I, Brian "the Sea" Shell, was a percussion pupil of drummer extraordinaire Ndugu "Ocean" Chancler in Los Angeles from 1992-1996... since then, I've has traveled to Seattle, Hawaii, Vancouver, Venice Beach, Kansas City and Ann Arbor, Michigan to develop my own unique musical sound... someone different from all the rest! As my music shows... I like to play a variety of instruments that range from hand-drums to drumsets to harmonica to piano to xylophone to synthesizer. My latest CD called "The Best of Brian Shell & Friends - Live!" contains over 5 years worth of recordings... all live performances by me with and without other musicians... for 20 different track and 50:07 minutes of music...
Also, I've written 9 screenplays, 5 non-fiction books and a stage play... so currently, I'm in search of a Hollywood agent who can represent ALL of my creative works and endeavors!
Along other lines, I believe in many hours of daily practice to perfect the muscle memory and musical intuition so that you can play with ANY performer. In other words, learn how to adapt to ANY music style. Appreciate ALL music... you never know when Life's events will perfectly echo the music or lyrics to a song that make everything seem Right. Keep yourself open to that! However, muscle memory to musical improvisation is a key reward of the hours of daily practice... because soon, instead of mimicing other people's riffs, you'll be CREATING YOUR OWN!!! As Ndugu once said to me in his beautiful Los Angeles home upon the day of embarking upon my dreams on July 31, 1995, he said: "The greatest day of my life was when one of the world's most famous performers REALLY listened to me play and exclaimed... 'You've got your own thing... you sound like no one else!'" Ndugu, former 70's drummer for Santana, then leaned in and said, "And that was when I knew I had 'made it' - I had finally become MySelf - and in the process, I KNEW that I had finally reached my dreams. And today, because of making the leap of faith to reach your dreams and achieve your greatness, you'll someday KNOW exactly what I mean... and when you do, you'll be in one place: PARADISE!!!
Those were the words of wisdom that sent me on my way... 12 years ago.
I now know EXACTLY what you mean, Ndugu, and thank you my friend.
Sincerely, Brian "the Sea" Shell
PS - If you really want to understand and learn about the *True* Man I am, find and watch the indie film that came out in the 90's called "32 Short Films About Glenn Gould" as when you watch each of those 32 vignettes, you will know him, but after that with all I've shared with you, You - Will - Know - Me! The prodigal piano genius he was then... is now the modern day man I am!!!