Rhythm & Beauty: The Art of Percussion is an eclectic sampler informed by Maffit's vision and enthusiasm for percussion. When paired with its partner compact disc, the result is a fascinating look at the world of sound, noise, rhythm, and beauty that lies at the heart of human expression.

— Evelyn Glennie, from the foreword

Rhythm & Beauty was first published in 1999 by Watson Guptill Publications. In Rocky's introduction he stated: "This book and it's accompanying recording are an introduction to the sounds, sources, and the physical beauty of the world of percussion. It is a personal and highly subjective view-probably as notable for what it omits as what it includes. Rather than being a musical encyclopedia, this book is the beginning of a journey..."

A newly revised paperback edition of Rhythm & Beauty was published in Spring 2005 by Billboard Books.

We will make the music from Rhythn & Beauty available on iTunes later this year.

There is a fine film about Evelyn Glennie called Touch The Sound that is available on DVD.

Revisit this page for information about Rocky's new writing projects.

ROCKY'S RECOMMENDED READING 2006

HOTEL CALIFORNIA-BARNEY HOSKYNS --A history of the rise of the singer-songwriter in the late sixties and early seventies

STRANGER MUSIC-LEONARD COHEN--lyrics and poems by one of the best.

GALLETIN CANYON-THOMAS MCGUANE --Fine short stories by an excellent writer

PLAYBACK-MARC COLEMAN--A short history of recording music technology and it's effect on how we listen to music. This was given to me by John Kellogg after I had conducted a salon about this subject. I spent a lot of time reinventing the wheel when I could have merely read this book.

CHRONICLES-BOB DYLAN--I revisited this terrific autobiography this year as an audio book read by Sean Penn. Perfect for the iPod.

ON WRITING--STEPHEN KING--Another reading of his fine "how I do what I do" book. I picked this up in a used book store in the Bloominton IL airport. A used bookstore in an airport is a truly great idea (unfortunately it has already closed).

RISKING EVERYTHING-Edited By ROGER HOUSDEN--The subtitle is 110 Poems Of Love And Revelation. which pretty well sums it up. The first poem in the collection: "When Death Comes" by Mary Oliver is especially stunning. Thanks to Amal Elwardi for this.

Happy Reading!

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