As alluded to in my last post, I was hopeful to be gigging during my stay on Maui. Well, thanks to the generosity and enthusiasm of my colleague Mark Johnstone I’m flush with gigs!
1/26, 2/2, 2/9 on percussion with Wavetrain at Charley’s in Paia
2/6 or 2/13 TBA MJ/CC jazz trio gig (stay tuned for finalized date/venue)
And don’t be surprised to see or hear about me sitting in other places too…
I’m looking forward to my “Busman’s Holiday” more than ever now…
I leave for an extended trip to Maui next week, and hope to be hooking up some musical events while I’m there. Stay tuned for details.
When I return to the mainland in mid-Feb, DO! hits the road again for two shows:
Feb24 – F’Coffee TORONTO (2 sets 8-10pm) FREE
Feb 26 – The Abbey Bar HARRISBURG (1 set 9:00pm) $7/$10
The Harrisburg show is special, not only because we are returning to a city we love to play, but due to the fact that this gig will be a double-bill (we are the openers) with the very talented Marco Benevento. Many thanks to “Jersey Mike” and Greenbelt Events for adding us to this show. I think it will be a win-win for us, our Hburg fans, and all the new folks who will get a chance to hear us thanks to Marco’s draw…
For those of you out of the range of these gigs, fear not, I am working on an entire tour schedule for 2012 RIGHT NOW, which should bring me to the Northeast USA at least once a month. Anyone interested in participating in presenting a show by myself, DO! or CC3 please get in touch and let’s sort it out. 
I have no immediate plans to hit the studio for any recording, but I will be releasing some new freebie EPs over the course of year through the SoundCloud page. Touring without merch is tough, but I am fearful of stocking up on CDs to cart around on the road with us, as fewer and fewer folks are interested in discs. Having said that, PLEASE expect to buy something neato from us at our next gig. I’m working on it now…
Tommy Ardolino 1955-2012
NO ONE could rock and swing like Tommy. A gentle giant of the drums, a source of limitless joy and inspiration.
the greatest rock and roll drummer, ever.
great footage of his absolutely liquid technique, awesome:
Thanks to my old and new musical friends for engaging in safe travels and dangerous gigs in 2011! I hope the trend continues into 2012. The VIP award goes to Simeon Abbott, as he ranked up the highest CC-miles on the road (and even had to share a hotel room or two with me, yikes!) and played great all the time. New faces to mention in my gig universe are Denis Keldie (who subbed for Simeon on the Hammond at Opticianado), Kevin Vienneau (we discovered we were long lost musical soulmates when he subbed in with us on Colonel Bruce’s Toronto show in May), and Percy Adler (who brought some “danger-guitar” to a DO! gig in Campbellford, and with whom I am recording January 6!).
Also, thanks to some new, and supportive venues: F’Coffee (TO), Opticianado (TO), The Blue Front Lounge (Harrisburg, PA), Two Boots (Brooklyn, NY), and the Stinking Rose (Campbellford, ON). Great gigs were had at all of these places, and we will return in 2012!
Thanks to all who attended gigs, downloaded tracks, and bought CDs. I appreciate every moment you devote to my music, and hope it is worth your while. I am working hard to pull more and more of your attention my way, thanks for hanging in!
Finally, 2011 marked my return in earnest to teaching drums. I am loving it, and thank my students for their dedication and inspiration.
2012 is being planned as I type, many more USA dates with DO! and CC3, hopefully gaining some traction in the Toronto area (why must you be the hardest nut to crack, always??????), more dates with Colonel Bruce, more students, more workshops, more, more, and better.
Two new videos have been added (one to YouTube, one to Vimeo), and can both be viewed right here:
photo by Scott Friedlander
Please join us at the Colonel Bruce Hampton concerts this week:
Friday May 7 – The Great Hall, Toronto
Saturday May 8 – This Ain’t Hollywood, Hamilton
There are great support bands each night starting around 9pm, and we go on after 11. These are very special concerts for myself, I sincerely want to share this music with you.
