differences! WORLD UNITY is WORLD COMMUNITY”

Let’s make it happen!

It is with this intention I ask you all to join me in a wold wide campaign and join the HEALINGDRUMMER WORLD PEACE PARTY! Stay tuned and enjoy the music. I will post new tracks every 2 weeks!

Peace

Ok I have the good fortune to be in a position to buy my next house. I am very excited and have been thinking…where should I move. I love Park City, but to be in town where I like to be the houses are way beyond my current financial situation. So What do you think? My trusted friend and assistant Suzanne said, “Why don’t you ask the people who know and support you where they think you should live?” GREAT IDEA!! So until I can afford my ski in ski out Deer Valley home what do you think?

So here is my criteria. I would like to be 30 min or less from a major airport, the house must have a basement for a recording studio, 1,000 square feet or more. Living space of 1,500 SQ.Ft or more and a house payment of $2,000 or less. I need room for workshops and drum circles. As well as music making!!

So Far, Cincinnati Ohio and Reunion Colorado are at the top of the list.

Let me know what you think!!

Thanks,

Toby

Another member of the gang is named Guy Johnson. All I can say about Guy it that he is an enigma. Now some of you are saying, “Isn’t that some new age musical group?” Well, that is not what I’m talking about. By definition an enigma is, One that is puzzling, ambiguous, or inexplicable. This fits Guy to a tee. And it is because of this he is loved so much. I met him when he was 10 or so and when he found out I was a drummer he said, Lets get together and play! By saying yes, I had no idea what I was in for. Guy was not just a kid guitar player. He was able, at 10 years old, to match the skill of Jimmy Page, Lesley West, and Joe Walsh, note for note on the Strat.

BUT Guy’s claim to fame was his ability to imitate the greatest of all, Jimi Hendrix, note for note, fret for fret, and at 10 years of age! When he played it was not only deafening in volume but entrancing how THAT music could be coming from that skinny little kid!

The other thing about Guy is that he had zest for life. He is the one human being in the world who has done more drugs and drank more alcohol than anyone I know. His wild antics combined with his sweet smile made you love him and hate him simultaneously.

As a child, I had a deep love for Guy and admiration for his talent. I still do. I tried over the years to find him but was never able. Then it happened. A friend who you will meet on a future entry called me out of the blue. As we talked, I asked if he had any idea where Guy Johnson was. Or if he was even alive! “Yes, he plays in a band here in town once in a while,” my friend replied. I happened to be in Seattle at the time and when I looked up Guy, there he was AND he was playing that night just a few miles away. When I saw him I could not believe my eyes. He still maintained that same high energy and looked amazingly healthy. I found out later that Guy has been clean and sober for 16 years. I’m proud of you, Guy! That is a HUGE accomplishment. 

The other thing I realized as we got together a few days later to jam, is that Guy’s love and passion for music has not diminished one bit. I was honored to play with he and Terry and another member of the gang, Joel Bisset, one night in Guy’s basement. It was like when we were still in grade school or junior high.

Guy was so on top of things that he even set up lights for us! I felt like I was back on stage.

Guy Johnson has become a man of great character, conviction, and intention. He cares for his mother and girlfriend and plays music as much as possible. He is bright and uplifting to be around and is still having the boys over to jam. When I saw Guy’s mom it was like going back in time 35 years. Or more. She remembered that as kids we LOVED peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and yes, that night after an amazing dinner (thank you so much, Mrs. Johnson) we polished off a tray of PBJ’s for dessert!

I see in this picture of Guy a man full of dreams and ambition. I wish for Guy that they all come true. I’m so glad to be reconnected!

Thank you, Guy!

Here we have Terry Kingen on the guitar Joel Bisset on the kit and I am on the djembe 

Joel Bisset laying down the steady beat!

I was just in Seattle and met up with a group of guys I have not seen for 30 years. I went to Elementary, Junior High, and High school with these gentlemen. As kids we played music together. We would spend hours in my parents’ basement playing Jimi Hendrix, Led Zepplin, The Beatles, Rolling Stones and who ever else was on the charts at that time. Guy Johnson was and is today one of the most talented and skilled rock guitar players on the planet. Terry Kingon is a masterful wizard on the guitar masterfully maneuvering his way through any style of music from rockabilly to Frank Zappa! Clearly, Terry is the most musically educated and diverse of the gang. Joel Bissett is one of those guys who is the embodiment of kindness and a true gentleman. He was always ready to help those of us who were up on stage, always picking up tips on playing the drums and guitar. He was never in the spotlight back then but he has become a fine drummer and excellent man on the guitar. And of course I cannot help but mention Paul Dragoo, Paul and I did not meet till High School but became close friends, as we played in bands together during that time in my life. It was through Paul’s continued connection with the other three men that ultimately lead to our reunion.

 
Reconnecting to these men is one of the greatest joys I have experienced in a very long time. Our hair is a little grayer; we all have a bit of age on our bellies. But jamming with these guys made my heart sing. After all these years, we have each held music as our love and passion. I had the opportunity to be on stage with two of them. Joel and Terry. Joel was on the drum kit and Terry was man handling a pink paisley Telecaster. And I was bringing the HealingDrum to a bar in Renton Washington! 

It was such a joy to play with these guys Terry and I could not do anything but SMILE

OK, here it is! I promised at the International Sound Healers Conference that I would post this so here we go!

After the International Sound Healers Conference I headed for Seattle to connect to the place I was raised and to have Thanksgiving with my family. I had some great adventures there and was joined by Suzanne who experienced some of the Seattle hospitality of the great Celtic Pub on Alki Beach.

They Have Her Favorite Scotch!

They had a very special beverage not for the faint of heart! As you can see she is quite happy about it.

I continued onto Portland where I drummed with a group of my friends at Sellwood Spirit Feathers. It was so fun! We let the drum send out the vibration of healing to a place I have moved from. It was a powerful and felt good to connect to my old home town.

The Drum Sent Out The Healing

I ended the year here in Park City my new home. Skiing at Deer Valley and enjoying time in the studio with my friend Rich Wyman. When the new CD comes out I will make sure and post some sound treats for you all!

Happy New Year!
toby