A couple new flutes have found their way into my hands. At the same time, I've been experimenting with a screen capture program called Camtasia. Here is the first result: Paul Thompson Gm.

Hi Paul,

Nice video!! Nice playing!! and NICE Flute!! Paul supposedly lives somewhere around here but he's a pretty scarce in general. Certainly doesn't make too many flutes.

Later!

-Mark

That was a nice way of doing a review. Congrats on your new to you flute!

Nice Paul, great review, made me not only happy you scored that flute, but it kinda made me want one just like it......so, guess your review was successful.....

Nice to see you play too........................

Cheers, Tenzin

Lovely sounding flute. You played it beautifully. I am wondering, Is Paul Thompson related to Jonah Thompson? His father, maybe.

Beautiful Paul, you really make it sing.

Nice flute and I really liked what you played. What kind of camera and microphone did you use?

Thanks. It's just the built-in camera and mic on my Mac laptop. I used Camtasia to capture the video, sound, and background from my desktop screen. Next time, I think I'll use my EV-Raven mic through an Apogee Duet interface to improve the sound quality.

I don't think so, but this might be a question for Rick or someone else who knows.

Not familiar with Paul Thompson, but it certainly is possible he could be related to Jonah.

I think it is interesting that the flute has a metal fipple plate, and the block is more of a woodlands shape. When you look at the features as I do, that provide a sort of signature to flutes, I can say this one has a combination I don't recall seeing before.

I suspect the maker borrowed some features from more than one other maker, in putting together his flute design.

That surprises me, Rick. Gary Stroutsos plays his flutes and has both performed live and recorded with him. The CD Echoes of Canyon de Chelly was where I first heard a Paul Thompson flute.

I couldn't find to much reference on the net about Paul Thompson Navajo Flutemaker. (I think since the early seventies, I remember reading somewhere)
Here is one on Clint's site referring to the first times he had heard "Zuni Sunrise"
http://www.flutopedia.com/song_zuni_sunrise.htm
A explanation from Gary where he first learned Zuni Sunrise from Paul who learned from Fernando Cellicion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOrlDqJy2d4 Fernado Cellicion world renowned flute player http://www.nativestars.com/dancers/fernando/
Here are a couple of albums where some of Paul Thompson's music and flutes where involved.
David Fein - Hearts To The Sun
http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=7155376
Gary Stroutsos & Paul Thompson - Echoes of Canyon de Chelly
http://www.billboard.com/album/gary-strout...e-chelly/518039
A picture of Paul Thompson
http://www.sedonacreativelife.com/pre0716.html

I was lucky enough to see Paul perform on stage with Gary at the Yosemite Festival a couple of years ago.
Something very special I will not forget was sitting on the grass with Dave (Cool Breeze) in the vendor area and listening to Paul play a love song he wrote for his wife many years ago on one of the few flutes he had for sale. It was a beautiful soft flowing tune that made my eyes water! What a gentle & kind person!
Needless to say, Dave took that flute Home with him!

Speaking of Dave (Cool Breeze), has anyone heard how he and Frances our doing with their new baby? I guess I need to drop him a line and congratulate!

Very nice! I think video reviews are the way to go because then folks can see and hear the flute. I also personally enjoyed seeing my brother live!

Look the background pic of the country road. Also love the background in the video!

Very nice way of presenting, the sound, the flute, performer and maker!
Thank you, i realy like the old scholl sound of this magical flutes!

Tootie, that country road in the background is in the Netherlands, near the village of Heukelom--the source of my name. The middle e got obscured by an ink blot at Ellis Island. Some day I'd like to return and claim my castle.

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I have never seen any info on the flutes that Stroutsos plays. I do know he has been concentrating on the xiao a lot, in the last 3 years, which I have been enjoying listening to, but what knowledge I have, is limited to who I have been exposed to, or can find information about, and Paul Thompson, has not been someone I have found much about.

He would be, by no means, the only maker I am not familiar with. There are many. One who I have become aware of, is Wally Le Blanc, who is as hard to find, as you could ask for. All I have been able to discern, is he is in the Great Lakes area, somewhere. Very interesting sound to his flutes.......but never been able to contact him.

For that matter, I hear that unless you contact Littleleaf on Facebook, you won't get a reply. Go figure.

Native makers, can be some of the most difficult to find, and communicate with, as well as some of the most expensive makers to buy from.

Paul I still have some guilders, somewhere in the drawer, you can have for your castle.

If I remember correctly, there was also a chapel on the property. So, don't forget your sis when you go! You get the castle, I want the chapel!

Why Paul, all of us fluties would show up if you had a Castle! Just please warm the place up before we arrive!
And while we are there.....can we play your new Paul Thompson flute in some of the larger rooms?
I also enjoyed the nice video review! Thanks!:)

What do you mean if? Okay, it's long passed out of the family, but maybe I can buy it back with those guilders from Rick. Here are pics of the castle and the chapel Tootie referred to. Seems like a good place for a flute festival.

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The Chapel looks like a nice size for a flute work shop.

HEY! You keep your paws off of my chapel!! It's gonna stay a chapel!!

But you can come play your flutes in it.

Paul, that's a great flute and song! The old time sound of his flutes really shines through.

As Rex mentioned, we were lucky enough to have Paul Thompson play a song just for us. It was mesmerizing. I knew Paul's flutes were special when I saw several prominent flute makers trade their flutes for his at the Yosemite Festival two years ago. One of them told Paul that they had waited a long time for an opportunity to get one of his flutes. Rex summed it up well after I purchased the F flute: "Now, that's the real deal."

Rex, Frances and I are doing well taking care of Edward. Everybody is happy and healthy. With all the sleepless nights however, I haven't had a lot of energy to play flutes very much lately. As you can see from the photo, Edward might be just a bit too young to play the Paul Thompson flute! He is fascinated with the Moyo drum though.

Dave

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Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...........

Hi Dave, this is Marlene, Congratulations to you and Frances! He is darling! We recently found out we are going to be Grandparents in May, and we cant wait!
Enjoy the little one, as they make you grandparents much faster than you think!
Hopefully we will get to come down and visit you guys sometime in the spring and meet your new family member.
Rex says playing the Moyo Drum is fine but we got to make sure we get a flute in his hands sometime soon.
I guess you will be playing lots of soft lullabies which is perfect for that Paul Thompson flute of yours.
We wish you, Frances and Edward all the best and have a very Merry Christmas. Rex and Marlene.
PS. Did I mention Rex loves babies!

Great news Dave! I'm so excited for you and Frances. You guys are going to be the geatest parents. I can't wait to meet Edward at a flute festival.

Art

Congratulations Dave! He is gorgeous!!

Beautiful video. Great idea these two screens, we can watch you playing and looking at the same time at this beautiful landscape.

Nice playing, your flute has a very beautiful sound.

Thank you.

Magnificent castle !, the chapel pleases me so a lot !

Rex, Frances and I are doing well taking care of Edward. Everybody is happy and healthy. With all the sleepless nights however, I haven't had a lot of energy to play flutes very much lately. As you can see from the photo, Edward might be just a bit too young to play the Paul Thompson flute! He is fascinated with the Moyo drum though.

Dave

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It seems to me nevertheless that baby Edward has a mouth makes to play the flute, even if he does not still know it!

He places already instinctively the decent fingers.

He is magnificent. A lot of happiness to you!

Love that old school sound and you do a great job playing it.

Peace,
David

Hmmm. . . I put that Paul Thompson flute on my watch list. . . all I seem to do these days is watch. Anyway, I'm glad it went to a good Portal home! You're building a great collection, P-van.

I do have a small high flute with a curved block and round TSH by Paul Thompson. It presumably was made for flute instruction for children on the Navajo res. My guess he lives in the Four Corners area, but where I cannot say.

My first NAF was a Paul Thompson that Gary Stroutsos got for me. Gary called me when it got to him, then I joined him at his home in Seattle for a half day of getting to know him, and what was basically a private lesson for free!

Looking back, I realize how fortunate I was. I called Gary out of the blue because I saw a poster in a window in downtown Seattle for one of his concerts. This was back in the early 1990's.

Still have that flute and will never part with it.

Great story! I've been listening to a lot of Gary's music lately.