Hello from Arizona!

[destroysall]

Music has always been a passion of mine since grade school. Growing up throughout the 90's, music made an obvious presence among my peers. It was here I began realizing that music meant more than something you listened to; it was a way of life, a culture. My passion for music began with a few of the famous such as Michael Jackson and New Order. It wasn't until later did I discover the Nu metal act with artist like KoRn, Slipknot, Smashing Pumpkins, and even Linkin Park. The latter even inspired me to further explore the world of music. When I began high school I grew interested and even determined in learning the drums, but I was not the only one. It was here where my instructor introduced me to the Trombone, an instrument that would change my life completely.

The trombone helped me discover everything behind music; theory, notation, and the primary fundamentals. When I look back on it today, I am forever grateful for learning this instrument. Had I not learned it, I would've never discovered the guitar, cello, and piano. In learning these instruments, I discovered an interest in all forms of music; from Classical music to Death Metal. Some of the artist I frequently listen to today are Akira Ifukube, Aarvo Part, Prokofiev, Haydn, Mozart, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Freddie Hubbard, Kenny Dorham, Charles Mingus, Thelonius Monk, Trivium, Mastodon, Mushroomhead, The Human Abstract, Dream Theater, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Blue Oyster Cult, Cream, Nirvana, Muse, Daft Punk, Hatsune Miku (can't forget Vocaloids), and even Norah Jones; just to name a few.

My system as of current doesn't match up to the standards I like necessarily, but the future is not so distant. ;) I currently utilize one of my favorite headphones, the Beyerdynamic DT 990/600 Ω

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7314/12082447483_5e9229352b_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/jpFGG4)

I currently pair these headphones with the HiFiMan EF2A with Mullard CV4010 tubes fed by the FiiO E10 DAC. This produces a warm tone with a rich and smooth sound. It may not be ample enough for the 600 Ω headphone, but I can not forsake the sound that is being reproduced.

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3917/14694342261_989545c82e_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/ooum1D)

Finally everything is source fed via iTunes on my custom built Windows machine running Windows 7:

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5585/14510826820_0bf85ed956_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/o7gMgj)

I hope you folks will have me!

Cheers,
Chris

[jollyfix]

Thanks Chris, great first post. Where in Arizona are you?

[destroysall]

Thanks Chris, great first post. Where in Arizona are you?Thank you very much, Dave. I am currently located in Phoenix. I feel blessed as I only live a few minutes away from Downtown Phoenix, which is perhaps one of my favorite places to be at due to the healthy growing Art scene.

[jollyfix]

I loved Arizona when i was there , but kept on the '40' to Albuquerque, wanted to take the '17' down to Phoenix, but alas did not have the time. great photos Chris, sorry i forgot to say that in my last post. We like photos here.

[mr sneff]

Hi Chris, welcome to AoS :)

[RichB]

Hello and welcome from me...

I dunno how you folks in Arizona live in that heat, I was in Scottsdale for 2 days a few years ago (September time I think) and spent most of it sat under the mist nozzles at bar with the fittest girls serving me cold ones for the duration! It was too damn warm to do anything else... (well for my northern European blood anyway)

[Macca]

Welcome to the forum Chris. Great intro and pictures. I have been to Arizona twice but only if you count just stepping over the state line from Nevada in the centre of the Hoover Dam ;)

[walpurgis]

Hi Chris, welcome from me too.

Enjoy AOS.

[destroysall]

Thank you everyone for your warm welcomes. I can not express my gratitude enough. :)

[destroysall]

I dunno how you folks in Arizona live in that heat, I was in Scottsdale for 2 days a few years ago (September time I think) and spent most of it sat under the mist nozzles at bar with the fittest girls serving me cold ones for the duration! It was too damn warm to do anything else... (well for my northern European blood anyway)Richard, I sometimes ask myself that question with each passing day. We've been living in 40°-45°C weather as of recent; some of the best things to do on such a hot day is to just sit down at a pub or cafe and drink up a few cold ones, anything to stay out of the heat. Our luck on the monsoon season hasn't been up to par as it has only rained twice since the summer began, and all it ever did was make the heat wet.

[Barry]

Welcome to AoS Christopher.

Perfect introduction - and excellent tastes in music!

At the moment we're suffering the British Summer with temperatures up to 30 C (86 F), alternating with thunderstorms - and were complaining. This is nothing compared to the temperatures you frequently experience in Arizona. How do you keep cool; does everyone have air-conditioning?

Enjoy the Forum

[destroysall]

Welcome to AoS Christopher.

Perfect introduction - and excellent tastes in music!

At the moment we're suffering the British Summer with temperatures up to 30 C (86 F), alternating with thunderstorms - and were complaining. This is nothing compared to the temperatures you frequently experience in Arizona. How do you keep cool; does everyone have air-conditioning?

Enjoy the Forum
Thank you for the warm welcome, Barry. I also thank you for commenting on my taste of music. I try to keep a variation in musical taste and am always open to hearing new material. Music is such an enriching activity for me and being a musician, it has become an integral part of my life. It's a blessing that I don't count, but instead sincerely appreciate and adore.

I must comment with envy on the British Summer. 86 F would be pure heaven here; thunderstorms would then become a bonus under those conditions. :) Everyone does keep air-conditioning, but sometimes I feel on my part that still doesn't satisfy as the heat overpowers the cool air. This causes a lot of issues because with the frequent use of air-conditioning, electricity also becomes used frequently; electric companies tend to charge higher during the summer than the winter or colder seasons.

Most people will end up spending the hotter days outside near a pool, grabbing a cool drink, or even leaving the main cities to travel up north in Flagstaff, where the weather is actually very much like a British Summer perhaps. Flagstaff sometimes would go as low as 21 C (70 F) on some days and even snow others. So there are some ways to tackle the frustrating heat. :cool:

[MikeMusic]

Hello Christopher and welcome to AoS

One of my best mates from school is in Arizona - when he's not flying planes all over the place.
Married one of 'yours' too !
I was very happy he turned me onto Sonny Landreth - another Arizonian
Wish I'd learned music at school - <envy>

[Marco]

Welcome to AoS, Christopher - hope you enjoy the forum! :)

Marco.

[destroysall]

Thank you both, Mike and Marco, for the welcome! I'm beginning to love this place already. :)

Mike,

Hello Christopher and welcome to AoS

One of my best mates from school is in Arizona - when he's not flying planes all over the place.
Married one of 'yours' too !
I was very happy he turned me onto Sonny Landreth - another Arizonian
Wish I'd learned music at school - <envy> I'll have to spend some time checking in on some of Sonny Landreth's work. There seem to be a lot of famous celebrities venturing in and out from Arizona and some of them do end up finding residence here. One of the more famous musicians living here in this state has to be Alice Cooper and his family. He owns a restaurant here in Downtown Phoenix called Alice Cooper'stown, and it perhaps one of the best places in the vicinity. He even drops in a few times when he isn't tour. He also attended Glendale Community College, a school I myself had attended. A really great and nice person, he is. :)

[Jimbo]

Hi Chris and welcome to AOS. Your Avatar reminds me of Steve Huffs camera review site. I believe he is another Phoenix resident.

[MikeMusic]

Sonny Landreth seems to have a unique style, cajun influence in there for sure

Alice is a great guy - except he plays golf !

Check out the wonderful Rainer Ptacek who was in Tucson.
Superb guitarist taken from us too early.
A back catalogue well worth hearing.
Also plays as Rainer as well as Rainer and das Kombo

[DSJR]

Hi and welcome :)

I HAVE to ask this, as it's never far from my CD player - Are the skies still full of 'Little Fluffy Clouds?' (a rather lovely track by The Orb featuring a sampled answer by Rickie Lee Jones about the skies when she was young - she grew up in Arizona I believe)

Seriously, hope you find much to enjoy here :)

[Macca]

Hi and welcome :)

I HAVE to ask this, as it's never far from my CD player - Are the skies still full of 'Little Fluffy Clouds?' (a rather lovely track by The Orb featuring a sampled answer by Rickie Lee Jones about the skies when she was young - she grew up in Arizona I believe)



Yes that is a great track even I have got that one.

[destroysall]

Hi Chris and welcome to AOS. Your Avatar reminds me of Steve Huffs camera review site. I believe he is another Phoenix resident.Thank you, James! My knowledge of Steve Huff's work is minimal, but I will do a bit of research and check out his website too. It feels as of recent the photographer is become a popular occupation here in this desert oasis known as Arizona.


Sonny Landreth seems to have a unique style, cajun influence in there for sure

Alice is a great guy - except he plays golf !

Check out the wonderful Rainer Ptacek who was in Tucson.
Superb guitarist taken from us too early.
A back catalogue well worth hearing.
Also plays as Rainer as well as Rainer and das KomboI've heard a few works from Ptacek and am sad he is no longer with us. He was an excellent musician. Surely someone who should and will be remembered well.


Hi and welcome :)

I HAVE to ask this, as it's never far from my CD player - Are the skies still full of 'Little Fluffy Clouds?' (a rather lovely track by The Orb featuring a sampled answer by Rickie Lee Jones about the skies when she was young - she grew up in Arizona I believe)

Seriously, hope you find much to enjoy here :)


Yes that is a great track even I have got that one.Beautiful track!! I need this! Yes, she was right; nothing but little fluffy clouds here. Nothing but heat, so we need alternative ways to stay cool. :cool: