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September and the U. of O Dance Department
Started playing for the University of Oregon dance department on September 26, 2011. I’m playing 3 days a week (total of 9 hours a week) for modern dance classes. Wow, what a great expansion of my musicality. All is improvised, because the length of the phrases vary from day to day. Rhythm is the prime mover, interacting with the motion and the mood is crucial.
Been having great fun learning to play hand percussion. I now have a djembe and a dumbek, but the University has a drum room full of percussion for my use. Mostly on congas, cymbals, and djembe in the percussion area; but also getting to play more flute. Flute was my classical instrument, but my improvising has been limited. The breath is
I’m learning to count long cycles. Most western music is in 2 or 4 bar phrases, but now I need to keep track of much longer cycles (usually 8 counts each) with lots of odd number of phrases that need to coincide with the next position, or the restart of the dance in a new direction.
The week of 08-31-11
This Wednesday (8/31), Paul Biondi and I will be at Mac's Restaurant & Nightclubs (16th and Willamette) from 6pm -9pm.
I think we're heading back inside.
Thursday I'll be at LaVelles (5th Street Market) from 6pm - 8pm; doing all those jazz and blues piano classics.
Friday Paul Biondi and I will be at Sylvan Ridge Winery from 6pm -8pm. A beautiful setting out there on the lawn and the natural amphitheater, probably one of my last outdoor gigs this year.
Saturday I'll be at Axe Billy Bar and Grill (The DAC) with Gerry Rempel and Mark Schneider from 8pm -11pm. We'll be doing Gerry's great mix of traditional and latin jazz, mixed in with some of his originals
The week of 08-17-11
This Wednesday (8/17), Paul Biondi and I will be at Mac's Restaurant & Nightclubs (16th and Willamette) from 6pm -9pm.
We're still outdoors as long as the weather is nice.
Thursday I'll be at LaVelles (5th Street Market) from 6pm - 8pm; doing all those jazz and blues piano classics.
Soon I'll be going back to regular Thursdays there, probably in September.
Friday I'll be at the Hilton with Greg Nathan ( a great bassist) from 7pm - 9pm doing the 'Aftermath' -
Every Friday after a symphony concert these take place in the Hinton's downstairs bar.
Some surprise guests from the symphony or about town, often show up.
Saturday Laurie Hammond and I will be at the Excelsior Restaurant from 7pm - 9:30pm.
Good food and classic vocal jazz.
The week of 08-10-11
This Wednesday (8/10) I'll be at the beautiful Oakway Courtyard with my trio. 5:30pm - 8pm
Thursday hosting the Jam at The Jazz Station. 8pm - 11pm
Friday at LaVelles (5th Street Market). 6pm -8pm.
Saturday at Macs Restaurant and Nightclub with Soulicious. 9pm -12:20am.
The week of 07-27-11
Summer is finally here, and it's a busy week with outdoor events and all.
This Wednesday (7/27), Paul Biondi and I will be at Mac's Restaurant & Nightclubs (16th and Willamette) from 6pm -9pm. You may have heard they were broken into over the weekend and a lot was stolen, but they are now back up and running. I'm sure they will appreciate any business, and we'll get the party started as best we can.
Thursday I'll be at LaVelles (5th Street Market) from 6pm -8pm; doing all those jazz and blues piano classics.
Soon I'll be going back to regular Thursdays there.
Friday I'll be at the Blackberry Jam Festival (in Lowell) from 6pm -8pm with 'totheBRIDGE'.
We'll be doing our blend of blues and classic R&B tunes. Great outdoor venue for all ages all weekend long.
http://www.blackberryjamfestival.com/Music.html
Saturday (7/30) I'll be at the Jazz Station with Laurie Hammond and band. This is the full quartet including Byron Case on bass, Bruce Cole on drums, Laurie Hammond on vocal chords, and yours truly as the piano picker.
http://thejazzstation.org/
Sunday I'll be doing the Classic car show out at LaVelle Vineyards (Elmira) with a great line up - Byron Case on bass, guitar and vocals, Rick Marksrtum on drums and vocals, and myself as the pinch hitter. We play from 1pm - 5pm doing Jump blues, boogie, and roots R&B. Good dance area, food, wine and beer.
http://www.lavellevineyards.com/
The week of 07-20-11
This Wednesday (7/20), Paul Biondi and I will be at Mac's Restaurant & Nightclubs (16th and Willamette) from 6pm -9pm.
Still not sure if we're indoors or out yet, but either way we'll be having fun. Thanks for making it a happening scene down there.
Thursday Laurie Hammond and I will be at Territorial Vineyards (907 W 3rd Ave) from 7pm- 10pm.
This will be our first time there and I'm really looking for ward to this.
Friday (7/22) I'll be solo back at LaVelles (5th Street Market) from 6pm -8pm; doing all those jazz and blues piano classics.
The week of 07-13-11
This Wednesday (7/13), Paul Biondi and I will be at Mac's Restaurant & Nightclubs (16th and Willamette) from 6pm -9pm.
We'll probably be inside this week because of the weather; we're still trying to find the best solution to a good dance area when the weather gets nice.
Thursday I'll be back at LaVelles (5th Street Market) from 6pm -8pm doing all those jazz and blues piano classics.
Friday I'll be doing with Bob Ragan and the 'Slightly Retro Quartet' at the The Jazz Station (124 W. Broadway) from 8pm -10:30ish.
Bob is a wonderful sax player, and we'll be doing a fun selection of straight - ahead jazz.
Byron Case will be on bass, Jim Douglas on drums, and yours truly on piano.
Saturday (7/16) Laurie Hammond and I will be back at the Excelsior Restaurant (754 E. 13th Ave) from 7pm - 9:30pm.
We'll be drawing a lot from the Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan songbooks and keepin' it real.
The week of 07-06-11
Tonight (7/6), Paul Biondi and I will be at Mac's Restaurant & Nightclubs (16th and Willamette) from 6pm -9pm.
We'll be joined by Robert Ruggiero -Van Morrison's drummer; he's joined the us the last few year when between road gigs -
great player and wonderful guy.
Thursday I'll be doing a set with Maureen Driese at the The Jazz Station (124 W. Broadway) strating at 7pm , just before the jazz jam. We'll be doing a selection of great tunes from Cole Porter , George Gershwin and the like. Wonderful room and some fun music.
Friday I'll be back at LaVelles (5th Street Market) from 6pm -8pm.
Saturday (7/9) I'll be at the Saturday Market with 'totheBRIDGE', my blues and soul band.
We play from 3:30 - 4:45ish.
The week of 06-29-11
Tonight (6/29) I'm at Mac's Restaurant & Nightclub (16th and Willamette) with Paul Biondi.
We have different hours tonight because we are outside. This week we go from 5:30pm - 8pm.
Next week we'll back to our usual schedule.
Friday I'm out at LaVelle Winery (Elmira) with Skip Jones. We go from 6pm - 9pm out on their lawn and patio
doing our classic blues and New Orleans sets.
Saturday I'll be at the Saturday Market with Soulicious, my funk band. We play from 3:30pm -5pm.
The week of 06-24-11
This Friday (6/24) I'll be at LaVelles (5th Street Market) from 6pm -8pm.
Saturday I'll be at The Jazz Station (124 W. Broadway) with the 'Slightly Retro Quartet' from 8pm - 10:30ish. Bob Ragan is our fearless leader; he plays great saxophone, flute and clarinet.
We'll doing a solid 2 sets of straight-ahead jazz with Byron Case on bass, Bob Ragan on the reeds, Jim Douglas on drums, and your truly as the piano picker.
The week of 06-15-11
Wednesday (6/15), Paul Biondi and I will be at Macs Nightclub at the Vets (16th and Willamette). We go from 6pm -9pm. Soon we'll be playing outside, if the weather cooperates.
Thursday, I'm back at LaVelles (5th Street Public Market) from 6pm -8pm.
Saturday, Laurie Hammond and I will be at the Excelsior Restaurant (754 E. 13th Ave) from 7pm - 9:30pm
The week of 06-08-11
Tonight (6/8), Paul Biondi and I will be at Nightclub at the Vets (16th and Willamette). We go from 6pm -9pm. Much thanks to Susan for bringing in the dancers as well.
Thursday I'll be doing the jam at The Jazz Station (124 W. Broadway) from 8pm - 11pm.
Friday I'm back at LaVelles (5th Street Public Market) from 6pm -8pm.
The week of 06-01-11
Tonight (Wednesday), Paul Biondi and I will be joined by Jim Reinking on drums at Mac's Restaurant & Nightclub at the Vets (16th and Willamette). We go from 6pm -9pm. The dancers have been showing up and you never know who may make a surprise appearance on stage.
Thursday (6/2), I'll be back at LaVelles (5th Street Public Market) from 6pm -8pm.
Friday, I'm out at Sweet Cheeks Winery for their 'Twilight Tastings' from 6:30pm -8:30pm.
Saturday Paul Biondi and I will be at the Jazz Station (124 W. Broadway). If you haven't been to the new space you should check it out - great acoustics. lots of seating, and wine. We play from 8pm - 10:30ish.
The week of 05-25-11
This Wednesday (5/25) I'm at Mac's Restaurant & Nightclub (16th and Willamette) with Paul Biondi from
6pm -9pm.
Friday at LaVelles wine bar (5th Street Market) from 6pm - 8pm.
Saturday double duty at Chateau Lorane:
noon till 2:30pm with Paul Biondi
then
just me at Chateau Lorane from 3pm -5:30pm.
Sunday at Chateau Lorane with Gerry Rempel and Mark Schneider from 3pm -5:30pm
then once more
Monday, back at Chateau Lorane from noon till 2:30pm doing solo piano.
The week of 05-18-11
It's Wednesday (5/18), so Paul Biondi and I are back at Mac's Restaurant & Nightclub at the Vets (16th and Willamette) tonight from 6pm -9pm. Good food, full bar, nice dance floor and us....Wow.
Thursday I'm at LaVelles (5th Street Market) from 6pm -8pm.
Saturday, Laurie Hammond and I are at the Excelsior Restaurant (754 E. 13th Ave) from 7pm - 9:30pm.
The week of 05-11-11
Wednesday (5/11) I'll be joining Paul Biondi at Macs restaurant. The event starts at 6pm with Mark Hazzard, Paul and Jim Reinking on drums: after my earlier engagement I'll be there to finish off the evening.
Thursday is the Eugene premier of the documentary I worked on. "The Greenest Building" will be shown at the Bijou Thearter at 7:30pm followed by a Q and A session with the producer Jane Turville. (I attached the poster again for those interested.)
Friday I'm at LaVelles (5th Street Market) from 6pm - 8pm
then....
Macs restaurant and Night club with 'To the Bridge' (formerly The Streamliners) from 9pm - 12 Blues and soul - a great dance groove, 3 part vocals, and the best dance floor in town.
Saturday (5/14) is what I've really been looking forward too. My jazz trio will be at the Jazz Station (124 W. Broadway), straight ahead and funky jazz classics; featuring Mark Schneider on bass, Bruce Cole on drums, and yours truly. We go from 8pm -11pm.
The week of 05-04-11
Wednesday (5/4), Paul Biondi and I do our maiden voyage at Macs Restaurant and Nightclub (16th and Willamette). We're trying to make this a big start for our summer bash. We play from 6pm - 9pm. There will be great food, a nice dance floor and us...
Thursday I'm back at LaVelles (5th Street market) from 6pm -9pm. Solo piano in my favorite room - I love the people and I love the magic that happens in there.
Friday I'm out at Sweet Cheeks from 6:30pm -8:30pm for my first 'Twilight Tasting'.
Saturday I'm back at Macs Restaurant and Nightclub at 9pm with Soulicious. Doing funk and soul for all you dancing needs.
Sunday it's me solo at the Oregon Electric Station from 10am - 1pm.
The week of 04-29-11
The big news is - Paul Biondi and I will be restarting our festivities next Wednesday (5/4) at Macs Restaurant (16th and Willamette) from 6pm - 9pm. Because of the construction at the 5th Street Market, we will be moving our summer bash inside this year. Every week will be a wine tasting by a different winery; great food from the McCallums; Paul Biondi, myself and 'the cast of thousands' to fill the void of Wednesdays.
in the mean time...
Friday (4/29) - I'll be at Ratatouille Restaurant (Crescent Village) from 6:30pm - 8:30pm.
then, early Saturday...
I’ll be at the Oakridge Arts Festival with Skip Jones and the Spirit of New Orleans. We’re doing our dueling keyboards (The Two-Headed Boogie Monster) on Skips’ great blend of New Orleans blues, R&B and roots Rock and Roll. We play from 12:30pm - 3:30pm joined by Tony Figoli on drums.
followed by...
Saturday (4/30) I'll be part of the "The Blues in Jazz" concert at the new Jazz Station (124 W. Broadway). The new space is wonderful: seating for about 50, great acoustics, serving wine, beer and snacks. Our performance will be:
The Blues in Jazz - 8pm This special concert features the influence of the blues in a wide diversity of compositions by Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Thelonius Monk, Horace Silver, and more. Gus Russell, pianist, Sean Flannery, tenor sax; Chris Orsinger, bass; Bruce Cole, drums. http://thejazzstation.org/
then, the plot thickens with...
Sunday I'll be at the Little Red Farm (42nd and Jasper Rd. Springfield) for my first outdoor event this spring. I'll be playing with The Bob Ragan Quartet. He's a great sax player; and we'll be doing 2 sets of hot, straight ahead jazz from 1pm - 3pm.
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