My name is David Chachere, and I play trumpet for the reggae band Groundation. The Diesel Diaries chronicles the adventures of the band on the road everywhere from Australia to Poland, Argentina to Israel. Feel free to leave a comment.
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The Diesel Diaries 
hi mate, great performances. im a fan. keep up the wicked sound… i play the trumpet too. love the sound of groundation. godbless. more power
Hey guys! I am looking forward coming through my area for the marley tour. Crossing my fingers. I WILL be there. The Groundation, SOJA, UB40 show would lift me off the ground. Some day! Safe travels guys xoxo
Lots of Love, Alyssa
i was at your concert in stuttgart on monday night and i loved every second of it!! i’m so glad that i’ve managed to come though i live quite way out in the country and have to take the bus to stuttgart. [it was definitely worth skipping school the next day ;D] you guys were awesome, can still feel the vibes =) and of course i liked the trumpet best (most beautiful instrument ever!). you play really really good!! since monday i’m quite motivated to practise more xD (4 hours today ;D)
blessings!
Hi, I am a huge fan of yours and have seen Groundation perform at the Jazz cafe in London last year (2009) which was an incredible experience. I was hoping you might be able to tell me what kind of trumpet you play, especially in your solos in ‘Silver Tongue Show’ and ‘Jah Jah Know’. I don’t play the trumpet but feel so inspired by your music that I would like to start, if you could give me any kind of advice it would be much appreciated. Thank you for the beautiful music you keep on creating
Hi Hugo,
Great to hear from you. I play a Bach Stradivarius model 37, almost identical to the horn I used on Hebron Gate. Its a very common professional horn, and its great for jazz and classical. They cost a bit over US$2,000.00 brand new. If you’re just getting started, I would look into some cheaper horns first. The best way to choose a horn to start on is to have an experienced trumpet player or teacher help you. My best advice learning the trumpet is to work hard and be patient. I know that doesn’t sound very interesting, but frankly, its a difficult instrument; even if you practice every day it could still take more than a year before you’re ready to keep up with a real band. After that initial effort, you will find it much easier to express yourself and sound good doing it. That’s when you start getting the payoff for all your hard work. Drop me a line sometime and let me know how you’re doing, or if you have any other questions.
Dave
Hey Dave,
I have a quick question about the Bob Tribute show at the Independent on 2/23. Hopefully you can hit me back over email.
Thanks in advance,
Cameron
Brother Dave,
Look forward to see you at the Independent on 2/23. I just love you guys and just can not get enough. I like your blog.
Hello, Dave!
In the last show at Porto Alegre I was the guy that launched one hat with a sacred symbol to the stage during the presentation and you weared it. Now it’s follows you.
I would like to tell that was a great honor to me when I saw this action.
Peace and Brightness!
Leonardo,
I wore your hat with pride. We don’t have this tradition in the US of exchanging hats and clothes. I was really surprised the first time a fan whipped his sweaty t-shirt off and handed it to me after a show. Now I have a bunch of South American t-shirts (and a few hats as well), and folks down here have mine. Hope to see you again soon.
My name is Andre and i am from Portugal. I am a really big fan of yours but last night I arrived home in a mix of happiness and sadness. I am a Portuguese who is travelling around the world since September, just trying to understand how the human being is made of and trying to realize how can we live together in a better way. Some think that we feel fulfilled with more money others I such a peaceful state of mind. I am much more on the late one. I am just trying to find out how and where is my better place. Coming back to what I am really concerned…
I am in Buenos Aires right now. I am just back home from your second show at Niceto Club. It was also my second night there with you. On the last days i was saving money just to go to both of your concerts because I am in a really low budget. I was just another one there I understand… Unfortunatly I am not from California and so I could not see you so many times than I would like. In Portugal i just missed two or three concerts and i also remember that one in the South of Portugal (in Sagres) where Kusturica was playing after you and when you where playing the “Non Belivers” song they just interrupted you and kicked you out of the stage. For me it was a really big delusion. I did so much noise that i was without voice on the day after.
I am sending this because I just would like to shared 10 minutes of your time this night but it was impossible for me to go thought the security. I spoke with Ryan and Harrison but just for seconds . Of corse i understand that you can’t spend the time that all of you fans would like you to share because for this you would need two and a half life just to do that. But… However my heart and mind are saying that I have to send you this. Probably I won’t receive any answer from any of you… maybe the place where I am sending is not the correct or best for this but I really have to do this.
I am returning to Portugal in the end of April and I heard that you are going there in June. I know that I will be there… On the first row… Trying to share a better moment with you.
If you play conscious music please give me a conscious answer.
Best regards to all of you!
André Baptista
Dear Andre,
Thank you for your thoughtful words. I remember the show in Portugal. We were very disappointed to be cut off after less than forty minutes on stage. There was nearly a fight between the stage manager and our technician. This kind of thing is pretty common in the music business. Big profit-making festivals are like factories, every delay costs money. Unfortunately, this happens at the expense of the music. Thanks for supporting us, but we’re just looking forward to returning to Portugal to play the songs we didn’t get to play the last time. I’m also sorry we didn’t get a chance to talk at Niceto (I had a great time there, especially the second night). You’re right that we don’t always have time to talk to all of our fans, and we need time to relax/focus/meditate before the show, and afterward as well. I hope that we’ll get a chance to meet sometime in the future. I wish you the best of luck with your journeys; there are many, many others on that path all around the world, and I feel that Groundation is on that path as well. I hope to share that road with you someday.
Sincerly, Dave
Hi Dave,
thanks for more one great tour… i lov groundation each time more….thanks… congrats
hugs and kisses from Brasil
São Pauloô
Buenos dias, te escribo desde Argentina para felicitarlos por la increible obra que hacen… hace nada mas que una semana los vimos nuevamente en vivo, impecable como siempre.
Gracias una vez mas por su musica!.
Saludos!
Much respect and appreciation. Had the pleasure of catching y’all at the BellyUp May 14th – happy birthday! Mine’s May 16. Continue the greatness. When you were in L.A. last year you were sporting an LSU cap – an alum or just solidarity? Thanks man!
Robbie
Great to hear from you Robbie. Happy b-day to you, too. I have to admit, though, that since I turned thirty, birthdays are less and less exciting, more and more depressing. C’est la vie! Still, no place I’d rather be on an otherwise-depressing day than playing great music with by homeboys.
Yes, that LSU cap… I’ve since given it away, and it has changed hands a couple times. I had something to say about it in an old post, you can read that here.
After that tour ended, I gave the cap to my dad as a gift and he had a long laugh. He passed it along to his older brother, my uncle, as a joke. What was the joke, you might ask? Turns out, my uncle, who was an outstanding musician and music teacher, wasn’t allowed to play in the LSU band because of the color of his skin (this occurred decades ago, during Jim Crow). I don’t think you’ll see me wearing any LSU gear anytime soon, even if they make the playoffs again (I still root for the Saints, though).
Thanks for the post, hope to hear from you again sometime soon. We’ll be in Hollywood in a few days, on the Sunset Strip, maybe I’ll see you there.
Sincerely, Diesel.
Hey thanks! That’s a cool story. So, where’d the “Diesel” moniker come from? I say because I’m listening to my favorite “Exile on Main St” song “All Down the Line” and it made me think of “the diesel drumming”. Seriously though, how cool is it to talk to a guy I see on stage and really enjoy?! I don’t think I’ll make the Roxy show, but wow. That would be more than cool. The first time I went to the Roxy I was 16 and saw “The Rocky Horror Show”. You keep on keeping on!!
I have once again fallen completely in love with a few more songs. I love, love, love Groundation Chant. One of THE most beautiful songs ever. I have been loving confusing situation as well.I am longing for the day to see you live. I always miss you when you come to Chicago. Keeping my eyes peeled. Can’t wait to feel, as I know i will, when I can dance to your sound and lyrics right before my eyes. MUSIC IS THE MOST HIGH! xoxoxo Alyssa
Hi, nice to meet you !
hi do u friends know much about law of the name?
do u know the law is a con like bob and peter tosh?
if u want 2 talk more e mail
Dave, I am glad to see Groundation in Mill Valley on Aug 2. Still holding on to Jah and the wish of a benefit show in my area the South Bay- San Jose area. Sometimes I think you take for granite the fans that “Live By Groundation”…so you think you are just making music….Hell my life has not been the same since I first hear Groundation… Plagued with the thoughts of doing a show in my area one day.
It’s been years since we played in the South Bay, it’s true. IMHO, its not a very welcoming place for live bands. Your best bet is to hop over the hill to Santa Cruz where I expect we’ll be at the Catalyst in the fall. It’s a bit late to correct you about the Mill Valley show, which was last night, but that was Rockamovya, a sort of Groundation side project featuring the legendary Leroy “Horsemouth” Wallace on drums and Will Bernard on guitar. They’re going to be at Reggae on the River this weekend.
Dave! I love the sound you bring!! You have actually inspired me to pick up the trumpet again, or really for the first REAL time I am so excited and was curious if there was any way I could obtain the sheet music for any groundation songs? Literally so as I progress I can learn to play them to myself. Either way I love You all and thank you SO SO SO much
Thanks Riley, I hope I didn’t miss your wave of enthusiasm for the trumpet. If you go to the Grounded Horns photo stream on Facebook you’ll see charts of the horn arrangements for a good selection of Groundation tunes. One of these days we hope to have a transcribed solo up there or two. Thanks for your message and with your horn: break a leg!
D