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Old News6
June 2nd, 2005 |
Gig on June 12, new review
On June 12 I'm playing a gig with Ted Poor's Third Wheel, featuring Ralph Alessi on trumpet, at the Little Theatre as part of the Rochester International Jazz Festival.
Also, check out the new review of the Respect Sextet's CD Respect In You in this month's Paris Transatlantic (scroll down a few reviews to see it).
January 19th, 2005 |
New Respect Sextet CD: Respect In You!
The Respect Sextet has just released its new CD, Respect In You! Recorded live in Rochester, NY, in May, 2004, Respect In You features special guest bassist Matt Clohesy. Respect In You is available for purchase on the Respect Sextet website, www.respectsextet.com.
November 20th, 2004 |
Politics, live music, photos
At this point, I'm not sure I'm able to say much about the election that has not been said better already. However, living in the Netherlands and hanging out with people from all over the world, I do have the privilege of being exposed to all sorts of different opinions, including those regarding world and American politics. If nothing else, let me just confirm that world opinion of Bush and the 51% of Americans that voted for him is very unfavorable. Before the election it was surmised that world sentiment was anti-Bush moreso than anti-American, but that that could change if Americans re-elected Bush. It seems that now world sentiment is anti-Bush and anti-51%.
If there's anything which the election results make clear, it's that the Democratic Party needs to make some serious changes if it wants to remain a relevant force. There are already reports that Kerry wants Vilsack to get the DNC chair nod, as they are friends and Vilsack could help Kerry get the nomination again in 2008, much as Terry McAuliffe did in this year's primaries. One thing that the Democratic Party does not need right now is "more of the same." And neither does the Democratic Party need to move even more to the right. If the Democrats don't stand for equal rights, social progress, judicial and economic fairness, peace at home and abroad, environmental stewardship, &c., what do they stand for. In the words of Howard Dean, if the Democrats move more to the rights, they'll "fall off the face of the flat earth."
Speaking of Dean, his name has been mentioned repeatedly as a possible successor to DNC chair Terry McAuliffe. Dean has not yet announced whether he is actively seeking the nomination, and his decision will obviously have the most impact on what strategy Democrats should take. What is clear is that Dean offers a striking contrast to the corporate-owned, wishy-washy, expedience-based Democrat which has become too common. If the Democrats want to offer an alternative to the fear-based, corporate-bedfellowed, war-mongering, rights-infringing, environment-destroying, job-slashing neo-conservative agenda, there can not be more of the same. Howard Dean offers a stark contrast, and whether you agree with all of his positions (and I don't, even though I am a big supporter of his), you have to respect that he believes in what he says, acts according to facts, speaks for millions of Americans whose views have for too long been neglected in American politics, and is never afraid to say what he feels is right, regardless of whether or not to do so is politically popular.
Another thing that the election does is drive home the importance of being active politically. If you're unhappy about the political situation in the US, do something about it. End of rant, for now.
It's just about Thanksgiving and an appropriate time to think about things for which to give thanks. Since I rolled into The Netherlands, I've had the opportunity to attend a veritable cornucopia of concerts, including those by (but not limited to) Cecil Taylor/Tony Oxley, MIMEO, Jack Wright/Nate Wooley, Cor Fuhler/Tobias Delius/Hamid Drake, Philip Jeck, Fennesz, Sachiko M/Ami Yoshida, David Toop, Keiji Haino, Ernst Reijseger/Mola Sylla/Serigne CM Gueye, Cuong Vu/Marc Ducret/Stomu Takeishi/Ted Poor, ICP Orchestra with Getatchew Mekurya, The Ex with Han Bennink, Peter van Bergen, Luc Houtkamp, Louis Andriessen, Chris Watson, Robert Ashley, Radian, Silent Block, John Butcher, Jaap Blonk, and Paul Lovens/Tony Buck/Andy Moor/Terrie Ex/Mats Gustafsson/Ken Vandermark, and for that I am thankful. Finally, I've updating the photos page with slightly more regularity than the news page, so check there if you want to see things such as Sinterklaas rolling into The Hague, or a big windmill.
September 24th, 2004 |
New photos
I've uploaded the first of the photos from here in The Hague. I hope to update the photo section somewhat regularly from now on, so check it out.
September 15th, 2004 |
Dicking around in The Hague
I've moved to The Hague, The Netherlands, where I'll be for the next nine months or so. I'm working on developing an instrument for controlling software for use in live improvisational settings while studying at the Institute of Sonology at the Royal Conservatory. Things are going quite well so far. I'll try to keep you abreast of things, and I'll start putting up pictures soon. Respect!
July 20th, 2004 |
New Sounds
Visit composer Matt Barnson's website, where you can listen to a movement from his Nocturnes for viola, Hammond B3 organ and percussion with me on Hammond.
Also, I appear with the Brady Miller Trio on a subtly bizarre track on the new CD "Live at the Little." Recorded at the Little Theatre, the CD is available here.
June 23rd, 2004 |
New interview
Insider recently featured an interview with me. Check it out here. Also, photos by Bob Klein of the Swing 'n Jazz workshop with Paul Smoker are up here.
June 8th, 2004 |
Respect In You
The Respect Sextet mini-tour was a great success. After playing two gigs at the Distillery Jazz Festival in Toronto, we rolled back into Rochester to play a show at the Downstairs Cabaret Theatre. I recorded that show, and we'll soon be releasing a CD from the gig, tentatively to be called Respect In You. Three Respect originals, plus versions of Fred Anderson's 3 on 2 and Misha Mengelberg's Hypochristmutreefuzz. Visit www.respectsextet.com with considerable regularity. Check out Jazz90.1 tomorrow as I interview Vijay Iyer and Rudresh Mahanthappa on Traffic Jam, 4-6pm. Also, on Wednesday I'll be playing a gig with Ted Poor and Jeff Campbell at Juniper Beans in Honeoye Falls (8-11pm).
May 4th, 2004 |
Orquesta Fama Sin Gafas, Respect, B4B
I've recently joined La Orquesta Fama Sin Gafas, a ten-piece salsa and merengue group based in Rochester. Check out the band here. The Respect Sextet has a couple of gigs at the Distillery Jazz Festival in Toronto at the end of May. For more information, visit the Respect Sextet at www.respectsextet.com.
I've also helped to found a Rochester chapter of Billionaires for Bush. Visit the local chapter page and view some photos of our first event here.
October 12th, 2003 |
Lots to tell...
Well, it's been a ridiculously long time since I've written an update. I do apologize for not keeping you abreast. Lots to tell, and I have the feeling that it will take several updates to get it all out. First, the Respect Sextet tour went very well! We had a great time traveling and playing. For more details and for pictures, check out the Respect site here. Ted and Eli have moved to New York City, and Respect will no longer be playing weekly at Java's. I had the great pleasure of playing with, interviewing, and hanging out with singer Dean Bowman a few weeks ago. Great guy, great singer. We also hung out with the John Scofield Band the other night at the Penthouse. Fun times all around, and only one guest had to be asked to leave! (Don't worry--he was not a band member!) Josh Rutner and I will be presenting a lunchtime concert this week Wednesday at SUNY Brockport. Read about it here. I'm sure I'll think of more...oh wait! I just did! G'Hoktasaurus went down to North Carolina right after Hurrican Isabelle whizzed the region. Thankfully, Winston-Salem did not bear the brunt of the storm, and the wedding of Seth Brodsky and Jude Stewart, at which we played, was beautiful. More on the way. Until then, best wishes.
August 19th, 2003 |
Respect CD, tour
The Respect Sextet has released its first official studio CD, The Full Respect, on the new Roister Records label. Visit the Respect website for details. Also, we've announced tour dates, which are available in the left-hand column here and on the Respect website. Raise the roister!
August 2nd, 2003 |
Drawring
Here is a drawing by an audience member at today's concert with the Matt Pivec Quartet.
July 15th, 2003 |
Photo section
I've added a Photo section accessible via the handy links column on the left. I also put up some photos I took today of Tibetan monks.
July 5th, 2003 |
New camera
I just got a digital camera. I'm still figuring out how to operate it, but you can look at my first pictures here.
May 27th, 2003 |
Dicking around town
I'm throwing around the idea of recording with the Unit soon, possibly at the end of June, God willing. I'm working on some new compositionals, and if I'm able to whizz enough, all should be copacetic. I'll update as progress is made.
Also, the trio is playing at the Brighton Arts Fest on Thursday, June 5.
May 3rd, 2003 |
The news
I've been busy lately with a variety of things, principally working on the new Respect CD, The Full Respect (visit the Respect website here: www.respectsextet.com).
The CD is really ripping. We're planning to release it in early June. Also, we're arranging a tour for late summer. Check back at respectsextet.com for updates.
In other news, I've been involved lately with a bunch of rehearsals, recordings, and recitals: playing Piazzolla with David Kim, playing John Harbison with Lynn Ligammari, recording orchestral songs by Matt Barnson, and playing on James Hirschfeld's recital. Until next time, peace.
April 10th, 2003 |
Respect Sextet website up
The new Respect Sextet website is now live! Thanks to Robert Wood for designing a great site.
March 26th, 2003 |
Audio up
The first two audio files are up. Check out the Groups page under Respect. More soon.
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.
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