10/5/2007
Dear All United and Un-united Music Diggers,
I've been on a quasi-sabbatical from self-promoting, seeking to be deeply engrossed in self-organizing, and while definitely succeeding, perhaps, in self-deluded indulging, I've been selflessly self-introspective...smoke and mirrors, Music Diggers, smoke and mirar...enough about me; let's talk about me.
While spreading joy, understanding, and love through music will always be a mission in my life, somebody has to mind the shop, no?
Lots of old parts to clean in my machine.
Now heading South, now North and Above, a scourge of tasks crop up while one's to and fro
I'm gonna man up my routine.
Insights fleet through my mind like gnats over the days' myriad puddles
swarming through my collosal lists, diaphanous not so diligently gleaned;
critical mass gets mashed in the muddle--
man, I gotta man up my routine.
Seeing as it's been a while , I shall update you:
We whirlwinded through the summer months with Laroo tours through Austria, Croatia, and Switzerland, capped by resplendent joy opening for India Irie and John Legend at the Montreux Jazz Festival July 8th. Then, barely a month later, a quicky concert in Zadar, Croatia. In these beautiful lands, making music is the sweetest of icings on the cake. Montreux in Atlanta so impressed by Laroo's aggregation requested her to perform at their festival on Labor Day Weekend. Doug Long and Alvin Carter, my ol' homies, were the rythym section; yee-ah! Stewlocks floored them peaches in Georgia as DJ Coffee anchored us. Up to Lawrenceville, Virginia, a little festival in the middle of naked-burning-sun nowhere, an airplane field, with Latin Quarter, Bob"Mr. Sax"Paskowitz, J.Schwartz and Woody Floyd on B & D respectively, spewing fecundly a program of originals, including my tune "Plea For Peace". In this elysian field, ran into not only Dr. Walter Dean, but also Larry Rivers, and ol' drummer friend of Nat's from down Lynchburg.(You know, Nat Reeves, bad-assed Bassist) The Afro-Semitic Experience has been gearing up for the next winner...something with cantors Alberto Mizrahi and Jacob Mendelsohn, not to mention truimphs in Houston, TX, and Selichot services in the tri-state area. Keep ears peeled; somethin's comin'. Bushwick Ave. Salvation Army in Brooklyn, New York has been getting a dose of quickenin', as Pastor Travis T. Locke has been re-assigned to that parish. He has made it his mission to bring in live music on Sundays. I'll be there on keys with a Godsend on organ(I hope) named Nathan---who I discovered has some roots in my hometown, Hartford, Ct. It's good, all the time. Just some sentiment. Max Roach, probably Modern Jazz's most important drummer, passed away, like about September 17th, one of my main favorites...and man will he live on...a shout out to Bassist Art Davis too...Edwin, I'm missing your gig, man. I wish you riches and peace of mind. Hopefully we'll play together again soon. More Recently...
Just got back to Amsterdam from China; with the Saskia Laroo Band, performing in six fresh "medium-sized cities", Tianjin, Hangzhou, Luizhou, Huizhou and Chongqing. Our hosts were all very generous; the performances were transcendent(...just ask). The drastic sense of progress there between three years ago and the present is almost stunning. Yet, is there rest for the socially conscientious? Laroo premiered two sets of new repetorie throughout this tour and will be probably be featuring some of these jammers on our upcoming visits to Bangkok, Thailand, and Taipei, Taiwan. These tours will take me right up to mid-October. I return stateside on October 17th.
6/3/2007
My Precious Music Diggers,
I won't pull punches; I've taken all spring so far to figure out what's to come. In many cases, life determines much. If we are awake, we can determine life. Well, I needed to snooze this spring but was rudely awakened by the sound of duty...
a torrid 5-day tour is slated in July's begining ending with a Saskia Laroo Band appearance on the same bill as India Irie and John Legend at the Montreux Jazz Festival ...The Afro-Semitic Experience does Chicago after the duo's visit to Cleveland...Porter moves up and ruffles feathers at the Russell...Laroo will trump the La Rue de la Hartford and Golden Gate and shine pearly whites with ASE...and much more stuff in store...
...So Please take a look down the list
A couple of things: I can be reached Internationally at my cell number--1860 997 2410. If I don't answer, please leave a message. Message retrieval can be elusive. I'll take measures to make it right...
FYI: The photos of Warren in Poland at www.warrenbyrd.com were shot in Krakow by a fine photographer named Andrzej Szelega.
Contact me about life, gigs, Ikea, food, blunders but especially gigs at 860 997 2410 cell, 860 524 9910hm,
The symbol(Poss)=Possible or Tentative or Contingent.
How to read these entrees?? Read as follows: Date-Group-Place-Event[Optional] -Time--and whenever details are not determined, (???)
example:
2/7, McDooDoo Band, Whatnot,Ia, 9PM, etc.
3/15/2007
Belated Happy New Year, Music Diggers,
In the first few months of the 2007, I feel like I've been around the planet three times and back again. With Saskia Laroo, I've performed in [Eastern Europe], Poland, India, Netherlands. With the Afro-Semitic Experience, I've performed in Massachusetts, New York City, New York Upstate, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and most recently in Southern California. Sometimes when I finally do return home, I feel like I'm still out there...but I love it.
A couple of things: I can be reached Internationally at my cell number--1860 997 2410. If I don't answer, please leave a message. Message retrieval can be elusive. I'll take measures to make it right...
...Another iota: Check out a recent review of the Afro-Semitic Experience's latest album by clicking the blue link http://www.allaboutjazz.com/newyork/aaj_ny_200701.pdf
Steve Logan, Micheal Brecker, James Brown, question is name three recently deceased troupers of sound...honor them and their great work.
Always remember, you are what you eat. Sincerely, Dr. Quintin McBrubeck.