Hello Gang.  As you know, I haven't produced player rolls for some
time.  There has been a reason for that, We have developed the step
piano, and I have been taking a music course studying chords structure,
and counter point for over a year now.  I am ready to Try it again,
however it will be at a much slower rate and production than 1998.

As with all pianists, I struggled to find "my style", i.e., a piano
style that upon hearing it is recognizable as "Andy Taylor".  I think I
have finally hit upon a arranging style, that I hope will define myself.

I am my worst critic, in my view.  My previous work always came with
heavy chords, trills, and some of my work would tax a tight player (too
many notes).  Great for a player party, but far too un-natural sounding
to be taken very seriously.

So, it was time to apply what I have learned, and put the step piano
into actual practice.  I am very pleased with the results, but my
opinion does not really matter -- it's the player owner who has the
last word on this.  I have uploaded a new MIDI file on my web site,
free to download, as long as it is for your personal use:

  http://home.i1.net/~tempola/midi/shakerr.mid (MIDI)
  http://home.i1.net/~tempola/midi/shakerr.ROL (for Wind or Windplay)

This is a new arrangement of "Shake Rattle & Roll" as originally
written (not Buddy Holly).  It is similar to the J. Lawrence Cook
version,  but has a different down beat.  Cook's influence shows,
but only a little.  If you happen to have his arrangement of this,
you will see what I mean.

This arrangement is reflective of what I have learned, and of the
direct interaction of the piano keyboard.  There will be a player
roll of this, as soon as Janet Tonnesen can get to it at her leisure.
If you download the file, please let me know your thought, privately,
or publicly.  I would like to gauge your reaction, and if you think
you would like to hear this number on your player.

I also learned something else.  I over-promoted and over-extended
myself in 1998 regarding these rolls, and soon found myself overwhelmed
and cutting seriously into work time.  Janet can only perforate these
things when she can find time.  She and Richard are great people, and
without them, these rolls would not exist.

I am not QRS, and I am not equipped to handle a full time operation.
Besides, considering the time it takes to make a control file (about
12 hours), I can only get to them about an hour a night, and weekends.

So from this time forward, Tempola Player rolls will only be issued
in small quantities, maybe four times a year.  This will be a small
operation from now on.  Eventually the selections will grow, but I am
not going to get in any hurry, and find myself buried like I was in
1998.  When new selections are available, I will make mention of it
here and in the AMICA bulletin, but that is about it.

Tempola Rolls are about one thing and one thing only: doing something
I love, and sharing my music with other people.  Profit is great, but
that is not the main thrust of our outfit.  (I would still do this if
I never saw a dime.)  There will only be original, brand new arrange-
ments, played by yours truly, but I will not be offering any more
recuts of old rolls from the original era;  since many people here are
reissuing the old recuts, it would be rather redundant.  I would rather
create new arrangements.

 There are so many people who have offered advice, and encouragement.
When I arrived in this field I was terrible at this.  The first roll
I arranged is safely tucked away and I hope it is never played again!

The following people deserve special recognition:  Firstly, I would
like to thank Richard and Janet Tonnesen, for a perfect job, always;
Bill Jelen for giving me a shot at arranging rolls when no one else
would; Richard Brandle for his "Wind" roll editor that makes my job
easier; George Bogatko and the late John Roache, for their instruction
in note timing; Bob Berkman, who took an entire morning to offer
insight on roll arranging; Robert and the late Virgie Taylor (my
parents) for instilling in me the love of music and finally having that
old Foster piano tuned!  (It was all original, _including_ the tuning)!
And Craig Brougher, who always fussed at me when a MIDI file wasn't
quite right (and wasn't afraid to tell me if an arrangement _stunk_).

And last but certainly not least (Yikes!) my lovely wife, Chris, for
her editing, business experience, and putting up with me for 14 years.
I do the music, but it is she that actually makes things work.

I sincerely hope that those who download the file will like the
"new" sound.  Please let me know, and be candid!  God bless you all.

Andy Taylor
Tempola Music Rolls