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3.22.03 | 2:40pm | Ossia Triumphs!
I'm happy to report that our performance last night of Misha Mengelberg's Reef und Kneebus was a rousing success! Everybody played ridiculously and molto energico! I received many enthusiastic comments from audience members. Thanks to everyone who played, and thanks to everyone who listened.

3.20.03 | 4:08pm | Return from Vienna
Well, I rolled back into town last night after a successful trip to Vienna and Italy. Many museums were visited (several by me). Other highlights included the Heurigen, massive amounts of Italian food, a concert by Fanfare Ciocarlia, and the premiere of Fear Death by Water, a new opera by Viennese trumpeter/composer Franz Koglmann. Fanfare Ciocarlia is a Romanian brass band that plays ridiculously fast, energetic, joyous music. Read more at http://www.piranha.de/records/english/artists/art_fanfa.htm or check out a sound clip at http://respect.inway.cz/1999/Kapely99/fanfar-e.html

Fear Death by Water was advertised as a beach opera, and it fully lived up to the billing: the stage, pit, and audience areas were for the most part one, consisting a large rectagular room filled with sand. The music, performed by Koglmann's Monoblue Quartet and exxj (ensemble XX jahrhundert), successfully fused cool and free jazz with 20th-century classical. Read more at http://www.netzzeit.at/fear/

Uponst my triumphant return to Rochester, I was treated to a respectable performance by Pachora (www.pachora.com). I also got to talk with Jim Black (www.jimblack.com), a very nice person as well as an incredible drummer.

Keep checking back for more updates, which will be occurring more frequently.

Don't forget! Tomorrow night at 8pm: Ossia presents a concert of new chamber music and jazz, featuring the US premiere of Misha Mengelberg's Reef und Kneebus for big band (Josh Rutner and myself, producers for the piece).

2.15.03 | 3:19pm | Valentine
Thanks to all who came out last night to hear G'Hoktasaurus. We had a great time playing, and we'll be performing again soon. I'll let you know when. In other news, Respect will not be performing this Wednesday, February 19--instead, we'll be in the studio recording our first "real" official CD. Check back for updates on the progress of this most illuminating stela!

1.27.03 | 7:46pm | Back in action
I am pleased to announce that I have survived both the trip to Amsterdam and the subsequent bout with Norwalk disease. Highlights of the Amsterdam trip were numerous and included playing with Misha Mengelberg, playing with Michael Moore, seeing/hearing Available Jelly and Joost Buis' Astronotes, meeting Cor Fuhler, and eating lots of falafel. For more details, visit Josh Rutner's website. Highlights of the bout with Norwalk were few.

The regular gig schedule recommences: Mondays with the Dave Rivello Ensemble at the Montage Grille, Wednesdays with the Respect Sextet at Java's, and Saturdays with the Red Wierenga Trio at Jared's Global Cuisine. In addition, several special events have been added to the docket. For more details, check out the Events page.

1.06.02 | 12:28pm | Amsterdam
Red Wierenga has officially left the country for Amsterdam, so I, Al Gore, will be updating his page while he's away.

I received an Instant Message from Red this morning and the report was pretty exciting. Last night, he dined with the members of Michael Moore's Dylan trio (Moore, Michael Vatcher and Lindsey Horner), Moore's wife, and the director of the Vancouver Jazz Festival. Red first met Moore and his trio after their short stint at Eastman, which included a short performance of some tunes off of their latest album, "Jewels and Binoculars". It's exciting to hear that the guys are as hospitable as they are talented.

Red, Eli Asher, and Josh Rutner also sat in on a jam session at Engelbewaarder to an audience that included members of Willam Breuker's Kollektief. As of yet, no prostitutes have been solicited.

12.09.02 | 12:51am | Respect New Years
The Respect Sextet will be playing at Jared's Global Cuisine this New Years Eve from 7pm until Midnight. Do stop in.

12.04.02 | 10:55pm | This ship has sailed
Redwierenga.com goes live! To be added in the next few days: sound clips, more photos, and the "events"section.