Thanks Mark for making this available. Great interview, and it's so awesome to get such a close look at Kevin going at his drums. I love the horsefly story/footage!

Thank you so much for putting this together and for sending it to me. It is spot on the Kevin that I know and worked with. I met Kevin in a music store, perhaps about 4 years ago. I was messing around with some jazzy tunes on a grand piano and he stood a while listening, and then told me that he really loved my sound and that he'd like to be able to do that. So we made arrangement to have some lessons. I didn't know it at the time, but that was really essential Kevin as you captured him in your piece. He lived with intention. He would identify something that he wanted and then go after it - or not, if it didn't feel right to him. During our lessons it quickly became clear to me what a phenomenal percussionist he was, so we started gigging together off and on. More than once I offered him the opportunity to become more involved in my projects, but it never worked out. He was so in demand and didn’t feel he had the time to commit to seeing it through the way he would want to do. The last time I tried to talk him into joining me more regularly was about a month ago.

The thing about rehearsing and performing with Kevin is that it was so easy to generate music that we both liked. He was always ready to explore and go a bit out of his comfort zone. At times I would in my inept way mouth or bang out a rhythm for him to consider for a particular piece or improvisation. Immediately he would pick it up and make something perfect out of it. Then he would go deeper into it or pull back, as needed to augment the feel. It was always tasteful, executed with precision, and right on the beat. He wasn't flashy, and though he was able to perform great drum solos, when I offered it to him at gigs he usually turned it down. Still, it was always excellent, and you could feel the excellence not in the amount of flashiness or banging, but because what he added was just right, even if it was very little. And when he felt that it was just right there would be this huge grin on his face, as can be seen in your video. When I performed with him it was impossible for that not to affect and elevate the way I played.

There is a common tendency for people to speak about the deceased in superlatives. I have always spoken of Kevin in superlatives. Though I did not know Kevin personally as well as I would have liked, I will continue to think of him in superlatives, because I know that the way I experienced him as a musician is the way he was as a human being.

You have done a great service by assembling this footage.

Thank you for giving us a much-needed way to connect with our memories of Kevin--as those above have said, it is just exactly the person we all knew--his bright sweet light and energy. Thank you.

Erich, great comment about Kevin, saying it was so easy to make music that you both liked. I was spolied by being in a band with him for 5 years, and rehearsal with Kev was unlike anything I had ever called rehearsal before. He lead the way, developing the concept of listening while playing as if you are outside the band. I think this is the perspective that made it so easy to play with him. Add to that his enormous natural ability and feel. He was just as happy to play on a Monday night in Colombus, MO for 5 people as he was to play the Cat's Cradle for 300. Kevin didn't care where music took him. He was concerned with where he could take music.

Thank you Mark for sharing these moments of Kevin's life. I met Kevin a few months back when I was filming Jonathan Baxter, a hooping instructor from Chapel Hill. I was so amazed by Kevin's solo performance during the hooping retreat that I asked him if I could interview him for CreatorsDream.tv. I followed Kevin for the next few weeks to a few of the Paperhand Puppet performances, a solo performance with Baxter, and interviewed him for the documentary I am putting together on Kevin's artistic expression.

I had just met with him to review some of the footage three days before his passing, when I heard that he is no longer with us in this physical reality. I spent the next few days in disbelief of what has happened, and have been reflecting on what I have learned from this special human being.

Kevin has touched many of us in ways that we do not yet completely grasp. His enthusiasm for creativity and understanding of the human spirit is a genuine gift which he shared with many of us. I only wish I could have gotten to know him and share with him more of this life. Kevin left us with many lessons. One of which I have personally embrassed.

The future is not to be taken for granted. Live in the moment, for that is all we have which allows us to create our realities.

Again, thank you for sharing some of Kevin's life!

Mark,

This is a wonderful video of Kevin, thank you so much for posting this.

I've known Kevin my entire life and loved being around him because he was always laughing, smiling, telling jokes or playing music. This video truly captures the Kevin I will never forget.

This was a beautiful, touching tribute to a wonderful friend and musician and person. Thank you for letting me see that smiling face again, hear that amazing music again. I will miss Kevin very much and this video was a beautiful and unexpected gift, like a last visit. Fly free Kevin. To the next...

Mark. Thanks you so much for putting this video together. I have known Kevin for 20 years, but it has been 3 since I have seen him. The last time was at my wedding when he flew to Massachusetts and played our wedding song on guitar. He actually stood in the gazebo with my wife and I, step-son and JP as we got married. It was a great moment for me and Kevin. I was so devastated to hear about his death and more troubled I could not make it to his service. Fortunately my mother was in NC and went and spoke for me.

The worst thing about all our loss, for me was realizing I would never see him again. The last time we spoke, the Thursday before he passed we joked about knowing someday we would be together again. It was always reassuring to hear that, then he was gone. This video gives me a bit of what I will never have again. Thanks you. PS I would love to hear from you about all this stuff you did with Kevin and hear your story about him. Feel free to contact me at dashbyart@yahoo.com. Thanks again, Doug

Thank you mark for putting this tribute together. I can't tell you in words what this means to me to have a living hommage to my friend and cousin... i am overwhelmed by it all... Kevin's passion for living well, his passion for his art... but what is most overwhelming at this moment is the immense loss of such a kind, beautiful man. There is now a void in my heart, a hole where Kevin lived. He is deeply, deeply missed. I will hang on to the memories of him. Your video is a tremendous help.
PS I used to describe Kevin's character as one who would not harm a fly... verbatim. Apparently I was wrong.

Thank you for sharing the talent and memories with this amazing footage. Kevin's humour and love for life and music are captured with an extraordinarily keen eye. The mood and flow of this documentary matches the zany, warm, earthy quality he could exude.
He is my first love. The only love I've ever known returned. He taught me, to not take life for granted and enjoy it to the fullest. Although it's been well over a decade, he never stopped effecting my life with the miracle of his love. I would have never become a cop, without knowing strength like his. Watching this video, I cried, I laughed and I loved again, with each viewing. Thank you for keeping it real. Thank you so much for this gift. God bless.

Here is a critical website, I have found, which may help others:
recover-from-grief.com/7-stages-of-grief.html

Mark -- I'd like you to call me if possible. I run the Carrboro Film Festival that will be held 11/23. If you are willing, I'd like to include your short on Kevin in the festival if you are willing. I am a huge Paperhand fan, but equally adored Kevin's music. We always made sure to sit behind him during the performance. My number is 942-6526. I'm under crazy deadline so let me know if you'd like to do this. I think paying tribute to Kevin during the festival would be amazing. All the best - Selena Lauterer, slauterer@gmail.com

I miss Kevin. This video is so wonderful. We've got some footage of Spiral & Jewels hooping to Kevin & Scott's playing at HoopConvergence 2008. Its on the Kevin page at hoopconvergence.com ->HoopCon'08 -> Jams -> Kevin Brock.

mark, thank you for putting this together. you've done such an amazing job! really. your footage, the stories, the editing-all so lovely. you have a gift.

i am so grateful to have access to this video. it's really helpful in my healing.

peace and love,
andy