Stephen Kent Family Tree ...

Stephen's newest release is a two CD set which is composed
of tracks previously unreleased and selections from previous 
albums. It starts, auspiciously with a blazing "jungawarian" 
solo called energizer which is a groove similar to Jungawangra
from landings powered by nuclear fusion and click sticks.
Fantastic! This provides an aural cue to Jungawangra itself 
on track 4. One can't have too many chances to hear that classic 
groove anyway. Between is a previously unreleased Trance Mission 
cut titled Yekke which is classic Trance Mission. Other treats 
on disk one are the tracks from Headlight, Lights in a Fat City, 
Beasts of Paradise and the Trance Mission CD "Meanwhile" which is 
probably my favorite Trance Mission Album.

 Disk 2 starts with a powerful Bb didjeridu throbbing bass note and
clean smooth harmonics textured with voiced notes and tongue trills.
Hale is a 19 minute epic which transports the listener into realms 
outside normal time and space. This is a drag out the headphones, 
stretch out and cover your eyes adventure piece which is alone worth 
the price of the album. Yet tracks two and three transport you still 
higher. This is a disk suitable to receive massage to, practice 
mediation with or just marvel at the harmonic range of the didjeridu.


 For Stephen Kent followers, this a must have collection. A 
representative blend of all the directions Stephen has explored 
since the early Lights in a Fat City days in one fresh and specially 
priced two disk package!

New beginners didjs -

We have some new bamboo didjeridus which are not kiln dried, but 
are wrapped with floss to help resist cracking. They sell for $39 
and make nice pipes for learning or to carry on hikes. They are 
fairly consistent in length and diameter, but range from C# to D 
natural in pitch.  I picked one out for myself because I had been 
looking to add a bamboo didjeridu to my collection for some time. 
I hadn't found an affordable one which  was fun to play till these 
babies arrived. One tip,  the mouthpiece openings are a bit small. 
I enlarged mine with a pocket knife and then filed it smooth again. 
Just a  few minutes work and I had a comfortable mouthpiece which 
doesn't require beeswax - always a plus in hot weather travel.

City Search - 
Web Site updates. Austrlian Originals will soon have a web page on 
City Search. Go to www.citysearch.com and click on Portland. Search 
for us under the key words, "Australia" or "Didjeridu". This site 
will link to our didjeridu site. I've added a new page to my corner 
of Cyber Space called the "Sounds Page". On it, I've put samples from 
my various projects, tutorials and collection of instruments. One 
section just deals with the various pitches, so if your wondering 
what a low G or a high G would sound like, point your browser to 
http://www.rdrop.com/~mulara/sounds.html and have a listen. 

Video Catalog -

Australian Originals now has a video catalog available. To get your 
Video catalog, send $5 to Australian Originals, 28 SW First # 103, 
Portland, OR 97204. When you buy your next didjeridu, we will just 
take the $5 off the purchase price of your new didjeridu.

Tea Tree Oil 

I have found many uses for tea tree oil with regard 
to playing the didgeridoo. For example, I add a few
drops to my beeswax tin that I use to build up my 
mouthpieces. I've found that it seems to make the wax 
a bit firmer once it hardens. This mixture also has an 
added benefit for the player. After a few minutes of 
playing, as the mouthpiece warms from my breath, it 
begins to act as an inhalant. The effect is that it 
keeps the sinus passages nice and open for circular 
breathing.

 I also put a little water soluble tea tree oil down 
any instruments that seem to be growing mold. Seems to 
stop the growth of molds completely. I also use a weak 
solution of tea tree oil and water to wipe off my 
mouthpieces before letting a student use them. 

 I don't have any scientific basis to back these 
practices. They are admittedly homespun. However tea 
tree oil has become part of my various odd ball 
rituals around playing. Since it is readily available 
to me, reasonably inexpensive and probably does no 
harm - it seems a perfect adjunct for me.

 Disclaimer : I don't endorse these uses of tea tree 
oil to anyone. Tea tree oil (Melaleuca) is an 
essential oil and can be irritating to mucous 
membranes and sensitive skin. As always, be very 
careful when listening to me :-).

 Ed


     Copyright 1997 Ed Drury