International Keyboardist WarrenByrd

Where’s Warren, All Over Again(?)

Hello, Music Diggers,

Are we or are we not on the brink of major upheavals if not already mired in them? It may be time to compose a brand new song…

Some battles are just signs of things to fix; some are truly necessary to win; Wisdom picks its battles.

One of my battles with myself is to balance music and mundane. Looks like I’m gonna have to now…

After all the voracious touring in September, in Brazil, Moldavia & Ukraine, Moscow, India, Colorado,

NYC, Jersey…

After October in Taiwan, in Amsterdam, and back home to Hartford, I had to ask myself all over again:

What is it that we musicans performers and artists from all other discplines alike must do to help change come alive?

The answer: take a gander at the list of Upcoming Performances, and take special note of Sun., 11/16, The Warren Byrd Group Featuring saxophonist Salim Washington, Htfd, Ct., Black-Eyed Sally’s 350 Asylum st., 5:30pm—It’s been some time since I’ve had the chance to work with Salim, leader of The Harlem Arts Ensemble, Harvard graduate, and highly personal and unique composer, multi-reedist (including oboe), and it’s part of series of experiences reawakening me to what it means to be a musician. Along with him and myself, we’ll consist of Stephen Porter on Bass and Joesph Palmer, drums.

This will be presented by the Hartford Jazz Society as a part of their fall series “ Jazz Dinner” for more info check it out at www.hartfordjazzsociety.com and also http://www.salimwashington.com/bio.html

As you may have heard, David Chevan and The Afro-Semitic Experience have been rewarded a composer’s grant for one of my concepts, “The Road That Heals the Splintered Soul”. We have some tours coming up in December and January where we will get to workshop many of these new works. See the list below. Also click on http://www.chevan.addr.com/news_calendar.html

Once again, I will fly to faraway places with strange sounding names with Saskia”Baby”Laroo, Lady Miles of Europe, including a CD release of her latest work Really Jazzy in Warsaw, Poland, and yet another India Tour to Mumbai, Pune, and Goa. Take a click on http://www.saskialaroo.nl/wb/pages/concerts.php?lang=EN

In between all that and the other concerts, there’s Thanksgiving, laundry, dishes to wash, daily prayer, etc.

I’ll see you on the Balance field. WB

P.S. A special shout out to Norman Gage and Kenny Reed, one of many of the paymasters of this year with one of the most outstanding tune books on the Eastern Seaboard.

9/5/2008

It’s been a challenging but busy year and right inside of a crucial election term too. So I’ve tracked myself as missing updates from about March of this year. Well let me tell you, it’s for good reasons…and tedious ones including one big monster I may have to share about at sometime. For now, think “labyrinth” and “jigsaw” as to how this year’s hustle-and-bustle has been. Yet, indeed, in terms of music, think “cathartic”, “eclectic”, “powerful”.

Here are some not-so-quick highlights:

· In the beginning of 2008, The Afro-Semitic Experience covered some serious ground concertizing and workshoping in Ohio, D.C./Virginia, Maine, Boston, and home state of Connecticut and began building momentum toward a new release. Onto a busy April with a couple of interfaith seders, including the yearly visit to Dickinson College at Carlisle, Pa., a multi-culti fest at Manchester Community College, and a premeire of the Yizkor by David Chevan, with some co-composition throughout the work by myself. By late-spring/early Summer we were kicking it twice in DC, including two wild, fun appearances at DC-JCC’s Jewish Music Festival, one of them strictly for wee kids and their parents. Then yelps for joy and peace at New Haven Festival of Arts and Ideas, July in Ithaca, NY at Cornell’s Schwartz Center for the Arts, two boonies concerts, including a stellar performance at the Music Mountain concert series(to be broadcast on National Public Radio), and culminating August-ly in the CD presentation of Yizor for Martyrs at The Museum on Elridge Street in Manhattan, featuring Cantor Alberto Mizrahi, and guest appearances from Saskia Laroo(my baby), and also, the venerable cantor Jakob Mendelsohn. So far, we’ve gotten some nice props from press. Will there be more? Link up to www.chevan.addr.com

· Needless to say, I’ve been doing some heavy duty traveling with Saskia Laroo and she’s put out her new CD Really Jazzy which features myself on it liberally as well as some other brothers, like Frank Lacy, Ron Wright, David Chevan, Steve Porter, some great rappin’, and lots of groove. We spent a good deal of the Fall of 2007 right up to the New Year laying down tracks and concepts. In March, after we got back from the Mosaic Jazz Festival in Singapore and a short tour in Cannes, we boombusted the big hall at the Paradiso in Amsterdam for her CD Release Presentation rife with psychedelic lighting to a packed house of enthusiastic fans…and family. Here’s a rote list without all the cute commentary of where we’ve been so far in 2008: February—Halle, Germany, Women’s Jazz Festival. March—Singapore, Cannes, The Netherlands. May—Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine, June—Senegal, Dakar Jazz Festival, Goree island. Most recent is in my face as I write: a hectic ten-day tour which took us from Colorado Rockies at the Nedfest to India for a four-city tour on Chivas Regal’s National Festival to Moscow with our ol’ pal up there Vartan puttin’ on the ritz. I feel like a may have forgotten something besides omitting what’s to come. Link up to www.saskialaroo.nl

· A scan of 2008’s highlights would not be replete without touting the Hartford Jazz scene and without me praising my higher power for a key passenger’s seat in it. There has been those blazing Monday nights at Black-Eyed Sally’s sponsored by a revitalized Hartford Jazz Society along with JPS and his crew which are still going strong; there are the Wednesdays at Tisane which Obie Gereau and Lummy Spahn respectively have been alternating monthly appearances of sheer youthful fire, and sittings-in by some of Hartford’s finest young lions: Javon Alexander, Dezron Douglas, Jason Fitch, Johnathan Barber, Joe Palmer, Josh Breneau, some others who names I fail to recall whose sound is as resplendent as nuclear plasma. Scotty Sasanecki, a guitarist with whom I’ve made gloriously swinging sonorities in 2008, and my nephew, and one of my musical soulmates bassist Steven Porter at the Russel and various splatters of Hartford venues. Also, this year saw the release of an album on which I play some challenging pieces by Bevan Lawrence on his album Infinite Possibilities.

· How could I leave out those Early Sunday morning drives down to Brooklyn to play at Pastor Locke’s Salvation Army Services? Lately, J.L.’s been joining me in the trip. Sometimes, AC and Mike join in too. Besides, what’s wrong with Brooklyn?

· And Last but not least, honorable mention of a bunch of friends in music without whom I would not be able to pay my rent: Ed West, Pastor Travis Locke, Alvin Carter, Nita Zarif, Nick Mathis, George Blackman, Jean-Louis, Paul Fuller, Rich McGhee, Margaux Hayes, Bob Paskowitz, Paul Brown, Sinan Bakir, Steve Davis, Kris Jensen, Charmagne, Paul Lewis, Steve Clarke, Heshima, and a myriad of fans, supporters, and music diggers.

So, despite many loose ends, 2008 has been a year full of action. As you will see, the action isn’t about to be done yet…

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 2410cell, 860 524 9910hm, byrdspeak@hotmail.com, and info@warrenbyrd.com

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.

...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 .

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 2410cell, 860 524 9910hm, byrdspeak@hotmail.com , and info@warrenbyrd.com

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.

11/21/06:

Hello, Music Diggers,

"Tis the season to be jiggly, become a turkey, sweet potato pie, or even cranberry sauce, and move on to Christmas shopping for dessert...and by gum, I've already begun. Ever fighting the battle of the bulge, I briefly became a sloth(not by eating one), thus only now, finally I update the schedule. November gave me an open lane. Now, I'm gunning the gas of...

Recent and Upcoming Actions (with quip commentary by Dr. Quintin McBrubeck):

OF November 2006

From 11/15, Warren Back in The Netherlands(will wonders ever cease?)
11/17, Menno, w/Laroo and Byrd, featuring Leah Kline, Bloemendaal, The Netherlands, at Zilt Restaraunt, 9pm-12am(sweet atmosphere at which to put on airs; hot sounds to vaporize all pretensions;sultry babes sirening the blues away{go Saskia and Leah})
11/20, w/Jazzkia, Gorinchem, NL, Theatre Gorinchem, 8pm(they scorched'em at Gor'chem!)
11/22, Byrd Flies Back for Thanksgiving(...to keep his word...and become a turkey!!)
(POSS)11/22, Byrd/Porter Duo, W.Htfd, Ct., Mediza's Restaraunt, 7pm-10pm(king meets turkey on the meditterean tip)
(POSS)11/26, Salvation Army North End Chapter, 11am Service, Pastors Travis and Patricia Locke Presiding (...this Sunday, as a Pie!)
11/30, Byrd/Porter Duo, W.Htfd, Ct., Mediza's Restaraunt, 7pm-10pm(big rotundos a la turk) Into December 2006(Know well, know well, know well, know well...)
12/1, the AFRO-SEMITIC EXPERIENCE, Fri nite service at Scarsdale Synagogue—Tremont Temple, 2 Ogden Road, Scarsdale, New York(glad to be in the service...one mo' time)
(POSS)12/3, Salvation Army North End Chapter, 11am Service, Pastors Travis and Patricia Locke Presiding(one mo' time...)
12/4, BYRD FLIES One Mo' 'Gain to Amsterdam(one more time?!)
12/7, Menno, w/ Laroo and Byrd, Loosdrecht, NL, De Otter, 8:30pm
12/8, Menno, w/Laroo and Byrd, Bloemendaal, NL, Zilt, 9pm
12/10, Jazzkia, AMS, NL, Cafe Alto, Korte Leidsedwarsstraat 115, 9:30pm
12/17, Jazzkia, AMS, NL, Cafe Alto, Korte Leidsedwarsstraat 115, 9:30pm
12/22 20.30 Jazzclub Hothouse Redbad, zaal de Harmonie, Ruiterskwartier 4, Leeuwarden, NL; Jazzkia w Gene Jackson(d), Joris Teepe(b), Warren Byrd p), Ingram Washington (voc) www.redbad.nl
12/23 9p Beauforthuis, Austerlitz, NL; Jazzkia w Gene Jackson(d), Joris Teepe(b), Warren Byrd(p) Ingram Washington (voc)
12/24, Jazzkia, AMS, NL, Cafe Alto, Korte Leidsedwarsstraat 115, 9:30pm
(POSS)12/25, Laroo????(Merry Christmas!!!)(this time as an imaginary expense account!! )
(POSS)12/26--30???, Saskia Laroo Band, Georgia, Ukraine (POSS)12/31 E - Dance, Oosterhout Saskia Laroo Band

For The rest of the 2007 schedule, simply click www.warrenbyrd.com

Always remember, you are what you eat. Sincerely, Dr. Quintin McBrubeck .

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 2410cell, 860 524 9910hm, byrdspeak@hotmail.com, and info@warrenbyrd.com

10/19/06:

Hello, Music Diggers,

I've come back from Kathmandu; the tidings I have are not so bankable in the World of Toys. I recommend that for anyone who truly seeks perspective in life, travel is the intensive way...unfortunately I did not fashion a camera but I bet ya' that Saskia did. The Saskia Laroo Band was a smash at the sold-out benefit for Bhaktapur Hospital(I believe one for Cancer Treatment) thrown at The Garden of Dreams(near the U.S. Embassy and The King of Nepal's Pink Palace...yes, PINK). We played after a Nepal-based international unit, Stupa, a great group, and a cool bunch of dudes. We were part of a festival that consisted of traditional music artists, crafts, lectures and much more. Saskia and I also went to Kamell, the tourist borough of Kathmandu Valley, and were treated to a demonstration by a music shop owner of Nepalese instruments. Bandasangpure?? It's a crime how bad I can be with names, but he was more charming than a magician. There's to much more too tell here. Come see me sometime...if you can catch me...

I'm only briefly back. Next I'm cross country to the Bay Area with the Afro-Semitic Experience for a Shabbat service, then a concert at University of California at Berkeley's Hillel. Next, onto Bolzano, Italy, again with the Saskia Laroo Band for the Steinegg Live Fest, a couple other things, then back home. It's always sweet to touch back home...Hartford, Connecticut, the land of covert musical giants...

That would bring me to November2006, the period of my tummy cocoons. I'm still shaping it, and so far it shapes up like this (for those who more than skimmed the last blurb, take note of 11/8-11/12):

· 11/2, Warren Back To Hartford, Ct!!!

· 11/4(Sat), AFRO-SEMITIC EXPERIENCE, 8:00 p.m., Allentown Jewish Community Center, 702 North 22^nd Street, Allentown, Pennsylvania, for more information please call 610-435-3571.

· 11/5(Sun), AFRO-SEMITIC EXPERIENCE, time TBA, Muhlenberg College, Allentown, Pennsylvania,

· 11/8, Byrd/Porter Duo, W.Htfd, Ct., Mediza's, 35b Lasalle Rd, 7-10pm

· 11/ 9, the AFRO-SEMITIC EXPERIENCE, University of Vermont, details TBA

· 11/10, the AFRO-SEMITIC EXPERIENCE, Friday night service at synagogue in Burlington, Vermont

· 11/11, Tom Parker, Bloomfield, Ct., The Blue Smoke Grill, 6-10pm

· 11/12, the AFRO-SEMITIC EXPERIENCE, 4:00 p.m., CD release event and concert to benefit Christian Community Action at Congregation Mishkan Israel, 785 Ridge Road, Hamden, Connecticut, for more information please call

· 11/20, w/Jazzkia, Theatre Gorinchem, The Netherlands

Poland is still to be determined; I haven't forgotten you, either, Ms. Saunders or Latanya Farrell; and Thanksgiving in Ct., for at least one pithy reason, is becoming an imperative...(There that boy goes again, thinking aloud ).

So far so good. I'm grateful for all these issues; much better than no shoes .Praise God.

FYI: The photos of Warren in Poland at www.warrenbyrd.com were shot in Krakow by a fine photographer named ANDRZEJ SZELEGA.
Also I just wanted to say to Pastor Travis T. Locke, one of my spiritual mentors, that the glitter never got as good as the gold (God Bless, Pastor Locke).

Contact me about life, gigs, Ikea, food, blunders but especially gigs at 860 997 2410 cell, 860 524 9910 hm, byrdspeak@hotmail.com, and info@warrenbyrd.com

6/14/06:

Hey, Happy Spring, Music Diggers,

I'm convinced of one thing; that is I can't even begin to predict how flexible I must be when life rolls. Yet now I write from the standpoint of survival. And acceptance. And tolerance. and maybe even a sense of humor? No more promises(and that's a promise).

What the h[eck] is Warren babblin' 'bout now?!

I said I'd be regularly reporting; ain't been--so so sorry...and Now What Then??

Artists tend to thrive on psychodrama, chaos...and on some mellow, subdued level...I'M THRIVING!!

Alles is good. God is good; all day, everyday.

What Time Is It?

When the cats do a hit, then hang on the grounds long afterward to elate in joyous inventory of our musicians' life, competing and sharing in the spirit on high raconteurship, something's going really right. That's what's been happening on Tuesdays at Dishes, located at the corner of Farmington Ave. and Laurel Street in Hartford, Connecticut. The band plays at 9:00pm. That's when the games begin. Somehow, the spirit of true jazz seemed to leave Kenney's Restaraunt then float over the place that was once The Comet, long before the Aetna Diner ( recent years it's been a gaggle of other repass entities)...perhaps because a great spirit who embodies much of what true jazz is all about saw to it along with other hosts-- Trombonist Steve Davis. Tuesday nights, cool hang cats, Porter, Dez, Nat, Fuller Brushes, Summer poetry, Papa Stevis, Maurice, long lost Linda Ransom, litl' Emma, Lummie, Torian the Terrible, Ben, the Hartt Cats, who am I forgetting? I can drop names all the while. I'd be droppin' the ball if I forgot to mention Toni Williams the Great, Dishes's entertainment manager who loves the way we play.This hit could become "legendaric". See my Upcoming Appearances below.

Congratulations Edwin, I have nominated you as Male Vocalist Most Deserving To Be Nominated In the Advocate Readers' GrandBandSlam Poll. Just remember, hallow victories make petty tyrrants...click http://www.edwinwest.com

Oh! By the way, It's been so long that I almost forgot to mention that Ms. Laroo is officially a bearer of a visa with O-1 status again which means she can be a pro-musician here in the states again(...queqe in one-line, please). Share in her joy. Click http://www.saskialaroo.nl

Meanwhile note the change in format. I will only send out what's "sooner" as a newsletter. The rest you can see at http://www.warrenbyrd.com . That will surely save some space in your e-mails.

For those of you without ease of internet, if you'd prefer I do send you the rest of the dates (i.e. from the present thru to Kingdom Come), just reply with "PLease Send The Rest", and I'll see to it.

Warren Byrd, International Keyboardist
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