WHAT'S UP

July 2010

The spring and summer have zipped by. I have been busy writing and performing with various groups.

Jim Cooper and I have continued our collaboraive Mallet Madness performances, most recently at Morseland. The group had a wonderful challenge when the power went out after playing just one tune. We continued to play out the set using a few candles. Everyone enjoyed the ambience and the acoustic sounds of the instruments. The power was back on for our second set.

Mallet madness will be performing on September 3, at 2 PM, at the Chicago Cultural Center as part of the Chicago Jazz Festival preview.

Just for Fun continues to search for a NAME! We are continuing to update our repertoire of early music and eclectic jazz and folk music.

Tudo de Bom presented a night of free jazz music in May at the Skylark. I really enjoyed taking a more open approach to some of our standard pieces and I  also wrote an Ornette inspired piece for the ensemble to perform.

I continue to host Chicago Jazz Composers Collective concerts at the Green Mill. On August 28 the collective will present a collaborative concert and I expect to create a new work to be performed at the concert.

Check in here if you'd like to see my tapestry crochet art featured on Carol Ventura's Tapestry Crochet blog

February 2010

I am happy to prepare for an upcoming collaboration with vibist Jim Cooper at the Green Mill on March 21st. Jim and I have worked together in the past on several occasions and he is always an inspiring player.

Just for Fun ensemble continues to search for a new group name. If you have any suggestions send me an e-mail. We are also planning to do some recording in April.

January 2010

It was my pleasure to host another fantastic Chicago Jazz Composers Collective concert featuring fine composers Matt Ulery and John McLean.

I also continued to work on writing new compositions throughout the month.

December 2009

The December Chicago Jazz Composers Concert gave me an opportunity to premiere a suite of pieces written early last spring to capture the brooding, hopeful moods evoked by that season.

I also had the opportunity to perform with the Just for Fun Quartet at the Space in Evanston. We continue to hone the eclectic mix of early music and jazz that is the group's reperoire.

November 2009

I have just finished a brand new work to premiere at the  Chicago Jazz Composers Collective's 8th anniversary concert on November 8th. The collective is presenting new works from nine of the Composers-in-Residence. It is surprising how the time flies and I am always amazed by the wonderful music presented at these concerts. For details on this concert see the schedule section.

August 2009

I have spent the last several months working with a new group Just for Fun. It has been my pleasure to explore early music with Kurt and Annette Bjorling who play basset horn and harp. The quartet also includes Dan DeLorenzo on acoustic bass. In addition to playing interesting arrangements by composers such as Frescobaldi, Gibbons, and Jenkins, we have been performing some of my compositions and other jazz pieces as well.

Dan and I have dusted off our recorders and Just for Fun has been working on some recorder music as well.

I recently finished a suite of three pieces inspired by the season of spring. I am arranging one of the movements which will be premiered at the upcoming Chicago Jazz Composers Collective concert on August 30.

The collective has recently added some new members and I am excited to work with them and hear more of their music. The August concert will be a collaborative effort and will be our first chance to work together while presenting new compositions.

February 2009

Laying low and looking forward to spring! More writing in the works and I'm finally getting around to practicing pandeiro. I do have hopes of mastering the basic beat.

The new Mothra CD Tradewinds is out and we have a CD release party scheduled for April 10th at the Green Mill in Chicago.

January 2009

In spite of a bitter winter I have been continuing to write new music. I premiered a new tune, "Return of the Chickadees" at the January 25th Chicago Jazz Composers Collective concert. It wa my pleasure to share a set with composer/guitarist Steve Ramsdell. We were accompanied by bassist Dan DeLorenzo and drummer Andre Beasley.

December 2008

Another busy month.

Tudo de Bom continues at the Ethiopian Diamond Restaurant. We premiered a new tune of mine that is inspired by Maurice Ravel, in a 12 bar form. Still untitled as of this writing.

I will be presenting new compositions at the Chicago Jazz Composers Collective concert on December 28 at 2 PM with Tudo de Bom.

The New Mothra CD, to be released on the Chicago Sessions label, is complete and the disc is scheduled for release in December. Leader Steve Hashimoto writes some cool and crazy Asian jazz fusion. This is fun stuff. More details when they become available.

Check the schedule section of this site for more details on perfromances.

November 2008

Tudo de Bom continues at the Ethiopian Diamond Restaurant.

The Chicago Jazz Composers Collective celebrates its 7th anniversary at the Green Mill on Nov. 23.

Currrently I'm working on writing some new tunes to be premiered this month at the Ethiopian Diamond.

October 2008

Tudo de Bom was featured on the pre-debate program of Vocalo Radio in September. Music and politics, an interesting combination.

The Ethiopian Daimond continues to be the Sunday hang out for Tudo de Bom. The group continues to add new, ecclectic, material to the program.

Recording for the Mothra CD, to be released on the Chicago Sessions label, is complete and the disc is scheduled for release in December.

I expect to be writing new music later this month.

September 2008

Tudo de Bom recorded for Vocalo radio ( 89.5 FM in the Chicago area or vocalo.org ) in August. We expect parts to be aired this month, more details as they are available.

I am working on writing some new tunes which I expect to premiere at the Ethiopian Diamond Restaurant this month. Tudo de Bom continues our Sunday residence at the Diamond through September.

Also, there is a new Mothra CD in the works. Recording is expected to begin this month. News on that as the project progresses.

I was fortunate to be able to attend writer/cartoonist Lynda Barry's Writing the Unthinkable workshop last month. She is an inspiring teacher and I look forward to seeing how that experience will manifest itself in my music.

The Chicago Jazz Composers Collective will resume our monthly concerts at the Green Mill on September 28.

August 2008

Wow, what happened to July?

Summer continues and Tudo de Bom continues to perform Sundays at the Ethiopian Diamond Restaurant.

June, 2008

I have a new tune that will be premiered by Tudo de Bom Sunday June 22 at the Ethiopian Diamond. This one has a slight tinge of Ethiopique, with a bass line that sounds influenced by Gwana music, and is called Cast All Your Votes for Dancing.

Tudo de Bom contines to play every Sunday at the Ethiopian Diamond restaurant. We're adding new tunes to our repertoire and I've written a new Ethiopian tinged tune in 5/4 called Ethiopian Diamond.

May, 2008

I will be one of the featured composers at the May 18 Chicago Jazz Composers Collective concert. I'll be premiering my new ballad, Imaginary Twilight. See the schedule for more details.

Tudo de Bom has a new myspace page, click the name to visit our site.

The Chicago Jazz Composers Collective presented a special concert on April 27, 2008 featuring Jim Gailloreto's jazz string quartet. They performed new music comissioned by Chamber Music America. Also featured were CJCC artist-in-residence Dave Onderdonk with Larry Kohut.

January, 2008

Compositionally 2007 has been a productive year for me. I will be presenting 3 premiere performances of new music with Tudo de Bom at the December 16 Chicago Jazz Composers Collective concert. See the schedule for details.

On November 18, 2007 the Chicago Jazz Composers Collective celebrated 6 years of concerts at the Green Mill with a special anniversary concert. Featured was the wonderfully eclectic Dave Onderdonk performing his work in a duo with percussionist Geraldo de Oliviera. The second set was a sampler from various collective Artists-in-Residence and was a fun and diverse mix of styles. I premiered a new piece written especially for the anniversary concert. During our 6th year we presented 6 guest composers and were supported by 54 perfrorming musicians at our monthly concerts.

Also, a brief word about the Chicago Jazz Composers Collective, currently in the 7th year of presenting original jazz at the Green Mill in Chicago. Always interesting and inspiring, these concerts are a breath of fresh air. As artistic director I have enjoyed the opportunity to hear the diversity of music that so many wonderful Chicago jazz musicians are writing.

Listings of upcoming Chicago Jazz Composers Collective concerts will be listed on the schedule section of this website.