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Curtis Olsen
- Location :
- Houston Heights
- Occupation:
- writer
I am a writer by day and have been gigging as a jazz drummer, on and off, for thirty-four years (San Diego, Houston, Clear Lake). Have played in big bands, but prefer smaller jazz ensembles. My last band, a jazz trio, played mostly in the Clear Lake and Galveston areas. Our set list was roughlly a third jazz standards, a third contemporary jazz/fusions, and a third originals. Our main gigs were dinner jazz venues, but we occasionally played parties and weddings.
My drum kit is a little unusual: a pro-model Roland electronic kit combined with an assortment of acoustic cymbals I've been collecting for years (including a much-coveted 24-inch Custom Paiste Dark ride) and a miked acoustic snare for brush work. I program my own jazz kits on the Roland, and currently have four or five that I use regularly, including a latin kit with cow-bell, congas and timbales.
I recently moved to the Houston Heights area, where I plan to either join an existing band or start a new one. I have high performance and P.R. standards, but am not a perfectionist. I never lasted long in bands run by self-absorbed, narcissistic player-managers, and prefer bands that like to have fun - both rehearsing and playing out. At the same time, I expect to have a fair amount of input in the bands I choose to join, and to have my ideas taken seriously.
I like the slow jazz ballads just as much as the up-tempo stuff. My idea of heaven is sitting in with a full jazz orchestra behind Shirley Horne singing "Here's to You."
My drum kit is a little unusual: a pro-model Roland electronic kit combined with an assortment of acoustic cymbals I've been collecting for years (including a much-coveted 24-inch Custom Paiste Dark ride) and a miked acoustic snare for brush work. I program my own jazz kits on the Roland, and currently have four or five that I use regularly, including a latin kit with cow-bell, congas and timbales.
I recently moved to the Houston Heights area, where I plan to either join an existing band or start a new one. I have high performance and P.R. standards, but am not a perfectionist. I never lasted long in bands run by self-absorbed, narcissistic player-managers, and prefer bands that like to have fun - both rehearsing and playing out. At the same time, I expect to have a fair amount of input in the bands I choose to join, and to have my ideas taken seriously.
I like the slow jazz ballads just as much as the up-tempo stuff. My idea of heaven is sitting in with a full jazz orchestra behind Shirley Horne singing "Here's to You."
