clayross.com

TRIO IN RIO…JOAO, CLAY, AND MARCOS.

Oct. 31st

Tonight I was at Boom with Ferenc and a great bassist named Alan Hampton. Alan just returned from L.A. where he spent the last 2 years as a member of the Monk Institute Band. He sounded great and we had a fun gig.

Oct. 30th

Today I had a chance to relax, clean the house and do some laundry. It was great.

Oct. 29th

The gig at Satalla was fun. Tyler came by, and the streets were filled with costumed crazies.

Oct. 28th

I landed in NYC early in the AM, made it home and took a little nap. I had a rehearsal with Brilho de Luz Band to prepare for a gig tomorrow night @ Satalla.

Oct. 27th

RIO BABY!

I packed my things and ran down the street to find a card, a gift, a flower, anything to show my appreciation to my hosts. The last 10 days have been absolutely amazing and much thanks to the kindness and hospitality of Rita and Junior. It was such a pleasure and gift to stay in their home. I found a nice card, had trouble finding out exactly what it said, but had a feeling that it was appropriate. I said my goodbyes, made some calls, and hopped in a taxi. The airport, still full of beautiful cariocas, made me even more sad. That aside, I feel that this is a beautiful beginning to a long love affair with a unique and inspiring place.

Oct. 26th

MARIO AND ME

Great meal this morning as always. I’m starting to get used to this and its starting to scare me. I don’t want to leave and I really don’t have to, but I know I will. So, on to Botafugo to buy a Pandiero from Scott Finer and meet with Mario Toledo. The pandiero is gorgeous and sounds great, thanks Scott. Mario and I took a bus to Corcavado, where we caught a train to the top of the mountain. On the way Mario gave me the abridged version of his life story, including some hillarious stories about Cyro. At the top we enjoyed the incredible view and took some great photos. Mario is really into jazz guitar these days and had lots of questions for me on the way down. He wanted to know all about harmony and lines and how to voice lead the changes. We went back to his studio and I shared some information with him for the next hour or so. He got really excited about the stuff and seemed very inspired. It was great to return the favor, as earlier in the week I had the same experience with a great local guitiarist Ze Paulo Becker. Ze showed me all that I need to get my right had together for Brazilian music, instructional book included. So after I left Mario I headed home to figure out what to do with my last night in Rio. I called some new friends and fortunately Joao (bassist) invited me to his birthday party at his house. I took a cab and was welcomed for the last night by a home full of cariocas. I played with another great guitarist, made new friends, and we had a little dance party. It was a great night that ended too soon, but finally I took a car home and prepared to say goodbye (for now).

HOUSE PARTY

Oct. 25th

GUILHERME

Another day in Ipanema, but this time on a mission. I was in pursuit of the Capeoira pants that I saw on Sunday afternoon. I found the apartment, but my first ring was unsuccessful. I decided to walk along the beach and enjoy my favorite new drink, acai. This is a smoothie type beverage made from a local fruit, and with a little granolo and guarna it’s incredible. After a little time on the beach watching the surf and the thongs, my second ring was a winner. She showed me in and without a word we dealt in britches. I bought 2 pairs, green and red, and look forward to using them in the BTD arena of life. Shopping done, I prepared for another gig at the Esch Cafe. Tonight I was invited to perform with my host and friend Guilherme in duo. We settled on some familiar tunes and had a great couple of sets early in the night. It is such good fortune that has led me to this guy and it was a pleasure to get to know him a little better. It was great to make music with him and I know we will remain friends. We hung there at Esch, enjoyed some amazing seafood, some beers. There I was approched by a man who really enjoyed the set. He wanted to ask some questions about my playing. As it turns out, this was Mario Toledo, an old friend of Cyro and other Brazilians from NYC where he lived for 12 years. I showed him that I had been given his number but had yet to call him. It was a funny coincedence and we agreed to meet tomorrow.

Oct. 24th

CARIOCA DE GEMA

After a great home cooked lunch, I made my way to Botafugo to meet my friend Scott Finer. Scott is a NYC transplant, living in Rio for the past 5 years. He is a converted jazz guitarist and now plays pandiero full time. I met him through his great website, (www.pandiero.com). I spent some time at his place, checking out pandieros and listening to cuts from his new cd. He gave me some directions on where to find the music stores and lead me to the train. I took the metro to the carioca stop and was pleased to find a street full of music shops. I check some prices and looked around. At the last minute I purchased a new cavaquinho, an instructional book, and a fife flute for my friend Itai. Since I was already so close to some great music, I decided to walk over to a club I was told is happening on Monday nights. I was lead to “Carioca de Gema” by one of the young employees of the music store (people in Rio are just plain nice). There, with some time to kill, I watched as women of the night took men of many disciplines in and out of a run down motel. This is another part of the very dark side of Rio, that also includes countless street children and violence. Once inside the club, all traces of darkness disappeared and the samba band brought the house to the dance floor. This was the first time I felt that I was among tourists, but I didn’t mind at all and I had a great time. I enjoyed meeting people from Israel, Scotland, and Chile. I danced until the last set was complete and caught a cab home. A night out in Rio, including dinner, 3 drinks, cover charge, and a cab home, all under $30 US. I love this place.

Oct. 23rd

MY COMPLIMENTS TO THE CHEF

I took a long walk today from one end of Leblon to the other end of Ipanema. I stood on the huge rocks above the water and enjoyed the amazing view. On my way back I stopped at a street fair. There, I found some amazing capoiera pants like I’ve been looking for. As I had been advised, I didn’t walk aroung with enough cash to buy the pants. So in our mimed conversation, the lady gave me her home address and told me to stop by next week. So on to the next stop, I planned to hear a choro group at the Kiosks in Lagoa. Last night I made new friend, the amazing saxophonist Daniella Spielmann (www.daniellaspielmann.com). She has a regular gig on Sundays and tonight was no exception. There I met the amazing guitarist Bilinho Teixeira. Billy plays chorino incredibly well and is an example of where I would like to take my playing in this style. The group was a trio of drums, guitar, and soprano and the music was incredibly tight and grooving. These musicians have obviously played together for many years and their command of this style was breath taking. Afterwards I enjoyed getting to know the musicians and their friends a little better and caught a ride back to my room.

Oct. 22nd

JOAO

Junior and I met some of his friends on Ipanema Beach. Walking along the pier I recognized a guy from the city. I passed him but decided to run back and say hello. My friend Patrick, whom I’d met at Cafe Moto in Brooklyn, is now a member of Wilco and was in Rio for the huge “Tim Festival.” This festival is why I was sitting next to the Strokes on my plane. It also featured Wayne Shorter, Elvis Costello, and a host of others. Unfortuneately it was also completely sold out. Pat and I exchanged info and he said he would try to get me into Tim. It was really great to run into someone from Brooklyn and it made the world seem like an even smaller place. Later I met Junior and friends to watch the big local soccer game at a local bar. The game was great with a 2 – 1 score and the apparent biggest local rivalry. As one carioca put it, “we hate each other.” From there I went home to prepare for my gig. I was picked up by the bassist, Joao. We arrived at the Esch Cafe to meet Guilherme and our drummer for the night Marcos. With everything set up and the people filing in, we made a set list and hit the bandstand. The guys played great and the audience was engaged. We had a packed house and everyone let us know how much they enjoyed the music, even the solos. It was a great set. I sold many CDs, and was paid many flattering complements. Best of all, the club owner, Edgar, really loved it and extended an open invitation for future trips to Rio. This is always good news and I hope to return as often as possible. After another great set, we sat down for an amazing fish dinner. Late night, Joao and I rode to Lapa and back to Demacraticos to meet some of his friends. We stayed until dawn, when I was absolutely exhausted. With a full day behind me, I rested my head in Lagoa, content and satisfied.

Oct. 21st

RUN AND JUMP

Today I woke up a bit late, but still managed to have an incredible day with the help and good graces of Cyro’s son Pablo. On the most beautiful day of my entire trip, Pablo took me from Lagoa and put me in the clouds…literally. We drove to the edge of the beach where we met with Alpine, a hangliding expert and my personal condor for the day. I signed all of the neccesary paperwork, freeing anyone from any resposibility for my death and within the hour I was jumping off the side of a mountain in a hang-glider. Apparently it was my lucky day, as conditions were perfect for flying. In the air, I would look at Alpine and feel more and more secure. There, this man actually looked like a bird, cocking his head back and scanning the horizions with his glance. In these conditions we were able to ride the winds high above the mountains and the birds. We soared from one end of the city to the other and enjoyed the view of the birds and the other humans brave enough to defy gravity and nature. 30 minutes later I was more than ready to resume my natural place on planet earth. After a 40 minute flight we placed 4 legs and our wings firmly on the ground. The activities of the previous night were fast on my trail, but the initial freedom of flight was well worth the temporary vertigo. Still beaming from my experience I came back to Lagoa with even more energy than usual. My hosts called me crazy and left me to Gustavo for the night. The two of us met with another of his friends and went to a dance club in Ipanema called melt. The DJ mixed MPB with American Hip Hop and the club was filled with things to see.

MY BRAZILIAN BROTHERS, BERNARDO AND GUSTAVO

Oct. 20th

DEMOCRATICOS

Today it was more of the same, with an incredible home cooked meal at the top of the agenda. I took another walk to Ipanema and this time walked all along the beach. I also spent some time in the amazing shops that strech across the main streets parallel to the beach. I bought some havaianas for my friends and made my way back to Lagoa. There, I met Junior, Gustavo, and their German friend Christian. We drove to a local hang where a crowd of people gather on Thursdays to drink a beer and start their night. I’m finding that plenty of people speak a little english and those that don’t still smile and make some effort to communicate, even if they have to humor my poor portugese. Soon the time came to head up to Lapa. There we stepped into Demacraticos, a local venue and dance hall. The space was amazing with grand ceilings, windows, and arches. It was also full of musical people. We spent most of the night near the front of the stage, where we made friends with some cariocas and enjoyed the phenomenal band. The people embraced the music with such life and energy that I felt immediately at home. From then, until the wee hours of the morning, my cup was never empty and my feet were always moving. This was one of the highlights of my trip and a welcome to Rio that I will never forget. I felt at home, at peace, and in love.

Oct. 19th

VIEW FROM WHERE I STAYED IN LAGOA

After another ridiculously amazing home cooked meal by live in chef, Elisa, I took a walk from Lagoa to Ipanema. The weather was a bit overcast, but I avoided any heavy rain. I love the way the beach, the mountains and the city all coexist together. The scenery is lovely and the feel of the city is laid back and inviting. Of couse I was cautious, but the more I walked the more comfortable I became. I had prepared myself for worse and was suprised at how peaceful things seemed. Back at the apartment I met with Junior and his friend Gustavo. They took me to a bonafided Brazilian Sports Bar, where we drank great beers, watched soccer, and enjoyed some local cuisine. We took the car from Ipanema to Leblon, to Capacabana, and back. All the while checking in at different spots to get a feel for the night. After a final stop at a techno fueled meat locker, we decided to save our energy for the samba party in Lapa tomorrow night.

Oct. 18th

RITA AND JUNIOR

I was met at the Rio de Janiero International airport by a man quietly holding a sign bearing my name. We exchanged greetings, but since George doesn’t speak any English it was a fairly quiet ride towards Lagoa. There, we were greeted by Junior, the 21 year old son of my host family. Junior spent his formative years in American school and speaks perfect English. He welcomed me, took me up to their gorgeous 4th floor apartment, introduced me to Rita (his mother), and showed me to my room. The space was pleasant, pleasing, and plenty. I quickly made myself at home by enjoying an incredible home cooked meal in the dining room while getting to know Rita. They have an amazing home in a beutiful and central area of Rio. Their walls are filled with amazing artwork and the kitchen is always in use. After a quick nap, I enjoyed some drinks and another meal with Junior and Rita, before Junior agreed to drive us down to the Esch Cafe, where I was scheduled to perform on the 22nd. There we met Guilherme Vienna (saxophonist and booking agent). We enjoyed a few tunes from his duo, sat for a quick chat, then walked up the street where he introduced us to some other musicians. Shortly after, Guilherme, his girlfriend, Junior, and I took a car across town to Lapa (home of live music in Rio). There, we stepped into the Rio Scenarium and for the next few hours enjoyed a fantastic samba band. It was an amazing first day in Rio that gave me a great optimism about the things to come.

Oct. 17th

OK, this is it. I’m flying out for Brazil tonight at 10pm. I’m very exited about the trip and feel good about the contacts that I’ve managed to collect. I might not write here until I get back, but I will definately keep a play by play and fill you in when I return. Wish me luck, and all the best to you as well.

Oct. 16th

Back in NYC trying to catch up on some sleep, I got a call to for a BTD meeting in DUMBO. We were discussing the development of our educational programs inside BTD. There is a lot of work to do and I need to do some thinking about my contribution. Cyro would like for Brian and I to make some arrangments of his tunes to possibly be played by School Bands big and small. This seems like a promising possibility. I would also like to develop my own class/workshop that can be tied into the BTD experience. We had a great Brainstorming session and now I need to brainstorm some more. It’s really great to have these meetings and to be involved with the project. I have no doubt that we can realize our goals.

Oct. 15th

I had a great afternoon on Mt. Pleasant at the Franke’s new Charleston home. I spent most of it on the porch practicing and preparing for the ceremony. On the beach I was joined by an old friend Mark, who played a Glockenspiel part that I’d written. The ceremony was beautiful, cheezy dialogue and all. I even saw a few tears fall from Marie’s eyes. It was great. Downtown at the reception, I played solo for about and hour. We ate an incredible 5 course meal and danced the night away. Without much choice, I napped for about an hour before heading to the airport at 5am.

Oct. 14th

Woke up to a great breakfast with Jay, his wife Stacy, and his parents. I enjoyed a little more Carl Sagen then caught a ride downtown to rendevous with Marie. We had the dress rehearsal for the wedding on Folly Beach where we were nearly eaten alive by mosquitos. From there we went to a great Oyster Roast on the Marsh, hosted by Frank’s sister Angie. Still the evening rolled on with another trip downtown and a concert at Redux Studios. Bill Carson was playing with his Checkered Past and it was great to see lots of friends.

Oct. 13th

I arrived in Charleston at noon and made my usual stop at Clara’s. The weather was, as usual, absolutely incredible. I walked around downtown with my headphones on and spent some time playing guitar in Marion Square Park with my friend David. I sat in with Quentin, Kevin, and Tommy Gill at Coast before doing a solo set at the Pour House on James Island. There, I met up with Jay Clifford and we caught up at his beautiful house on John’s Island. The night ended with a Carl Sagen video and thoughts of the “big picture.”

Oct. 12

Marie got me hanging out with her in Paris time. We woke up at 5am and were chilling out around the house. She came home for a few hours and left right again. This time for Charleston. I’ll be following her tomorrow. I got my Visa from the Consulate General of Brazil and worked on my set for tomorrow night. This percussion thing is heavy. I have a long way to go with this stuff and I’m enjoying the process.

Oct. 11th

I ran up to the Embassy this morning and turned in all the paperwork for my Visa. Later, I rehearsed again with Brilho de Luz. Today included Itai and Stacy Dillard. It was great to see and hear these guys as always. We played music for a couple of hours and then Binho cooked us up some chiken. Tonight Marie came home and it was great to see her. We went to bed early tonight.

Oct. 10th

I just realized that I have to get a Visa for Brazil and that the Embassy is closed today (Columbus Day). I met with Nate, Scott, and Solomon and worked on a couple of new tunes for the Agora Latin Jazz Quartet. This group really has a lot of potential. So far Nate and I have brought in a few tunes and we are really building up a nice repertoire of originals. It’s so great to have this opportunity to work on a project like this, to rehearse, and to know that the music is going to be realized in some special places. Tonight I was at Boom with Tal and Ferenc. As always, we had a great time. Those guys are the shit!

Oct. 9th

We’re getting a little rain here in NYC and it’s supposed to stay this way for days. Being that the scooter is my primary means of transportation, when it rains I get wet. So, wet as I was, I was luckily able to avoid the brunt of the storm between the hours of 9 and Midnight while I played my solo sets at Anyway Cafe.

Oct. 8th

I watched an interesting documentary (bus 174) about a bus hijacking in Rio that happened in 2000. The 4 hour negotiation was caught on tape by news crews and the film exposed many of the complexities of life in Rio. Tonight I went to Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola for the first time. It is really stunning what Wynton Marsalis has done. To have raised all of the money to create this really incredible space dedicated to jazz music. There is definately a corporate transparency to the space, but I think its an incredibly admirable acheivement none the less. Thanks to Delbert Felix for having me as his guest. The band sounded great, no matter how painfully straight ahead, and I was especially impressed with Cyrus Chestnut’s hard swinging piano playing.

Oct. 7th

Tyler and Itai had a house warming party tonight. The Israeli – South Carolina connection represented from Greenpoint. We ate (pork sholder, salad, potatoes, and tirimasu), we drank (beer, wine, liquor), we smoked (flavored tobacco from a hooka, and some other stuff), and we danced (tribe called quest, mos def, mystical, jay z). I took a car home.

Oct. 6th

We had a good night at MOTO. Itai was with me and I brought all of my electronic friends to the gig. I have a solo gig coming up in Charleston and really want to work on some elements of my percussion playing and looping. It was cool to see my friend Nathan from Charleston. Also, De and I shot a couple of games of pool at the Alligator Lounge late night.

Oct. 5th

I didn’t leave Brooklyn tonight and only left the house for an hour or so. I met my friend Jennifer Odell for a beer at the Gate, rented a “Life Aquatic” and headed home. I even got into some practicing late night and for the first time ever had my downstairs neighbor ring my door. Apparently I was getting a little carried away with my volume. I know your not reading this, but sorry neighbor.

Oct. 4th

I set out tonight to see Cyro perform at The Stone in a tribute to Don Cherry. The guys, including Brian, Tim, and Peter Apfelbaum sounded great. I especially liked the sounds of the clay drums that Cyro played late in the set. From there I met Tyler and we again redevous with Les. This time we lured him downtown and hung out at NUBLU for a while. Les loved the place and said it almost made him want to move to NYC. The sounds of laptops singing from the bandstand really speak to him.

Oct. 3rd

At Boom tonight I played trio with Jerome Sabbagh and Tal Ronen. We had a great time. I especially love Jerome’s beautiful sound and expressive playing. Tonight, Tyler and I went uptown to meet Les Hall for some drinks. Les is rehearsing with Trey Anastasio for an upcoming tour, including two dates opening for the Rolling Stones. Les, your my fucking hero! Again, my failed attempts to match my brother’s pace reminded me to set my own tonight. Late as it was, I was still in good shape to drive the scooter across the Manhattan Bridge.

Oct. 2nd

We met Taylor, Kristen, and Bentley for brunch this afternoon. Marie left for Paris straight from the restaurant. I came home and kept up the practicing and later made my gig at Anyway Cafe.

Oct. 1st

Marie and I enjoyed a nice slow Saturday morning. We had brunch at Dizzys and she went off to ASFOUR to prepare for their trip to Paris. I spent some time working on my Chorino comping and we got together again later in the night.

The men in Beat the Donkey are angry.

Sept. 30th

I met Tyler in the city tonight where we shot some pool and had a great dinner at Angelica’s Kitchen. I had a killing Tofu sandwich and we drank a couple of Bass beers from the corner market.

Sept. 29th

Itai is now sharing an apartment with Tyler in Greenpoint. I stopped by before my gig to say hello. Tyler and I went to shoot some pool and he came with me to Moto. It was a slow night. I was playing duet with a great bassist, Clovis Nicholas. Tyler didn’t make it very long and before the end of the first set he went hom to sleep.

Sept. 28th

Today was beautiful and I spent most of my time on the roof doing some practicing. I’ve made a few promising connections for my trip to Brazil and I’m hoping that everything will come together in the next few days.

Sept. 27th

Getting back into the swing of things, I spent most of my day taking care of odds and ends. Marie and I had a great dinner at Steinhoft and chilled at home with a DVD.

Sept. 26th

Leaving at 9am is never easy, but we hit the road. We stopped in Maryland for some killer Crab Cakes, and stepped on the gas all the way up to New Jersey. I made it home with a little effort and only left a few inconceqential things behind. It was a great tour, and now I’m glad to be back in NYC with a trip to Brazil coming right up.

Sept. 25th

Norfolk is a unique place, and apparently Sunday is a unique night for them. There was little more than a whisper on the streets just moments before our show was scheduled to start. The mood felt grim and the turnout was turning out to be by far the worst of the tour. Still, this was our last gig and would cap off a run that was full of wonderful and inspired moments. There in Norfolk, we walked on stage at 9:30 pm with 10 people in the audience. Timid at first, the spectators stood in some sort of catatonic frenzy. Suddenly, as the room started to fill with people they erupted into a noisy clamor of inarticulate mush. Cyro could hardly get a word out between songs due to the euphoric cheers of the crowd. In the end, the gig felt like a real triumph and one of the best of the run. Sure maybe there were 30 people, but damnit we converted every person in that room. More than half of those bought CDs, and more than 5 came to me and told me it was the best, most entertaining, most amazing show that they had ever seen in their entire lives. Damn it people, get over here and check us out, we are delivering healthy doses of energy and doing it well.

Sept. 24th

Up early, I was able to get into the Sheraton exercise room before the other donkeys were ready to go. We went into town to do a workshop at an arts center at 2pm. The space was full of kids and families and everyone seemed to enjoy our presentation. We did a burning version of Chorinho Pra Ele where Brian left me decidedly in the dirt. I’ve really got to work on that tune. It’s ****ing unbelievably fast. Afterwards, yes, you guessed it, another amazing retaurant. We enjoyed some middle eastern cuisine in Raleigh before we hit the road for Norfolk. The eating tour continues!!! We arrived in Norfolk around 9pm, checked into the Clarion located a block away from the club and went out for the night. We were invited to see James “Blood” Ulmer at Station 12, where we were scheduled to perform tomorrow. We arrived to find a quartet of obviously unrehearsed players awkwardly roaming the stage. We all thought the guitarist, who was black and had dread locks, was “Blood.” We all knew he was black and had dread locks, but none of us had ever seen him before. I argued that there was no possible way, and if so, I was terribly dissappointed. Luckily, after the quartet’s short set, “Blood” hit the stage with a presence that lives up to his reputation. He carried on with a solo set of blues that took me straight to the promise land and made me cry inside. It was beautiful.

Sept. 23rd

We arrived in Raleigh, NC at around 2pm and immediately enjoyed a wonderful Brazilian meal. Rice, Salmon, and cheese breads lined the greenroom and we all relaxed and enjoyed a moment before the load in. The Theater in Raleigh was gorgeous, with two balconies and a huge stage, there was plenty of room for us to stretch out. With the set up and sound check complete we had a little time to relax before the gig. I got down on some coffee and we hit the stage with a roar. The band had a great show and the audience was reactive and engaged. A highlight was Chikako’s tap solo, which include a walk up the stairs and lots of body percussion. After the gig we signed some autographs like rockstars and then went off to another amazing restaurant. There we were treated to another truly decadent meal and I drank enough beer to put me to sleep in a chair in the lobby of the hotel while waiting for Eleonora to check everyone in. Tonight we slept in the Sheraton (one of the nicest arrangments of the tour) and the general consensis was that Al Newsom (the promoter) is the man!!!

Sept. 22nd

We had some time to walk around old town in Knoxville before we loaded the stage and did sound check. We were sharing a bill with “Donna the Buffalo.” In Old Town Knoxville we hung out in some antique shopes and met some really interesting and talkative people. At 7pm when we hit the stage people really started to gather around and the performance turned out to be great. We played lots of songs including, Batida, Immigrant, and Maracatu. I had during that song a most perfect moment while suspended in mid air between bounces on the trapoline. I felt totally balanced and in the moment. This was another really great gig. Afterwards we saw Roy Haynes at a local theater which was absolutely amazing. Here this guy is nearly 80 years old and playing his ass off. On the way back to Asheville we hit a little snag. Cyro and I drove the van into Virginia. Yes, we took the wrong road for and hour and a half and started to get suspicious when we didn’t see a single sign for Asheville. So 3 hours out of the way, with a significant damper on the mood, we turned around. I thought this was funny as hell, while some were a little more dramatic. None the less we were all in the same boat, and I being in the navigator seat, by default, took the brunt of the resposibility. So another BTD lesson learned, when in doubt, sit in the back. Finally, in one piece, we arrived at the hotel around 4 am. I absorbed some unpleasant looks and took my weary self to bed.

Sept. 21st

Again, I woke up early to take care of the van. Luckily the repair was as simple to fix as a phone call and caused no problems. At noon we did a clinic at the College for about 20 students. The clinic went well, we chilled at Clara’s for a couple of hours and then hit the road for Knoxville. Charleston was amazing as always and it was sad to leave. It was so cool to spend some time with Quentin, the crew at Clara’s and to share my musical home with my new bandmates.

Sept. 20th

Yes man, Charleston. I woke up early to try and see some friends and take advantage of my short time home. We had a pretty relaxing day of eating and walking around. At 5pm the real work began and we loaded into the recital hall and I tried my best to get the PA equipment up and running. I need to thank Brian at Fox music for supporting the show with all the rental gear, also Philip, Tina, and Oliver for helping us load in. Once set up everything sounded suprisingly good and everyone seemed pleased or at least willing to work with the situation. I think Cyro liked the simple self contained set up. The room was at about 3/4ths capacity and a little tense at first. No one said a word during the freeze section of Bugaloo, this is usually a sign of a stiff room. Luckily, somewhere in the set people began to loosen up and we started to have a really good time. After the show we went to Fig to catch the Gradual Lean and then to Meritage to grab bite to eat. Somewhere between loading the van and all of this I was able to put the van into a tree in Ward William’s driveway. This was quite a shitty event, but I wasn’t going to let it dampen my mood and luckily neither were any of my bandmates. We carried on and had a ball in Charleston.

Sept. 19th

I learned today that Brian is not a morning person. We were the only two to spend the night at my Dad’s house 4 miles away from Mom. I woke up around 10am checked email and prepared to leave. I went to Brian’s room and asked if he would like to leave. He said yes so I waited downstairs for about 20 minutes before going back up to check on him. He was, of course, sound asleep. My second attempt to wake him didn’t go so well. He said, “Clay, your really getting on my nerves right now. If you don’t stop talking I’m going to have to kill you.” I tried to explain that the others were up, ready to go, to enjoy the day, eat breakfast, go swimming. “Listen man, just go, I’ll walk to your mom’s house if I have to, just leave me alone, let me sleep.”
So I did. We had a great breakfast, did the laundry, practiced some rhythms. At around 2pm we picked up Brian and drove out to Taylor’s parents house on the lake for a quick swim. Everyone had a ball and we began our trip to Charleston in good spirits. In Columbia, we stopped for an incredible meal at Ricky Mullohand’s fine southern establishment Mr. Friendly’s. I can honestly say that this was the best and most memorable experience I’ve ever had in Columbia. Ricky really hooked it up, serving up 3 courses of the finest southern cuisine and beautiful bottles of wine to boot. Cyro got the crab cakes he was begging for and the agreed upon adjective for the meal was “orgasmic.” On the way out of town we stopped at the state capital building for some kodak moments (see above photo.)

Sept. 18th

After a late night we were able to get some sleep and spend some time strolling around Asheville before heading down to my parents homes in Anderson. Mom was there waiting for us with chicken pot pie, veggie soup, and pasta. We ate well, watched a Zappa interview, and got into some heavy brainstorming. Cyro wants to develop our workshops and educational programs. We talked about doing week long residencies at music schools and Universities, creating a course to teach teachers how to prepare their students to play our music in small and large ensembles.

Sept. 17th

Up at the crack of dawn, we hit the road for Asheville, NC. Brian and I arrived first and ate at this incredible place called the Laughing Seed. The “Orange Peel” is a great club owned by very cool people from New Orleans. The performance was a ball and the best so far. We had a small and enthusiastic crowd that kept the energy level high and contagious. I felt very inspired after the gig and assured of my direction in life. Music is the most direct form of communiciation I can imagine and to share and be recieved in such a way is nothing short of magical.

Sept. 16th

Again we were up early, this time to do a workshop for the students at the same theater. The lesson went well and everyone had the opportunity to talk a little about what they do in the band. We then had another great meal at a Vietnamese place, some time to ourselves, another soundcheck, and then the gig. We really upped the performance from last night and were recieved with standing ovations and encores. We even stood around for about an hour afterwards signing CDs and merchandise, including a couple of copies of “the random puller.” It was really awesome. Exhausted we packed up the van and went back to our rooms to try and squeeze in a little sleep before driving to Asheville at 6am tomorrow.

Sept. 15th

We met at the theatre at around 10am. Alice Jepson Theater in Richmond is a beautiful room done in old Baptist architecture. We spent the entire day sound checking and setting up. It was great to have Scott and Ome added to the band for these gigs, also the food provided by the University was incredible. The gig was ok for the first of the tour, but we ran a little long and were figuring out some things. We were all a little tired from travel and trying to reaquaint ourselves with our responsibilities during the performance. Late we went for some beers at an Applebee’s or something and went off to our rooms to rest up for the hit tomorrow.

Sept. 14th

After running a few errands I hit the road around 3pm. I drove to Philly where I met Brian and went for a slice of pizza. We traveled on to Richmond and arrived at around 11pm. After a long day of driving it was nice to be greeted by Frank at he and Tatjana’a place and invited to “make myself at home.”

Sept. 13th

Tomorrow I’m leaving for a 2 week tour with Beat the Donkey. We will be heading to my home turf of Charleston, S.C. as well as some other spots along the way. I’m really looking forward to the tour and hope to have a really excellent photo to post here when I get back.

Sept. 12th

We rehearsed for many hours today at Cyro’s house and went over the majority of the repertoire. The group has so much material that I still don’t know and new “old” things are popping up all the time. Tonight I played with some of my favorite musicians again Ferenc Nemeth and Thomas Bramerie.

Sept. 11th

It’s easy to remeber exactly where you were 4 years ago today. When the twin towers fell I was living in Charleston planning my move to Paris. A lot has happened since then and many things have stayed the same. Today I felt especially blessed for all the good that has come my way as I inevitably thought back on the eye opening event of 2001. “There are a lot of things happening in the world today and we’re just trying to be a part of the remedy.” – Brian Blade, before introducing his Fellowship at the Village Vanguard on September 2nd, 2005.

Sept. 10th
With Marie working all day and night at the ASFOUR store I had some more time to myself on the roof. I enjoyed my night alone as well, walking through Park Slope, having dinner at Cafe Steinhoft and isolating myself from the rest of the world with some Wayne Shorter in the earphones.

Sept. 9th

Exhausted from lack of sleep, I woke up running late for rehearsal. I picked up Chikako and we made it to Ze and Lisette’s place. We worked up an acoustic number (Para De Fumar) and spent some time with the Pandiero. Tonight I went to the ASFOUR denim launch. Feeling like Zoolander when I walked past the red rope and gave my name to the bouncer at the door, I really enjoyed myself. The event was exciting, fun, and exceptionally weird. Turns out the drummer for Sean Lennon used to live in my neigborhood and it was cool to see Dave. I spent a couple of hours roaming around with Tyler and went back to pick up an exhausted Marie and head home.

Sept. 8th

I wooped Tyler’s ass in a few games of pool before heading over to my gig at Moto. I was joined by Tal Ronen on the bass and we had a great night. Everyone really enjoyed Tal’s playing and the appreciation level was high. Later I met up with friends from Jump, Little Children at the Kniting Factory. We all came back to my house for a late night hang.

Sept. 7th

More time on the roof was a blessing this afternoon. I was working up a great Hermeto Pascal tune called Chorhino Pra Ele. The donkeys will be playing it on the upcoming tour and this thing has a lot of notes. Hopefully with some effort I’ll be able to make the tempo by next week. Tonight I went to Ze’s rehearsal studio in Carrol Gardens for a Batucada/Samba Lesson. Lisette, Tim, Chikako, Max, and I spent a couple of hours absorbing different Samba patterns on different instruments, and benefiting from Ze’s generosity and experience. Hopefully the Ze Mauricio Samba School will be in session more often!

Sept. 6th

I spent the afternoon working out the counterpoint for my tune and practicing on the roof. The weather here has been beautiful. Like everyone I’ve been thinking about the people of New Orleans especially friends and musicians from there. I am donating all of the proceeds from my online CD sales to the American Red Cross. Tonight, Marie, Tyler, and I met Ricky, Danny, and their Mom for an amazing Manhattan dining experienced. I had an amazing lobster bisque, an incredible pork tenderloin and we all shared a ridiculous spread of desserts. Ricky, once again, thanks for sharing your passion for food and for your overwhelming generosity.

Sept. 5th

It was great to have Thomas Bramerie on the gig at Boom tonight along with Ferenc on Drums. These guys sound especially amazing and I wish we could work together more often. Today I also had a rehearsal at Cyro’s house. I showed him my chorinho and he suggested I write out the counterpoint for the melody in order to capture the style.

Sept. 4th

I’ve been working from the Pimler Portugese language lessons and having a little success. I don’t know how to spell it but, Eu falo um pouco portuguese.

Sept. 3rd

Today I went with Marie to the office at ASFOUR to help them fold invitations for their big show. They are launching a denim line next weekend and preparing for the date is totally consuming everyone involved, especially Marie. They really give her a lot of responsibility and I think wisely so. The show is no small feature. It includes runway models, an open bar, a performance by Sean Lennon, and much, much more. She will definately rise to the occasion. Tonight Marie made some amazing German cuisine at home and we took it easy.

Sept. 2nd

I started working up the choro again, going over some of the difficult interval leaps that seemed like such a good idea while writing. With a little practice it will become a part of me, that just means time. I met with Ze and Lisette today. Everyone is excited and optimistic about the trip to Brazil. We have the potential for some more gigs and I know at the very least this will be a great way to travel. Late, my friend Chris Cheek was able to squeeze me onto the guest list at the Vanguard for the 12:30 set of Brian Blade’s Fellowship. This is a band that I have loved for a long time and seeing them live was no dissappointment. Brian, Chris Cheek, Jon Cowherd, Myron Walden, Christopher Thomas, and Kurt Rosenwinkel brought the house down with their emotional performance. They played with a camaraderie that reminded me of some of the best gigs with “Gradual Lean” in Charleston, and played with an intensity and intent that freed them from technique and its limitations. The band soared and the audience followed.

Sept. 1st

Today I worked on some interval things that Itai showed me and tried to get a choro that I composed a while back into finale. It was cool to rework the piece. I’m trying to see if it could work in BTD. It definately has potential. Tonight I played Moto as a duo with Itai, then shot pool with Tyler in his neighborhood. Tyler was assigned his teaching position today and he is a little nervous about the neighborhood. Did you see the Jodi Foster movie “Dangerous Minds?”

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Hurricane Katrina was one of the most destructive tropical cyclones ever to hit the United States.

It caused extensive damage to the coastal regions of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama on August 29, 2005. By late morning of August 29 [2], the storm caused several sections of the levee system in New Orleans, Louisiana to collapse. Subsequent flooding over most of the city, a large part of which lies below sea level, resulted in widespread damage and many deaths, largely due to inadequate Hurricane preparedness for New Orleans.

Later estimates placed the death toll in the thousands, and the damage is expected to surpass Hurricane Andrew as the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history (estimates run as high as $100 billion). Over a million people were displaced — a humanitarian crisis on a scale unseen in the U.S. since the Great Depression.

Federal disaster declarations blanketed 90,000 square miles (233,000 km²) of the United States, an area almost as large as the United Kingdom. The hurricane left an estimated five million people without power, and it may take up to two months for all power to be restored. On September 3, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff described the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina as “probably the worst catastrophe, or set of catastrophes” in the country’s history, referring to the hurricane itself plus the flooding of New Orleans.