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In February, 2008, I was fortunate enough to perform with Mulatu Astatke in Oakland, CA – a fantastic night it was, albeit a soggy one.  It was monsoon season in Oakland, so everyone – the entire band, everyone working at the club, the audience – we were all soaked.  Happily, some of the concert has make it online.  Two short videos are posted here and here [embedding seems to be disabled, so we only have links this time…)

This was also a great moment for me, what with this being my first flight with the AlterEGO.

Best, R.

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Last week, I posted a Youtube video of Marina (my hit song), performed at the Iridium Jazz Club in NYC.  That night, we also performed an arrangement of Promenade from Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition.  The personnel is Eyran Katsenelenbogen (piano, arranger, band leader), David Zoffer (guitar), Gary Fieldman (drums), and moi.  Here’s video of the Mussorgsky:

[flash http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NUWfEUzXyg]

Enjoy!

R.

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Earlier this summer (July 1, 2009), I had the opportunity to perform at Iridium in NYC with three fantastic musicians, Gary Fieldman (drums), David Zoffer (guitar), and Eyran Katsenelenbogen (piano) – it was the New York release of Eyran’s newest CD 88 Fingers.  One of the tunes we performed is my “hit,” Marina.  Happily, this performance has made the big time – Youtube.

[flash http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVo9MGximeQ]

Enjoy!  R.

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Needless to say, this was a fantastic summer.  I visited Holland, Germany, lovely Ohio, Toronto (which lived up to its “Rush’s hometown” vibe – it rocked), and England.  I also played Lincoln Center in NYC, and spent 30 hours in Ireland (had Guinness at the airport at 10am on a Saturday – it was excellent, even though it cost me $9.67).  At the start of the summer, a horrible moment involving the theft of my gear turned into something wonderful: I Play GK.  Yes, it’s been a fantastic summer.  (more…)

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It’s Sunday afternoon here in lovely (and I really mean it) Boston.  It doesn’t really feel like Sunday afternoon, though, but that’s because of the crazy schedule I managed to keep in the past week.  Briefly, it involves a drive to NYC on Tuesday for a 5 hour rehearsal, a gig at Lincoln Center on Wednesday followed by a return drive to Boston that night (arriving home at 5pm Thursday).  Thursday afternoon, I caught a flight to Dublin that arrived on Friday morning at 5:30am.  Spent the rest of the day in Dun Laoghaire and played a concert that night.  Caught a flight back to Boston Saturday morning, arriving mid-afternoon yesterday.  So, I’m not sure what it feels like right now, but Sunday afternoon is not really where I’m at. (more…)

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I’m back in Boston for a few minutes, packing up and heading to Logan in order to make my way to our gig in Ireland tomorrow. Pretty fun summer, I must say. Anyway, last night we played a great concert for a million of our closest friends (seats 3500, standing room only, people climbing on scaffolding, so probably more like 6000). There has been lots of coverage, both before, and now after, the gig. I’ll post something more elaborate when I have a moment, but for now, please check out this great audience video. (more…)

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My friend Joel (groovy trombone player in the Either/Orchestra) sent me this link to still-more Ethiopiques audience video from our concert at the Barbican in London. This song is Ashkaru (aka Embi Ba, aka Gouragigna), sung by the great Mahmoud Ahmed.

[flash http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c52BAd3FSno]

Totally inspired and dying to see more? Try my previous posts (like this one, and this one, and this one. Why not try this one? Or this one?).

Enjoy, R.

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The videos just keep on comin’…

Here’s another Youtube video (audience recording) of the Either/Orchestra playing with Mulatu Astatke at the Harbourfront Centre in Toronto. It starts in the middle of Charlie Kohlhase’s brilliant solo on Yegelle Tezeta, the third movement of Astatke’s Broken Flowers Suite (arranged by Russ Gershon). (more…)