The Identity Crisis Hip-Hop Blowout @ The Shrine this week!

The Identity Crisis will be performing in Harlem this Friday, February 25 at 10pm. We’re very excited to have two special guests, the rappers Vision and Akir Plan, joining us for an evening of grooving hip-hop infused jazz. We’ll also be premiering a new song by everyone’s favorite Russian rapper and beatboxer – Krussia!
The Shrine in Harlem is a super funky bar/restaurant and a great place to hear live music, and admission to the show is free. Hope to see you there.

Friday, February 25, 10pm
The Identity Crisis featuring:
Travis Sullivan-Alto Sax
Sean Nowell-Tenor Sax
Jostein Gulbrandsen-Guitar
David Cook-Keys
Chris Tarry-Bass
Krussia-Beatboxer/Rapper
Joe Abbatantuono-Drums

Special guests:
Vision-Rapper
Akir Plan-Rapper

The Shrine in Harlem
2271 Adam Clayton Powell Blvd.
New York, NY

 

Happy holidays, Happy New Year, and news from The Identity Crisis!

Holiday greetings and warm wishes from New Hampshire! It’s been snowing a little bit here and there for the past couple of days, so it’s looking like we’re going to have a White Christmas here. 

Looking back on 2010, it was a good year all in all.  The Italy trip was definitely a high point for me both musically and adventure-wise, and I’m very grateful that it’s been a healthy and good year for my friends and family.  I’m optimistic that 2011 will be a prosperous and bountiful year for everyone!

My first show of 2011 will be with The Identity Crisis at the “Unofficial APAP Showcase” at DROM in NYC.  Joe Abba and I will be joined by vocalist Shayna Steele, rapper and beatboxer Krussia, tenor saxophonist Sean Nowell, and bassist Sam Minaie.  This is going to be a free concert that is open to the public, but it’s primary function is as a showcase for agents and promoters that will be attending the APAP Conference.  Hopefully we’ll get some gigs and additional (as well as much needed!) momentum for this project as a result of this performance.  Please spread the word about this concert so we’ll have a full house!

In other “The IC” news, we’re working on an EP that will consist of four tracks that we recorded this past August at the Institute of Audio Recording.  Sam Minaie is doing an excellent job mixing the tracks and here’s a sneak preview:

Don’t Know : Composed my myself and Shayna, this is my first foray into straight up funky-pop writing.  I’m very pleased with the results.  Let me know what you think!

Week in review

I just ran into Henry Threadgill at this little wine/pastry shop next door to my girlfriend’s place in the East Village.  I met him a while back when he was doing one of those workshops at the Jazz Gallery, so I said hello.  He’s a very nice guy! But that’s my geeky jazz celeb sighting for the week.  I just love the East Village.

This week has been a very productive one…I submitted my application for the Swing Space residency program (more about that soon!) and played a gig last night at the legendary 55 Bar in Greenwich Village with my band The Identity Crisis.  It was the first show I’ve played with that band in three years that me and my co-leader Joe Abba didn’t only break even, but actually made some money.  Making money from your music…what a concept! We’re going to be posting some live tracks from the show on our Facebook Page real soon.

I’m also starting to get things going with finding some new students.  Teaching piano mostly but I’m available for teaching saxophone, composition, and improvisation.  I’ve also had a few music copying students recently, teaching them how to use Finale.  I’m trying to get the word out more (which blogs are helpful for I suppose!) so please pass it on if you know of anyone that’s interested in studying with a really cool teacher! 🙂

More of an overview than a “Week in Review,” but hey…I’m a musician not a writer.  Hopefully soon I’ll be writing some more informational blogs though…I have some ideas about writing a piece about ensemble leadership, which I’m bit of an expert at.  I may also write something about arranging for jazz ensembles.  I’m only going to do it though if it’s looking like people are actually reading this blog.  Is anyone reading this blog? Seriously though, if there are any music related topics that you’d like me to expound upon, let me know and I’ll do it to the best of my ability.  I know that Joe Abba really wants me to write a piece about Phil Collins (shout out to my man Joey!).

This is also the first blog in the history of the universe that Henry Threadgill and Phil Collins were mentioned together.  Such is my musical tastes, for better or for worse.