Not really Christine relate, but...
 

Crew Recovers Fats Domino's Pianos

By STACEY PLAISANCE, Associated Press Writer


NEW ORLEANS - Workers have recovered what was left of three pianos in Fats Domino's Ninth Ward home, which was submerged in almost 10 feet of water when Hurricane Katrina caused a levee break near his neighborhood in August.

Sifting through the mild-covered interior of the house, a recovery crew with the Louisiana State Museum pulled out a black Steinway baby grand used by the famed musician for writing and practicing. They also recovered a white Steinway grand and electric Wurlitzer keyboard.

Museum officials are hoping the Domino family will donate the black Steinway baby grand for inclusion in a traveling exhibit about hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

"The negotiating process may take months, but it's something we're trying to work out with the family," said Kacey Hill, the museum's spokeswoman.

The exhibit will include remnants from the storms as well as rescue signs, pictures and oral histories, Hill said, adding that the museum is seeking additional funding and grants. She said she hopes the exhibit will be shown nationally, not just locally.

"We feel that it's so important that whether this is six months from now or four years from now, people need to be reminded of what happened here so they don't forget," she said.

Domino's family did not return a call for comment Wednesday evening.

Well, I guess there's a Chris link in that she tried to play a little Fats out of a songbook back when she was young.

Incidentally, can you name the recording we fans have of some live material featuring Christine playing a Fats Domino piano arrangement?

(in other words, bass line in the left hand, constant triplets in the right)

Yeah, yeah. "Get Like You Used To Be". And, "Roll With Me, Henry". And, "Don't Stop" And, "Not That Funny" And....

Well, what I really had in mind was "Blue Monday," with its rollicking, constant triplets in the right hand -- classic Fats Domino right-hand style!

Of course, Fats wrote the song--so that makes sense!

Here's what I mean: the staff notation of a song called "The Things That I Used To Do" written by Eddie "Guitar Slim" Jones, & piano arrangement by Ray Charles. But it's the classic New Orleans/Fats Domino style, with simple ascending bass in the left hand & incessantly repeated triplets in the right. This is exactly what Christine is doing on "Blue Monday."

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/7...tyle9ic.th.jpg

This is a great book, too. It also has notation for a bunch of different blues styles: Chicago blues (with the piano improvising most of the way through), Texas blues (piano more part-oriented), Lafayette Leake-style organ (alternating between straight-ahead timekeeping & restrained fills) & Sonny Thompson's rhythm backing on piano for Freddie King (another huge Chris influence).