Off to Europe....

Hello Everyone!

I'm getting ready to head out for a five-week excursion of Germany and Italy with a little side-trip to Croatia to boot. Really looking forward to this and a great big thanks to all the wonderful people who helped me put this together (you know who you are)! 

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Here's my gig schedule as things stand right now. Hope to see some of you at one of these events:

April 3rd: Arrive in Frankfurt, Germany.
April 4th: Frankfurt - Casablanca Bar, Le Meridien Hotel. Trio with Partido Gold
Apr. 5th: Frankfurt - Freitagsküche. Trio with Rudi Engel & Jens Biehl - 20:30.
Apr. 6th: Obertrubbach - Studio Lounge. Martelle Trio feat. Russ Spiegel - 19:30.
Apr. 7th: Wurzburg - Alter Kranen. Jazz Brunch with the Janosch Korell Group - 10:00.
Apr. 7-11: Stay in Wurzburg.
Apr. 11th: Hanau - Jazzkeller. Russ Spiegel Quartett - 21:00.
Apr. 12th: Attending the Frankfurt Musikmesse.
Apr. 13th: Bensheim - Rex. Martelle Trio feat. Russ Spiegel - 20:30.
Apr. 14th: Frankfurt - Waggong. Jazz Guitar Master Class - 12:00.
Apr. 15th: Mannheim - Cafe/Bar der Alte Feuerwache. Jazz Session w/Jens Bunge Group - 21:00. 
Apr. 16-18: Stay in Frankfurt. 
Apr. 19th: Heidelberg - Jazzhaus. Duo with guitarist Christian Eckert - 21:30.
Apr. 20th: Milan - Jazz Workshop at Via Mecenate - 16:00.
Apr. 21st: Rome - Beba do Samba. Jazz Guitar Masterclass - 16:00.
Apr. 21st: Rome - Beba do Samba. Duo with trumpeter Aldo Bassi - 22:00.
Apr. 22-23: Stay in Rome.
Apr. 24th: Trieste - Corte Café. Domingo Lobuono Trio - 19:00.
Apr. 25th: Rijeka, Croatia - HKD Club. Duo with guitarist Zoran Majstrovic - 20:00.
Apr. 26th: Trieste - Welcome Veg. Domingo Lobuono Trio - 19:00.
Apr. 27-29: Stay in Italy.
Apr. 30-May 3rd: Stay in Berlin.
May 3rd: Kaiserslautern - Lautrer Wirtshaus. Bodo Jaworek Ensemble - 20:00.
May 4th: Frankfurt - Nacht der Museen. Uli Schiffelholz Group - 19:00.
May 5th: free.
May 6th: Leaving back to NY.

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As to my other gigs - as always:

Friday March 29 & Saturday March 30, 7-10pm: I am playing dinner jazz in duo with bassist Kevin Thomas at this wonderful Italian restaurant and wood burning, brick oven pizzeria:
Il Porto Pizzeria Restaurant
37 Washington Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11205
(718) 624-2965
www.ilportobrooklyn.com/

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Please have a look at my new YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/theruzz/videos?view=0&flow=grid

Best wishes,
Russ

The Big European Excursion

Hello from Brooklyn! There was snow everywhere just a few days ago, but now it's all melted. It's still cold, but dry and beautiful in NY.

I'll be heading over to Europe for a month or so to do gigs and hang out, meet friends, etc. Hopefully, for those of you located across the pond there will be a chance for us to meet up. It'd be great to see you after all this time!

I have free dates and it's not so much about the money (though money is welcome) as it is just to play and be working and keeping busy. So if you hear of anything - gigs or workshops - or have something I can join in on, I'd be very grateful.

Here's my gig schedule as things stand right now. Hope to be updating with some more dates between now and April:

3-4.4 free
5.4. Frankfurt - Freitagsküche
6.4  Studiolounge Obertrubbach
7.4  Jazzbrunch in Wurzburg
8-9.4 Workshop at Backline Wurzburg?? (evenings free)
10.4 free
11.4 Hanau Jazzkeller
12.4 free
13.4 Rex Bensheim
14.4 Jazzguitar Workshop, Waggong Frankfurt (evening free)
15.4.Jazzsession Mannheim
19.4 Jazzhaus Heidelberg
20-21.4 Milan
22-24.4 Trieste
25.4-27/28.4 Rome and Bari
3.5. Kaiserslautern
4.5 - Nacht der Museen/Frankfurt
Leaving back to NY on May 6th.

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As to my other gigs - as always:

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

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Have a look at my YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/theruzz/videos?view=0&flow=grid

Best wishes,
Russ

End of the Year News - New for 2013

The picture on the left was taken during my recent trip to Key West, Florida, where I was visiting my buddy and guitar master Larry Baeder. I played about six gigs and it's looking like I'll be back there again in March. Tough musician's life.

On another front, I have decided to do back and get a doctorate in music, as this will enable me to find work teaching. I'll be off at the end of the month for a auditions at USC and the University of Toronto. Wish me luck.

Upcoming Gigs:

Friday, Jan. 4: I'll be back at the Bar Next Door performing standards and originals with my trio. Sets are at 7:30, 9:30 and 11:30. As this is a very small, intimate venue (seats about 30!!!), make sure to reserve a place. Musicians are encouraged to bring their axes to sit in and join us. $12 cover.

The Russ Spiegel Trio:
Russ Spiegel: guitar
Thomson Kneeland: bass
Scott Neumann: drums

About the Bar Next Door: Slightly larger than a nice sized efficiency apartment, lit by votive candles, and bedecked with dark wood, it would be an understatement to call this subterranean West Village bar intimate. Jazz trios, crammed into a corner of the room near the working fireplace, play seven nights a week, as snuggling couples and self-styled enthnomusicologists lounge on dark leather banquettes while sipping wine or martinis. (There's an exhaustive menu for the former.)
 
The Bar Next Door
129 MacDougal St
New York, NY 10012
Tel: (212) 529-5945
www.lalanternacaffe.com

Wednesday, Jan. 23rd, 7-11pm: I'll be performing with bassist Mark Hagan's quintet at the '76 House in Tappan, NY.
  
The Mark Hagan Trio:
Joe Magnarelli: trumpet
Jon Gordon: sax
Russ Spiegel: guitar
Mark Hagan: bass
Scott Neumann: drums 

'76 House
110 Main St.
Tappan, NY 10983
(845) 359-5476
http://www.76house.com/

Wednesday, Jan. 30th, 7-9pm (one set only) it's the Russ Spiegel Jazz Orchestra back at the Zinc Bar. We'll be featuring the exceptionally talented Israeli singer Tammy Scheffer.

The RSJO is:
Reeds: Craig Yaremko,Justin Wood, Tim Armacost, Dave Noland, Paul Nedzela
Trumpets: Colin Brigstocke, James Smith, Steve Smyth, David Smith
Trombones: Sara Jacovino, Chris Stover, Scott Reeves, 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 bandleader

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

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

Wishing you and yours a swinging 2013!
Russ

July Update

Producer (Me), Actor Gene Farber & Director David Capurso in L.A.

Greetings Friends and Fans,

June is now behind us, but July is promising to be another busy month. 

The screening of Das Boots at the New Media Film Festival in Los Angeles went extremely well. The movie got rave reviews and apart from that, David Capurso (the director) and I were able to hobnob with some of the movers and shakers in the Hollywood film scene. Next up:  Das Boots will be screening as part of the New York New Filmmakers Summer Series 2012 at the Anthology Film Archives Monday, July 9th starting at 7pm. Oh yeah, and you will soon be able to download Das Boots as we got a distribution deal via Indiefilmz.com!!! Check out our Facebook page and Bootsblog for more details.

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UPCOMING GIGS:

Wednesday, July 11th, 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 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, Dave Noland, Matt Garrison, Carl Miraghi
Trumpets: Colin Brigstocke, James Smith, Jason Colby, Marty Bound
Trombones: Sara Jacovino, Chris Stover, Nick Finzer, Brandon Moodie
Rhythm: Mike Eckroth (piano); Yoshi Waki (bass); Scott Neumann (drums); Memo Acevedo (perc)
Featuring Special Guest vocalist Tammy Scheffer
Russ Spiegel is the composer, arranger, and bandleader

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

Sunday, July 8th & 22nd, 8:30-11pm: I'll be playing Latin jazz with some compatriots down in Park Slope.
The Russ Spiegel/Tommy Mattioli Latin Thang
Tommy Mattioli: vibes
Russ Spiegel: guitar
Carlos Velasquez: bass
Gabo Tomassini: congas & percussion

t.b.a.: timbales 

Fifth Estate

506 5th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11215
Tel. (718) 840-0089
http://www.fifthestatebar.com/

Keep swinging.
Russ

Off to L.A. & June Gigs

Greetings All,

I've been lax in my reporting but the first part of May was marred by a rather scary physical setback. Around the first first week I woke up in extreme pain that continued to get worse as the day went on. The next day it was impossible to do anything and I finally went in to the emergency room to find out I had a pinched nerve in my neck. As I went to physical therapy it turned out this was accompanied by a bad case of tendonitis probably brought on by too much piano playing. 

I am happy to report I am almost completely mended, just some more long-term effects of numbness in the first finger of my right hand. Luckily, this doesn't affect my playing and so I have plenty of gigs and projects to keep me going.

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Off to L.A....

My short film, Das Boots will be having it's West Coast premiere at the the New Media Film Festival in L.A. on Wednesday, June 13th. I'll be heading out early Saturday morning June 9th to join my director David Capurso and actors Gene Farber and Sarah Ahlgren to attend the festival, walk the red carpet, schmooze, and see our movie screened. Oh yeah, and enjoy the beach & sunshine as well as sample some great Mexican food and go to a Dodgers game. Let's call it a working vacation.

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Gigs:

NEW GIG JUST IN: 

Thursday, June 28th, 8-10:30pm:

The Russ Spiegel Quartet:
Russ Spiegel: guitar, comp
Mike Eckroth: keys
Yoshi Waki: bass
Ronen Itzik: drums
Inkwell Cafe
408 Rogers Ave
Brooklyn,NY 11225
http://plgarts.org/ai1ec_event/jazz-at-the-inkwell-thursday-june-14-8-1030-pm/?instance_id=42
The band will be playing music from my “The Deep Brooklyn Suite”: a series of musical impressions about Brooklyn. Stylistically, the music features elements of Jazz, Rock, and Brazilian music, and showcases some of Brooklyn’s finest musical talent.

Sunday, June 24th, 8:30-11pm: I'll be playing Latin jazz with some compatriots down in Park Slope.
The Russ Spiegel/Tommy Mattioli Latin Thang
Tommy Mattioli: vibes
Russ Spiegel: guitar
Carlos Velasquez: bass
Glenn Lowe: drums
Gabo Tomassini: percussion

Fifth Estate

506 5th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11215
Tel. (718) 840-0089
http://www.fifthestatebar.com/

Fridays & Saturdays, 7-10pm (except June 9 & 15): I am playing dinner jazz in duo with bassist Kevin Thomas at this wonderful Italian restaurant and wood burning, brick oven pizzeria:
Il Porto Pizzeria Restaurant
37 Washington Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11205
(718) 624-2965
www.ilportobrooklyn.com/
 

Sundays 12-3pm (except June 10): it's brunch time at Wyne a Bit. Awesome sweet & savory crepes (not mention scrumptious breakfast crepes) and a fantastic wine & beer selection. I'll be playing solo jazz guitar but musicians are encouraged to drop by & sit in.

Wyne a Bit Wine Bar & Creperie
200 Franklin St.
Greenpoint, Brooklyn, 11122
(718) 389-7171
www.brooklynwinebar.com/

Keep Swinging,

Russ

May Update

Hard to believe, it's already May! Time flies and I've been keeping busy with various projects, more on that in future posts.

In the meantime, lots of music going on. I have, among other things, a new Latin Jazz group. Take a look at the gigs below....

Russ's Upcoming Gigs:

Wednesday, May 9th, 7-9pm: I'll be performing with my fantastic quintet, Uncommon Knowledge, with special guest Hendrik Meurkens on chromatic harmonica. We will be performing pieces from my Deep Brooklyn Suite, which is a series of musical impressions about Brooklyn. Stylistically, the music features elements of Jazz, Rock, and Brazilian music, and showcases some of New York’s finest musicians:

Russ Spiegel's "Uncommon Knowledge"

Special Guest: Hendrik Meurkens - chromatic harmonica
Russ Spiegel - guitar/ comp 
Tim Armacost - reeds
Mike Eckroth - piano
Gary Wang - bass
Scott Neuman - drums

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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Sunday, May 13 & May 27th, 8:30-11pm: I'll be playing Latin jazz with some compatriots down in Park Slope.
The Russ Spiegel/Tommy Mattioli Latin Thang
Tommy Mattioli: vibes
Russ Spiegel: guitar
Steve Wood: bass
Glenn: drums
Gabo: percussion

Fifth Estate

506 5th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11215
Tel. (718) 840-0089
http://www.fifthestatebar.com/ 

Wednesday, May 23, 8-11pm: The wonderful guitarist Tosh Sheridan and I will be performing in duo at:

Claret Wine Bar

4602 Skillman Avenue  

Sunnyside (Queens), NY 11104 

Tel. (718) 937-7411

www.claretwinebar.com

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

Sundays 12-3pm it's brunch time at Wyne a Bit. Awesome sweet & savory crepes (not mention scrumptious breakfast crepes) and a fantastic wine & beer selection. I'll be playing solo jazz guitar but musicians are encouraged to drop by & sit in.

Wyne a Bit Wine Bar & Creperie
200 Franklin St.
Greenpoint, Brooklyn, 11122
(718) 389-7171
www.brooklynwinebar.com/

Keep Swinging,

Russ

Milestone

Greetings All,

Hard to believe it, but I've been in New York over ten years now. So many things have happened - lots of good, some...uh, not so. In any case, this month I will be celebrating my birthday for the tenth time in New York at a nice, intimate club in Manhattan. More info below.

Our Kickstarter fundraiser for the band Uncommon Knowledge (see our attached video, which is still being edited) unfortunately did not do so well. It seems to be getting harder and harder to get projects off the ground. Nevertheless, through the agencies of music supporter extraordinaire Stu Deutsch, we will be going in to the studio on March 20th to record some songs and hopefully have enough usable tracks to put out on a new CD. More on this in the next Calendar update.

__________________________________

Russ's Birthday Gig/Jam:
Friday, March 30th, shows at 7:30, 9:30 & 11:30:
Come hang with me and my band at the Bar Next Door to celebrate my birthday. As this is a very small, intimate venue (seats about 30!!!), make sure to reserve a place. Musicians are encouraged to bring their axes to sit in and join us. $12 cover.

The Russ Spiegel Trio:
Russ Spiegel: guitar
Gary Wang: bass
Scott Neumann: drums

About the Bar Next Door: Slightly larger than a nice sized efficiency apartment, lit by votive candles, and bedecked with dark wood, it would be an understatement to call this subterranean West Village bar intimate. Jazz trios, crammed into a corner of the room near the working fireplace, play seven nights a week, as snuggling couples and self-styled enthnomusicologists lounge on dark leather banquettes while sipping wine or martinis. (There's an exhaustive menu for the former.)

The Bar Next Door
129 MacDougal St
New York, NY 10012
Tel: (212) 529-5945
www.lalanternacaffe.com

Fridays & Saturdays (except March 30), 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 brunch time again at Wyne a Bit. Awesome sweet & savory crepes (not mention ridiculous breakfast crepes) and a fantastic wine & beer selection. I'll be playing solo jazz guitar but musicians are encouraged to drop by & sit in.

Wyne a Bit Wine Bar & Creperie
200 Franklin St.
Greenpoint, Brooklyn, 11122
(718) 389-7171
www.brooklynwinebar.com/

Keep Swingin'
Russ