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Welcome. make yourself at home.
Scroll down for news. Check the projects page for details on what I'm up to lately. The gigs
page has a listing of my public shows. Also there is some music up on the Sounds page and
video on the, you guessed it, video page.
Any feedback or ideas on how to make life better, in general, can be sent to me all e-mail like:
Ronnus at RonWiltrout dot com
Scroll down for news. Check the projects page for details on what I'm up to lately. The gigs
page has a listing of my public shows. Also there is some music up on the Sounds page and
video on the, you guessed it, video page.
Any feedback or ideas on how to make life better, in general, can be sent to me all e-mail like:
Ronnus at RonWiltrout dot com
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.
-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.
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.
-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.
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