DBR's peformance at WNYC's Jerome L. Greene Performance Space caught the attention of Thirteen's 'Sunday Arts Blog'.

Read it here: http://www.thirteen.org/sundayarts/blog/performance/taking-radio-to-the-street

I'll be on AMERICAN IDOL this Wednesday night. It should be fun. I'll be performing with LADY GAGA and I hope to do her music justice.

Check it out if you can.

I've been working it, hard.

Spent last week in Charlotte, NC at the McGlohon Theater Company. A truly beautiful, sacred space, completely open to, and for, the people. Doug, the presenter there, is a great man, visionary, and friend. I hope to work with him again and again!

Daniel Beaty's RESURRECTION is opening in Philadelphia next week. This town rocks! The company here is adjacent to the Kimmel Center, along an entire avenue for the arts. Philly is a wonderful place to be and the people here seem serious, invested, and real.

Here's a link to the shows, and if you can come out, please do. Pictures will be coming soon.

http://www.philadelphiatheatrecompany.org/2009/resurrection.html

Woke-up early this morning to snow, ice, and a warm and fuzzy review of a piece I wrote a few years ago. The CD is by the amazing musician Lecolian Washington, and my piece LECOLIAN LOOPS, is featured on the recording.

Here's where you can buy the cd:
http://www.dbrmusic.com/shop.htm

Here's the link to the full review:
http://www.fanfaremag.com/content/view/28582/10238/

And here's part of the review:
"Despite the Swedish folk song and the minimalist leanings, the work has a feel of Copland's Americana, and I just love it; it's the piece this disc has been waiting for, and—at 20 minutes—its major offering."

---James H. North

I'm really looking forward towards getting back to NYC, creating new work, and reconnecting with friends and family. Like most New Yorkers, it's a love/hate relationship. What is it about the city that is so maddening and inviting, all at the same time?!

I'll be heading to the University of CT to serve on a panel on creativity and the sciences. Check out these links for more:

http://www.courant.com/topic/hc-4arts0104.artjan04,0,372434.story?track=rss-topicgallery
http://www.appliedimagination.org/

It will be cold, icy, and snowing, but I do hope you can make it. I promise a good, important time.

dbr

Ah, the first official work day after the holiday. I had a good rest and am ready to go to work. I have some big announcements coming, in both my personal and professional lives.

Here's to making each day count, twice.

Happy New Year.
So my resolution is to simply write/blog more each day.
I mean week.
No, I mean each month.

Argh!
You can see where this is going.

Anyway, here's to trying new things.
NO, I mean tings (sounds better).

d

Hello my friends,

I'm in the simple and lovely city of Des Moines, Iowa, preparing for weekend performances of VOODOO VIOLIN CONCERTO with the symphony here. As I return to this work, and its rich amalgam of folk, classical, secular, and sacred Haitian music (or rather, my compositional impressions of those genres!) I am at once reminded---as I stand before the 100 musicians of the orchestra; violin in hand; marching with them; an army of one unified sound---of how fortunate and fragile I am as an artist to be afforded an opportunity to practice my profession on a grand scale, and how fortunate we all are, as Americans, to have an opportunity to participate in the communal world of our collective performing arts.

This coming week marks the world premiere of One Loss Plus, a work for six-string violin, prepared piano, and video. As a part of the Next Wave Festival at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the work will also feature filmed performances by DJ SPOOKY, TONI BLACKMAN, friends and family from YOUTUBE and MYSPACE, and a very special live performance by one of Haiti's most important popular voices, Emeline Michel. It's loud, fast, fierce, intimate, and (I think) an honest work, one that asks the question, What is gained when something or someone is lost?

I hope you can attend on either November 14, 16, or 17 and in doing so, become a very important part of what I hope will be an answer to those things lost and gained and those ever present, but ever elusive, feelings of enduring optimism that we should all take to the time to consider and share.

Des Moines, Iowa
November, 2007

A beautiful sight, we're happy tonight, walkin' in a...

Ah, Christmas! Or should I say the holidays? No matter, I trust you and you get it. It's that time of year of giving, getting, wanting, and hopefully, thanking. And like most of us, some reflecting, too.

I'm so thankful for everyone who came out to the shows. From Melbourne to Brooklyn to Des Moines to Iowa City, we had a blast! As I like to remind myself, it seems everyone I meet makes their way to my fingertips and end up in a song, composition, or improvised riff. That's one way a violinist makes communion with the world. There's nothing more beautiful than peering out from the stage into the audience and seeing you, in all of your diversity, looking back at me, at us. It's a beautiful sight, indeed.

In the meadow we can build a snowman, then pretend that he is Parson Brown. He'll say 'Are You Married?' We'll say 'No man, but you can do the job when you're in...'

The towns I'll visit next year will be Chicago, Adelaide, Manchester, West Palm Beach, and a few others. I look forward to our conversations there and then. I try not to get too ahead of myself, lest I forget where I've been or where I come from.

Join MYSPACE, become a friend, and then you can really let me know what you think and what you want. I can't grant every wish, but I can listen to it all and respond. For now, I'll imagine myself going home, making some hot chocolate, taking a big blanket, and planting myself underneath Mom's perfectly dressed Christmas tree. To me, that's home. How about you? What's home and what do you do to honor that precious place? Let me know.

Take good care and I really can't wait to see you next year. I wish you nothing more than what you want or need.

He sings a love song, as we go along, walking in a...

ps. Two points and a Christmas gift if you can tell me who Parson Brown is.

Ft. Lauderdale
December 2007

I've been home now, each night of this week. It's a wonderful feeling.
Is there any place that feels as safe and secure than the four walls you own
or rent?

Perhaps I am too sentimental.

November 30
Harlem, NYC