Big News!

Hello Friends and Music Fans!

The Big News is: It's official! We have just launched our Kickstarter project, Russ Spiegel's "Uncommon Knowledge" plays the music of the Deep Brooklyn Suite. Whether you want to contribute or not, please take a look. Comments happily accepted!
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/RuzzToneProductions/russ-spiegels-uncommon-knowledge-the-deep-brooklyn-0
We are planning on recording in March. Stay tuned.....

Also not-so-little news: I am now am somebody! See my new listing on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russ_Spiegel

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Gigs this Month:

Wednesday, Feb. 29, 7-9pm (one set only) it's the Russ Spiegel Jazz Orchestra celebrating Leap Day back at the Zinc Bar. We'll be featuring the great Hendrik Meurkens on chromatic harmonica and the exceptionally talented Israeli singer Tammy Scheffer:
Zinc Bar
82 West 3rd Street (btw Thompson & Sullivan)
Greenwich Village New York NY 10012
tel. 212-477-ZINC (9462)
www.zincbar.com

The RSJO is:
Reeds: Rob Wilkerson, Alejandro Aviles, Tim Armacost, Dave Noland, Paul Nedzela
Trumpets: Colin Brigstocke, Steve Smythe, Miki Hirose, Andy Gravish
Trombones: Scott Reeves, Sara Jacovino, Chris Stover Brandon Moodie
Rhythm: Art Hirahara (piano); Yoshi Waki (bass); Scott Neumann (drums); Rogerio Boccato (perc)
Featuring Special Guests Hendrik Meurkens on chromatic harmonica and vocalist Tammy Scheffer .
Russ Spiegel is the composer, arranger, and guitarist.

Fridays & Saturdays, 7-10pm I am playing dinner jazz in duo with bassist Kevin Thomas at:
Il Porto Pizzeria Restaurant
37 Washington Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11205
(718) 624-2965
www.ilportobrooklyn.com/

Sundays 12-3pm it's solo jazz guitar at a wonderful new wine bar/creperie in Greenpoint:
Wyne a Bit Wine Bar & Creperie
200 Franklin St.
Greenpoint, Brooklyn, 11122
(718) 389-7171
www.brooklynwinebar.com/

Keep Swingin'
Russ

Last Post for 2011

Hello Friends and Music Fans,

The year is winding down but it's been a great 2011 with lots of wonderful events.

Right now I'm in a holding pattern of sorts, waiting for some exciting things to happen - whether I gain a professorship, start working on my doctorate, get further film score commissions, etc. - this all remains to be determined in the coming year.

In the meantime, I'm still a busy boy with lots of gigs to finish off the year:

Fridays & Saturdays, 7:30-10:30pm I am playing dinner jazz in duo with bassist Kevin Thomas at:
Il Porto Pizzeria Restaurant
37 Washington Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11205
(718) 624-2965
www.ilportobrooklyn.com/

I will also be performing at Il Porto on New Years Eve, 8pm-midnight in quartet featuring the wonderful trumpeter/vocalist Dennis Jeter. Make sure to reserve your seats now!

**Update: A new gig every Sunday!!!
Sundays 12-3pm it's solo jazz guitar at a wonderful new wine bar/creperie in Greenpoint:
Wyne a Bit Wine Bar & Creperie
200 Franklin St.
Greenpoint, Brooklyn, 11122
(718) 389-7171
www.brooklynwinebar.com/

Wednesday, Dec. 21st 7-9pm (one set only) it's the Russ Spiegel Jazz Orchestra back at the Zinc Bar. We'll be featuring the beautiful and extremely talented Israeli singer Tammy Scheffer:
Zinc Bar
82 West 3rd Street (btw Thompson & Sullivan)
Greenwich Village New York NY 10012
tel. 212-477-ZINC (9462)
www.zincbar.com

The RSJO is:
Reeds: Craig Yaremko, Justin Wood, Tim Armacost, Russ Nolan, Paul Nedzela
Trumpets: Colin Brigstocke, James Smith, Miki Hirose, Andy Gravish
Trombones: Sara Jacovino, Andy Hunter, Nick Finzer, Brandon Moodie
Rhythm: Rachel Eckroth (piano); Yoshi Waki (bass); Scott Neumann (drums); Rogerio Boccato (perc)
Featuring Special Guest vocalist Tammy Scheffer.
Russ Spiegel is the composer, arranger, and guitarist.

Keep Swinging,
Russ

Thanksgiving Update

Greetings Music Fans!

I hope you are all well and gearing up for the Thanksgiving festivities. I am spending another turkey day up with my friends Carl & Amanda Clements in Amherst, Massachusetts. We just returned from a refreshing walk along the Fort River. Always nice to breathe fresh air.

My European sojourn was a blast. I had an amazing time all along my stops in Frankfurt, Nürnberg, Würzburg, and Istanbul. My workshop with the student big band of the Würzburg Musikhochschule was not only a great experience, the band played fantastic! Here's a shot from the performance.

So - here are my upcoming performances:

Friday, Nov. 25, 7:30-10:30pm I am playing dinner jazz duo with the amazing Israeli singer Tammy Scheffer at:
Il Porto Pizzeria Restaurant
37 Washington Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11205
(718) 624-2965

www.ilportobrooklyn.com/

Saturday, Nov. 26, 7:30-10:30pm I am playing dinner jazz duo with bassist Kevin Thomas at:
Il Porto Pizzeria Restaurant
37 Washington Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11205
(718) 624-2965
www.ilportobrooklyn.com/

**Update: This gig is now every Sunday!!!
Sunday, Nov. 27, 12-3pm it's a new brunch gig at a wonderful new wine bar/creperie:
Wyne a Bit Wine Bar & Creperie
200 Franklin St.
Greenpoint, Brooklyn, 11122
(718) 389-7171
www.brooklynwinebar.com/

And in December, it's the Russ Spiegel Jazz Orchestra back at the Zinc Bar. We'll be featuring the beautiful and extremely talented Israeli singer Tammy Scheffer:
Wednesday, Dec. 21st 7-9pm (one set only)
Zinc Bar
82 West 3rd Street (btw Thompson & Sullivan)
Greenwich Village New York NY 10012
tel. 212-477-ZINC (9462)
www.zincbar.com

The RSJO is:
Reeds: Craig Yaremko, Justin Wood, Tim Armacost, Russ Nolan, Frank Basile
Trumpets: Colin Brigstocke, James Smith, Miki Hirose, Andy Gravish
Trombones: Sara Jacovino, Andy Hunter, Nick Finzer, Brandon Moodie
Rhythm:Mike Eckroth (piano); Yoshi Waki (bass); Scott Neumann (drums); Rogerio Boccato (perc)
Featuring Special Guest vocalist Tammy Scheffer.
Russ Spiegel is the composer, arranger, and guitarist.

Keep Swinging,
Russ

Update from Germany

Greetings All,

Busy times! I arrived in Germany a week ago, saw some old friends, had a concert in Hanau and then jetted off to visit Istanbul for five days. While I was there I stopped by the Nardis jazz club in the Galata district of the city and ended up jamming with jazz legend Dusko Goykovich. I arrived back in Frankfurt, Germany, on Wednesday came down to Würzburg to do a performance with the Polish singer Sylwia Bialas and on this coming Monday and Tuesday I will be working with the big band at the Musikhochschule here in Würzburg before heading back to NYC on the 27th.

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Monday, Oct. 24: Workshop with the Würzburg Musikhochschule Big Band

Tuesday, Oct 25: Workshop and Concert with the Würzburg Musikhochschule Big Band
Hofstallstraße 6
97070 Würzburg, Germany

0931 32187-0
www.hfm-wuerzburg.de/

Friday, Oct. 28, and Saturday, Oct. 29, 7:30-10:30pm I am playing dinner jazz duo with the amazing Israeli singer Tammy Scheffer at:
Il Porto Pizzeria Restaurant
37 Washington Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11205
(718) 624-2965

www.ilportobrooklyn.com/

Keep Swinging,
Russ

Upcoming Concert of the RSJO - Latin Time!

On Wednesday, July 27th, the Russ Spiegel Jazz Orchestra will be back performing live at the Zinc Bar in Manhattan, featuring the amazing chromatic harmonica player, Hendrik Meurkens, the wonderful Israeli vocalist Tammy Scheffer, along with jazz greats Duane Eubanks, Tim Armacost and Mike Eckroth, among many others. This one-set performance begins at 7pm and costs only $10.

The RSJO is:
Reeds: Justin Wood, Craig Yaremko, Tim Armacost, Dave Noland, Paul Nedzela
Trumpets: Colin Brigstocke, James Smith, Andy Gravish, Duane Eubanks
Trombones: Sara Jacovino, Nick Finzer, Matthew McDonald, Brandon Moodie
Rhythm:Mike Eckroth (piano); Yoshi Waki (bass); Scott Neuman (drums); Todd Isler (perc)
Featuring Special Guests Hendrik Meurkens on chromatic harmonica and vocalist Tammy Scheffer.
Russ Spiegel is the composer, arranger, and guitarist.

Zinc Bar
82 West 3rd Street (btw Thompson & Sullivan)
Greenwich Village New York NY 10012
tel. 212-477-ZINC (9462)
www.zincbar.com

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This and every Friday and Saturday evening 7:30-10:30pm I am playing dinner jazz duo with bassist Kevin Thomas at:
Il Porto Pizzeria Restaurant
37 Washington Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11205
(718) 624-2965
ilportobrooklyn.com/

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Also - as mentioned in my last post:

My short film, "Das Boots" was recently accepted into the Art of Brooklyn Festival and will be shown August 21st. More info coming. Here are some links:

www.dasbootsmovie.com
www.theartofbrooklyn.com

I was recently contracted to compose the music for Anand Kamalakar's documentary, "Building Bridges." The story follows students from Beacon High School in Manhattan as they raise money and then travel to India to perform a blend of classical Indian and Western dance. The 28 students and their minders experience "globalization firsthand" as they learn the vast differences and similarities between these two cultures. On June 30 I went into the studio to record the soundtrack with some very capable musicians. The film should be completed in the next few weeks. I will post when I hear about a screening.

Keep Swinging,
Russ