Ottawa's Peter Hum, of the Citizen and Jazzblog.ca, has a great interview with me here. This is what happens when two Brazil-loving, piano-playing writers e-mail back and forth about music.

He also has some kind words:

I am honoured to announce that I've been commissioned by the 2009 Montreal Biennial of Art (BNL MTL) to participate in their Open Music project. Creative Director Scott Burnham and co-curators Claudio Marzano and Scott Clyke are leading a project called Soundscapes.

I was commissioned to compose and record a "soundtrack" to Rick Leong's painting "Dancing Serpent in Dawn's Quiet" which will be posted online shortly. This is the first piece of a multi-step puzzle in which the multitracks and score will be posted on the Biennale website for anyone to download to remix and reinterpret. (In the vein of Radiohead, Dave Douglas, Nine Inch Nails, et al.) Selected remixes will be issued on a compilation coinciding with the Biennale in May of 2009, and there will also be a live performance. There's also some interesting things in the works for the exhibition at the 2009 Biennale.

For more information, go to www.biennalemontreal.org.

Further to Bernard Perusse's story in today's Montreal Gazette, here's all the information you need on Saturday's benefit for saxophonist Andrew D'Angelo:

SATURDAY APRIL 26 at LA BRIQUE (6545 avenue Durocher [near Beaubien] 402), 8:00 pm 
Indigone Trio; Anna Webber Quartet; The Youjsh; Gordon Allen + Friends
$10 at the door, all proceeds will be donated to Andrew D'Angelo.
We have copies of Skadra Degis for sale courtesy of Skirl Records and all sales will be lumped into the final donation total. (Limited quantity of CDs available from us.)

Brooklyn-based saxophonist and composer Andrew D'Angelo (Human Feel, Matt Wilson Quartet) suffered a seizure while driving on January 25. He was later found to have a cancerous brain tumour (Oligodendroglioma) and has since undergone two major surgeries to have the tumour removed. Like most musicians in the USA, D'Angelo has no health insurance. The costs of the two surgeries, plus future treatment, are enormous.

Benefit concerts are being held in New York, Boston, Chicago, Belgium, Iceland and Italy.

The brainchild of drummer/composer Dennis William Lee, Kids Eat Crayons, launches our debut CD, Kids Eat Crayons is for Lovers, at Divan Orange (4234 St. Laurent, just north of Rachel) on Wednesday, November 14. We'll be joined by our friends Sharcut for a night of madness. (Johnson Cummings of the Mirror/Bionic has described KEC as music
"for... Zappa heads out there who don't mind a touch of over-the-top Steely Dan arrangements mixed with that  Mike Patton-esque flavour of dementia."

KEC is: Jean-Philippe Major - vocals; Dennis W. Lee - drums/vocals/compositions; Steve Reid - alto sax; Ben Henriques - tenor/soprano saxes/fx; Craig Sauvé - guitar; David Ryshpan - keyboards; Scott Kingsley - bass.
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Many of you know that I've been commuting between Montreal and NYC over the past year for the BMI Jazz Composer's Workshop, led by Jim McNeely, Michael Abene & Mike Holober. It's been an incredibly humbling 8 months or so, culminating in a year end concert with the premiere of my piece, "Blue Hole," and works by some other fantastic composers.

BMI/NY Jazz Orchestra in works by Macdonald, Bevia, Fairbanks, Caniato, Knox, Heslop, Kakitani, Anderson, Hyde & Ryshpan
Christ & St. Stephen's Episcopal Church (122 W. 69th b/w Broadway & Columbus)
7:30 pm SHARP! Free admission

In March, Bar L'Oblique inaugurated Saturday Groove Nights, with a rotating cast of Montreal musicians indulging in electro-funk-jazz jams. The personnel has included:

Ben Henriques, Spencer Day - saxophone
Olivier René de Cotret - guitar
David Ryshpan - keyboards
Jim Bennett, Scott Kingsley, Marc O'Brien - bass
Kevin Warren, Sylvain Plante, Isaac Dumont - drums

This continues every Saturday night in April, starting around 9:30 or 10 for two sets. And if the music wasn't enough, it's also Ladies' Night! Check Bar L'Oblique's MySpace for more details. 1669 St Hubert, metro Berri-UQAM.

A reminder that Indigone Trio is at Le Parc des Princes every Thursday in March. That's 5293 ave du Parc, between Fairmount & St-Viateur. Bagel country, people! And please be aware of the shifting times; after our dinner-hour sets we have to clear out for Amelia McMahon and her amazing vocal jam session! Stick around for that too, but come see us whilst enjoying cocktails, wine and/or dinner.

March 15 - 6 pm-8 pm
March 22 - 6 pm-8 pm
March 29 - 8 pm-11:30 pm

David Ryshpan - keyboards; Alex Mallett - bass; Phil Melanson - drums.
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On Friday, Indigone Trio will relaunch for 2007. We're bidding adieu to drummer Liam O'Neill, as he pursues other fantastic projects. On the drum throne will sit Phil Melanson, originally from New Brunswick. Phil's a great drummer and we're glad to have him. No new tunes this time around, but it'll sound new! Expect the usual mix of original compositions by ourselves, and other people.

NB: There is no sign on the door of Les Conneries. It is simply marked 2037 St. Denis. It's right beside Café Chaos. Keep yer eyes peeled when walking along St. Denis.
Click Here for the details

February's turning out to be a busy month. Off the heels of recording sessions and gigs with Kids Eat Crayons, two gigs in Montreal are coming up, in the midst of BMI Workshop classes and Master's auditions.

Guitarist Olivier René de Cotret has taken over the booking of a bar on St. Denis called Les Conneries (better left untranslated...) I suggested an improvised groove session, and he welcomed the idea. We bring it to you this coming Saturday, February 10 - a night of 100% improvised and bilingual grooves, featuring:
Yanick Coderre - saxophone
Olivier René de Cotret - guitar/effects
David Ryshpan - keyboards
Jim Bennett - bass
Kevin Warren - drums

For long-time Ryshpan followers, the combination of the last three will seem familiar. This was the rhythm section of a band called Kokoro, in existence from 2003-04. I've played with Kevin and Jim in separate settings since, but it's the first time since the disbanding of Kokoro that all three of us will have played together. It's also the first time I'll be playing with Yanick, and I really look forward to it.
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Indigone Trio relaunches for 2007 at Les Conneries with a new line-up. Liam O'Neill has decided to pursue other projects, and we wish him all the best. Alex Mallett and I will welcome Phil Melanson into the fold officially on Friday, February 23.

Indigone Trio: David Ryshpan - keyboards; Alex Mallett - bass; Phil Melanson - drums.
Originals, covers and standards. 2 sets.
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Bar Les Conneries (2037 St. Denis, corner Ontario)
Both shows start at 8:30 pm
$5 each

Wrapping up yet another year, holidays around the corner. Time for reflection and, more importantly, celebration. Here's what's on tap for the final days of 2006:

For the month of November, I've had the pleasure of being a member of the house band at the Brutopia Bistro jam, led by drummer Dennis W. Lee. This coming Monday, December 4, will be my last appearance of 2006 there. It's been a blast, and I look forward to more in 2007.

Monday, December 4, 10 pm
Brutopia Bistro (1215 Crescent)
DWL4 - Colin Power, alto; DRR - keyboards; Jim Bennett - bass; Dennis W. Lee - drums.
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Wednesday, December 6, I'll be hosting another edition of Jazz Euphorium on CKUT (90.3 FM) from 8-10 pm EST. As always, you can tune in live through the net or download it from the archives if you miss it.
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From December 11-20 I'll be in NYC, attending the BMI Jazz Composers Workshop, jamming, and exploring more of the city. I still haven't made it out to Brooklyn yet, or even walked through Central Park or gone to museums! I look forward to seeing all my New York friends that I haven't seen for a while, and meeting those I haven't yet met.

Remember, the real blog is at Settled in Shipping.