2015 Europe tour

We're on light posting for a few days here, clearly, while I'm focused on some other stuff. LIKE MY 2015 EUROPE TOUR; it looks like we'll be on the road from approximately December 2-21, 2015. We'll definitely be playing in Belgium, Luxembourg, and western Germany; we'll see about the Netherlands and France... once I get to listing countries in a graphic, it's hard to stop... the Dutch especially have been notoriously reticent to book my groups.

We'll be back to regular programming soon enough...

Transcription: Todd Bishop — Black Monk

This week I was working on something really narcissistic: a transcription of one of my own performances. I was just listening to some of my old rehearsal/gig recordings and thought, hey, I'd like to figure out what the hell I'm playing. When I had the thing finished, it seemed like it was a good opportunity to talk about some organic, seemingly-semi-metered Elvin- or Dejohnette-like playing. It's a thing that basically never gets discussed in any detail, and this is one instance in which I can definitely speak with authority about what was going on in the player's mind with it. Also, I was curious hear my own playing with the same frame around it as these other people. It's an interesting exercise, and, if you do any transcribing, I recommend it.

The recording was made from the stage during a 2009 gig with the Dan Duval Sextet, and isn't some special piece of genius playing on any of the performers' part; it was just a routine, rather sloppy, original-music gig at the Tugboat Brewery in Portland— a little dump which for a long time hosted live creative music. The tune is an easy, triplety, medium waltz, and a local favorite: The Black Monk, by Duval. I've transcribed the drums from Dan's guitar solo. The piece is really in 3/4, but the stuff I was playing is easier for me to notate in Finale in 9/8. It's the same thing; a predominantly-triplet feel in 3.

Here's the audio— the transcription begins at 0:27:




If you'd care to download and print the pdf, there's an extended analysis after the break:

Playing in Seattle tonight...

Hey, if you're in Seattle, come on down to Egan's in Ballard tonight— my group will be playing at 10:30, as part of the Ballard Jazz Festival. The band includes Richard Cole, Jasnam Daya Singh (née Weber Iago), and Chris Higgins. Before us at 8 is George Colligan's group, with Matt Jorgensen on drums. There's a whole lot of other music going on in the neighborhood, too.

2013 Book of the Blog now available!

Now I remember why it takes me so long to do these things; it's a lot of work, even when 98% of the content is already written. But! The 2013 Book of the Blog is finished, and now available for purchase.

It's 122 pages long, and includes all of last year's downloads, including a very robust set of Pages o' Coordination, in 3/4, 6/8, 5/4, and more; transcriptions of Elvin Jones, Tony Williams, Frankie Dunlop, Philly Joe Jones, Al Jackson, and others; and just a ton of other good stuff dealing with odd meters, polyrhythms, metric modulation, jazz, funk, Afro-Cuban, and Brazilian drumming. It's a prodigious volume of stuff that should keep you (and your students) busy for a long time.

Now, it's true, you could just download them and print them yourself, but where's the fun in that? It will probably cost more than the book in just printer ink, and you won't have this sweet-looking book on your stand. Plus, purchasing the book supports the blog, and helps us continue doing what we do. Be a participant— get your copy today.

By the way, the original, 2011 BOTB is now discounted 15%— get it along with the new book, and save on shipping.

2013 tour posters

All right, the posters for my upcoming Europe (well, Belgium, plus the outer tip of Germany and Luxembourg) tour are done!

Here are the shows, once again, with times:

9:00, Tuesday, Nov. 12 Hot Club de Gand GHENT, Belgium

8:30, Wednesday, Nov. 13 Jazz Station BRUSSELS, Belgium

7:00, Friday, Nov. 15 Blues-Sphere LIEGE, Belgium

8:00, Saturday, Nov. 16 Appeltuin Jazz LEUVEN, Belgium

Event starts 5:00, Sunday, Nov. 17 Hannut Jazz Festival HANNUT, Belgium

8:30, Monday, Nov. 18 Dumont's AACHEN, Germany

9:30, Tuesday, Nov. 19 LiquID LUXEMBOURG

9:00, Wednesday, Nov. 20 Le Rideau Rouge LASNE, Belgium

9:00, Saturday, Nov. 23 Lokerse Jazzklub LOKEREN, Belgium

5:30, Sunday, Nov. 24 Flamingo BRUSSELS, Belgium

My art... on pillows!

Here's a random thing— my sister, Christy Bishop, an interior designer, is releasing a line of high-end printed pillows, and is including some of my old (c. 1997-2001) works on paper in her art. So far she's got in the collection this painting of two skulls on a red background, which was staplegunned to the wall of my painting studio above my easel for several years:

And this stylish martini glass:

And this expressionistic portrait bust:

If you must have these for your home, you can purchase them from Opal At Home.

2013 Europe tour

Hey, my 2013 Europe tour, my fourth, is coming up in November— exactly four weeks from now. We'll be playing music from my record Little Played Little Bird, the music of Ornette Coleman, and some other things. The band will include the Brazilian pianist/composer Weber Iago, and Brussels musicians Jean-Paul Estievenart, and Olivier Stalon.

Here are the dates— if you're in the vicinity, come on down!

Tuesday, Nov. 12 Hot Club de Gand GHENT, Belgium

Wednesday, Nov. 13 Jazz Station BRUSSELS, Belgium

Friday, Nov. 15 Blues-Sphere LIEGE, Belgium

Saturday, Nov. 16 Appeltuin Jazz LEUVEN, Belgium

Sunday, Nov. 17 Hannut Jazz HANNUT, Belgium

Monday, Nov. 18 Dumont's AACHEN, Germany

Tuesday, Nov. 19 LiquID LUXEMBOURG

Wednesday, Nov. 20 Rideau Rouge LASNE, Belgium

Saturday, Nov. 23 Lokerse Jazzklub LOKEREN, Belgium

Sunday, Nov. 24 Flamingo BRUSSELS, Belgium

If anyone is interested in getting a lesson or two, I'll be based in Brussels from November 11-24, with a full day in Luxembourg on the 19th, and three days in Berlin from the 25th-27th. Hit the “email Todd” link in the sidebar to reach me about that.

Another best of 2012 list

Another Best of 2012 list for my CD Little Played Little Bird, this time on the Bird Is The Worm blog, written by eMusic contributor Dave Sumner. We're in the number 12 slot:

So, take obscure compositions from the songbook of a challenging artist and perform renditions… the math for that equation should result in something resembling a didactic lecture of music theory and not the refreshingly listenable Little Played Little Bird. Todd Bishop tackles the music of Ornette Coleman, and without watering down the source material, has created a recording that was both tuneful and a fun listen. It’s an impressive accomplishment, and a solid album when judged on its own merits. I find this album as infectious at the end of the year as I did when it originally came out.

You can buy my infectious record through links in the sidebar, either as a CD, or digital download.

LPLB makes a best of 2012 list

Dan McClenaghan at All About Jazz has included my record Little Played Little Bird on his Best Releases of 2012 list. He had this to say:

“Drummer Todd Bishop is an underground treasure. He doesn't boast the highest of profiles, but he has put out two consecutive great CDs for the Origin Records label: 2009's 69 Annee Erotique and now, this nod to alto saxophonist/free jazz pioneer Ornette Coleman.”

You can get either/both CDs via le sidbar, either in CD or download form... have I mentioned that purchasing my records is a great way to support the blog?

New CSD! book: 100 Grooves

OK, here it is, just in time for Christmas— our new book, 100 Grooves - vol. 1, is now available for purchase.

It contains over 100 transcribed drum grooves by people like Elvin Jones, Ed Blackwell, Airto, Billy Cobham, Zigaboo Modeliste, James Gadson, Clyde Stubblefield, Art Blakey, Mike Clark, Billy Higgins, and, as they say, many, many more. Explanatory text is by yours truly, Todd Bishop.

Some of the entries have been featured on the blog as past “grooves o' the day”, but approximately 70% of them have never been published anywhere before. Contains a whole lot of funk, Latin jazz, fusion, soul, odd meters, and the Afro 6/8 grooves I'm so fond of.

I've found that the printer, Lulu, is surprisingly fast— my past orders have made it to Portland in seven business days or less using the cheapest shipping option— but order ASAP to receive your book(s) in time to make Christmas gifts out of them.

By the way, you can still get the 2011 transcriptions book at a 10% discount— the per-note value is still the best on the Internet.

It's tour time

UPDATE: Late add- another gig in Brussels on Friday, Nov. 9.

My partner Casey Scott and I are flying to Brussels tomorrow to make her a record (for the Topsy Turvy label), and to do my tour in support of my new record, Little Played Little Bird. We'll be rehearsing through the weekend, recording my drum tracks at Jet Studio on Tuesday and Wednesday, and gigging my stuff from November 1-10.

Playing with me will be:
Jean-Paul Estevenart — trumpet
Martin Mereau — vibes
Olivier Stalon — bass

Come on down, hear us play and say hello if you're in the vicinity. And check back here or at Todd Bishop Jazz for updates from the road. 


Thursday, Nov. 1
Bar Belge — Paris  
97, avenue du Général Leclerc
94700 Maisons-Alfort FRANCE
01.43.68.20.50

Friday, Nov. 2  
Le Bab-ilo — Paris
9 Rue Baigneur, 75018 Paris, FRANCE
01 42 23 99 19

Sunday, Nov. 4 
Café Belga — Brussels
Place Eugène Flagey Plein
B-1050 Bruxelles/Brussel BELGIUM
Tel:+32 2 640 35 08

Tuesday, Nov. 6
LiquID  — Luxembourg
15-17 Rue Munster
 L-2160 Luxembourg-Grund
(352) 22 44 55

Wednesday, Nov. 7
Buster  — Antwerp 
Kaasrui 1 2000
Antwerpen, BELGIUM
+32(0)497 71 81 33

Thursday, Nov. 8 
Sazz'n Jazz — Brussels
Rue Royale 241 /  241 Koningsstraat
1210-Bruxelles BELGIUM
32 (0) 475 78 23 78

Friday, Nov. 9  — 19:00 (or close to it!)
Espacio ON
Steenweg op Etterbeek 172
1040 Etterbeek, Brussels, Belgium

Friday, Nov. 9  — 22:00
Centre d’Ecologie Urbaine — Brussels 
789 Chaussée de Waterloo
 B-1180 Bruxelles BELGIUM
+32-2-34-32-281 ou +32-488-88-36-43
With songwriter Casey Scott.

Saturday, Nov. 10  
Jakobshof — Aachen
Stromgasse 31 52064 Aachen GERMANY
0241 36800

Anyone who wants to contact me can reach me most reliably through Olivier Stalon— I will be available for private lessons until November 10th.

My brother John Bishop, a great drummer, will also be in Belgium at the same time, incredibly, and you should go see him play if possible.

Show TONIGHT

This Wednesday [Update: That's tonight], at the Secret Society Ballroom in Portland I'll be playing music from my new record, Little Played Little Bird (which you can listen to, and more importantly purchase in the sidebar), along with Tim Willcox, Weber Iago, and Dan Schulte.

It's a fairly rare for me all ages show, starting at 6pm, and my group will hit at 7. Cover is a sliding $5-20. The venue is located at 116 Northeast Russell Street Portland, OR 97212.

If you're in Portland, come on down!

See you in Seattle!

Heading up to Seattle to play the Ballard Jazz Festival in a moment. Tonight is the Brotherhood of the Drum, hosted by Michael Shrieve, which I'll be playing with saxophonist Rich Cole and bassist Paul Gabrielsen; also featured are Sonny Rollins drummer Kobie Watkins, Eric Eagle,  and the massive King Tears Bat Trip.

Friday is the Jazz Walk, where my quartet will be playing downstairs at the Salmon Bay Eagles- that will be a good hang, because upstairs will be the Table and Chairs Label Showcase, which will feature players like Gregg Keplinger, Neil Welch, Greg Sinibaldi, and more. We play at 8pm tonight (Wednesday) and 8-12 on Friday. See the Origin site for further details.

See you there!

UPDATE:  We got a lot of great feedback on the new CD, and had really fun shows on Wednesday and Friday- thanks to the musicians, to all the nice people who attended (and who bought CDs!) and to Kobie Watkins and Michael Shrieve for being incredibly nice and for buying my book, to Gregg Keplinger for putting rivets in all of my cymbals and for being very supportive, and of course my friends and family, and everyone at Origin for putting all the hard work putting on the event.  

On newstands now

Oh, my new Drum! Magazine piece- on polyrhythmic uses for Stick Control- should be on newstands now. It's the April issue, which comes out in February. I don't pretend to get how that works. You can read and download my first Drum! article here.


UPDATE 2/19: Heh, or not. I made a trip to Powell's yesterday and they still had the March issue. Sometime this month it will be out, anyway, dammit...

DBMITW and news

We'll be on light posting for the next couple of days while I do a bunch of work on publicity for my new record of the music of Ornette Coleman, Little Played Little Bird (which you can pre-order in the side bar); and booking spring and fall Europe tours, and putting together volume one of "the book of the blog" for 2011.

That's right, that's not a twelve-word typo: Thanks to the magic of online publishing, you'll soon be able to purchase our materials from 2011 in book form for a very reasonable figure. Volume one will be around 100 pages of transcriptions, and volume two will cover practice materials- I haven't calculated the length yet. The cost will be less than you would spend in printer toner printing them all out yourself. Stay tuned...

In the mean time, enjoy some 1980-ish LA-style fusion with John Serry, featuring Carlos Vega- this is one of the first records I ever owned, which my brother handed down to me:



More of this old favorite after the break:

Drum! mag update

See this issue for my last piece.

I've just been informed that my new Drum! magazine piece will be printed in the April, 2012 issue, which will hit the streets in February.

Visit Drum! magazine online.

Sabian Raw Ride in action

I finally got to record with the 22" Sabian Raw Ride I was so excited tell you about awhile back. I'd say it has an unmistakable "A" sound- neutral-seeming, but very pretty, with a lot of definition, though it's not a super dry cymbal; as I mentioned before, the wash seems to be in much lower frequency range than the stick sound. The rivets are nice, since it's not a real complex-sounding cymbal by itself. For comparison, the cymbal you hear during the fade in, and again at around 1:27 is my 22" Bosphorus Turk Original Ride, which is close to the same weight as the Sabian- maybe slightly heavier. The hihats are 13" Bosphorus Turk Regulars.



This is off of my new record of the music of Ornette Coleman, Little Played Little Bird, which will be coming out on Origin Records in 2012. You can pre-order is from the sidebar under the "help keep us operating" heading. Personnel is Tim Willcox on soprano saxophone, Weber Iago on piano, Bill Athens on bass, me on drums.

Until I figure out how to get Heineken to pay me.

I'm debuting my new header image today, a photo of the stage from my time on the Empress of the North, a river boat on the Columbia. I guess maybe the old picture of me swilling beer at the end of yet another, what, "country" night? "Patriotic" night? "20's-30's-40's" night? -didn't have the gravitas befitting a blog entitled Cruise Ship Drummer! with an exclamation point, though I thought it did capture a certain dark spirit of the thing.

So, as we say goodbye, here in all it's splendor is the uncropped photo, taken aboard the Queen of the West river boat by bassist Andrea Niemic using my camera in 2006.

Oh, hey

Oh surprise, it looks like my 2009 record, 69 Année Érotique, is still getting some occasional radio play. The first tune here is us playing Serge Gainsbourg's Bonnie and Clyde on good old WFMU (91.1 New York, 90.1 Hudson Valley):



I should mention that if you like the music and want to support the blog, you could purchase the CD (hit that link or the purchase link under "my sites"). It made three different jazz writer's best of 2009 lists, including Larry Appelbaum, the jazz specialist for the US Library of Congress.

After the break is a YouTube clip of the original version of the tune:

Updating my book

In preparation for a benefit gig this evening, I'm adding some new tunes my group's book, and more importantly clearing some of the ample dead wood. In case you're curious about the "thought" process that goes into such things, here are some of the things I'm pulling, and why.

Ain't Misbehavin' - I'm so sick to death of this song from playing it with singers, that I've never called it on a gig. Dead weight.

Autumn in New York - I like the tune, but I and the guys have played it behind one magician act too many. We used to play this a lot on the boats, until some staff thought it would be too traumatic for people to hear, because of 9/11. I didn't understand it, either.

Bernie's Tune - Something to keep the band from going nuts from playing too much Moon River and such, but I'm a little bored with it.

Blues in the Night - Show number which we never play. Miserable theater-person blues.

Chelsea Bridge - One of the greatest tunes ever, but too dark for this group, or rather, for the events we play.

Come Fly With Me - Not that well suited to an instrumental rendition. I've been keeping it around for Sinatra requests that never come.

Confessin' That I Love You - Good, small tune, but I call Look for the Silver Lining or There's a Small Hotel when I need something light like this.

The Continental - Chipper set-piece cha cha, with a little too-involved form for us to mess with. We'd rather just slog through Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White one more time than wade through this thing.

Cotton Tail - Great tune, we just haven't found a place for it.

Cry Me A River - Singer tune. Do you really want to hear this at your wedding? 

Don't Get Around Much Any More - We play this a lot, but nobody I would hire should ever need a chart for this.

Many more after the break.