Last night at the Brooklyn Lyceum began the first of 3 gigs this week for New Tricks. We pushed through some pretty intense heat inside the Lyceum for some fantastic fans that stuck it out through the heat.  We will admit that we made it worth their while, as the band played great. However, we were all soaked by the end of the very first tune.

We continue this week at Kenny’s Castaways on Thursday with a short set at 9pm. There is no cover so come hang with us!

On Saturday we are very excited to be playing two full sets at the Bethlehem Musik-Fest at 6pm on the Banana Island Stage. If you live in western Jersey, or eastern PA. please come and check us out. This is a fantastic festival so don’t miss out. We are really looking forward to this one

Here is a bit of video from the Bethlehem Musik-Fest on August 6th. We are playing one of our favorite tunes “1919″.

Here are some of the fantastic photos taken by our band friend and photographer Jeff Stella.  Check him out more at www.jeffstellaphoto.com

Kellen Harrison

Ted Chubb

Mike Lee

Shawn Baltazor

Obviously to any one who has checked in on our site to see the progress of the California tour has seen that we have not been as motivated to update our tour blog.  I guess we have been so into experiencing California that we have let it slide.  So as I fly back to Jersey here is my attempt at recapping the last several fantastic weeks.  Please excuse the quality of some of the pics, most were taken with Shawn’s phone.

I flew into Los Angeles picked up a rental van and drove up to the Bay area where I met Shawn and Mike in Concord at Shawn’s mothers.  We spent several hours having dinner with Shawn’s mother Juaneta than headed out for the evening.  We went to Berkeley to check out some music at Jupiter. Afterwards we went in to S.F. for a jam session in the mission district at a club called Amnesia.

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Obviously to any one who has checked in on our site to see the progress of the California tour has seen that we have not been as motivated to update our tour blog.  I guess we have been so into experiencing California that we have let it slide.  So as I fly back to Jersey here is my attempt at recapping the last several fantastic weeks.  Please excuse the quality of some of the pics, most were taken with Shawn’s phone.

I flew into Los Angeles picked up a rental van and drove up to the Bay area where I met Shawn and Mike in Concord at Shawn’s mothers.  We spent several hours having dinner with Shawn’s mother Juaneta than headed out for the evening.  We went to Berkeley to check out some music at Jupiter. Afterwards we went in to S.F. for a jam session in the mission district at a club called Amnesia.

with trumpeter Mike Olmos.

The session was run by guitarist Mike Abraham, drummer Eric Garland, trumpet player Erik Jacobson, and tenor/bass player Dayna Stephens.  I have spent a fair amount of time in the bay area and have developed some great friendships with quite a few local musicians.  It was great to see many of the musicians once again and play with them.  They are musicians of the highest order and even better people.  On coincidence, trumpet player and great friend Mike Olmos came and sat in. In my opinion Erik and Mike are two of the best trpt players in the country.  It was a great welcome back to the Bay Area.  The following day we had a nice long rehearsal in Shawn’s fathers living room.  Not that we needed that much of a tune up but we just wanted the excuse to play.

Poster for our show at the Jazz School

On Friday the 30^th we played an early evening set at the Jazz School.  The Jazz School is a place where students of all ages can take lessons, classes, and play in ensembles learning the craft of playing jazz.  Our own drummer Shawn Baltazor studied here.  With our great drummer having a home coming show, we had quite an audience!   Many of Shawn’s friends and family from the area came out to support.  We had a great gig to start off the tour.  The audience was fantastic, the performance space had a great sound, and the staff at the jazz school took great care of us.  This gig was taped for radio.  We will let you know when and what station you can tune in to check it out.  Afterward we headed back to Jupiter to hang with a bunch of Shawn, Kellen, and Mike’s friends from the area.

with friends at Jupiter in Berkeley.

Saturday we did a clinic and concert at Novato High School.  The band director there is Mark Peabody who was Kellen’s band director at San Raphael High.  We were the ones in for the treat at this one.  We did clinics with three student run combos who were fantastic.  All of the your musicians were some of if not the best high school students I have ever worked with.  All of the groups were playing original material or arrangements.  All had great sounds and were eager to learn, listen, and develop.  After the clinic we were treated to a delicious vegan meal prepared by one of the students parents.  After dinner we returned to the school to listen to the combos perform and then we did a 90 min set.  We were very inspired by the students and the attentive audience.  We knew we really had to come out for this one.  After the set we talked with the students and their parents.  After which we headed back to Kellen’s parents Lewis and Patti’s house for a drink and some Wei playing.  The next day Mike did a master-class back at the Jazz School while the rest of us had the day off.

Beach much Mike?

On Monday we headed down to Santa Cruz to catch a set by the great bassist and Mike’s colluege at Jazz House Kids Christian McBride.  Kellen and I drove down route 1 on the coast and enjoyed the beautiful coastline.  We met Shawn and Mike at  the beach in Santa Cruz.  After some relaxing by the water and watching some beach volleyball we headed over to the Kuumbwa Performance Center where Christian was playing.  The set was a joy to listen to.  The band came out swinging and never stopped.  Afterwards we hung with the rest of his band in between sets.  It was an honor to get a chance to meet Christian and hang with him and the rest of the band.

Grant and Green Jam Session

After the gig we headed back up to S.F. for the session at the Grant and Green.  When I was working in S.F. for 7 months I lived about 4 blocks from this club in North Beach and I would hit this session every Monday night.  I became quite good friends with the trumpet player Mike Olmos and drummer Jeff Marrs who run this session.  We had a great hang this night.  All I can say is if I am ever in S.F. on a Monday night this is where I will be and I suggest you do the same!

Shawn and drummer Jeff Mars

Prepare to be Teducated!

On Tuesday May 4^th we did a clinic at Cal State Hayward.  Mike is an old friend of the director of this program Johannes Wallmann.  We did an improv and ensemble playing clinc with one of his combos.   After which we did a performance and workshop with his big band.  The students here had great questions and enthusiasm for the music.

The next day we had off so we all spent the day separately.  I did some practicing then went out and visited some of my favorite bay area places. I took a walk through Muir Woods, and went to Stinson beach.  This is some of the most beautiful country in the world and I highly recommend checking it out if you ever find yourself in this corner of the world.  As evening hit I headed in to S.F. to my old neighborhood in North Beach where I visited some of my old haunts and spent the rest of the evening with my old roommate Herve Ernest.  Herve is one of the cultural movers and shakers in S.F. and also a great human being.  We had great conversation over a few drinks.  Please check out his festival at www.sfnoir.org.

Finally back in the van on our way to L.A.

The next morning we headed down to L.A. to begin the southern California portion of our tour.  We spent the evening at Mike’s sister Kate’s house.  She has two of the most beautiful brindle Great Dane dogs.  We spent some time in Santa Monica at the beach and had dinner over in Venice.  It was great to get a chance to get to know one of Mike’s siblings.  She is his older sister but still makes him seem like the “Old Dog” that he is.

Mike's sister Kate with one of her great danes.

Santa Monica pier

Shawn and Daryl Anderson

The next morning we all took advantage of some time to see friends in the area.  Afterwards drum day began. We met up with long time friend of the band Daryl Anderson, who is in artist relations and drum prototype making for Yamaha.  He showed us his workshop where he develops new drum sets.  Daryl is a friend of Kellen and Shawn’s from William Patterson and he worked at the Jazz Connections camp where I first met Mike.  After Yamaha we headed to Remo Drum Heads up in Valencia.  We dropped Shawn off at their home office and workshop where he received a personal tour.  Fortunately the rest of us were able to escape and headed off to catch some In n Out burger.   Shawn had a great tour of the plant and even met Remo himself.

Shawn with Remo rep Herbie May.

New Tricks with Dave Douglas.

Later that evening we traveled up to Bakersfield where we checked into the hotel and I got a chance to do some practicing while I watched Mike and I’s beloved Cleveland Cavs demolish the Celtics in game 3.  Afterwards we headed to the venue to check out Mike’s old roommate Dave Douglas’ set.  The band sounded fantastic.  Dave’s clarity on the harmon mute was particularly impressive.  Dave’s band was Marcus Strickland, Gene Lake, Brad Jones, and Adam Benjamin.  After their set we hung with Dave and the band in their dressing room.  It was a pleasure to get to meet one of the finest trumpet players on the planet and one of my creative heroes.  On Friday we also met some of Mikes old friends from Bakersfield, trumpet player Chris Tyner and pianist Dennis Hamm.  I have several mutual friends of Chris’ and it was a pleasure finally getting to know him.  Next time our paths cross I only hope we have a chance to play together.

Bakersfield Jazz Festival stage.

The next day we had a 9:30 am sound check.  Afterwards we explored Bakersfield a bit a found a great funky little musical instrument shop.  After killing some time and resting up we headed to the venue for the gig.  Our set was at 5:15 and it proved to be one of our best yet.  We had a huge crowd, the sound guys did a great job, and the four of us were at the top of our game.  After the set we checked out Charlie Hunters Band, and Christian Scott.  We made quick friends with the cats from Charlie’s band.  The trumpet player Shane Eandsley, drummer Eric Kalb, and Charlie were all great cats and we hung fairly late into the evening.

New Tricks with the Charlie Hunter band after our sets.

at Rodrigo's family BBQ.

The next day after surviving a slight hangover cured with a greasy breakfast at Zingos we headed down to L.A..  We ended our tour with a canceled gig at Alva’s, however the Argentinean BBQ we were treated to by Kellen’s brother in law Rodrigo was fantastic.  I can’t think of a better way to end the tour than relaxing in the sunshine eating amazing Argentinean beef and superb wine.  We spent the night at Mike’s sisters Kate’s house.  The next day we got up at 5:30 am and headed to Lax to start our journey home.  What a tour!

Ted

This picture of Kellen speaks for itself.

The more this band grows the more I realize how special of a musical and personal situation New Tricks is.  The more we play the more our friendships deepen and the musical depths we are able to explore open up wider and wider.  The experience of touring for 5 weeks with a group of friends that happen to play music together has been one of the greatest of my life.  The level of communication and trust in this band is something that I think few musicians have the chance to experience.

As we have toured we have had the opportunity to meet and get to know each other’s families.  This has been particularly rewarding.  Being able to share music we are all so proud of with the people we care about the most has been very satisfying.  It is not only important for me to share this with my own family as I was able to do on our . . . → Read More: California Tour Thank you- It’s not about the music its about the people!]]>

The more this band grows the more I realize how special of a musical and personal situation New Tricks is.  The more we play the more our friendships deepen and the musical depths we are able to explore open up wider and wider.  The experience of touring for 5 weeks with a group of friends that happen to play music together has been one of the greatest of my life.  The level of communication and trust in this band is something that I think few musicians have the chance to experience.

As we have toured we have had the opportunity to meet and get to know each other’s families.  This has been particularly rewarding.  Being able to share music we are all so proud of with the people we care about the most has been very satisfying.  It is not only important for me to share this with my own family as I was able to do on our mid-west tour, it is equally as important to me that the other members of the band have that same opportunity.  Its also interesting to me that all of our families who have varied backgrounds and are from various parts of the country immediately understand what this band is about.  I have not seen as much enjoyment from them at the actual music as with any other band that I have ever performed with.

I want to take this opportunity to thank all of the family who helped make the west cost tour a success.  To Jauneta and Gary thank you for opening your home to Mike and I.  The heartfelt hospitality and home cooked meals were much appreciated.  Thank you to Larry, Julie, Justin and Harold for throwing us a great BBQ, giving us a chance to get to know all of Shawn’s friends and for letting us do a rehearsal in your living room.  To Patti and Lewis thank you for the warm bed, meals, intense games of Wii golf and including me in your family day at the zoo.  To Kate thank you for opening your home for several nights to us, having two of the coolest dogs on the planet, and for the great hang.  Thank you Autumn, Rodrigo, and the rest of Rodrigo’s family for inviting us to one of the best afternoons I have spent in a long time.  I can’t really think of a better way to spend a sunny afternoon in L.A. than eating superbly grilled Argentinean BBQ, drinking extremely good wine, and enjoying the company of a wonderfully warm large family.

Many thanks to all of you!  With out your help this tour would not have been able to happen.

Ted and the rest of New Tricks

P.S.  A full tour recap with pictures and video is coming soon!!!

Here are some pics from the clinic we did at Oak Lawn High school where my good friend Paul Levy is the band director.

Yesterday we went over to Shawn’s and began recording our new record.  It was the most refreshing experience in the studio I have ever had.  We all knew the tunes so well from playing them on the road for 3 weeks that we were able to get to a really creative place in the studio!!  Watch out for the new record in the future.

Please visit our Facebook page to view all of our photos from our recent 3 week midwest tour.

New Tricks on Tour!!!!

Students from St. Charles East and St. Charles West High School

Day 18

We woke up in St. Charles on Tuesday and headed out to Oaklawn High School where Ted’s friend Paul Levy is band director. We gave a nice clinic for the students and Paul sat in with us and sounded beautiful. It was the first time I had heard him. Then we packed up and headed out to St. Charles East High School where we were hosted by my old friends, Jim Kull and Gil Wukitsch. We gave the clinic for a combined class of St. Charles East and St. Charles North Students. Jim Stombres brought students from North and helped host the event.  We had a quick dinner and then played our concert at the Norris Arts Center which is on the St. Charles East High School campus. It was a very good concert. We met some new . . . → Read More: Days 18 -22]]>

Students from St. Charles East and St. Charles West High School

Day 18

We woke up in St. Charles on Tuesday and headed out to Oaklawn High School where Ted’s friend Paul Levy is band director. We gave a nice clinic for the students and Paul sat in with us and sounded beautiful. It was the first time I had heard him. Then we packed up and headed out to St. Charles East High School where we were hosted by my old friends, Jim Kull and Gil Wukitsch. We gave the clinic for a combined class of St. Charles East and St. Charles North Students. Jim Stombres brought students from North and helped host the event.  We had a quick dinner and then played our concert at the Norris Arts Center which is on the St. Charles East High School campus. It was a very good concert. We met some new students and fans and had a great time hanging out in St. Charles.

A view from the stage at the Norris Arts Center

Day 19

A view of some windmills on our drive through a rain storm to Bloomington.

Off day. Woke up in St. Charles and drove to Bloomington Indiana. We met up with Joey Tartell, master trumpeter and a good friend of mine. He took us to dinner at an excellent Japanese restaurant, then hooked us up with a rehearsal space at the Indiana University where we rehearsed. I’m really knocked out by the dedication of the band. They wanted to clean up a couple of spots on the tunes even after playing them for two and a half weeks.

Day 20

We had noon clinic at IU. The students were very attentive and asked good questions. IU has a very strong jazz program and it was great to meet them and talk about music with them. Pat Harbison was our host. It was great to see him again and we are honored that he would have us in at such a prestigious jazz program. In the afternoon Ted and I did an interview with Joe Bourne at the local NPR affiliate. He seemed very interested in talking about my resume, but Ted and I made it a point to talk about New Tricks and Joe caught on and became very interested in the group dynamic that is our trade mark.

Pre gig stage at Bears in Bloomington In.

Next up was a gig a Bears Restaurant. We played two sets, saw a bunch of old friends. Tom Walsh, the saxophone prof. at IU and a bunch of other musicians showed up. Pat Harbison sat in on “Ah Leu Cha” with us and we had another great gig. Dave Miller was our host for the afternoon and helped set a nice vibe at Bears. Later that night we went to a Pub where a jazz master’s student was playing his recital backed by a student big band. We had a great time hanging with the students and some old friends. Pat and Joey were there, too. A great day in Bloomington!

Day 21

What?! No hotel reservation?

We headed back to Cincinnati, where we started the tour. I took the guys on a little tour of the campus area at the University of Cincinnati,  where I studied many years ago. After we discovered that the hotel had lost our reservation, we hung out in downtown Cincinnati for a few hours before playing three sets of our music. It amazed us all where the music has come over these three weeks. In the middle of the last set, the cats embarrassed me with a “New Tricks” rendition of “Happy Birthday.” Strangely, there were two other guys at the club with the same birthday??

The Last gig on the tour. The Blue Wisp.

Day 22

Long Road Home

We headed up I-71 to our hotel, slept for a few hours and then had to get to Cleveland before Simon Auto closed, to pick up our van. A quick lunch, dropped off the rental van. We said “good-bye” to Ted, who stayed in Ashtabula that night and drove back to New Jersey. I got home in time to tuck in my little ones and see my family. A perfect ending to a fantastic tour. Can’t believe it’s over! Next tour starts in 2 and 1/2 weeks….

Day 11/12

We did a morning clinic and evening concert for the outstanding band program at West High School in Iowa City.  The Band directors Rich Medd and Rob Medd do an outstanding job there.  Mike conducted a saxophone master class and Kellen coached a combo in the afternoon.  We were treated wonderfully and hand a great performance in their auditorium.  Later that evening we met with some of Mike’s great friends in Iowa City including John Rapson, Brett Sandy and Steve Grismore.

Iowa City day off

The next day we were treated to our first true off day on the tour.  We were able to take advantage of beautiful weather and check out the campus of Iowa University.  We taught some lessons in the afternoon to some enthusiastic students back at West High School.  That evening, John Rapson,  the director of the University of Iowa Jazz department treated us to dinner . . . → Read More: Catchup Blog Iowa/Chicago by Ted]]>

Day 11/12

We did a morning clinic and evening concert for the outstanding band program at West High School in Iowa City.  The Band directors Rich Medd and Rob Medd do an outstanding job there.  Mike conducted a saxophone master class and Kellen coached a combo in the afternoon.  We were treated wonderfully and hand a great performance in their auditorium.  Later that evening we met with some of Mike’s great friends in Iowa City including John Rapson, Brett Sandy and Steve Grismore.

Iowa City day off

The next day we were treated to our first true off day on the tour.  We were able to take advantage of beautiful weather and check out the campus of Iowa University.  We taught some lessons in the afternoon to some enthusiastic students back at West High School.  That evening, John Rapson,  the director of the University of Iowa Jazz department treated us to dinner at his house.  The food was great and the company was even better.  Mike had been telling us all along how much he liked Iowa city and he was definitely right.

Day 13

After a gig at the Maintenance Shop with JIm and the Iowa State kids.

We drove from Iowa City up to Iowa State University in Ames.  We were greeted by the jazz director Jim Bovinette.  After getting some food and warming up we did a clinic for his Jazz Ensemble where we played and then worked with his band.  We played later that evening at the Maitenence Shop an old club that many jazz legends have played in years past.  It was an absolute joy to play there and the vibe of the room was great.  A student combo opened up for us and we had a great audience.  Afterward Jim opened up his house to us and had a great food and drinks for us and some of his students and friends.

Day 14

The Hub in Cedar Falls Iowa.

We headed toward Northern Iowa University in Cedar Falls driving through a rainstorm.  Once we had arrived we unloaded and did a 2:00 clinic.  Chris Merz the jazz director and great tenor player is building a nice program there.  We played in their beautiful jazz studio that is complete with a full recording studio and booth.  We played several tunes for the kids, worked with them on some improvisation, and listened to a few combos.

Day 15

We only had a gig this evening at a club in Cedar Falls call The Hub.  Although the easter weekend did affect attendance slightly we still managed to have a great gig.  Some of Mike’s old friends from the area came to check out the band and hang and Chris Merz sat in with us on the second set.  The bar staff was great and all things considered it went really well.  At least we even still sold a t-shirt.

Day 16/17

On Easter sunday we traveled to Chicago from Iowa.  Shellen and I stayed at my great friend and tenor player Paul Levy’s house.  We came off the road to a full house of family and friends and great food and had a wonderful evening.  Mike took advantage of the time to see one of his oldest friends, Jimmy.  They have been friends since pre-school.  The next day we relaxed and did a little jam session at Paul’s house.  Paul and I have played hundreds of gigs together but it has been several years since we have played.  It was a joy to get to play some tunes again with him!  Later that afternoon we spent some time in Chicago, ate some deep-dish pizza and then headed out to St. Charles through a rain storm.

Hanging with Paul Levy in Chicago.