Besides my day job, what I do..

Too busy to talk really:

After being reluctatly let go from out Wednesday nightts at Texas Music Cafe my pre-war style Texas Swing band, the Ridgetop Syncopators, are back to playing regularly again. This time on Thursday nights and at at a MUCH hipper joint; the Longbranch Inn (corner of E.11th @ Chicon, on block past the Victory Grill and right under the Moon Light.) We go on at 9pm and play about 75 minutes and then turn it over to our pals in Shorty Long. Come by and check the place out as it really looks like it's gonna turn into a very cool hang. (5/26/4)

My old pal David Krakauer came to Austin recently and I had the great honor to back him up on a radio performance with accordionist Don Weeda from my Yiddish Ensemble. We had BIG fun! Follow this link to hear and see more!

Somehow or another, I've bcome a lecturer on Jewish American Dance Music (often misnamed "Klezmer".) I've spoken at the Tapestry of Jewish learning two years running and was a featured speaker at the Music Library Associations annual meeting last year. I can only assume they can't find anyone else.

My old pal Paul Stekler (a real live Emmy Award winning Documentarian) has me hard at work on a soundtrack for a his latest film. Called 'The Last Man Standing" it's a truly interesting documentary on the drama recent Texas politics played out in a single State Congressional district race. He and his crew had unrestricted access to both candidates and you get to see the "warts and all" of local politics and what that means to bigger picture. I loaded it up with fine Texas Music from Hot Club of Cowtown, Erik Hokkanen and Ray Wylie Hubbard. Even recorded the theme song with George Carver. It was A BIG HIT at this year's SXSW Film Fest and it's going to air on PBS's POV Series on July 21. (5/25/4)

I headed up to Cleveland to record a Klezmer fiddle CD with violinist Steven Greenman. He's assembled an really all-star band including most of Brave Old World, Khevrisa and myself. We recorded his original compositions, which I had the pleasure of playing with him at The Great Lakes Folk Festival last year. We recorded in the same studio that Grand Funk Railroad, Blood Rock and Wild "Play That Funky Music Whiteboy" Cherry cut all thier hits. Was a blast. (1/28/4)

My wife and I bought a house. It's my first and as some of you might know, quite a stressful endeavor. Until now I've rented the same house here in central Austin for 15 years, a picture of which you'll find on the back of the Bad Livers' "Ridgetop Sessions" CD, so it's going to be a major shift for me. Wish us luck, as we'll need it. (11/2/3)

Found me a nice Bajo Quinto and have been studying it's mysteries. I'll be performing it on some tunes with Mark Halata and Texavia at his dances.

My other crazy luthier friend John Allison fixed up a mighty nice Egyptian Oud for me, and that's now my latest stringed obsession. I got so nutty about it, the fever caught me friend Darcie Deaville and she ended up with this lovely Olive wood model. John's a wizard when it comes to restoration and repair of just about every stringed instrument. Look him up if you ever need quality work done right. (12/1/3)

Here's some links to my new favorite bands. I haven't really heard anything I liked until recently and for some reason they all come from Louisiana. Check out these bands and their CDs if you get a chance: