SOU Percussion Ensemble presents "In the Dream"

Come join us for a night of great music!  Featured repertoire will be:

"In the Dream" by Erik Griswold for percussion sextet
"Variations on a Ghanaian Theme" by Daniel Levitan for percussion trio
Shona marimba music "Vamudara" and "Mweya"
"Third Construction" by John Cage for percussion quartet
"Nagoya Marimbas" by Steve Reich for marimba duo
"Ionisation" by Edgard Varèse for percussion ensemble

Performances with RVSO

Last night was the first night of 3 concerts performing Ricardo Lorenz's "Pataruco: Concerto for Venezuelan Maracas and Orchestra" with the Rogue Valley Symphony Orchestra with guest conductor Martin Majkut.

The concert well very well - thanks to Maestro Majkut and the orchestra for a wonderful performance. I had so much fun and the audience's response was so touching. It was a very special night and I am very excited to perform again tonight at the Craterian Ginger Rogers Theatre in Medford and tomorrow in Grants Pass.

Also featured on the concert was my incredible colleague, Dr. Rhett Bender, performing "Fantasia for Saxophone and Chamber Orchestra" by Heitor Villa-Lobos. Rhett gave a fantastic performance - truly inspiring.

It's been exciting to work with Martin Majkut, a fantastic conductor and passionate musician. If you have a chance to come to tonight's or tomorrow's concert - do - you'll love it!

Thanks all!

College Music Society National Conference

I just returned from presenting at the College Music Society National Conference in Portland, OR. It was great fun - saw some old friends, and made some new ones! Below is a picture of me with some new percussionist friends - Nicholas Papador (who gave a wonderful presentation and performance of Francois Rose's "Points d'emergence", Andy Bliss, and Erin Walker.

Last month I performed 2 Oregon Shakespeare Festival Green Shows with Phoenix, AZ-based flamenco ensemble Calo Flamenco, directed by Martín Gaxiola. They were incredible, we had great fun, and some future collaborations are already in the works! Here are some pics from the second show:

Lena Jácome, Martín Gaxiola, me, Chris Burton Jácome, and Bernadette Gaxiola

Bernadette Gaxiola performing a beautiful solea por bulerias.

3 photos above: Rhett Bender

I'm back!

Hello all,

Well, it's been a while - sorry for the long absence! I've been really busy with lots of performing and adventures, but I'll try to keep this blog better up to date! Instead of trying to fill in the last 5 months, I'll just start up from now! Phew!

Last week Dúo Flamenco performed at the OSF Green Show to a great audience - thanks to all of you who came out. It was great fun!

Photo: Alex Georgevitch

This week I will be performing with Calo Flamenco, one of the largest flamenco troupes in the US, from Phoenix, AZ. I jammed with them today and it was great! Muy caliente! We play the OSF Green Show tonight, Sep. 29 and Thursday, Oct. 1, both at 6:45 PM. You don't want to miss this if you are in the Southern Oregon area!

Flamenco this week - Rafael Cuen Garibi and Dúo Flamenco

I'll be accompanying master flamenco guitarist Rafael Cuen Garibi, visiting from Guanajuato, Mexico, this Saturday night. The concert is at 8 PM, Saturday, April 18, in the Music Recital Hall at SOU. Tickets are $15 (error on poster).
Also, on Monday, April 20, Dúo Flamenco will perform at Liquid Assets in Ashland from 7:30-9:30 pm. Come join us!

A Week of Great Music!

There are four great performances I am doing coming up starting Thursday, March 5 through Tuesday, March 10. I'll even arrange a special "prize" for anyone attending all four - you just have to make contact with me at all four so I know you were there! Here's the info (click on links for more info):

Thursday, March 5, 7 PM
Sonoluminescence will perform at the Schneider Museum of Art on the Southern Oregon University campus. Sonoluminescence is Todd Barton, Bruce Bayard, Suzee Grilley, Terry Longshore, and Michael Maag - an improvisational/multi-media quintet exploring the boundaries of sound, light, and movement. Our performance will be featured as part of the exhibition, Arps Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies.


Friday, March 6, 8:30-10:30 PM
Come enjoy our monthly First Friday Flamenco with Dúo Flamenco at the Standing Stone Brewing Co. Head out for the Ashland Gallery Association ArtWalk and then join us for some great music, food, and drink!


Monday, March 9, 8 PM
I am pleased to bring virtuoso sitarist Kartik Seshadri to Ashland again. The concert will be held in the Music Recital Hall at SOU. Kartik performed here 5 or 6 years ago and for those of you who heard him, you know it is an experience not to be missed! One of my former teachers, Kartikji is a disciple of the legendary Ravi Shankar and one of the most amazing musicians I have ever worked with. He will be accompanied by tabla virtuoso Arup Chattopadhyay.


Tuesday, March 10, 8 PM
The SOU Percussion Ensemble will present "Be Prepared" in the Music Recital Hall at SOU. Our featured piece will be "Concerto for Prepared Piano" by Erik Griswold featuring prepared piano soloist, Joseph Yungen. Also featured on the concert will be "Wart Hog # 3" by Austin Wrinkle, "Just Buckets" by Brian Justison, "Alone or Together" by Eugene Novotney, "Boom" by Terry Longshore & Brett Reed, and traditional Mexican marimba music from Chiapas and Zapateados.