Ricochet Gathering III- Attack of the Drone

What can I say? The gathering at the Okefenokee Swamp was a totally awesome experience!!! I had been trying to attend since the first one took place in 2000, but things just did not work out until this year, 2002.

I was very happy to have made it to this one.

It all started with meeting Dell at the Flying J truck stop next to the Lazy Days RV Park just outside of Tampa. I had met Dell before so it was nice to see her again. I had brought her copy of the Tangerine Tree instead of mailing it to her. She was very happy to get it and immediately put the first disc in and we were on our way. As things usually go when someone follows me, I usually lose them because I drive faster than most people do. But I was able to keep track of her with my cell phone. A few hours later we were at the Okefenokee Swamp.

It was great to meet all of the people who made it. I was able to finally put faces to some of the names that I knew from the list and IRC chat. Also it was great to meet all of the musicians who came. I have now met my second former member of Tangerine Dream, Steve Schroeder. The first was Christopher Franke, whom I met at Anime Expo 96.

While at the swamp, I went on the nature trails with Lars and his 2 boys, I went out on a boat with Roger Smith and Morgan, also there was the extra special trip of going out into the swamp at night. This was really cool because we got to see a lot more alligators than we saw during the day because it was so hot. Morgan already told you folks about the boat trip with the motor which had 2 speeds, fast and stop.

We had a lot of fun and we almost ran over a deer that was out in the water.

If you ever need a story teller, fact or fiction, Roger Smith is your man. He told us a very amusing story about Vic and the CD with Star Sounds Orchestra on it that he had to have, at Bad Salza. It was hilarious.

But the best was yet to come for me. I had bought a Roland XP-80 keyboard earlier in the year and I brought it with me in the hopes of learning a few things and picking up some tips from the “real” musicians. I was able to spend some time with Dave Brewer and my keyboard. Dave showed me hoe to play some of my favorite pieces of TD music as I took notes. Dave is one of those special people that can pick up on the notes in a piece of music which is great because there is really no sheet music out for TD other than what they have posted on their website and it is newer stuff anyway. This was not the best part, yet. I enjoyed the music that was played by Star Sounds Orchestra, 2/3 of Air Sculpture, Dave Brewer and Bill Fox on Friday and Saturday nights. Now comes the best part for me. Jens of SSO put together a project which was called Planetary Ambience to be played Sunday night in conjunction with the aligning of the Planets and I got to participate. I was given the task of creating the drones for each of the planets. It was a simple task but also a very important one, as everyone plays off of what I make for the drone sounds. The show lasted for about 5 ˝ hours. I was blown away!! The novice keyboard player gets to create music with the experts and even greater, a former member of Tangerine Dream. On Monday night we were given an extra special treat of SSO playing outdoors in the park. Everyone danced and even rode the swings while the music was playing.

I came home with a lot of music. Some I bought from SSO, I got some in our raffles and contests, and I traded some with Morgan. I think the final total of CD’s was 20.

I must say that all of the musicians were really down to earth. Nobody minded being asked to sign various CD’s that they played on. So I had everything signed. Jens even gave me a project for next year of creating my own drones without the restrictions I had for the Planetary Ambience show. So those will turn out to be a bit more than drones by the time I finish with them. I will play them or at least have them on a CD to share with everyone at RG4.

I look forward to RG4 and seeing everyone again and maybe some new faces. I just hope to be able to afford it as it looks like this event will be a major production.

-Robert G.