June 27, 2010
Busy month has made me feel like I've accomplished some things, which is good. Played great concerts in Charleston, Norfolk, and New York. Released a CD with Robert Lewis and Gerald Gregory. Recorded for a new CD with Ted Hearne. Rode the subway and chatted with Trover Dunn. Ate some good food. Saw old friends. Good times.

now on to the next thing

May 25, 2010
Tons of great gigs coming up which have been posted. The most urgent of which is the New Music
Collective's 5th Anniversary Concert this Saturday at Redux. It will be epic.
Also coming up are great shows for the Piccolo Spoleto Jazz Series presented by the Jazz Artists of
Charleston (Kopaja, Tommy Gill Trio, and Tumbao (an 8-piece salsa band)). The a great show in
New York at Merkin Hall with Ted Hearne, a weekend in Norfolk subbing with the Asphalt
Orchestra, and finally a week of recording Ted's music in New York. What a June, what a life.

May 14, 2010
I spent some time yesterday writing music with Bill Carson and Nick Jenkins for a show tonight at
Redux. 23 Eyeballs and 1 Asshole... and Nick Jenkins is opening up for Vialka and Oicho Kabu and
it should be a rockin good time. We'll probably start around 8:30 so get there early for some seats.

April 28, 2010
Lots of exciting gigs coming up. The New Music Collective Fundraiser is this weekend, and then
begins the long buildup to Spoleto. And quickly after that I'm out of town a lot for shows. It's gonna
be a wild summer.
More news soon on the CD recently recorded with Robert Lewis and Gerald Gregory. We should be
touring soon. Really, we should.

April 3, 2010
I was fortunate to get to play for a couple Guerrilla Cuisine events in March. I highly recommend
these events to anyone interested in local foodie culture. It's a great vibe, and usually interesting
people from all over Charleston. Unfortunately for me at one of the events I lost some cymbals and a
bag of percussion. Boneheaded move on my part and I'm still kicking myself because some of the
items in my bag of percussion are irreplaceable... so it goes.
In other news I played a great show with the Tyler Ross Double Trio last week. Lee Barbour, Gerald
Gregory, and I are rehearsing some originals for a show in Columbia opening for the Specs. And I'm
off to New York next week briefly to present some of Ted Hearne's new songs at Le Poisson Rouge.
The New Music Collective Fundraiser is right around the corner. April 30th at Eye Level Art.

March 17, 2010
Also, there's a video archived on the Kennedy Center website of the Opposite of a Train's
Performance on the Millenium Stage last February. check it out

March 12, 2010
Also, some new audio available on the sounds page.

March 11, 2010
Whirlwind traveling lately. Being out of town so much the last few months has left me a little
unsettled, but I've had a great time playing music in so many new places (and ways). I'll get used to
it, though, because it's not going to stop. I don't want it to.
Good shows coming up including a Silent Music show tomorrow night, a show with Tyler Ross on
March 25th, a show in New York with Ted Hearne next month.
Also, I recently recorded an album's worth of material with Robert Lewis and Gerald Gregory. It's half
originals and half standards and we're pretty happy about, so we're probably going to release it to
the public. This is the same trio that plays (mostly regularly) at Mercato, so if you've been to see us
you know how much fun we have and how the chemistry is something pretty unique.

January 10, 2010
Spent a nice chilly week in New York last week rehearsing some new music of Ted Hearne's. Always a
pleasure and a challenge with that guy. And met some new people with whom I look forward to
playing music again soon.
Voodoo Winter Jazz Series is happening soon, and the Rudy Waltz is playing on the 26th. Good fun!!
February brings much playing with the Opposite of a Train. We're playing a big show for the Halsey
Gallery on the 2nd which will have Nathan Koci, Bill Carson, and I joined by Kevin Hamilton, Clint
Fore, Wilton Elder, and Charlton Singleton, as well as Lindsay Holler, Joel Hamilton, Stefanie
Underhill, Michael Trent, and Cary Ann Hearst. The next day we're off as a trio to bring our
chamber-folk-jazz to other cities that have yet to know just what is the Opposite of a Train...
Here's to winter chills and unexpected thrills

October 15, 2009
I got to play a nice collaborative show last weekend with Jacob Wick for a project he's doing while
traveling around the country (It's called ROAD TRIP). A couple other of my Charleston friends were
involved, and we were all pretty happy about what happened. Before that (and on a totally different
note) I played with Bobby Alvarez and a band called Para Ti which was also fun. We played before a
great Richmond-based band called Bio Ritmo which is an incredibly tight and danceable band.
The Rudy Waltz is looking for a new place to play. I've played with those guys for so long it's weird not
having a gig any more.
There's a couple new things posted throughout the website. Check it out.
I need to clean my room and hang some art. Will you help me?

September 20, 2009
I'm playing a solo opening set and hopefully collaborating with my good friend Philip White for a
concert at 701 Center for Contemporary Art in Columbia, SC this coming Monday. I don't do solo
sets often, so I always look forward to the challenge of it. Plus I love seeing what Philip does, and this
is another chance for that.

September 15. 2009
The gigs get shuffled. I'm doing a show starting soon at a new restuarant/supper club called Vue
with a singer named Bob Anderson. I'm playing occasionally at Alluette's, but it's loose right now; no
set group. Things are gonna happen.
Also, I updated the "what I'm listening to" portion of my links page, for those that read such things
(thanks, mom!)

September 3, 2009
Gigs are slow, so i'm practicing and doing sessions with people to keep the juices flowing. How do
you feel about that? huh?

August 7, 2009
Here comes the Fall, and hopefully some cool weather soon. I'm looking forward to getting back to
playing with my peeps in Charleston. It's been a long summer, and I've got some ideas for what to
do now (if I can only get motivated).

July 25, 2009
Before I go on vacation I'm playing a concert in Columbia at 701CCA (for the third time this year).
This time it's a concert put together by Jason Brogan and Sam Sfirri and it's called Several Silences. I
always enjoy playing music with these guys, so I'm happy to put off vacation for one little day. The
concert has already gotten good press, partly because this music is not played very often and there
are genuine followers. Sequenza21 even gave a shout out. If you're in the area it would really be a
beautiful evening for you to show up and listen.

July 3, 2009
The heat will stop me from being me.
Lots of around town gigs coming up this month. Also, doing a show at the Charleston Music Hall.
Garage Cuban Band is playing at Voodoo Lounge on July 21st, which will be lots of fun. Just ask
anyone.
Also, the Opposite of a Train CD has finally made it to iTunes! Search for it in the iTunes Store. Buy
it, review it, tell your friends, tell your enemies. Also try CD Baby (it's fun!). We're hoping to do a tour
of the East Coast in the late Fall.

June 11, 2009
oof. this has been a long few weeks, and now I've got a cold. probably due to exhaustion...
The Voodoo Lounge Jazz Series is happening again, and I will be playing with numerous groups for
that (to be finalized soon) so go check that out.
Also, I got a great book from Nathan Koci a while ago called All Over Coffee by Paul Madonna. I've
just started reading it, and love some of the poignant, yet simple, writings he throws together
unrelatedly with pencil drawings of the bay area.
"The hardest part for the living is feeling dead
And that those whom we're dead to
Keep on living."
and
"Everything takes more time, money, and effort than you think it will
Plus something you could never imagine, until you're completely immersed"
These seem to resonate with me these days...

June 1, 2009
BANG ON A CAN MARATHON OMG OMG OMG!!!!
JAC JAZZ SERIES OMG OMG OMG!!!
YOUR BAD SELF ON TOUR OMG OMG OMG!!!
i'm a little busy right now, but if you'd like to leave a message just wait for the tone...

April 14, 2009
well, my mother complained, but I just haven't had the time to do major changes here. I've been busy
co-hosting a fundraiser for the NMC, writing and playing new music in Columbia, watching friends
get married (from right behind them), releasing a CD with the Opposite of a Train, and playing a lot
of gigs.
In upcoming news I'll be playing a few concerts with guitarist Tom Noren this weekend. We're playing
some Lou Harrison works for guitar and percussion, and it's great great stuff. After that I'm in
Savannah playing with the Savannah Jazz Orchestra which is always fun. Next month, I'm excited to
say, Your Bad Self will be playing at the Bang on a Can Marathon in New York. BOAC is an
organization that, when I was fresh in college, radically changed my ideas of what music could be.
I'm excited to get a chance to be a small part of that great community now.

March 1, 2009
I've played a lot the last month for the various jazz series going on around Charleston and I've had a
great time doing it all. Trying to balance that with organizational responsibilities has not been so
much fun, but I think I'm getting the hang of it.
There are some minor layout updates to this site as well as some new pictures posted here and
there. I'm still far too lazy for a complete overhaul of the site. I'll wait until my mother complains.

February 3, 2009
the Rudy Waltz totally rocked the Voodoo Jazz Series last Saturday. It was ridiculous. Women were
fighting over us, and I kid you not.
I am happy to be playing quite a bit for the local jazz series this winter. I play at either the Voodoo or
Mellow Mushroom Jazz Series or both every week for the next month. I'm looking forward to all of
them, but this coming Monday, the 9th, will be a unique group that I've not performed with before
with Charlton Singleton, Gerald Gregory, and Ben Wells. I like that kind of thing!
Thanks to everyone who came out to the NMC's presentation of Beatrix*Jar. I think everyone can
agree it was a good time. Make sure you check out White Rocket who will also be doing a workshop
and masterclass at the college on Feb 19.
January was long and difficult, and I hope everyone made it through... I also hope the prospects for
life improvement are good for youse guys (it's got to get good at some point, right?)

January 6, 2009
After a whirlwind end to 2008 that included a frantic two months culminating in a New York City
performance at the Stone with Nathan Koci and Nathan moving to that city I find myself with a lot of
time on my hands (aka very few gigs) and a lot of business to take care of (aka more responsibilities).
It's hard to stay focused. It's also hard to look forward when so many friends are moving away to
bigger things...
On January 17th Jason Brogan, Sam Sfirri and I will drive to Asheville to play a concert at Flood
Gallery. We will perform works by Mark So, Antoine Beuger, Michael Pisarro, Joe Kudirka and
others. I'm looking forward to playing at this space, which I hear is wonderful, and with these people,
who I know are wonderful.
Otherwise I'm spending most of January getting ready for the months to come with New Music
Collective events right around the corner and CD releases to be anounced soon.

December 1, 2008
Well. I recorded two albums over the weekend: One with Kim Pacheco (the Rudy Waltz as the
rhythm section) and the other with The Opposite Of A Train. The Opposite Of A Train is myself, Bill
Carson, and Nathan Koci doing original ditties that we all had wrote... well, I only had wrote one
tune and that only happened when prompted beautifully by Bill. But anyway, I'm excited about that
record for sure. It's gonna have it all.
The New Music Collective put on a great concert a few weeks ago of many world premieres and
some old classics. I made my compositional debut on the concert with a short piece for two
antiphonal bass drums, french horn, and tape and it was lots of fun. I also got to play in premieres
by Sam Sfirri, Nathan Koci, and Mustafa Walker. On top of that I got to play Nagoya Marimbas,
which I really like doing. The NMC is presenting Gutbucket this Thursday for their CD Release tour. I
am in one of the opening bands called Lavalas with Jason Brogan and Mustafa Walker. We play
kind of loud and you'll love it. Also, this sunday is the last of the Silent Music Series Concerts. I am
performing a piece by James Tenney as well as some other beautifully sparse works.
I have been busy, and busy is good. I'm pleased that there have been many recording opportunities
in the past few months. Besides the recent studio sessions there are also a couple of live recordings
which are in the process of being mixed which should be at least a little exciting. Maybe people can
take me home in recorded format soon...

October 1, 2008
It's really been a month... weird.
Just got back from New York where Nathan Koci, Bill Carson and I performed some music of Ted
Hearne at The Stone. Also performing were Eileen Mack, Chris Coletti, Taylor Levine, Matt Wright,
Miki-Sofia Cloud, and Ted himself on piano. It was a great show of brand new music that was
challenging for the listeners as well as the performers and I was glad to see familiar faces in the
audience. What a pleasure. Oh yeah, and we're called Your Bad Self.
Also last month was the culmination of a somewhat ambiguous project called The Future Is On The
Table. This has been a few years in the making, and though I never took the time to fully understand
the scope of the project I did have a fantastic time improvising with Nathan Koci, Bill Carson, and
Sam Sfirri while Aurore Gruel danced with blocks of ice. It was mesmerizing, I tell you. And there's a
good chance it will happen again in 2009.
I'm in Savannah this Friday with Dave Kain. Then Sunday Havanason is making a rare appearance
at the Hispanic Festival in North Charleston. Also Sunday is the first of the Silent Music Concerts
presented by the NMC and curated by Jason Brogan. Brogan, Koci, Sfirri, and myself will perform an
hour of sparse music which often surprises even me with its simple beauty.
AND I'm playing the South Carolina Jazz Festival again. This time with a quartet led by Robert Lewis.
WOO!!

August 27, 2008
OK!!
There is a Katrina Ballads CD Release party this Sunday at Robert Lange Studios. The CD is being
released as a digital download from New Amsterdam Records this weekend and we will be playing
the recording of the piece and having an informal chat and hang with wine and snacks starting
around 7PM. Come out and listen to the wonderful work of wonderful people (watch out, though,
East Bay Street can be a weird scene).
Also, I am on another CD that is being digitally released this week. It's called "by virtue of the fact"
and it's a bunch of improvisations by a loose collective of musicians called 'non'. Ray Evanoff
organized the group, and got the internet label Insides Music to release it on their website. You can
listen to it for free on their website.

August 14, 2008
The summer's ups and downs are almost over, giving way quietly to the fall's ups and downs. It's a
good thing I never aspired much toward a steady schedule of meaningless work. I get neither steady
nor meaningless work lately.
Voodoo Lounge's Jazz and Blues Series seemed to be well booked and well-received. Kopaja played
and the garage Cuban Band played and both were good times had by all. Voodoo has been a
popular bar for a few years, and I can say that it could easily become a popular concert venue. It's
cozy enough, and the sound is good. The bar crowd can be noisy, but hey, they're just trying to get
crunk.
NMC is bringing and performing with Kenosha Kid on September 18. They are an Athens-based
group that have scored a soundtrack for a Buster Keaton silent film. It's a little bit jazz, little bit rock,
whole lotta fun.
That weekend Nathan Koci and I once again get in my car and drive to New York to play the music
of Ted Hearne. This time it's an hour-long new work for sextet and we get to perform at The Stone.
I'm excited.

July 18, 2008
R.I.P. Taras Kovayl. I can't comprehend, yet. All I can do is remember how much he loved playing
music.

July 9, 2008
Maybe it's just that it's summer, and irreverence is expected. Or maybe it's that I was so busy during
April, May, and June (not to mention March). Or maybe it's something else entirely that I'm unwilling
to admit in public, but I have been lazy lately. Well, not so much lazy as floating. I guess it's to be
expected.
Spoleto was a blast. I had opportunities to play with a ton of groups, and it all went well. I was proud
of my diversity and ability to be myself in a dozen different situations. But what next?
Well, for one: I'm going to Pickens, SC at the end of the month to do some sort of collaborative
multi-disciplinary art hang at the home and studios of some great upstate artists.
Also, a bunch of the concerts for Piccolo were recorded and might be good enough to sell. Also, I
recorded an album with Robert Lewis & Fearless Jones, and that should be a lot of fun, too. Details
later.

May 25, 2008
SPOLETO. I have no time to write now. Check gig updates please.

May 11, 2008
Nathan Koci recently bought a Clarinet. And I pulled out an old cymbal I thought I would never use.
Hilarity Ensued.

April 29, 2008
I Have daytimes free again! No more early mornings and late nights! Now just late nights!
Check out the play Eurydice up in North Charleston. It opened over the weekend, and I think it's
gonna be a good run. There is a full schedule up here. I'm playing the Loud Stone as well as music
with Nathan Koci and Bill Carson. If I'm not there then the great Nick Jenkins will be in my place.
Also check out the lineup for the Piccolo Spoleto Jazz Series Upstairs at Mistral. I get to play on four
different occasions with four different groups and I'm looking forward to all of them. May 27 is the
Rudy Waltz; May 29 is with David Heywood, Bert Ligon, and Craig Butterfield; June 1 is with Robert
Lewis & Fearless Jones; and June 5 is with Kopaja.
I'm also playing with two groups on the Piccolo Spoleto Cuban Block Party. Garage Cuban Band
opens, and Havanason is playing with some special guests from miami.
All in all the next month and a half is going to be a great showcase for much of the talent in
Charleston, and I'm glad to be a part of that right now.
P.S. there will be another Tom Waits Show in June!

April 6, 2008
oof, it's been a long two months since last update.
Tatsuya Nakatani was here for a couple of days. He is a great cook, and a great guy... plus he's an
amazing percussionist.
I spent the first two weeks of March in New York and New Haven playing concerts of Katrina
Ballads. That was an amazing experience I'll never forget. So many great people, and such wonderful
music. How does Ted Hearne do it? The recording session at Avatar Studios was incredibly intense,
but well worth the effort. Sometime soon there will be a CD of this music so everyone can hear
something that means so much to those involved.
The NMC hosted Red Light New Music two weeks ago. They were a great bunch of people that I'm
glad to have met, and their music was well received. Red Light can crash at my house any time.
There is a Fundraiser for the NMC and Theatre 99 coming up soon. Please check it out here and
come support! We need it, and you'll love it.
Lastly: Nathan Koci, Bill Carson, Nick Jenkins, and I are in the midst of rehearsing a play with Pure
Theatre. It's called Eurydice and we are playing the role of the Stones (modernized Greek Chorus) as
well writing music for the play. The play opens on April 25th and it should be wonderful.
oh wait one more: the Illuminati Outro is scheduled to play for the Charleston Jazz Society on April
27th. Last time we were supposed to play for this organization it washed out and we lost our chance.
This time we'll make up for it. Come out (as soon as I know the venue I'll let you know.)

February 10, 2008
trying to keep it going here. Lot's of stuff coming up, but not really many regular gigs, which I like to
use as a kind of home base for my playing. I'll need to practice more...
Soon I travel to New York and New Haven for more Katrina Ballads performances and also a
recording session. Recording this great music with these great people will be an experience I don't
have a precedent for, but to which I am looking forward very much. (I'm excited)
for those of you that do read this stuff, first of all: thanks, and second of all: I'm slack and haven't
updated much in a while. Let's all pretend I'm as busy as I keep thinking I am.

January 2, 2008
a new year, yay.
I travel to Chiacago this weekend (by car, for I play drums...) to play some concerts for Ted Hearne,
a composer for whom I have much respect, and a guy for whom I have much love. We will be
performing a chamber version of Katrina Ballads, as well as another full concert for his organization
Yes Is A World. This organization is committed to bringing about social change through music, and I
have no problem with that. If you happen to be in Chicago... please come and change the world
with your support.
In Charleston, I'll still be at Mistral on Tuesdays and Mercato on Fridays (when I'm not in Chicago,
anyway) and I'll also be back at Porgy's Other Place with Robert Lewis and Fearless Jones a couple
times this month and again in February and March. Fun groups all, and unique, too.
There are some videos of me floating around out there, too. Two are on YouTube Here and Here. A
couple more are on the website of a good friend, and great musician Duda Lucena. Hooray for the
interweb. Al Gore did us right on that one.
I'll look for you out there, and let's try and make this one better than the last one.

November 26, 2007
Tons of great concerts coming up this weekend. the New Music Collective is playing two concerts
two nights in a row that are completely different. Needless to say, my rehearsal schedule for this
week is fairly consuming. I've also got a gig on the 10th at Porgy's with Dave Linaburg that should be
a lot of fun.
Ummm... okay, that's all I got really. Come to the concerts, they will prove to best thing you've ever
done... ever. I'll bet you money.

November 10, 2007
'Tis the Season!! No more Mondays on the beach for me. Station 22 Restaurant on Sullivan's Island
has noticed the slight slowdown in patronage from tourists and we no longer have a place to play on
Mondays. Dave Linaburg, Ben Wells, and I had a good time playing there, forging a new musical
relationship as well as eating some tasty, tasty food. On to the next thing, I suppose.
Look out for many special events in the next month. Numerous concerts including a re-emergence of
the Illuminati Outro for the CJS, back-to-back and unique concerts from the New Music Collective,
and the continuation of a new gig at Porgy's Other Place with Robert Lewis and Fearless Jones.

October 31, 2007
Well, this is the first Wednesday since July, 2006 that I am not playing at Cordavi with Kopaja (Kevin
Hamilton, Nathan Koci, and I). Unfortunately, this great restaurant on the Ass-East side of town will
be closing soon, so we're looking for a new place to call our weekly home. For now, I am somewhat
content to have a few nights off. And there's much to be preparing for in my newfound spare time. in
the next months are two shows with Brad Moranz, two shows with the New Music Collective (on
back to back nights), a concert with Frank Duvall, a concert with Kevin Hackler, a concert with the
Illuminati/Outro, and I'm starting a new gig at Porgy's Other Place with Robert Lewis. All in all, busy
times. Come out and see me, and let me know that my hair is getting too long. (yes, Kari, I'm talking
to you.)

October 1, 2007
Just got back from the Savannah Jazz Festival where I got to play after Rashied Ali's Quintet (!!) with
the Savannah Jazz Orchestra featuring Vincent Herring. Vincent's a killing player and we all had a lot
of fun. Savannah's a beautiful city with a vibrant art scene, but I haven't seen much of the music
scene beyond straight-ahead jazz. Hopefully I'll get a chance to explore it more in the near future.
Next Tuesday, Oct 9th, everyone in Charleston should come to the College of Charleston and see
the Claudia Quintet. This band is the future in my opinion and I'm excited to be a part of the reason
they're coming to town. check newmusiccollective.org for more info.
Also, later this month I've got the first of what will hopefully be many gigs with robert Lewis and Frank
Duvall in a trio situation. Come out and listen.

September 21, 2007
Well, The sounds page has finally been updated. After about two years of old stuff there will now
commence a period of about two years featuring less old stuff. By the time this new stuff gets to be
old as the old stuff is now hopefully I will have a slew of other recordings that I'm proud of, or I just
think are interesting, or were fun to make.
I'm playing a concert with Bobbie Storm this Sunday. She's a great singer. I'm playing with the
Savannah Jazz Orchestra for the Savannah Jazz Festival next Saturday. The guest is saxophonist
Vincent Herring. From what I hear he's really good. It's always fun to get out of town for music, and
Savannah is beautiful. And there's a coffee shop I kind of like, too.

September 1, 2007
I'm playing a few more special concerts this month. Monday the 3rd at the communications
museum behind a man named Killick. Wednesday the 12th with Havanason at MUSC. Thursday the
13th at the College of Charleston for Robert Lewis' faculty jazz recital. But you can still see me most
nights at my regular gigs.
I've had a chance to make numerous recordings lately with various groups, and it's kind of exciting
that some of it sounds pretty good! I'm considering compiling a few of the better moments and
making it available. It will be affordable, I assure.
Come see the NMC sponsored event on Sept 11 featuring Keefe Jackson's Fast Citizens from
Chicago. Supa great music from the heartland.

August 11, 2007
Okay: Driving to Asheville tomorrow to play for the Western North Carolina Jazz Society with Duda
Lucena. I have a couple friends who rave about playing music in Asheville, but I have yet to have
those experiences, so I'm looking forward to the trip. Also in the band is Kevin Hamilton on bass and
Gerald Gregory on piano. Some naturally musical cats, you know?
Next week is Charleston's First Annual Improvised Music Festival. Ray Evanoff has put together two
nights of a good blend of out-of-towners and local talent starting at 6PM August 17th and 18th.
Come to St Mark's on Thomas Street downtown Charleston to witness the magic... or the mayhem,
depending on how everyone feels that night.
Later this month Rich White, Jake Holwegner, and I (often referred to as the Rudy Waltz) will be
playing for the Charleston Jazz Society's monthly concert. Check the gigs page for more info on
these and other opportunities to hear me play music. Thanks.

ever wonder what people do when a gig starts much later than expected? it usually involves drinking
and occasionally involves dancing.

July 5, 2007
Well, done with Spoleto; done with vacation... now back to the grind. Luckily I love what I do. I've got
numerous steady gigs that I'm looking forward to honing over the next month: rehearsals are in
order. Kopaja is in the process of adding five or six new tunes to our book for Cordavi. It will be fun
to see how they develop over the next few weeks.

okay that's all for now. keep looking for short audio experiments on this page... if you're into that sort
of thing....            or maybe you prefer myspace.

June 14, 2007
When digging through the past one can occasionally find a gem.<>

June 11, 2007
Spoleto has come and gone again and I feel like I missed a lot. Having to work all day most days
was the culprit, which my friend Wayne Mitchum reminded me is a good thing. I always look forward
to the modern dance companies, but I am never able to make it to the performances. I did get to see
Joey Baron who has been a huge influence on my playing for about 6 years. And it was a great
honor for Guy Klucevsek, another hero of mine, to introduce me to Joey as "another great
drummer." I think I even blushed...
The premiere performance of Ted Hearne's Katrina Ballads was a powerful experience that I won't
soon forget. I felt honored to be able to play such moving music with such a wonderful group of
musicians. I look forward to being able to do it again.
I'll be around most of the summer still playing as much as I can with as much love as I can. Look for
me; I need your support.

March 27, 2007
Moving right along here.
Good times are had Tuesdays at Mistral, Wednesdays at Cordavi, and soon to be Fridays at
Upstairs. Havanason will be playing every Friday of April at this new bar above Joe Pasta. Come out
and dance.
NMC Fundraiser Thursday the 5th of April. Come see the Kopaja Quintet with Bill Carson as well as
the Wiltrout/Evanoff Duo. Also come check out friends like Morimoto, Cary Ann Hearst, Quentin
Baxter, and Unbegrenzt. All have donated their talents for this night to raise money for music. YEAH!

March 2, 2007
The NMC had a concert last friday, and it went really well. The crowd was definitely appreciative of
our modest presentation of 20th century avant-garde compositions. Dulcie Livingston, Dave
Linaburg and I also performed Ray Evanoff's new composition The Scale of an Object is Relative to
Perspective for oboe, electric guitar, and marimba. It went well, but the record labels were not in
attendance, and now we'll have to wait until next concert for our big chance.
Sunday past was a second showing of the Illuminati Outro, a group comprised of Lee Barbour,
Jeremy Wolf, Nathan Koci, and myself. We played for an hour at 52.5 record shop to celebrate their
10 years of being open. I hope for ten more, and maybe another chance to play there... it's a great
place.
Havanason will be trying to make a comeback this spring starting with a short gig at the CCPL for
their Local Blend series. Hopefully we can find a steady gig somewhere so the salsa community of
Charleston can see a live band every now and then. Also at the Local Blend series will be the premier
of Buenos Hermanos. check it out.

and check this out ).....<.>.....(

February 2, 2007
Cars are the ultimate damper on spiritual happiness. I love my car; I love to drive my car. I drive it
pretty often which means I'm using a lot of fuel... good for the economy, bad for the future. Plus it's
expensive. But the biggest expense is when you have to sink a load into repairs just so you can
continue to buy fuel and drive around happily. My car has a new engine now... and to remind me of
this my check engine light keeps coming on. "I know," I say to my car, "It's very pretty. I'm glad you
want me to look at it, but I'm driving to a gig right now." If only cars could be vain. Then all the
warning lights could be an appeal for more affection rather than to my wallet.

January 6, 2007
The holidays have ended and I have time to rethink much in my life. Music, like people, must change,
and I am endeavouring to understand the next necessary step in my life as a musician as well as the
next step in my life in general. Stubbornness will not get me through this time.
I also plan to change, or just add to, this website with more up-to-date sound files and streamline the
projects page so that some of the groups that haven't played for more than two years can be made
more difficult to find. I've also updated the little tidbits here and there. In the meantime I am also
more or less in charge of updating the content on the New Music Collective's website, so you can
find out more about me there. Numerous big concerts are planned for the rest of our season and
you should come to all of them, if possible.
Last night I had the pleasure of seeing a great band called Dragons 1976. Their music made me
excited about the possibilities of the world, and I hope the inspiration will not soon wear off.
Impermanence is something that many musicians battle either consciously (with recordings) or
subconsciously (with anxiety and the need to constantly be playing) and the past year has shown me
that dealing with it consciously can be much more rewarding... so I'm going to record more, dig?
see you out there.

October 25, 2006
Cordavi was recently featured in Esquire Magazine as one of the top 20 new restaurants in the
country. Check it out, and check out the fact that Kopaja plays there every Wednesday evening at 9
o'clock. Cordavi uses this night to present special prices on a selection of their wonderful food, so
everyone wins.
Last weekend I played with Dave Linaburg at the first annual South Carolina Jazz Festival. We played
away from the main stage, however, in a restaurant that used to be a Quincy's. Though we were
technically playing for the festival it felt more like we were playing for the regular Saturday night
buffet customers... Hopefully Dave's tunes helped with their digestion (I believe they would need the
help.) Jake Holwegner agreed that it was the most bizarre gig we've played.
New Music Collective concert November 3rd. Be there. For me?

October 1, 2006
I saw a group called the Young and the Restless last night (which consists of Dave Linaburg, Gerald
Gregory, and Nick Jenkins) and I loved it. Everyone should see them, because they are making new
music in Charleston, and it's great.
I am getting ready for a fairly busy fall, but I can't help but to relax every now and then and enjoy this
beautiful weather. When I am working, though, I am playing with Kopaja (with Kevin Hamilton and
Nathan Koci) and the Rudy Waltz (with Rich White and Jake Holwegner) and getting ready for the
New Music Collective's next concert at Redux on November 3rd. drop me a line and ask me what's
what: ronnus@RonWiltrout.com

August 25, 2006
A life in transition leads to interesting music. I've got many new musical prospects on the horizon,
including a few improvised gigs with Dave linaburg, Jason Brogan, Michael Hanf, and Keiran Daly.
Kopaja is still playing at Cordavi on Wednesdays. The Rudy Waltz is still playing at Mistral on
Tuesdays, and the line-up for that has been changing weekly and including such local luminaries as
Taras Kovayl, Rich White, Jeremy Wolf, and Jake Holwegner. I'm working on new techniques for
playing percussion/drums with and without electronics, and I'm trying to figure out how to efficiently
wire my computer and recording interface equiplment for ease-of-use (and to get rid of the
sympathetic pops from the dryer.) Good times all-around.

July 2, 2006
The summer has brought me quite a bit of time for reflection and practice. More than anything,
though, I want to get out and play music. This month will see the debut of a new project with Kevin
Hamilton and Nathan Koci called Kopaja (Koe-pah'-jah). Wednesday, July 5th we'll be at Cordavi on
North Market near the Customs House, downtown Charleston, SC. Hopefully, this will be a regular
Wednesday night thing, but the first night will be a good time no matter what, so please come out
and hear what we've been working on. In other news, the New Music Collective will be participating
in an art show/event in the upstate of SC in the first week of August. This will be at the childhood
home of Shelby Davis, and will coincide with the last week Shelby and NMC founder Philip White will
be on the East Coast. Philip White, NMC co-founder, will be attending Mills College in the fall. You
might not make it to this show, but you should say 'hi' to Philip before he leaves.

June 5, 2006
A month of chaos has ended and left me wandering around my house anxiously trying to focus on
the next thing. One of the next things is Nathan Koci and I playing at the CCPL Local Blend series
Sunday June 11th at 3pm. Should be a good combination of improvised goodness and worked out
minimalistic schtuff and possibly a backwards loop or two. In the meantime I'm spending all my
money and thinking about how to get more, and also playing music.

May 12, 2006
The endless string of ridiculous gig cancellations continues. These people don't seem to know how to
even act professional. Since when did music become such a throw away commodity that musicians
can be given no notice (!) and never a good reason for cancelling a gig?
In the meantime, on with the show: Tonight, Friday the 12th of May, Havanason is playing for the
North Charleston Arts Festival/Latin American festival in Mead/Westvaco Park. Free block party with
lots of food. This Sunday the New Music Collective hosts the Nomos String Trio from NYC at the
Halsey Gallery of CofC.

-April 30, 2006
May's gigs posted. Bunch of stuff coming up this month. Please come to the New Music Collective's
various concerts throughout the month. Also, on May 11th check out some friends of mine playing
at Redux: Ruby Rosa, and Bill Carson. Ruby Rosa is the project of Clay Ross and Krystle Warren...
hey, I'll be there!

-April 19, 2006
Oak Steakhouse no longer requires the services of my Cuban band Havanason, but we will be
looking for a new, better place to play soon. With all these gig cancellations I have to wonder if
maybe some kind of change is due for my lifestyle. Maybe now is the time to start hustling a little
harder for better gigs, and trying to keep them longer (with methods in addition to playing good
music.) Or maybe now is the time to start pushing specific projects harder for bigger gigs and
touring. Or maybe now is the time to get a job with a little bit more security and use the little time I
will have on the side to push one or two projects hard. Either way, this has a been a stressful month
and I will be glad when it's over.

-April 9, 2006
lots of news: Wedensdays at J.Paul'z and Sundays at Lite Affair have both been "temporarily" put on
hold until crowds get bigger and people buy more drinks... Not many people in Charleston, SC
come out to hear good music and spend a lot of money, so what are we to do? we'll cope somehow.
The New Music Collective has finally settled on a date and venue for our upcoming String Trio
concert. May 14th at the Halsey Institute of CofC we will be hosting a trio out of NYC headed by
David Medine. They will play some, and we will play some with them.
In the meantime I am going to Las Vegas with jake Holwegner to play some Bulgarian fusion music
with Angel Gadzhev. Next Friday, April 21, Lee Barbour and I will be opening for Cyro Baptista's
Beat The Donkey at the Pour House in Charleston. I doubt I'll see any familiar faces in Vegas, but
please come to the show at the Pour House.

-Febreuary 25, 2006
Video page updated. Gigs added to gigs page. Projects are getting individual pages with lots of info
(maybe). More updates coming this weekend, but I'm about to be late to a rehearsal, so I'll write
more later. ciao.

-January 22, 2006
A ton of new gigs added to my schedule for the upcoming months. February will bring the onset of
steady wendesdays at J.Paul's on Maybank Highway with Lee Barbour and Jeremy Wolf as well
steady Thursdays with singer Quiana Parlor at Toucan Reef; and the debut of the Easy Way To Quit
Smoking sundays at Lite Affair (on the square). Right away in February, though, the New Music
Collective will start the 2006 concert/event season with a huge concert on February 3rd. see below
and the NMC website for more info. Come out and see some music, people...

-January 9, 2006
Okay the holidays are gone and now sets in the long hard doldrums of January... call me anytime,
odds are good I won't be on a gig. But I will be preacticing, for there is much excitement on the
horizon. February 3rd is the next big concert for the New Music Collective. Guests from NYC as well
as two pieces written for the NMC, one of which a world premiere!!
In the meantime, Cuban music still happens at Oak on Fridays and the Rudy Waltz, that
not-so-famous not-so-jazz power trio, continues to play at Mistral every Tuesday. Also soon to debut
publicly is the duo project with Lee Barbour that is The Easy Way To Quit Smoking.

-December 2, 2005
Holiday times are busy times... and it takes so long to get anywhere due to consumerism run
rampant. But that is a forum for some other place. Christmas Special is underway. Get tickets and
bring the family. The New Music Collective is planning a fundraiser at Redux on December 16th to
help bring some fantastic musicians to town for our February concert (tentatively Feb 3) including
David Cossin and Jody Redhage.
In other news: Havanason every Friday night at Oak! They have opened up the second floor for
dancing, and have even brought in dance instructors to help those interested in learning to dance
Salsa and Cha-Cha and other Cuban favorites... Look for some new video soon of the Empty Words
Ensemble's first gig. Embrace the cold, it's good for you.

-October 30, 2005
Philip White's event, A Separate Reality, at the Humanities Center last Friday was a success. Thanks
to all who came to the show (there a lot of you) and thanks to Quentin Baxter for being a beautiful
person and a non-stop giver of much appreciated support.
On a different note: the Tea Cult of Japan, comprised of Kevin Hamilton, Lee Barbour, and myself,
has lost its gig at Meritage. This wednesday, November 2, will be the last time we play at Meritage.
We see this as a chance to move on to bigger and better things, so never fear, you die hard fans
(you know who you are), we will play again. But in the meantime, please come out and support us
for our last show at the spot in which the band was born.

-September 20, 2005
The New Music Collective concerts of the past week went very well. Thanks to all who came out on
the 15th. It was small crowd, but an attentive crowd, and that's what we like.
Also of note: Kevin Hamilton's name suggestion for the band on Wednesdays at Meritage has stuck;
we are now called the Tea Cult of Japan. Our crowd is growing, and there are more familiar faces
every week. Keep coming back! We try to add a new song every week, and it looks like Kevin is
bringing electronics now!!
also: There is now a video page!! You should go there now!


-September 5, 2005
I've been driving too much lately... need to stay in town more. Big news is the upcoming concerts of
the New Music Collective. Three in less than a week's time! Saturday the 10th at the Gibbes
Museum's birthday bash; Sunday the 11th at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Avondale;
and Thursday the 15th at the College of Charleston Recital Hall. Each concert program builds on
the one before it, so you can come to all three and support new music in Charleston.


-August 18, 2005
Somewhat overdue updates happening over this weekend. The gigs page is up to date with a new
page of archives. The sounds page still needs to be redone, but I have yet to get motivated to do
that. A ton of New Music Collective shows coming up in the next few months. Numerous requests
have come in and that makes us feel confident that we are getting new music out there (exciting.) Still
haven't heard about it? Check their website and my own projects and sounds page for more info.
Also: please come see my friends and I play music!! We may not ask you in person, but we
would very much like it to be an implicit invitation no matter who you are.


-July 23, 2005
Minor updates to the links, projects, and gigs page today. I plan on redoing the sounds page in the
coming weeks, but first I have t figure out where I will be for the next few months of my life. All is well,
though. T
he New Music Collective's next concert will be September 15th at the College of Charleston Recital
Hall. Works by Alvin Lucier, Steve Reich, Ted Hearne, Philip White, Takemitsu, and more. Also look
for information about an October concert at the Humanities Center with music by Philip White: The
Army of Darkness.


-July 8, 2005
Last night was another successful gig for the Empty Words Ensemble. Nothing but positive feedback
so far makes me wonder if maybe we should be a little more active in booking this group... Thanks to
Ray Evanoff for inviting us to play and playing with us. Thanks to Rick Zender at the John Rivers
Communications Museum for giving us a space to play. Thanks to Lee Barbour and Joseph Peaks
for the support and kind words. Tony Prete, you are the man.


-July 1, 2005
Summer is here, and it's time to reflect. Now that Spoleto is over and done I've got more time than I
know what to do with... well, actually I've got plenty to do. The new gig with Kevin and Lee is working
towards a cohesive sound (we're actually rehearsing now.) The Empty Words Ensemble has its
second gig coming up on the 7th. The New Music Collective is in the process of becoming Not For
Profit, as well as planning and programming the fall concerts (check for info on those in the near
future.) And on top of all this: I get to practice!
Philip White is right now mixing a higher quality recording we did of his fifteen part suite  "A Dream
Sequence." The plan is to create a DVD with Kevin Taylor's film. Information is forthcoming.
Thanks to all my friends in NYC. Your hospitality was appreciated and will not be forgotten.


-June 12, 2005
The Empty Words Ensemble's premiere performance went really well. It was a small but receptive
audience at the Library's auditorium. It was great to play spontaneous music in a small, clean,
controlled environment. It made every note and gesture we played that much more important
(because it could actually be heard). And we could do so much with the nuances of sound. We're
going to look into doing more concerts there with the New Music Collective.
Thanks to Kevin Crothers for his help. Thanks to Pierre from Quebec City for his kind words about
our music. Thanks to Rani Boyle for being supportive and just downright cool.
The heat will stop me from being me.
-June 2, 2005
Spoleto is here, and I've never been as busy. Check out the gigs page to see where I'll be.
My new gig at Meritage with Kevin Hamilton and Lee Barbour is a blast! We never quite know what's
going to happen which keeps us on our toes. Playing with these guys is a challenge and a joy. And it
can only get better.
More music has been posted on the Sounds page!! Recordings from recent concerts with the New
Music Collective. The concerts went great and were received better than we imagined.The heat will
stop me from being me.The heat will stop me from being me.