Keeping the Irons in the Fire

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It's hard to believe we're only a little over a month into 2016. I've been all over the place, and I've already been lucky enough to work on several projects with talented musicians who are also great friends. 

I hit the ground running on New Year's Eve playing with Joelle and the Pinehurst Trio at a restaurant in Times Square. It was a crazy but very cool experience.  A week later I got back on the road with my pals HoneyHoney. We traveled down the west coast opening for one of my new favorite bands, JD McPherson. Getting to know JD and his band as we traveled from Vancouver to San Diego was a great time. The band is killing and all super sweet, and I hope to hook up with them again in the future.

When we were got to Los Angeles I finally had the opportunity to go to NAMM, something I've wanted to do for years.  I connected with a bunch of great companies that I love (more on that in the future). A highlight was meeting one of my personal heroes, Bernard "Pretty" Purdie! 


I flew from San Diego to Miami to spend the last week of January with Andy Suzuki and the Method on the Rockboat XVI. We cruised from Florida to Costa Maya Mexico then to Grand Cayman Islands. Like last year, it was an incredible experience playing for appreciative crowds, being surrounded by great music, and getting to make friends with some really talented musicians.  It wasn't easy saying goodbye to the Method and the climate, but flying west to Denver meant a reunion with HoneyHoney and headlining new venues in Colorado with a new set list. 

After a week in the mountains, I flew back home to get the semester at Williams started and meet some new students.  I can't believe it, but this is my 10th year teaching drums at Williams College!  

It's kind of crazy, but somehow this year already seems like it will be busier than 2015. In a good way! I'm back on the road now with HoneyHoney until the end of winter, and I'm looking forward to continuing to polish up the new songs we're performing over the next couple of months.  Come check us out if you can! Tour dates are on my shows page, and on HoneyHoney's website . There's nothing as good as seeing old friends while on the road, except for making new ones!  
 

It's 2015. Happy New Year!

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The second half of 2014 seemed to fly by and now I'm writing a "happy new year" post and January is already almost over.  I'm just trying to keep up!  I played a lot of great shows last year and saw a lot of the projects I'm a part of progress in really exciting ways.  I love the energy the new year brings and am always eager to get back to work after the holidays.  Hopefully this will include some quality "me time" in the practice room.  I'm starting this year with a lot of irons in the fire: 

Honeyhoney is releasing a new album in the spring on Rounder Records and will be hitting the road this summer in support, including some summer festivals.  Andy Suzuki & the Method will be starting off aboard "The Rock Boat XV" next week, cruising from Miami to Cozumel Mexico with over 40 other bands and a literal boatload of fans.  Horizon Bell is a new band off to a good start with a bunch of shows in NYC + some fresh new tunes that we'll be recording in the next couple months.   I'll be playing at Birdland and Rockefeller Center with Joelle Lurie this February.  

I've recently reunited with my western MA homeboy and 7-string guitarist extraordinaire Jason Ennis and along with bassist Michael O'Brien, we've vowed to make 2015 "the year of Trio Jota Sete!"  We play a mix of traditional and contemporary Brazilian arrangements, jazz, and Jason's originals, which incorporate a little of each.  Looking forward to see where we take it!  

So many more to mention, but I'll leave it at that for now.  Check out where I'm playing and come hear some live music.  See you soon!

New Releases 2014!

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Check out these 2014 releases from a few great projects I'm proud to be a part of:

Matt Kanelos "Love Hello"

Recorded between 2011 and 2014, this album is a beautiful collection of songs and sonic images.  Check out this review and buy it here.

Joelle Lurie "Take Me There" 

This is a great album of reimagined jazz standards, pop songs, and original compositions tied together by arranger and producer Ben Gallina's musical vision and Joelle's strong and versatile voice.  Check out  CD release show in NYC September 29th 2014 and listen here.

The Tickety Boos "The Tickety Boos"

John Eichleay's third record comes in the raw and rocking form of "The Tickety Boos".   Gritty surf rock love songs and a sentimental ballad to top it off.  Come to The Tickety Boos CD release show in NYC Friday September 12th 2014.