Todd Clouser: Arts Day Out Program

The most recent Arts Day Out took place Jan 7, 2012 at Plaza Mijares in San Jose del Cabo, MX - offering the youth of Los Cabos a chance to showcase their talents, interact with professional artists, and create. All free.  

 

 

Todd recently performed in Plaza Mijares, San Jose del Cabo's Central Plaza stage, with students/area youth at the Fiesta de la Musica.  - 6/21/2011

Todd is the founder of Arts Day Out, days to celebrate and inspire the youth of Los Cabos. A day long festival, Arts Day Out is free to the public, reaching students of all socioeconomic backgrounds, providing them access to instruction, interactive exhibits headed by professional musicians and artists, and performance opportunities. Arts Day Out is in its 6th installment and has reached thousands of Baja Sur families. Todd continues to donate workshops to a number of Los Cabos organizations, including LIGA MAC, CASA HOGAR, a number of private students lacking financial resources, and Arts Day Out. 

 

            

A busy March and April have given way to bit of quiet here in Los Cabos. Took me a healthy amount of time to recover from the 2 weeks with Linz and Schutte in the Baja and Guadalajara preceded by a little run with Richie and Eren Cannata and some concert production work prior to that. All of it came off great, if a bit taxing. Nice to have some time to get back to the growing legion of budding young musicians we're fostering her in San Jose. We have the second Arts Day Out here next Saturday, May 16th. Kids show up and participate in a number of musical and visual arts and dance activites, forced to do none, but offered all, and for free. Its of course rewarding for me to watch these kids perform and take pride in their time and effort. It took a lot of us a long time to get to a stage and feel comfortable performing, starting young is a gift. Partly due to the seeming inability of anyone coming of age in Mexican culture to feel embarassed, and perhaps equal part the unique blend of unique character we have here, these kids rip wholeheartedly. The pianists are most inspiring. I remember being in my early teens viewing the piano as a flimsy wristed study in how to be relegated to social obscurity, and was wrong. Now my wrists flam all over the thing, limping out tunes I wish Id learned when I was 12. Apparently the kids here have some foresight, being eager to learn and study on the instrument.... the desire to learn guitar being more predictable. Let me know when a corporation puts themselves on the line with the release of "Piano Hero". I want a copy...... (rereading I feel the need to defend the guitar, the hero of many's sanity, insanity, and an emotive tool that suites me without fail) While admittedly over-philosophical about music, something my students can attest to in our lessons, we've begun something good and unique happening here. When those two words operate as a pair, the outcome is quality. Come check it out, and leave your medical mask at home, we're healthy. We're booking dates in the states for the summer. Look forward to getting back up for a few shows.

Sunday, January 8th - 4 to 8 p.m. at Plaza Mijares - Arts Day Out is back

Domingo , 8 de Enero, 16 a 20 hrs... Arts Day Out --- ven a celebrar arte en Los Cabos. Free! Gratis! Quieres participar??? home@toddclouser.com

We can become so concerned with ourselves we lose any ability to consider the idea that maybe our convictions are at the very least worthy of question, and in some cases, wrong. The ego rules in modern capitalist culture, we like to win and have demonstrated exceptional talent for deluding ourselves into believing no one was treated unfairly or unjustly by our actions, in fact we often somehow reason we were helping them, and that we are in fact brilliant, often misunderstood voices. Our emotional survival instinct creates the ego to shelter us from what can be a difficult onslaught of reality as to our place in things, so impulsive reaction becomes the norm, self defense, posturing, etc.

The finest manner to combat the ego and its cunning attempts to govern our actions and desires is the practice of gratitude for not only what we have to enjoy, but gratitude for the accomplishments of others. Creations of others deserve our gratitude. Simple gratitude, ahhhh

Here are some musical goods I am grateful to have the chance to spend some time with these holidays

Most gorgeous tune... to me... Mingus' - to Lester Young - "Goddbye Pork Pie Hat"

Admittedly, sadly, I only heard Eyedea posthumously, this on air freestyle is modern bebop

 

 

Grateful these guys worked it hard. Makes the heart shake, puts the hips on the make.

Performance art meets Bob Dylan's "Love Sick", raw lyrics, brilliant band, passion dance

Remember seeing this on SNL as a kid for the first time.... and my angst had a voice.

Home to San Jose del Cabo. Have not processed the last few weeks yet... Bernstein, A Love Electric tour, went too fast. Some seriously heavy musical moments personally. Really making the music I want to right now, which is incredibly rewarding.... lucky to fall into playing with Hernan Hecht on drums, he brings an inherent energy and movement to the music I had always hoped for when writing. Sick stuff. Love it. All the audiences were so positive, accepting of the chances and improv we jumped at, thank you. Some moments of real growth. I also dont feel like we threw out any bullshit... or even tricks for that matter, werent rehearsed enough to pull the tricks, the dynamics of the music all came about naturally. Lovely. Any more positive adjectives?

This became the band's favorite tune of the tour, a new ballad called "A Tune for Harms Done" ... our favorites dont match the audiences more often than not

 

 

Back at it rehearsing with the Beautiful Organ Trio today, totally different approach, playing Monk tunes in odd times, working on phrasing and accuracy, studying. A great way to temper the purging of expression and emotion that A Love Electric brings. Back to practice.

Some tour goods ... Fillet of fish to the I Wet of Garlic ... mmmm

 

Been having a lot of press inquiries coming in, which feels strange. Its forward movement and supports the idea of getting music out in front of people, and reaching a point where we can get out more, but something feels contrived about it all. I hope the music is interesting, and I suppose a lot of what is in there is a personal story, but its a bit difficult to think about talking about it. The interviews generally go well and I leave feeling like I learned something about what we're trying to do, where music's place is.... just by the questions that get asked. But it really opens things up to be categorized, so on..... and Im not always great with wearing the armor. Maybe dont have to. Live and let live. Sounds nice.

  Check out that C Bates face!

Just getting feet to the ground after a drive across the middle of Mexico, a couple unexpected detours, etc.... but Mexico City gigs and especially the show in Puebla at Jazzatlan have made this the finest week of music in memory. Still cant get my head around the ridiculous players we've had on the shows, its growing to a really creative point. Off to play tonight at Bajo Fondo in Guadalajara, love this city, third time playing here so all feels comfortable.... 

Had the best show I can remember Thursday night in Puebla at Jazzatlan, everything hit, Hernan Hecht on drums and Mark Aanderud on the piano have this hookup going on after years of playing together, Chris Bates is outrageous and a joy for every drummer to play with, and Gil Cervantes and I kind of get to float on top of all thats going on in the rhythm section. Been doing almost all original tunes, some new stuff we tracked at Sala De Audio last week with the quartet, good time to be doing this thing.

We played San Miguel de Allende last night, beautiful spot but too large a change of pace from the people and energy in MX City and the surrounding towns we hit. After two happening shows in a row, the forementioned Jazzatlan gig and a night at the beautful Cultural Center theater in Coyoacan, we knew we were in trouble in San Miguel when they were playing "Tubthumping" by Chumbawumba as we took the stage, loud, some folks on the balcony with some sort of choreographed dance to it.... more of a tourist throw down vibe. Regardless, we played and connected with some people, got out and disturbed maybe a few ears. The bar, unbeknownst to us prior to arrival was billed as a "disco room". We didnt give them disco, but it can be a fun experience being thrown to an unexpecting audience and creating something with them.

Backstage at Zinco getting it together...

Not much time to write, will get some more videos and all up after things slow down Sunday. 

 

We played this small room run by the coolest group of people called Film Club Cafe, got claustrophobic in there but the response was incredible.... all ages show which is really fun

 

Thanks so much for your support

 

Hey! Here at the hotel in Mexico City with Chris Bates watching some American football en Espanol and talking through some charts. This tour has been killin. We did Zinco Jazz Club on Friday and had an incredible turnout, given the cover price and lack of print promo, place was full, lots of energy. A really beautiful spot to play, its what used to be a national bank Im told and there's safes, cells, giant metal doors throughout the green room and back. Has the historied vibe going on that we can sometimes lack in the states as rents .... the strip mall chain store gentrification becoming commonplace pricing out many of the really unique jazz,music joints around the country. Played the Film Club Cafe last night, an all ages spot, which I love.... everyone comes to listen, people really ready for whatever is coming out as long as we keep it honest, felt great. Got a ride home from the Club owner in his 1964 Plymouth, thing is an absolute relic. Sofa seats, sky blue color, no power steering, shared seatbelt across the front three seats. Incredible people, inspiring time.

  But to the good, the band is hooking up and taking all the songs we're doing to new places and we've been throwing in some free pieces as well. Tomorrow we're at this studio here called Sala de Audio to record as a quartet. We havent been performing the tunes to track live yet but will add them once we get back to the shows on Tuesday. If you havent checked out Hernan Hecht yet, you need to.... incredible drummer, musician, plays a ton. We've got all sort of plans, things are hitting, Europe talk, good stuff. Incredibly grateful.

 

     Out to hit the modern art museum and see what kind of festivities are swinging through the streets today.... yesterday there was a youth taekwondo parade, groups stopping to take some swings at their compatriots' pads as directed by the whistle of their leader. Loved it, then tacos dorados.

 

Thanks for all your support

 Forgot to mention Bernstein week tour was another total success. He is such a great player, personality, and teacher. Learned a ton, got in front of a bunch of new friends. Have some videos up here soon. Apparently the record label Ropeadope, is gonna do some sort of live video tune-in with the A Love Electric Bernstein show.

 

Preparing for the arrival of Steven Bernstein to the Baja next week. We did a couple week tour last year with the Troker rhythm section out of Guadalajara, and Im humbled that he's coming back and wants to make music together again. By the end of last year's run, we took to calling him Uncle Steven, a wise and accepting presence that managed to put up with the youthful playing, and living, of the three of us. Just the coolest cat. We had all kinds of mishaps that happened on tour, though it was a great success musically, that Steven took in stride and celebrated. A musician with his accomplishments could easily maintain with a cold and pompous demeanor, he runs from that, passing on his approach and knowledge to us next generation of players inspired by what he has done. Its incredible.

We had multiple car break downs, no soundcheck gigs, late arriving gear, etc... that Ive seen drive some celebrated players up the wall, never happened on last year's run. There's not that sense of entitlement that seems to creep in with age for some. By the end of the tour we were running out of a 198something VW golf, one of the seats ripped out, a couple windows missing, that maxed out at about 40 miles an hour. We got Bernstein to the airport in that. A couple long nights had the three of us dragging from bed late to find papaya slices Bernstein had cut for us on the kitchen counter and Steven doing tai chi on the beach. In Guadalajara the two of us would take to the streets aimlessly and Id absorb some of what he'd been up to musically and a little philosophy about playing, the business, and so on. Maybe Im crossing bounds into adoration, but playing and hanging with Bernstein is such a gift. He maintains a happening career while supporting a family and making the music he wants to, that is tough. Im thrilled to have the opportunity again and looking forward to making music, think Ive grown a bit in the last year and it'll allow us to further explore what can happen musically.

Ive got this week to get charts together and shed some tunes, then when we hit, its all creativity, an honest experience. Love it.

Then its on to the A Love Electric tour, the first gig of which will feature Bernstein with some monsters that live down here... Hernan Hecht (hernanhecht.com), Mark Aanderud (markaanderud.com), and Chris Bates. Enjoying it while its good.

Spent the past few weeks playing out with the Beautiful Organ Trio, which is turning out to be a heavy group. Id played with both Pedro Cervera, drummer, and Roberto Blanco, organ, over the past couple years but just at one off nights, etc.... so never really had a chance to develop anything musically or personally. Ive always admired Pedro's playing so I got a hold of him this summer to see if he'd be interested in doing this trio for the Wednesday night residency at Havana in Los Cabos. He's a really deliberate and honest player, and person when it comes to the music. We got together in the summer to talk a bit about what we'd do and had a good enough time, picked some tunes, etc. When it came time to hit I realized how much I could learn from playing with Pedro and Roberto the two having played together for a number of years. We've been playing the groove stuff out on the gigs, but digging into Monk tunes, talking, sorting out thoughts on where the group should go, at rehearsals. It has to be that way. Its essential that everyone brings an idea to the group, the alternative being the show up and play the gig mentality, leaves the music lacking purpose and character, and eventually you find a  group that doesnt get along, resents each other, so on.

  We did a show in La Paz Saturday that had some really profound moments, its coming pretty naturally digging with like minded players. 

  So its been a fine time growing with this trio. Really looking forward to having Steven Bernstein come down and join us on trumpet for a couple shows, been transcribing some of his Diaspora records stuff that would fit this group. Play some more rock jazz sort of material, got some out Zeppelin arrangements, some Hendrix, and drop into some Charlie Parker. Everyone pushes the music to extend beyond the complacency of the comfortable place we often settle for..... and keeping playful. Without humor we'd take all our faults and mistakes to a place we could never recover from...... it happens.

   So thats whats going on, playing a lot, learning, growing. 

Monk --- working this tune out with The Beautiul Organ Trio ---  "Bye ya" w/ Coltrane --- Monk's solo is all kinds of playful

 

 

 

In tangential news, A Love Electric signed a record deal with Ropeadope Records. Ive been into a number of Ropeadope artists over the years, so its especially exciting to be on that label. Lots of work going into planning that release, publicity, tours, so on... Its nice to be detached a bit by being down here in Mexico and doing our thing while the race begins up north. 

 Check this video out from the Philadelphia Experiment, a favorite Ropeadope Release of mine, from 2001... Pat Martino on guitar

 

Just recovering from a week run with our quartet in the Baja with Adam Linz joining on bass.... jazz jazz, good times. Linz is hilarious and everyone got along well, some really heavy creative moments, love playing with Pedro Cervera on drums. Back to shedding tunes.... more soon

Gonna get some video up soon. Thanks for your support... great turnouts at all the shows

Back in Los Cabos after about 6 weeks in the US and breathing a bit before a busy rest of the fall. Its ben a really incredible sequence of events and non-events these past few months. Playing with great musicians, creating some unique energy and direction as a band, and getting our record out to some people have got me in a really forward-looking place. Have to be careful to relax and enjoy things as they happen, there's eternally a next show, next tune, next project, and while the motion is healthy and creative, it can also result in a lack of gratitude and inability to identify progress. 

I've been studying a bit with Jonathan Kreisberg, who I hope you check out if haven't yet. He's an incredible guitarist, and teacher, and has me going back to cover some aspects of playing I skipped. He's direct and honest, encouraging in the sense that you're put to work, if you're willing to do it. Thats whats needed, keeps humility gorwing and constantly renews the appreciation of music  and all the great players and composers that did their thing for us to learn from, and take to ourselves. So I've been shedding a number of jazz standards, playing simply through the changes, and working on memorization. Its great for me and is helping round rough spots in my playing..... its enlightening.... and fun.

There aren't many distractions around, less TV channels, less phone calls, and town is still quiet before hopefully things pick up as our gigs begin to hit in a couple weeks. Practice on and off daytime and something in the combination of nighttime and my apartment here spawns writing. I have a keyboard facing out at the beach so thats all I see when Im sitting there. It works. Most of the A Love Electric record was written here on the piano, and a lot is coming out these few days. I finally invested in some pencils, contrary to my love for pens - tehy feel better when you write - and that has greatly reduce the number of scratched out pages Ive been going through.... so sitting there and sloppily mapping out tunes, which I'll eventually take to this computer and put in Finale, that part is pretty unromantic sounding, but given my inclination to misplace charts, its a necessity. Anyhow, we're going to track the south or border version of A Love Electric while on tour in late november, and there's a bunch of tunes ready. Who knows when the record will come out, but its important for me to keep completing the writing, recording process moving. There's a sense of completion once something is recorded that works to quell self doubt.

When I was writing for the A Love Electric first record, I'd wake up in the middle of the night and get to the piano, or scribble while writing in the car..... starting to get back to that point with these new tunes. Something happens here, maybe its the climate, or lack of pace to things, Im not sure....and dont really want to be.

I realize this blog is maybe self serving and rambly, but I hope it is of some interest.... helps me.... sort things out and make sure the music is moving.

Here's a clip of Curtis --- a tune written down here in admiration of Curtis Mayfield, who doesnt get much play around town other than in this apartment -

Thanks much for your support, see you out soon. Much Love

Writing from the backseat of the truck on our way to Milwaukee with Adam Meckler behind the wheel. He's a very controlled and deliberate driver, cruise set, both hands on the wheel, very present, its commendable. I tend to fluctuate speeds and degree of attention. Its a really gorgeous day, just the occasional adult truck lounge billboard distracting from the midwest countryside. I'm excited about the gig tonight, car rides give us a chance to talk about how the music has been coming out, share some arrangement ideas, and listen..... and we all like each other, so thats nice. This band is really the first I've had together that we all have an understanding of respect and democracy, which is really great, gives us the best chance to get the music where it can go, which is really just a place where we can all express within the tunes without boring, whoring, or celebrating ourselves too greatly.

 

The making of this band is a bit of a trip. I've been playing with Greg Schutte for a number of years now.... we have a musical relationship with a strong foundation, and his skills as arranger and in some ways, ability to direct or keep the band in check, knowing the tunes real well from producing the record, keep things happening.

 

 I'd never met Adam Meckler, our trumpeter, prior to our first rehearsal, just looked at what he'd been up to and Schutte mentioned he was a straight cat to deal with. When I got to hear him play, I wondered where I had been. He's a monster, tasteful, happening.... love listening and playing.

 

Bryan Nichols, who won't be with us tonight, is one of my favorite players in Minneapolis, and beyond really. He played with a trio after us a couple years ago at the Dakota. At that time, my playing was based further in rock stuff than jazz, though it stills hangs between there, so I got to admire Bryan's playing but never really considered I'd have the chance to play with him, heavy players can be intimidating, whether their personally warrants that or not, which Bryan's certainly does not. After the past few years of gigging and pulling things further back into the language of jazz, thought I'd give hooking up with Brian a try. He came in and played on the A Love Electric record, killed it, and we scheduled some gigs together. He's just a monster player and takes the music in really creative directions when he leads.

Chris Bates and I have had a chance to play a couple gigs together over the past few years, he's a member of such a great number of cool bands, and plays with such passion in all of them. He's really committed to making the music what it can be, and has an incredible sense of where integrity in music lies. Nothing he plays could ever come out as lame. There's a purpose and intensity there that a lot of us can lose as years playing gigs go on. A great person to learn from both on and off the gig.

 

I'm really fortunate to be surrounded by all these players,people who really believe in, and want to invest themselves, into the tunes. No one treats it as just a gig or comes afraid to push the thing. There's a real sense that we are progressing and have a "thing". Simple as that sounds, its easy to get groups together that play some music great but can lack identity, other than yea, those guys are good. My approach has always centered on a good tune, a melody, interesting harmony, or some element that gives the song a purpose to exist and create an emotion that can be shared. Songs that sound like exercises drive dont do much for me, nor tunes that merely serve as a backdrop for players to show their stuff over. To me, the emotion is created by the tune we're playing, the improvisation is a chance to color that, even if it takes us to a place that would be seemingly unrecognizable to the song we began with, thats where it wanted to go, and it will come back. There can be complete freedom working within a given tune. Chaos is cool, atonality I like, but only when it is in the context of what it opposes. Thats just my personal taste.

 

Anyhow, going to enjoy some sun through the window. Thanks much for your interest and support

We began rehearsing for the A Love Electric release shows yesterday. Im so fortunate to play with all these guys.... a few years back it seemed a reach to get up with them and blow. Its humbling and encouraging. This tour has been my first real foray into the world that is booking a tour, and its not fun. Its part of the deal, but it takes a great deal of humility, understanding, and distance from the art you've created to get through it without becoming cynical or reactionary.....or disappointed. Its actually gone quite well, playing at some of the spots Ive always wanted to, Dakota Jazz Club it gets no finer, and all the happening rooms in town, but the waiting game and ocassional disinterest of a club owner or booking agent can get the head rumbling with doubt and questions not worth considering. When its time to actually make the music, I get to find a place back to joy in creation. Thats what the next month holds, lots of shows.

The summer has passed and I got two records out of the deal. For now, all the energy will go to A Love Electric, but recent changes in life have led me back to some songwriting and older tunes. I recorded what was intended to be an album, stripped and honest, with Chris Bates and JT Bates a few weeks back. It turned out lovely, about half ot it. I started digging through my old hard drive and found some sessions I did with Benny WEinbeck, Greg Schutte, Adam Linz a few years back, never released it.... some out rock, dense song stuff, that I fell back to loving. Was a gift to have those around, now we have a full record, called "The Hope Tonic" that will come out after the new year. Im really happy about it. I miss singing those songs, and the playing from everyone on the record is beautiful.

Obviously my head tends to jump around and head to the next project, need to remind myself all the time and work we put into A Love Electric, that its a cool record, and that we need to get it out in front of people. Im consumed by music right now and thats the best place for me to be living.

Thanks so much for your support

Much Love

Todd

Jut got back down to Los Cabos for a couple weeks after some travel in the northeast. Hanging, practicing, and booking for the coming fall........ got all sorts of projects coming. Stick around, thats all I got for now, gotta shed.

Just shipped the new A Love Electric record out to NYC for mastering. Been such a fun and well nurtured project, Im excited about what it became. Some heavy playing happening on there.

Feeling good taking a brief break from playing out, lots of shows this past year, time to re-center body and mind to make things happen this fall. We've got three bands of outrageous players, beginning in September with the US of A A Love Electric lineup, a quartet run with bassist Adam Linz (Fat Kid Wednesdays, Dave King Trucking Company), Pedro Cervera and Roberto Blanco down in the Baja in October, then a lengthy tour with drummer Hernan Hecht and the south of the border A Love Electric.

For now, practice.

Back to Minneapolis tomorrow to get new recordings finished up..... Thanks to everyone who came out for the A Love Electric Tour, be back around in November. Things went off great.

Gonna take July off performing as we get ready for a long run of shows for album releases as fall comes in....so hope to see you out at the few June gigs.

 

First time carousing the streets of Mexico City today. Its a happening town, with an obviously bad rap. Havent seen any of that yet, but naivite can take one a long ways.
We´re on our third show of tour, a short one, and its been killin. Hernan Hecht is a beast on drums and the band gets a long great, not always the case with the pulsing and fragile musician ego. We´ve been playing a bunch of my new tunes and some arrangements of Hendrix, Nirvana, Radiohead, Miles Davis stuff.... getting out and taking risks feels so good. Thanks to everyone who comes to listen and allows their ears to take the unpredictable journey as well. A lot of what we´re doing is the music Ive always wanted to play. I never quite feel at home in the straight ahead jazz house, though the harmonies and rhythmic interplay, along with the way a tune is approached form'wise, I love. So.... its a bit in between a lot of stuff, but it inspires to emote. I lose my shit on stage and great new things are coming out. After these gigs, I feel like Ive sweat out the goods and the bads. It miraculous and medicinal in my case.
Another fine piece has been the health of the band on this tour....in previous days tour meant partying and kind of playing some music. This is all about organized noise, and it feels good.
We´re taking a bunch of video and recording so we´ll get it up soon.
Thanks a ton for your support, this thing is actually working out.
To the streets of Mexico City.
Much Love
Todd

Ive been neglecting this musing page too long, getting my writing fix contributing a couple columns to the Baja Pulse. Been back in Minneapolis a couple weeks now. It was essential I get out of Cabo for a while, six months down there and you can really lose perspective. Its a bit of a shake down town, though beautiful, it has its seediness. That being said, I played about 5 nights a week since November and managed to learn a lot, make a little bit of money, which I'm excited to spend on the record we're finishing up now, and I think grow as a player. 

While the music scene in Cabo can be a bit lacking, not in terms of talent, but in terms of opportunities for players to truly display their talents, there's plenty of opportunity there if you're willing to create something from ground up. Unfortunately tourist music has been accepted as the desirable by club owners in town, so if you don't do Brown Eyed Girl, you dont do the gig. It takes a bit of extra pulling, but we managed to get some nice spots to play somewhere in between what pleases us and what a club owner thinks pleases the audience. The club owner is usually wrong, I always believe, when given the chance, people want to hear honesty. A bit of the money has dried up in town, and people are scrambling a bit. The summer always promises meager income, though this coming season of the burning sun looks to be more destitute than others. Hope it all swings back in November, got a couple ideas we're working on for the fall to coincide with an album release.

I'm in the studio this week with Gordy Johnson on bass and Greg Schutte on drums. Been playing with Greg for quite a few years now, so his versatility and overall musicianship are no surprise, but senor Johnson has been the heat. He slams, slides, swings, does it all, and with an honesty about it. We're just a day in, but I'm really excited.

Steven Bernstein comes to join us this coming Tuesday for a gig and day in the studio. You gotta know Steven if you don't. We did a short tour together this past November and he became like an uncle. His playing is ridiculous, though its his character and persona that make him, in my opinion, the finest and most engagingly modern trumpeter around. When we did gigs in November, my entire perspective on note choice changed. Because Steven plays the slide trumpet, he's privy to a multitude of notes in between the notes. He can shake between a couple notes, or make a run through a whole cosmos of sound we're not used to hearing. Its beautiful. I began to think of music not as a series of twelve notes, but as this giant swath of sound we can lie around in. There's this infinite cloud of sound and we can pick and organize it how we'd like. The 12 notes are just the common tones to the ear. Listen to Hendrix, he did the same thing. His bends shook between two common notes, and often just lived there for a while. That stuff has to come from somewhere inside. Its a force, angry passion and love, a desire to be your own. I love being around people like that.

 

After we wrap up this record, we have a new quartet "A Love Electric" with drummer Hernan Hecht, www.hernanhecht.com, out doing a little tour in Mexico. You gotta check Hernan out, he's got the screaming in him too. More on that soon.....

If you get to this before May 11th, don't short yourself and stay home.... hit up the Clown Lounge, 10 p.m. for our quartet featuring Bernstein.

Thats for your support

much love

Todd

Lots happening through March and April here in Los Cabos. Most of thoughts have been occupied by whats coming up this Thursday with our VIVE project. We've had a number of rehearsals for the record, its a trip. There's 8 or 9 of us and its an eclectic mix. Our drummer is 14, a student I've had for the past 3 years or so on a variety of instruments, good player. Our guitarist is like an uncle, great and impassioned performer, could be our drummer's grandfather and has a penchant for Jerry Garcia. The violinist is Alex DePue, who tours regularly with Steve Vai and debuted paying at Carnegie Hall on his 14th birthday, prodigous. Samantha Rae is singing some tunes, she was a finalist on Latin American Idol. Seba Dimarco is on bass, from Buenos Aires. Janet Jensen is Canadian, on trombone and a real estate professional when she's not assaulting aural senses from the stage. Juan Orozco joins on percussion. As Don King once said, "only in Mexico". 

A colorful cast of characters. Music's capability to act as a unifying force never ceases to amaze. Going to be fun, blinding energy. Cant wait to make it happen. 

Its been an encouraging past few months and bookings through the fall are coming. Looking forward to getting out in front of new faces as summer comes. 

Thanks for your support.

Its about 40 degrees and rainy here in Guadalajara today, which feels like being paper-mached in ice shear to me. Spoiled by winters in Los Cabos. Its nice how weather affects the music we choose to listen to, and create. Ive buried myself in music to be charted out and completed in the net few days, here in Hotel de Mendoza, cornering a humble and homely windowless church where elderly folks trickle in and out daily to pay their respects. Aross the street is the sprawling city plaza, silhoutted by the cathedral. Its wonderful.

I've decided to celbrate my birthday this year by recording a live record of original and unheard songs joined by a group of 8 or so Los Cabos based musicians. Im about half way through the writing. Im thinking of the Mahavishnu Orchestra playing a Tom Waits record. Its a lot to hope for, and we'll fall short on both writing and performance of the two fore-mentioned artists, but its going to feel unique and hum with energy. Trombones, saxophones, violin, screaming guitars, upright, percussion. See you February 17th, details to come.

Back to the pen and paper. Enjoying these few days to get at it. There's lots of material up on You Tube from recent shows, Arts Day Out, etc.

If you're in Los Cabos, check us out every Friday at the Local Eight.

We made it, ripped it, good people. Too tired right now to write much and figure out exactly what happened this past week on tour with a musical hero of mine, Steven Bernstein, and our quartet. Check back in the next couple days for videos, and everything else modern technology allows us.

Off to a regular gig tomorrow. Be interesting to see how that all feels after what we were able to experience these past weeks.

Thanks a ton for your support. Every show was packed and unique.

On the plane to Guadalajara right now for what, without fail, shall be the finest week of music I've been fortunate to take part in. Playing the next week with Steven Bernstein, www.steven bernstein.net. We have a club show to start it off but should be howling heartily sans-abandon by Wednesday when we get over to the Theater, with 500 plus expected for us and the release of Troker's new record. Feeling good, no nerves, ready to create with a quartet of like-minded playas. 

 

The last 10 days were no cold beans either, with Keb Mo in town. He sat in with our Bright Life Orchestra band last Saturday and played a solo show Sunday that we closed out as folks meandered after cocktail-ing. Was hot. We had a fun "Powerless Trio" going on with bassist Fernando Vinoly holding down some out-loops and Argentine David Cantoni on sax as well throughout the week. Fernando is set to head back to Uruguay for a couple months, so the trio will have to go duo, meaning even less power, leaving things to just David and I. Whats less power than powerless?  There was one gig I'd like to forget the last set of, well actually that was pretty much taken care of moment of, but weak moments come and all in all the week was a success. Lucky to get to spend some time with Mr. Mo outside of the performances as well and left with a renewed appreciation of the artistic and musical journey. It bites, you bite back. It rewards, you keep biting.

 

Arts Day Out Dec 13 is worth every minute of your time. 12 interactive art exhibits, youth bands, and Bernstein and our quartet to close it out.

 

One quick note to fellow musicians and if any students come by to read this. Don't be punks to each other, we're together as artists. I sometimes fall victim to the temptation of judgement as well as that of insecurity towards my art and that of others, but its destructive. Its a dead end, if not a cliff. I've gone out to a couple performances and played recently with some friends to sit-in and been so vibed out by some players self interest and sneer, had to leave. That stuff is not art, its ego, and if you're fortunate enough to have a crowd, they can feel it. They run from it. They want creating and relating, that doesn't just mean relating to yourself. If you think someone sucks, make them a friend and a student if they're willing. If not, go your own way, but don't stomp on them as you head out. I always return to the Bukowski quotes that speak to me in times of self doubt and times of judgement  "do it, do it, do it. Its the only good fight there is. You will ride life straight to perfect laughter...." That fight does not include mockery. Maybe it sounds self righteous, but seriously, play jazz but don't be a "jazzhole", as John Medeski terms it.

 

Ego is the weak sauce on a scrumptious chili relleno, the drain on a well full of creativity and goodness.  Art is communal, it gives back. Thats where the purity of it lies, in its ability to bring us together. I hope this Arts Day Out serves as an example of this, help out and bring some folks down. There will be no money charged there to any family. I love that part.

 

Now to the music!

 

Im going to do my best to update from Guadalajara here and get videos up, etc. Looking forward to performing, learning, and having time to really enjoy the music I like to create. Its fun and Im fortunate to have the opportunity to actually do what I like with organized noise from time to time.

 

Much Love

Todd

If you want to make it as a musician, you have to change your entire understainding of what that phrase means. You will be mocked, shunned, loved, find perspective lovers, lose old lovers, question every note you play, endeavor into the depths of existentiality, have bouts with certainty, and then go on to doubt your sanity. It's as difficult and as beautiful as things can become wrapped up into one mind . And I haven't made it in any way other than to be able to occassionally support myself by doing what Ive dedicated myself to and meet some great people along the way. But its a fight to stay inspired. And it takes fighting, but we're out doing it. There are nights we'll love, I'd trade every self doubt, and ugly anxious moment for all that this thing has ever given me. 

Its no place for creatures of sympathy, but for those of empathy and understanding. The most straight forward people I've met are musicians, as are some of the most shifty. Its manic in every way, but when it hits and its right, its out of body and mind. 

Its transcends music and art into business and all when its real. We're getting there.

 

Much Love

Anyone good with band names? Looking for a new one with a happenin sextet we have. Just finishing up rehearsals and our first show comes Saturday at a healthy sized beachfront club event here in Los Cabos. On vocals is Samantha Rae along with myself and pianist Daryl Curie, with the Ramos brothas, Angel (pronounced Awn-hell) and Geovani laying it down.... and Argentine David Cantoni on sax.

Rehearsals have been fruitful and much more is to come. Have some fun trio stuff going in November as well at a good and forward-thinking little bar, Syriaccus. Not sure what we'll do yet, but most certain it'll be weird, and may leave you asking "can my boyfriend do that".... as my brother told me Prince pronounced from his Paisley Park show the other night. Never been to one, missed the boat. But that man is a master. I remember seeing him sit in with Santana at Northrop Auditorium in Minneapolis around the turn of the century. I knew little of Prince other than his hits and reputation as an enigmatic figure. He came on stage in modest attire by his standards and went ahead and absolutely destroyed the guitar in every positive way imaginable. The man plays, he sings, he writes, and dresses at a level unimaginable to most of us..... I blew it on missing some of his shows growing up. Glad my brother was there to fill me in on his latest happenings. And on another tangent, my brother is also the secret production mind of anything we've ever released.... I mean that in a positive way, not to lay blame. Any blame goes to me.

Well back to the lecture at hand. Sun is setting much earlier here, though we have to wait for you in the states to catch back to us with your daylight savings - not yet saving-ness. We turned the clocks back this past Sunday. The US does this weekend. 

Life is good, November is heavy on quality gigs, and December tour with Bernstein is going to swing. Got no time to write or practice music, but thats what the summer was for. Spring time record releases assuming I can get some time after the holidays to get it all mastered and artwork done right.

Arts Day Out on our fine and grand city plaza stage headlined by Steven and our quartet December 13th is calendar worthy, Id guess. All my students and bands are going to open up for our quartet with Bernstein. Their resumes are taking shape early.

Thanks for reading

Much Love