Books & recordings
1. After Jerusalem book
2. The Human Drummer book
3. Howland Ensemble LP
4. Reiko CD
5. 10 Years in 5 Days CD
See bottom of page for ordering information
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1. After Jerusalem book
“Hal Howland is a great observer of human nature. He has an uncanny ability to get right to the heart of matters with a dry and subtle wit.” Andrea Comstock, business manager, Florida Keys Council of the Arts
“Hal Howland weaves a tale that is reminiscent of when short stories flourished in magazines and publishers fought each other for writers’ stories. Howland brings the Key West I know so well to life and captures the essence of the characters that call the end of the road home. Howland’s weaving of his knowledge of music through the stories is masterful. I not only enjoyed the stories, but closed the book having learned something too.” Michael Haskins, author of Chasin’ the Wind
“Hal Howland mixes musical mystery, sexual mayhem, and foreign intrigue into a literary treat of symphonic proportions. Bravo!” Michael Suib, author and former Miami Herald columnist
SeaStory Press has published Key West writer and musician Hal Howland’s fiction debut, After Jerusalem: A Story and Two Novellas, ISBN 978-0-9821151-0-7, in a handsome hardcover edition priced at $25.
In the short satire “Murder in the Percussion Section,” someone is going around the country killing successful drummers, using vintage percussion instruments and accessories as weapons—and leaving these coveted items at the crime scenes. The reader gets inside the classical, jazz, and rock music worlds and travels from D.C. to New York, Wyoming, Key West, Indianapolis, Chicago, New Orleans, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Boston seeking the traitor in this eccentric society. An FBI agent partners with a Key West homicide detective whose drumming experience may help crack the case. Lieutenant Rich Castillo reappears in Brice Miller’s Notebooks.
The first of two novellas centers on a successful Irish writer living in Key West and on Henry Rivers, a local English teacher. Sexually shy Brice Miller has decided to try her hand at erotica, and she begins tapping Henry’s experience in her research. The two friends have vowed not to fall in love. Meanwhile, someone is murdering Key Westers who are involved in the sex trade, in cleverly gruesome ways. Brice and Henry themselves are threatened by a religious predator. Supporting characters include Brice’s beautiful next-door neighbor and her oversexed boyfriend, a pair of worldly young employees of a downtown fantasy club, a respected lesbian police inspector and her unstable brother, a tenacious homicide detective and his accidentally helpful partner, a dangerously handsome former priest and his young drag-queen roommate, a county commissioner who doesn’t let a little scandal get in the way of helping an old friend, and an assortment of businessmen who clearly chose the wrong business.
The central character of After Jerusalem is a beautiful Palestinian double agent in the Israeli army who not only is caught up in an insane plot to assassinate the prime minister of Israel but also is beginning to doubt her lesbian orientation. In a twist of fate, she is assigned as a security escort to a restless American jazz pianist who is visiting Israel on a State Department tour. Along for this wild ride are the soldier’s kind but unreliable twin brother, the zealous ringleader the siblings are trying to escape, an oracular Greek friend (himself reluctantly involved in the conspiracy), a mischievous old Israeli major whose matchmaking turns tragic, and the soldier’s volatile estranged girlfriend. The Orpheus legend serves as a metaphor for peace in the Middle East, and jazz runs through the action as “the music of the dispossessed.”
2. The Human Drummer book
“Great reading, and should be in every musician’s library.” Hal Blaine, studio drummer
“Fills a niche! Says many things of interest to both drummers and laypersons, entertaining, substantial.” Peter Erskine, drummer and leader
“Wow! Talk about comprehensive.” Vic Firth, former solo timpanist, Boston Symphony Orchestra
“Truly a masterpiece, and every drummer should read it! Nothing like it has ever been written. It is a wonderful piece of literature: his command of the language is magnificent and the ideas expressed in such flowing narrative as to retain the reader’s interest throughout. A work for the ages.” William F. Ludwig Jr., drum manufacturer
“Very enjoyable, well written!” Chet McCracken, drummer, the Doobie Brothers
“Eminently readable!” Rick Van Horn, former senior editor, Modern Drummer magazine
SeaStory Press has published Hal Howland’s acclaimed, long-awaited nonfiction book The Human Drummer: Thoughts on the Life Percussive, ISBN 978-0-9821151-3-8, in a handsome paperback edition priced at $18.
The 412-page work has earned praise from major recording artists, symphonic musicians, and music-industry leaders. The Human Drummer contains musical and social commentary; advice for students, parents, and professionals; celebrity interviews; musical memories of America, Europe, the Middle East, and a colorful career in pop, jazz, and classical music; esoteric information for percussionists; groundbreaking timpani research; a professional directory; a satirical glossary; a comprehensive bibliography; an index; and two actual adventures on the high seas.
This project is sponsored in part by the Florida Keys Council of the Arts, the State of Florida Department of State Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts, and private donations.
3. Howland Ensemble audiophile LP
“Eloquent, modern, first-class” Chris Albertson, Stereo Review
Hal Howland, drums and percussion
John Previti, bass violin and bass guitar
Tom Reed, vibraphone
Bruce Swaim, tenor and soprano saxophones and flute
Composed, arranged, and produced by Hal Howland
Composed and arranged by Tom Reed*
Liner notes by Hal Howland
© 1985 Howland Records. All rights reserved.
© 1985 Harold Howland Music (BMI). All rights reserved.
*© 1985 Red Wind Music (BMI). All rights reserved.
Recorded and mixed by Bob Dawson at Bias Recording, Springfield, Virginia
Teldec Direct Metal Mastering by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound, New York
Audiophile pressing on German vinyl by Europadisk, Ltd., New York
Sterling Sound and Europadisk are licensees of Teldec, GmbH, Hamburg
Jacket made in Canada by Ross-Ellis, Ltd., Montréal
Cover design by Richard Bangham
Photography by Patricia Barrow
Typography by Jeanne Keskinen
Hal Howland plays Ludwig drums, Zildjian cymbals, and Vic Firth sticks, brushes, and mallets.
Tracks
 | Bedouin Song (6:55) |
| Blues for Jan (5:38) |
| Roses for Reinhardt (3:54) |
| *Riddle Witch (3:36) |
| *Above the Fold (4:40) |
| Princiotto, 1st of 8 (7:25) |
| The Book of Answers (6:30) |
4.
Reiko
CD
“A beautifully thought-out and realized production” Jazz great Peter Erskine
Chris Battistone, trumpet and flügelhorn
Brian Bennett, piano and synthesizer
Hal Howland, drums and percussion
Jon Metzger, vibraphone and marimba
John Previti, bass violin and bass guitar
Bruce Swaim, soprano, alto, and tenor saxophones
Composed, arranged, and produced by Hal Howland
Inside liner notes by Peter Erskine
© 1995 Howland Records. All rights reserved.
© 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983 Harold Howland Music (BMI). All rights reserved.
Recorded and mixed by Bob Dawson at Bias Recording, Springfield, Virginia
Mastered by David Glasser at Airshow, Springfield, Virginia
Manufactured by Oasis Recording, Silver Spring, Maryland
Designed and photographed by Britt Malmgren
Special thanks to Teresa Mueller
Hal Howland plays Ludwig drums, Zildjian cymbals, and Vic Firth sticks, brushes, and mallets.
Tracks
| Retroflexion (9:30) |
| Dad’s Waltz (7:18) |
| Los Bandidos Yanquis (6:46) |
| Reiko (12:15) |
| Edward’s Modules (5:01) |
| Fantastic Paris: Liquid Light (4:36), Saint-Michel (4:24), Notre-Dame (7:32) |
| Second Chance (5:08) |
| Brute Swaim! (4:23) |
| Thelonious (6:48) |
| Total playing time: 73:59 |
5. 10 Years in 5 Days CD
“Eloquent, modern, first-class” Chris Albertson, Stereo Review
Best Jazz Recording, Best Debut Recording, nominated Best Small Jazz Ensemble, Best New Artist, Best Song, Best Record Design, Washington Area Music Association, 1986
Hal Howland, drums and percussion
John Previti, bass violin and bass guitar
Tom Reed, vibraphone (tracks 1-7)
Bruce Swaim, tenor and soprano saxophones and flute
Tracks 8-10:
Chris Battistone, trumpet
Brian Bennett, piano
Jon Metzger, vibraphone and marimba
Composed, arranged, and produced by Hal Howland
Composed and arranged by Tom Reed*
© 2003 Howland Records. All rights reserved.
© 1981, 1982, 1983 Harold Howland Music (BMI). All rights reserved.
*© 1984, 1985 Red Wind Music (BMI). All rights reserved.
Recorded and mixed by Bob Dawson at Bias Recording, Springfield, Virginia, 1984, 1985, 1988
Track 8 remixed by Jim Robeson at Bias, 2003
Remastered by Charlie Pilzer at Airshow Mastering, Springfield, Virginia, 2003
Cover painting by Janet M Mueller
Cover design by Bob Bender at Creative Services, Key West, Florida
Manufactured by Oasis CD Manufacturing, Sperryville, Virginia
Tracks 1-7 available on audiophile LP as The Howland Ensemble
Hal Howland plays Ludwig drums, Zildjian cymbals, and Vic Firth sticks, brushes, and mallets.
Janet Mueller’s painting Jazz Guyz is available as giclée on canvas, from an edition of 500, measuring 30” x 24”, stretched, varnished, numbered, and signed by the artist. See the CD booklet for ordering information.
Tracks
| Bedouin Song (6:55) |
| Blues for Jan (5:40) |
| Roses for Reinhardt (3:56) |
| *Riddle Witch (3:37) |
| *Above the Fold (4:41) |
| Princiotto, 1st of 8 (7:25) |
| The Book of Answers (6:31) |
| 10 Years in 5 Days (4:57) |
| Le Nazdin (4:20) |
| William’s Just Deserts (7:05) |
| Total playing time: 55:37 |
Pricing
| Description | Price |
|---|---|
| After Jerusalem book | $25 |
| Human Drummer book | $18 |
| Howland Ensemble audiophile LP | $12 |
| Reiko CD | $15 |
| 10 Years in 5 Days CD | $15 |
| Free shipping & handling! | $0 |
Ordering
| By check or money order: send, payable to Hal Howland, to 263 Venetian Way, Sugarloaf Key, FL 33042-3612 |
| By credit card: visit Amazon, CD Baby, cdstreet, or The Orchard |
For more information contact:
Hal Howland
263 Venetian Way, Sugarloaf Key, FL 33042-3612
Telephone: 305-745-2572
Internet: halhowland@bellsouth.net