"I didn't even bring my dancin' shoes"

Snarky Puppy meets a groovy Octogenarian!

My Snarky Puppy photography and interview in Pegasus News

When I was last in Texas, I did an interview of Snarky Puppy that has now been featured in the Pegasus News in alliance with My Denton Music. Check it out HERE. Pegasus included the audio interview.

Snarky Puppy in Canada

Check out the Zimp's great review of Snarky Puppy in Montreal, with special guest online-media specialist Sarah Crisman. Illustration courtesy of the Zimp :-)

Speak Up!

Photography by Elden


Out and about in Hong Kong, I have been networking and promoting Snarky Puppy. Promotion is a good time! These shots were taken at Speak Up a monthly artist networking event usually hosted at Philia in Lan Kwai Fong.


Awarding a copy of Snarky Puppy's "Bring Us The Bright." to the lady who deduced that Robert "Sput" Searight collaborated with Snoop Dogg [and Erykah Badu, Kirk Franklin and won a Grammy]


This is me trying to herd cats. Free stuff always helps :-)


Kate Sullivan, the hostess in pink organizes and runs Speak Up with Roger De Leon. Kate starred (along with Roger) in a short called The Other End of the Gun.


Hangin' with Kevin of the Metro vocal group. They're performing twice Easter Weekend at Backstage.

Web Wednesday

Web Wednesdays are new to me, but an exciting concept that brings together first-rate industry professionals and entrepreneurs. This past session was with the creators of Rotten Tomatoes, who have moved on to a new global social networking project based in Hong Kong, Alive Not Dead. Stephen and Patrick explain how they have created and sold the movie site and moved on to an artist-fan networking site. The video above is bookmarked at the point where I ask a question about how their Alive Not Dead can specifically help bands that wish to collaborate globally, like US-based Snarky Puppy. Stephen and Patrick were also very gracious to lead me to another networking event later that night called "Speak Up" which embraces the local arts community by providing a platform on which to share news, live performances and films.

The next Web Wednesday will feature Matt Mullenweg, one of the co-creators of Wordpress. Matt is one of the biggest players in internet culture today.

Mike League interview

MyDentonMusic.com featured this interview of Mike League a few weeks back - I'm continuing music journalist and arts promoter endeavors with the last few interviews I've done: Mike League of Snarky Puppy, Eric Pulido of Midlake, and Filipino Reggae celebrity Budoy Marabiles of Junior Kilat (recorded one week ago).

I'm constantly impressed by the musicality and high-caliber collaborations of Mike League and his band, and even more impressed by the humility with which they approach their audience and music. That is why, when at the beginning of this year I was invited to join the creative team that would bring Snarky Puppy to uncharted territory, I was immediately in. That uncharted territory is the US West Coast, Europe, and Asia. First things first - the Pup is currently on tour in the Southeast United States, and making their way up through New York and on to Canada.

You may download the interview by right clicking (or apple + click) and saving the file here. Note: Tony Spiro on percussion on the last track "When the Saints go Marching in"

On a Slow Boat to China

I have moved to Hong Kong.

(It's nice.)

There are no pictures for this post, because it represents potential rather than people met or goals achieved. My main goal is to truly become part of this community, especially in the arts scene.
For now, imagine a photo for this post and expect to see many later.

What are you doing? Specifically?
I'm serving as the Asia Promoter for Sitmom Records, bringing Snarky Puppy to Hong Kong and other Asian countries in early 2010. There is much work to be done, but I made many contacts before my arrival and even more in my first few days throughout a series of meetings and social gatherings. I am also seeking other media opportunities in photography and film. I have a hushed excitement that is equally shared with friends and colleagues in Manila, Texas and China.

Special thanks to Ashley and Phil for taking me in during my first few days!
(Happy Birthday!)
Congrats to Lori on your new job with Mabuhay magazine!

Call me: +852 9154 4837

It's a new year dude.

Everyone expects you to have noble goals in the new year or some list of resolutions that may or may not come to fruition. I have some plans and a few goals, but the best goal is to enjoy and appreciate those around me, and not miss out on life. Or, as Björk said once (about minimalism) "It seems to be in these speedy times, the most bravest thing you can do is to be still."
Happy New Year.
--
Last minute addition: I am increasing my efforts to promote and participate in the arts, especially music. In this vein I will soon make available recent interviews and photographs taken of Eric Pulido of Midlake and Mike League of Snarky Puppy as part of a joint effort with mydentonmusic.com

Zach Brock

When Zach Brock was in Dallas recording on the new Snarky Puppy album Bring Us The Bright, and I snapped a few shots at an impromptu jam uptown. He's the new face of jazz violin with his own group the Coffee Achievers and numerous collaborations including bassist Stanley Clarke, trumpeter Dave Douglas (Jazz's John Malkovich), Kurt Elling, Chris Potter and friends. I'll stop name dropping before it gets obscene. The man can play, and he's a nice dude too. I picked up his latest Coffee Achievers album at the jam and listened to it for the next three days before packing it away safely and journeying to New York and the Philippines.
A few years ago Zach was still a Chicago cat and I was playing his records as a DJ on KNTU. Now, he's moved into the New York scene where he's fitting in beautifully. Hey now!

The night's lineup was:
Zach Brock - violin
Bernard Wright - keyboards
Mike League - bass
Jose Aponte - percussion

Jose Aponte plays first-rate latin percussion, but this was my first time to hear him play jazz drums (stylistically) on a cajón - very cool!

Snarky Puppy is for caring guppies

Is this thing on?

At the release of their 3rd studio album, I realize the just how correct it was to name Snarky Puppy's 1st album "The Only Constant." That constant is change. From their unofficial (but radio-played) recording "Live at Uncommon Ground" they have evolved significantly, not only in personnel but in their musical style. Their sonic mastery kicks you right in the face and runs away with your dancing shoes. And you want them to do it again!

In case I haven't mentioned it, they're on tour - East Coast & Canada.

Brian Donohoe, Fubu'ed out.

Percussionist Nate Werth in unconventional apparel.

Robert "Sput" Searight - drums, keys, award winner - you name it.

Chris Bullock - saxophone

Brian Donohoe on an outside excursion. Note that this industrial part of Dallas is booming with creative professionals, as well as an excellent set of Taquerías and BBQ restaurants...yummy creative!

L-R: Brian Donohoe, Chris Bullock, Mike League, Nate Werth, Justin Stanton & Sput
Though the music is serious, it's hard to take a serious band shot with these guys. And that's a good thing. Keep posted for shots of Snarky member with prominent jazz violinist Zach Brock.

Snarky Puppy Plays Music That I Sometimes or Most of the Time Enjoy.

Bring Us the Bright

Snarky Puppy releases their new record tonight called "Bring Us the Bright" - mydentonmusic.com featured them with a few of my shots on their homepage. They just won a Dallas Observer music award for best jazz act. Go on tour with Snarky and get your socks rocked off!
mydentonmusic.com article below, or just go to the site:


This is who their ensemble members have cumulatively played and performed with:

Miles Davis
Roy Hargrove
Snoop Dogg
Erykah Badu
RH Factor
Chaka Khan
Victor Wooten
Herbie Hancock's Headhunters
Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk
Chris Tarry Group
Rudder
Mingo Fishtrap
Eric Lindell Band
Oso Closo
On the One
John D'earth
O.K.
Kenosha Kid
Ari Hoenig & Punk Bop
Zach Brock & the Coffee Achievers

Today kicks off their international tour, which runs from today until mid-November.


Snarky Puppy Plays Music That I Sometimes or Most of the Time Enjoy.

Fountain, Founder

Joel Fountain is cool. He's also the founder of Sitmom Records. Double cool.
We did a photoshoot in a ditch. Triple cool. Ya dig?

D

Christine Quinn models for the lens of Michal Garcia under the wardrobe styling of Denise Butler.
Music is "Precipice" by Snarky Pupppy (Sitmom Records)
Quinn. Garcia. Butler. Snarky.
New vid, and lots of fun in between.

Ordinary Deviation

Downbeat magazine published a photo of mine in their June issue (which strangely already came out at the beginning of May). It's a shot I took of Sara Jacovino at the Addison Jazz Festival. Sara just won a couple of Downbeat composition awards - one for a groovy tune called Ordinary Deviation and the other for Noctilucent Shift (which I'm sure also grooves as hard or harder, but I haven't heard it yet!) This is no surprise, as Sara's been playing and writing for the internationally acclaimed One O'Clock Lab Band, and recording on Snarky Puppy's yet-to-be-released album Bring Us the Bright. To highly understate things, she's pretty good. This summer, she'll be touring with the One O'Clock in Europe.


Here's the original photo, in all its technicolor glory! (or Adobe RGB 1998 color space anyway!)