| I'm trying out a new, more self-indulgent yet less cluttered format for the News page. For past news items, click the link above. For the current page, I'm just keeping the most current blurb here.
October 22, 2008 If anyone still visits this site, no doubt you have noticed that I never update anything other than, sporadically, the gig page. Thanks for keeping the faith though! Since we're almost to the 3 year anniversary of the last news post, I thought I'd put SOMETHING here. 2008 has seen a record number of Nathan Clevenger Group gigs: 7. I know, it doesn't seem like a lot, but it does shatter the old record of 5, so there! More importantly, beginning with our March gig at Blue Six, the Group expanded to a Sextet, adding the amazing Kasey Knudsen on saxophones (she had been first call sub for Mitch beginning in 2007). We've never been fatter or happier, and we celebrated by recording our debut album in June. If I manage not to get laid off, the record will come out around the beginning of 2009. Along with Kasey, the album features longtime band members Aaron Novik (first gig w/ the group in 2003), Mitch Marcus (2003), Sam Bevan (2003; 2001 if you count the trio that was the precursor to this group), and Tim Bulkley (2004). Speaking of Tim, he moved to New York, and while we still feature his absurdly accomplished talents when he is in town, the wonderful Jon Arkin is now the drummer on the majority of our gigs. 2008 was a year off for my trio with Aaron Novik and Lisa Mezzacappa, but we hope to be back in 2009. Speaking of trios, I FINALLY got a gig at Berkeley's Jupiter, after years of trying. Awesome. However, during winter months they can only have trios, and quiet ones at that. Hence, the debut of a new trio with myself, Kasey Knudsen, and Lisa Mezzacappa. Fun. We'll play tunes from the books of my Sextet and Trio and also a selection of standards. November 21st. I'm down to an average of 1 sideman gig a year now, but at least the one this year -- Aaron Novik's Samuel Suite at the East Bay JCC last weekend -- was a really special and rewarding one. Hopefully next year people will call me for 2 gigs. That's it! If you want more info, dig our myspace. Goodnight and good luck. See you in 3 years. December 21st, 2005 Ah, the glories of early retirement. Back in nominal business in 2006 though, with a gig at Cafe Van Kleef on Thursday, January 5th. The band will be the same as ever (Boots, Novik, Bevan, and I), with the great Tim Bulkley returning for this gig on drums. It's been awhile since I've played with Tim, since he's been touring Japan and elsewhere, but he's one of favorite musicians. We've played a lot in my band, Aaron Novik's Cutting Guard, and a trio with Darren Johnston, and I'm looking forward to playing again while he's briefly in town! Does rain drive musicians into the studio? Perhaps that's the answer. Anyway, no gigs in December, but a couple recording adventures. The world's greatest unemployed rock band, Doctors In Love, did the final remixing on our demo, so now it's on to the art work, and then who knows? Gratifying to be done with this one though -- it's been an epic. The other December recording was last night, with former Tonight We Ride frontman/songwriter Duncan Watson (for you history buffs, Tonight We Ride became Doctors in Love when Duncan retired from performing). We cut a single with Duncan (vocals/acoustic guitar) in Oakland, with James and Matt playing drums and bass, respectively, and yours truly on organ and glockenspiel. Can't wait to hear the final results. Writing new music for a new band which, hopefully, will debut at some point. It's music for a quartet featuring guitar/vibes, clarinets/bari sax, bass, and accordion. That's it. |
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| "If I write what I feel it's to reduce the fever of feeling. What I confess is unimportant, because everything is unimportant." - Fernando Pessoa |