Ron Carter Esperanza Spalding - Downbeat

Holiday Gift Guide 2012 [ gear
Patriotic Percussion
Latin Percussion’s Americana series
cajons are constructed entirely in the
United States using hand-selected, 11-ply,
plantation-grown Baltic birch, selected for
its durability and resonance. The series
features three handmade models: String
Style, Snare Style and traditional Peruvian
Style. Each cajon delivers a rich, satisfying
tonal range. Ordering info: lpmusic.com
American Rag
Fender has reintroduced its
original-era model guitars with
period-correct designs based
on the blueprints of the designers
who created them. The
company’s American Vintage
series features thick-and-slim
necks for that 1950s and
1960s feel, along with maple
and rosewood fingerboards,
vintage-style frets and pickups
to reflect each ax’s specific
year. Ordering info: fender.com
Humidity
Control
Vandoren’s
Hygro Reed
cases are
compact enough
to fit in just about any woodwind
instrument case. Each Hygro case
features space for six reeds, a
sponge to maintain optimal humidity
and a disc that indicates when
it’s time to add water. The HRC10
holds clarinet or alto and soprano
sax reeds, and the HRC20 holds
bass clarinet or tenor and baritone
sax reeds. Ordering info: dansr.com
Spiral of
Control
Alesis’ Vortex is a USB “keytar”
controller with a layout of touch-sensitive
keys and pads on its body and radical octave
and pitch controls on its neck. It has traditional
MIDI and USB MIDI onboard, so keyboardists
can use the Vortex with software instruments
and synths on Mac or PC. An embedded, MIDIassignable
accelerometer lets players roam the
stage and control virtually any parameter by
moving the instrument. Ordering info: alesis.com
Dizzy’s Selection
RS Berkeley’s Dizzy Gillespie Legends series trumpet mouthpiece
is an exact reproduction of Gillespie’s silver-plated
model. Crafted by brass mouthpiece maker Greg Black, the
piece features silver plating, a round rim contour, mediumwide
rim thickness, a #24 bore (.152 inches/3.86 mm) and
shallow-bowl cup depth. Ordering info: rsberkeley.com
BLAST FROM THE PAST
Jazz fans who coveted Gretsch’s retro-reminiscent Renown57
kits will rejoice in the series’ brand-new bop configurations.
The Renown57 bop kits feature a Renown Chevron design,
rack tom mounted from the bass drum on a Gretsch ballsocket,
single-tom holder and standard maple specifications
for punchy, full tones. They come in Motor City Red, Motor
City Blue and Motor City Black. Ordering info: gretschdrums.com
72 DOWNBEAT DECEMBER 2012