8.29.07: News and upcoming events
Last Saturday's Freshly Squeezed show at Il Corral was a great success; lots of great fun, great music, and the stolen laptop was recovered successfully! Tonight's show with Elvis Schoenberg's Orchestre Surreal at the Western Arts Alliance annual Showcase concert at the Omni Hotel should prove to be just as fun. And then, starting next, back to school, as I'm teaching two classes at Citrus College, in addition to taking back my charge of private lessons and ensemble coachings. This fall should be very exciting: here's some of the highlights.
September 30: Freshly Squeezed performs at Boston Court. For those of you who have never been to this wonderful, intimate theater in Pasadena, now's your chance!
October 6-11: New York Solo Mini Tour! I had been planning to travel to New York City in the first week of October to see my good friend and fellow AdH-er Evan Hause's new opera, and decided to book a little solo tour along with it! Currently, I have dates at the Downtown Music Gallery and Goodbye Blue Monday; you can expect tabla solo, along with a presentation of a new work for percussion.
November 1: Freshly Squeezed performs at the Downey Art Museum. This will feature a new batch of repertoire as we move towards recording a full-length CD.
November 2-9: Cairo, Egypt! MESTO will be taking it's second international tour to Egypt this fall, with performances at the world famous Cairo Opera House! This orchestra is really on the move; watch for more details.
And in the mean time, I am very busy with many other projects, including songwriter Dan Melee, the Old Standard Percussion Group, John Schneider, and many more. I'm always available for sessions, gigs, lessons, and the like! Thanks for reading, and stay in touch. T.J.
8.14.07: Blog Relaunch
Almost 9 months have passed since I have posted on this blog, and a great deal has happened! Solo performances in San Rafael, Sunnyvale, and Los Angeles: California tour action with ensemble Partch, with concerts at UC Santa Cruz and Mills College in Oakland; local performances with Partch, GO: Organic PercussionEnsemble, Warm Climate, the Notre Dame University of Lebanon Touring Choir; international touring with MESTO, with performances in Amman, Jordan, and at the Jerash Festival of Arts and Culture in Jerash, Jordan; recording sessions with Al Polito, Dan Melee, Brad Dutz, Chris Wabich, Stuporhero, and John Schneider; and composing a great deal of new repertoire for various groups, including Freshly Squeezed and the Old Standard Percussion Group, with both groups expecting CDs released in early 2008.
I took a position at Citrus College in Glendora, CA, heading a program of World Percussion; I teach a World Percussion Techniques Class, as well as leading the Citrus College World Percussion Ensemble. The classes meet once a week throughout the 16-week semester; I also instruct students privately on various aspects of percussion, from drumset to doumbek to mallets. Additionally, I taught at Citrus College's Summer Instrumental Music Academy (SIMA), coaching the percussion section of the wind ensemble.
I am now on MySpace! In a bunch of different places, actually... There is my page: www.myspace.com/tjtroymusic; there is The Admiral and Dr. Hoss (duet with Evan Hause): www.myspace.com/theadmiralanddrhoss; as well as being on the pages of Partch, Deep 6 Holiday, and honorable mentions on a few other places!
This fall, I have scheduled tour dates to New York City in early October, where I will be presenting solo performances, as well as collaborations with Evan Hause and others. In early December, I will be traveling to New York again, this time with Los Angeles guitarist John Schneider, to present concerts featuring music of Lou Harrison, Troy, Schneider, and others. Stay tuned for specific details!
MESTO travels to Egypt in early November, with performances at the Cairo Opera House. The orchestra also plans a concert in October, as well as its annual December concert. Stay tuned for more info!
And in the mean time, I will be blogging more, performing more, and learning to cook better food. Take care! T.J.
11.21.06: Upcoming Show at Bang a Drum
On Friday December 8, I'm teaming up with Randy Gloss, one of my teachers, mentors, friends, and all around favorite drummers, to do a concert of duets and solos at the Bang a Drum shop, located at La Brea and San Vicente, just north of the 10 freeway. This will be a great show, featuring compositions of mine and Randy's, and well as a wide array of improvisations on a huge collection of instruments. Coming off a great show two weeks ago at Bang a Drum with my smokin' Balkan Band, and on the tails of the Riqq Workshop from the end of September, this show will feature only percussion in an intimate and interactive setting. This is a show you do not want to miss! Hope to see you there!
Friday, December 8, 2006 Randy Gloss and T.J. Troy: Percussion Duets. Bang a Drum 1255 S. La Brea Ave Los Angeles, CA 90019 323.936.3274 www.bangadrum.com $15 Call ahead for ticket reservations!!!
9.27.06: New Video!
I have posted a new video clip in the "samples" section of this site. It's a short excerpt from a ten-minute development of a tishran Kaida in Rupak tala; originally its a composition from my teacher, but I further adapted it and composed the development and tehai. This clip is the final two and a half minutes from my performance at the Gurupurnima celebration held in honor of my guru, Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri, which took place on the 29th of this past July. Enjoy!
Another quick reminded of tomorrow night's riqq workshop at Bang a Drum here in Los Angeles. This is going to be tons of fun and very accessible for everybody, regardless of what level you are on the riqq. Bring your drums, or you can borrow one from the shop!
Other things coming up: The Deep 6 Holiday is in the studio this weekend to finish some more songs for the upcoming debut album, not to mention the first gig, October 8 at the Good Hurt in Venice (10:30 pm downbeat); singer/songwriter Dan Melee is finishing mixes for his upcoming new batch of songs; composer Lyon Lazare and the Opus 119 Orchestra are gearing up for two concerts in the month of October (October 18 and 23); Bob Applebaum, Laura Halladay, Tim Evans, and myself are teaming up for a series of dance concerts, choreographed by Sarah Burgess, taking place at October 27-29; and John Schneider and I team up for a wonderful collection of pieces for guitar and percussion by legendary American composer Lou Harrison, Sunday October 29 at Boston Court in Pasadena. What a busy month! Come check it out!
9.20.06: Upcoming Riqq Workshop and future shows
Next Thursday, September 28, 2006, I will be presenting my Riqq and Frame Drum Workshop at Bang a Drum here in Los Angeles. This is a perfect opportunity for those of you wishing to have an introduction to the riqq, for those who wish to advance their skill, or for those serious practitioners who want to learn a few new tricks. The workshop starts at 7 pm and I'll be assisted by my good friend and great percussionist Jamie Papish. Bring your riqqs and frame drums, but for those of you who don't have one, a few instruments will be on hand for you to borrow.
Here is a link to the poster for the event: Arabic Riqq and Frame Drum Workshop flyer
Coming up in the month of October will be the inaugural gig of Tyler Azelton's Deep 6 Holiday, featuring Tyler Azelton on lead vocals and keyboards, Ian Hattwick on guitar, John Graves on bass, and T.J. on drums. October 8, 10:30 pm at the Good Hurt on Venice Blvd. We are currently recording Tyler's debut album, which should be out by early next year.
8.2.06: Upcoming events and news
Coming up in the month of August are two shows with the exciting and eclectic Elvis Schoenberg's Orchestre Surreal. The first takes place at Club M, 680 South Highway in Laguna Beach, CA, Thursday, August 24. A part of HelpBlueWater.com, the event should prove to be a lot of fun, with two sets starting at 9 pm.
The second show is part of Culver City's annual Fiesta La Balloona, Sunday August 27, starting at 12 noon. Both shows feature me playing a wide variety of percussion, together with some of Los Angeles' best and brightest studio elite. Don't miss it!
Additionally, I will be presenting an Arabic riqq and frame drum workshop at the Bang a Drum percussion store, located at 1255 S. La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90019, on Thursday, September 28. For those of you interested in traditional and modern techniques on the riqq (Arabic tambourine) and frame drum, this is for you, as I will be breaking down several different approaches for both instruments. The workshop starts at 7 pm, with a $15 entry fee. Don't forget to bring your drums, as this is an interactive workshop!
7.19.06: Jerash Festival Cancelled!
Due to the escalating events in the Middle East, the organizers of the Jerash Festival in Jordan have decided to cancel the event. And so, MESTO is not traveling to the Middle East as previously planned. We are severely disappointed; however, the event will be rescheduled and we are still planning to participate.
7.15.06: Upcoming events
Beginning on July 25, MESTO begins its first ever international tour! We are traveling to Amman, Jordan for two exciting performances, including an appearance at the Jerash Festival on July 31. I'll be returning stateside on the 3rd of August, to resume work on my upcoming percussion album.
August is shaping up to be very exciting as well, with performances by the Elvis Schoenberg Orchestra Surreal (August 27) in addition to preparing for the Lyon Lazarre Orchestra's upcoming performance at the John Anson Ford Amphitheater on September 4.
7.01.06: Three great reviews!
Three fantastic reviews came out for some recent concerts. Two reviews appeared in the Los Angeles Times, one for my performance with Nick Terry of Ben Johnston's Knocking Piece, the second for the May 30 performance of Partch at the RedCat Theater in downtown Los Angeles. Unfortunately, these reviews are no longer posted on the Calendar Live section of the times website any more, but I do hope to post a copy of those reviews on this site.
A third review appeared in the LA Weekly, covering the same May 30 concert of Partch at RedCat. Here's the link to that review:
http://www.laweekly.com/general/a-lot-of-night-music/the-experimentalists/13708/
5.18.06: Update on shows
Coming up on May 30th is the Partch Concert, featuring the newly discovered "Sonata: Dementia" and a newly choreographed version of "Castor and Pollux."
Also, next Wednesday starts GO: Organic Orchestra's annual residency at the Electric Lodge in Venice, CA. I will be performing on Thursday, May 25; Saturday and Sunday, May 27 and 28; Wednesday, May 31; Thursday, June 1; and hopefully, Friday June 2. For more details, visit: www.metarecords.com/new.html.
2.15.06: I'm back
I have returned from travels and am back in action. Coming up in the next few weeks, Tabla Solo at the Ali Akbar College of Music (3.4.06), Arabic Chamber music in Washington D.C. (3.9.06), and an upcoming performance in Irvine's Barclay Theater. Check the shows section for details.
1.5-2.14.06: Out of the Country!
I will be overseas between January 5 and February 14, 2006. I hope to see and here from you all upon my return. My cellphone and email will both be out of commission, but I will return all messages when I return.
12.24.05: Elvis Schoenberg's Orchestre Surreal Live on KCET Tonight!!!!!
As part of the 46th Annual Los Angeles County Holiday Celebration, the Orchestre Surreal is performing on the LIVE broadcast of tonight's concert at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Admission to the event is free, but so is watching it at home. Be sure to tune in between 7 and 8 pm (closer to 7:20) to catch the Orchestre Surreal's contribution to the festivities!
-T.J.
12.12.05: KPFK Tomorrow Night!
Tune into KPFK Los Angeles between 10:45-11:15 pm, Tuesday night, December 13th, for an exclusive interview with ensemble Vesleje, music of the Balkans, in preparation for our concert this Friday at Club Tropical in Culver City.
-T.J.
10.26.05: site relaunch
Check out the new soundclips in the recordings section!
-t.j.