Sunday, November 18, 2012

Streetlight Manifesto in South America!

  Streetlight Manifesto recently went back to South America to play the WROS Fest in Sao Paolo, Buenos Aires and Santiago.  It was a great experience, with amazing food/people/culture everywhere.  I even had a day off in Buenos Aires for my birthday!  Here's a video of "We Will Fall Together" from the Sao Paolo gig, in front of ~5,000 people:


Performing with Slavic Soul Party!

  I've recently been lucky enough to play trombone with Slavic Soul Party in Brooklyn.  SSP is an amazing balkan brass band that I've listened to for years, it's definitely an honor to play with them.
 

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Recording for Wu-Tang & Kool G Rap for RZA's new movie, "The Man With The Iron Fists", prod. Frank Dukes & BadBadNotGood - "Rivers Of Blood"

  I'm very proud to have recorded on this Wu-Tang & Kool G Rap track from the soundtrack to RZA/Quentin Tarantino's upcoming movie "The Man With The Iron Fists", starring Lucy Liu and Russell Crowe.  The horns were recorded at Dunham Studios in Brooklyn with producer Frank Dukes, with the rhythm tracks recorded in Toronto by hip-hop/jazz trio BadBadNotGood (they're dope). 

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Fashion Week Kickoff Party w/MNDR

  I recently played the top of the Standard Hotel for NY Fashion Week's kickoff party, alongside pop-electro artist MNDR (Amanda Warner).  It was my first "Page 6" party: lots of overly beautiful people and famous guests, including Russell Simmons (!), Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Courtney Love, and lots of fashion people I've never heard of.  I'm looking forward to more shows!


Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Recording for African Legends Amadou & Mariam (w/Antibalas horns)

  I'm proud to have recorded trombone on a track off Malian duo Amadou & Mariam's new album 'Folila'.  It was fun recording with some of the Antibalas/Budos guys: Jordan McLean on trumpet, Stuart Bogie on tenor sax and Jared Tankel on bari sax.


Here's the track, Africa Mon Afrique feat. Bertrand Cantat:

Amadou & Mariam - "Africa Mon Afrique" feat. Bertrand Cantat (Nadav Nirenberg - trombone) by Nadav Nirenberg

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Sitting in with Galactic (w/High and Mighty Brass Band)

  A little while ago I played a show at Brooklyn Bowl with High and Mighty Brass Band, opening for Galactic (Funk/Rock).  I love subbing with New Orleans-style brass bands because I can basically solo around the melodies the whole time...nice!  Here's a picture of HMBB! onstage with Galactic, I'm second from the left:

New Salsa Release with Grupo Arcano, Live/Studio Footage

  I'm proud to play trombone on Grupo Arcano's new record, "Desde El Otro Lado Del East River" ("From The Other Side Of The East River").  I've played salsa and other latin styles for years but this is my first release as a sideman.  It's 100% originals, written by bandleader/alto sax player George Velez Jr., his father/vocalist George Velez Sr. and keyboard player Harold Gutierrez.

Here's one of the tracks: "El Travieso Mayor", written by George Velez Jr. w/lyrics by George Velez Sr.  The tune features the trombone section (Mike Engstrom on 1st, myself on 2nd), and we solo around 3:08 (I'm the loud one).  Scroll down for studio footage!

El Travieso Mayor - Grupo Arcano by GrupoArcano

And here's a live version!


Watch me record the solo in the studio!

Recording/Performing with Toubab Krewe

  A couple months ago I led a horn session for Toubab Krewe with my boy Prince Polo at The Kennel in Bushwick BK.  Toubab Krewe is a great instrumental band that melds traditional Malian music with American music from the south, I'm happy to work with them!

We got the Ikebe Shakedown horns together for 3 tracks off their upcoming EP, it was a great experience.  The Toubab guys are all fun and humble guys, plus they're incredible musicians.  I can't wait for the EP to drop!  In the meantime, the Shakedown Horns played with them last evening at City Winery, it was a great time and the crowd was really into it (which helps when you're making it up on the spot).  Here's a clip, "John Hardy":


Streetlight Manifesto: New Album/Tour!

  Streetlight Manifesto has a new album coming out 11/6 called "The Hands That Thieve".  There will be no lack of high, loud trombone...  In all seriousness I'm proud of the new album and excited to share the new tracks.  It's by far the most ambitious, intricate recording that I've been a part of...to call the parts epic would be an understatement.

  The Hands That Thieve will drop smack in the middle of our upcoming tour (while we're on our "break" to hit South America).  We'll be hitting a lot of familiar spots around the US with old friends Lionize (nice) and new friends from Portland/Warped Tour "The Chicharones".  The Chicharones are a rock solid live hip-hop band, extremely talented and all great guys.  We'll also do some dates with punk rockers Hostage Calm.  It's gonna be a good one!

Streetlight Manifesto hits South America

Streetlight Manifesto is heading to South America!  We'll be in Sao Paolo, Buenos Aires and Santiago with the WROS Fest, a big ol' punk rock festival featuring big names like Pennywise, Rise Against, Alkaline Trio, Anti-Flag, Strike Anywhere, A Wilhelm Scream and more.

I can't wait!  My last time (and first time) in Brazil was amazing but grueling: so many airports/vans and so little sleep, plus it was their winter.  This time we're going at the start of their summer and the accommodations should be much nicer, plus I get to see Buenos Aires and Santiago!  Yes.

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Warped Tour 2012 - Main Stage w/Streetlight Manifesto

  It's been nice being home for so many months, I'm happy to say that Ikebe Shakedown and Breakdown Brass singles are on the way.  I've had some fun gigs (Ikebe Shakedown's tour, sitting in with Galactic, recording for Ghostface Killah's upcoming album, a demo for The Devil Makes Three, tons of deep reggae recordings with Clive Chin, Prince Polo, etc.)  That said, it's time to head back out with Streetlight Manifesto!  We'll be doing the entire Warped Tour this summer, playing on the Main Stage.  Sweet?  You can see the individual dates on my calendar.

  I'll be offering Trombone/Tuba/Improvisation/Arranging lessons every day at Warped Tour through BandHappy.com, so I'm looking forward to meeting some young musicians and hanging!  The other Streetlight dudes are teaching as well, I highly recommend Chris Thatcher, Pete McCullough, Matt Stewart, Mike Brown and Jim Conti as excellent musicians and experienced teachers.

Monday, May 21, 2012

Recording with Car-Del Productions

Check out this new Spaghetti-Western-dub-funk from Car-Del Productions and Colemine Records, recorded at Dunham and featuring members of The Budos Band, Charles Bradley and Ikebe Shakedown (me)

Ikebe Shakedown's Tour was a success!

  Wow. I'm home/exhausted after 10 amazing days on the road with Ikebe Shakedown. I'm happy to say it was a real success, the band has never sounded better. Booking over 75% of the tour, acting as TM and yapping on the mic was quite a learning experience, I'm glad I didn't screw it up. HUGE thanks to the guys, the venues/promoters and everyone who came out in Ithaca, Buffalo, Toronto, Hamilton, Ann Arbor, Detroit, Chicago and Pittsburgh!

  Here's a clip of the encore in Hamilton, ON.  One of my favorite shows of the tour, a wild dance party on a Monday night in a new market (and the best merch night)

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Heavy Reggae Recording with Prince Polo & Clive Chin

 TEASER FROM MY "EVENING NEWS" SESSION W/PRINCE POLO


  I've had some really fun sessions recently at The Kennel with Billy Szeflinski (aka Prince Polo) and Clive Chin.  Billy and Clive are both heavy producers, Clive's father Vincent "Randy" Chin owned/operated "Randy's Studio 17" in Kingston, Jamaica starting in the 1970's, where they worked with artists like Bob Marley, The Wailers, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Gregory Isaacs, Dennis Brown, Burning Spear, Lord Creator, etc.

  Clive has an insane amount of original, unreleased tapes featuring these legendary musicians.  Together, Billy and Clive have begun digitizing these amazing tunes and preparing for quite the historic release.  However, some songs are missing things like vocals, horns, etc.  That's where I come in... (more info/music after the jump)

Friday, March 16, 2012

Booking a tour for Ikebe Shakedown


  Recently I've spent much of my time booking an Ikebe Shakedown tour to Chicago and back.  It's by far the farthest, longest trip we'll ever have taken, and it's been quite an educational process.  I'm not a fan of spending all my time emailing and calling venues, flipping between google maps tabs, etc.

  That being said, I'm happy to be seeing some results of the work that I and Robin (our guitarist) have been putting in.  Here are the dates!

4.19 - Brooklyn NY - Barbes
4.24 - Philadelphia PA - World Cafe Live w/The Right Now
4.27 - Kingston NY - Keegan Ales
4.28 - Albany NY - Red Square w/Oobleck
5.4   - Providence RI - The Spot Underground
5.5   - Northampton MA - Bishops Lounge w/Shokazoba
5.11 - Ithaca NY - Castaways w/Mutron Warriors
5.12 - Buffalo NY - Nietzches w/Psychedelphia, Slip Madigan
5.14 - Hamilton ON - This Ain't Hollywood w/Sound One
5.15 - Toronto ON - The Rex Hotel
5.16 - Ann Arbor MI - Live
5.18 - Chicago IL - Double Door w/Soul Summit DJ's
5.19 - Pittsburgh PA - Thunderbird Cafe



More dates are coming!

Sunday, February 26, 2012

"Fox & Friends" Morning Show for Mardi Gras

  I played the Fox News morning show with Brother Joscephus recently.  I had to set my alarm for 3:30am, usually my bedtime...  Luckily I had time that afternoon to nap before my gig with Breakdown Brass that night.  This is the life I chose.

New Breakdown Brass Videos

Breakdown Brass played an amazing show at Franklin Park in Crown Heights (BK) on Mardi Gras. Check out these videos, more to come!