October-December 2014

Brass Balagan near Davis Square

I've taken a break from blogging for a bit, but maybe it's not such a bad thing. I feel like a greater volume of posts might lead to a greater volume of crap (except for the little post about the Q train - I felt that was necessary and substantial).

The pattern of traveling between places for gigs (and now, holidays) continues. Despite this, I don't feel any stronger-than-normal lack of involvement in the world, by which I probably mean the city that I live in. This is doubtless due to the nature of the projects that I've been a part of since returning, or the things from other places that continue.

When I last left VT, I knew I'd see Balagan soon again at the People's Climate March in NY (about 2/3 of the group came down for the event). I was happy to see them down there, and I love having visitors in general. A few weeks later, we would all be in Somerville for HONK. I may have written about the festival last year, but this years October in Boston was filled with an even more varied, rich, and extreme palette of feelings. Let me elaborate on a few of these things:

Meeting up with the band in Somerville was particularly warming. I came a few days earlier to rehearse for the NEC John Zorn retrospective (a then-frustrating experience), and made it a point to greet the first arrivals from Balagan pretty much as soon as they got in on Friday afternoon.

I got to the Davis Square VFW, warmed up, and soon after greeted Emily DiPaola and Jen Berger (trumpets), who were staying with a host close by. They called their host (Maggie, a HONK Committee member), and we went over to the house. Though I was staying with my brother in JP, it was great to meet a HONK host and hear a bit about how the committee has managed to warmly accommodate hundreds of musicians for the last 8 years. It was a nice house, not broken into apartments, with a live-in landlord who was away much of the fall. Maggie showed us the place, where the other band members could settle in when they arrived, and told them they could use the kitchen however they wanted (last year she had hosted a group from New Orleans, and woke up on Saturday morning to a bunch of dudes cooking fried chicken prior to the opening ceremony).

Jen Berger on the T  with two members
of the Red Flame Hunters from NOLA

There was a rally with some of the bands going on downtown in Boston, so we went to check that out before the others got in. As the sun began to set more Balaganistas showed up and we joined the neighborhood lantern parade. We were missing a few key players (basically 3/4 of our percussion and our tubist), and were off to a shaky start. After a debriefing, we went over to the VFW to have dinner and hang with the other bands - a cleansing end to to the evening.

The next morning was a rainy one, but by the end of the opening ceremony it began to clear up. Our two sets that day were great, and we were able to hear alot of the other groups. one of them was Veveritse from NY, who we all went to see together right after the last set. They played at the edge of the big field we all met in the night before - totally mind blowing, and there were only about 10 others there. It was mildly surreal, but awesome.

The whole thing ended on Sunday with a parade down to Cambridge Octoberfest, where each band played a set somewhere in Harvard Square, and then a couple songs on a big stage set up across from the Harvard Coop. That's probably the most people we play for every year. Really fun. There was an afterparty at this big club where they served unlimited mac & cheese, and had a full bar. We sat down for one more time as a band before dispersing. I stuck around for a bit, listening to some other bands and talking to some people I'd met that weekend. Later I went up to Davis to say goodnight to a few people who hadn't left yet. Emily, who I haven't seen since HONK, is currently on a cross-country bike trip to the west coast. It was a bit sad knowing that she'd be leaving VT indefinitely, but at least we all have skype now, in addition to pen & paper.

Right before and after HONK, I met with Daniel & Lautaro to again to rehearse Hockey. We rehearsed as much as we could when I was in town,  and brought it in to a few C.I meetings. I planned to leave town right after the next meeting, but would have to come back 4 days later for another rehearsal and a coaching. After a brief existential meltdown, I decided to stay in MA for those 4 days. This allowed me to visit my grandparents and cousins. That weekend, we went up no NH for my cousin Amy's engagement party. Before last year, I hadn't been up that way for about 8 years, and I realized then that I needed more frequent getaways to quiet little places like that.  On our way back to MA, my uncle Peter and I drove all around the white mountains, checking out a few of the ski towns with awesome views - also some paces I hadn't seen in years. While some things in Boston are constantly changing, its  interesting to see what few small changes there have actually been up north.

FlatHouse Series

The next day, we had a coaching for Hockey, which we recorded and sent to Zorn for comments. He wrote back with a few suggestions, and it was clear we'd at least get to play for him when he was in town. When we met him, he worked with us individually to get our sonic vocabulary consistent, and made sure we could move from sound to sound easier (and with greater speed). Though he didn't hear the piece in full, we'd previously worked out strategies between us that propelled things, and he was happy with our interaction.

During the concert, Zorn would go backstage between pieces and talk to each group before and after they played. Lautaro had a tie and suit jacket, and he jokingly said "Man, do you really want to go out there like that? Come on, loosen up a bit!" He successfully got Lautaro to get rid of the jacket and tie (I wish there was a picture of this), and calmed our nerves in the process. When we finished, he was back there again. "You did it, man! You f***king did it!!" It's hard to tell when you're playing that piece how you're actually doing, but in retrospect, we got it that night, and he was happy with the whole concert (there were over a dozen pieces on the program). He gave a talk for students during the day, and a public discussion prior to the concert. Among several things, he spoke at length about his earlier days. They were playing in small spaces for a few people at a time, and seeing elders do the same thing. "That tradition continues," he said. It's always interesting and encouraging to see that the legends and artistic heroes of our time  had experiences that to an extent parallel our own. To interact with all of this firsthand is invaluable.

Dan & I on Boltbus after the Zorn concert

Between that concert and Thanksgiving, things calmed down for a bit. I spent more than 2 weeks in NY, had a couple of private gigs, and started to really work on a couple of things that had taken a backseat. Steve and his roommates had another  house concert, and we played a set of Gershwin tunes. This turned out to be a super deranged performance, where we didn't quite line up the way we'd hoped. A few days later, we listened to a recording of it, and just shook our heads. It's good to do something that falls on its side, so you can sit it upright again. Our duo project isn't over, but we've got our work cut out for us.

I was contemplating staying in NY for the holiday, but I found a $2 roundtrip for Boltbus, which I of course had to use. December was a little busier in NY, but not so stressful. Zorn invited everyone down to NY to play at the Stone. It was great to see everyone down there (without having to travel), and play that music again.

Right before I came home for the holidays, Mark, Steve, and I had another house concert at Steve's place (now dubbed FlatHouse series). We revisited our trio with Joanna, which has always worked well. Anthony came down from the East Village to play a set, and there were a few other  NEC people there. Mark & I drove back to Boston the next day, and I took a train to my grandparents house later that afternoon. I was completely exhausted after all of this, but said exhaustion has been slowly wearing away since.

12/20 at Linden Street

The Q Train

Last year, I was living in Harlem, and I often thought "The 1 train and I are Bros." Now I'm over in Astoria, and though I love the Q train (it's fast, convenient, and reliable), I haven't been able to muster up the same sentiment for it. It does however, offer it's passengers some great views.

                                   

quick note

Westsider Books on Broadway

I've been back living in NY for over a month now, and I just got back from a quick gig in VT with the brass band. I was up there for 2 1/2 days, and spent most of today in transit. It was definitely refreshing, and (as I may have said before) I love playing in street bands. More than anything else, the Balagan brings me back to VT, and the community inside and around the group is huge. Visiting them also makes me want to blog more. I hate to say it, but living here isn't really conductive to blogging for me. I'm starting to get better at writing regularly, though. Back in February, I was given a journal and a bunch of stationary, which I've been making use of (I've had to start a new journal, and the stationary is almost gone). I've been writing letters to people on a more or less consistent basis since I was 16 or so, and it became more special than email after a couple of years.

Since I've returned to NY, I've found it easier to get around, schedule rehearsals or sessions, and book gigs (to an extent). This is mostly due to my planning on coming back for a while - when I decided to stay in Boston, I knew I'd end up back here, so I had a lot of time to get ready. I started letting people know I was on my way back ahead of time. Actually, NY is feeling much more like VT these days in terms of having a community of folks to work with, and I'm sure that this can only get better if I keep at it. It's always been an important thing, but with all of the global conflict this summer has brought on, it somehow seems more vital.

Post-Solstice Thoughts

Summer has been in full swing for over a month now, and I'm feeling pretty good about how things have turned out in Boston over the last few months. The most stressful details of my upcoming move back to NY are behind me, and I have four more full days in this near empty Brighton apartment before the lease is up. I've been cleaning up the place (not that it was a mess), and have managed to get rid of alot of papers and worn out clothing. It's definitely nice to be leaving with a little less clutter than I came here with.

After a few gigs around July 4th, parade season is effectively over for me, and I'll be driving down to NY with Mark, Jake Rudin, and Will Bridges to play a house concert on 7/6, and drop off my stuff in Queens beforehand. We're planning to leave early, stop in New Haven for lunch, and get to town by 3 or 4. The show is a birthday celebration for Steven Long, who came up to Boston to play at my first house show with his roommate Joanna Mattrey (who is a fellow NEC graduate). We played trio, and we're planning on working as a group regularly as soon as I get back. Aside from Steve's birthday, we've got one other date booked in July, and I'm sure we'll add more. I'm really excited about this project.

Yesterday I recorded a whole bunch of music with Joe Morris and about ten others. Most of us had graduated from NEC recently, and it was a really energetic session. Also present was a cellist from abroad named Miriam Felix, who many of us were meeting for the first time. We were split into several combinations, and recorded about four hours worth of music. I'm looking forward to seeing what the outcome of this is. Joe has been teaching at NEC for 14 years, and is always recording with different folks. We're definitely very grateful that he likes to work with younger generations, and releases a good amount of stuff on his own label (riti records).

Early in June I returned again to VT for the Burlington JazzFest, during which I played about 6 or 7 sets with different people. There were a few really incredible reunions as well as a couple of special first meetings. Despite the gigs I was scheduled to play (or asked to be a part of), there was some confusion that unfolded upon my arrival to my first set. I was asked not to play that night due to my lack of seniority/eldership in the ranks of the ensemble. This initially confounded me (I was always welcome after I left town), but when I started to see who was showing up, and how long they had known the groups leader (most for over 15 years) it made a bit more sense, and a brief inner crisis subsided. I enjoyed listening to them play, but had only played with half of them in the time I'd lived there, and felt some sort of disconnect. It was strange, but I wasn't going to let it put a damper on anything else happening during the festival.

The only other off-putting thing about my time in VT that week was the news of Lee Hyla's death. He was a composer who chaired the NEC program until 2007, and though I only met him once, I've been actively listening to his music much more in the last few years, and was looking forward to the possibility of working with him in the future. Many of my friends and teachers knew him well, and his passing has sent shockwaves through the new music world. There were a few concerts that featured his music at Sick Puppy, which happened at NEC the next week (Lee was scheduled to be SICPP's Composer-in-Residence this summer). As usual those concerts and the people I met there were fantastic.  

For anyone who hasn't yet been to Burlington, I highly recommend it, and if you haven't been to the American Flatbread there, you should go. Now.

They have great pizza, great beer (brewed in-house), and they treat their musicians really, really well. The Psychedelicatessen is a great addition to the scene as well. When I came back to Boston, I immediately started preparing for my move, and I'm just about ready to leave.

When I figured out that I'd be staying here longer than I initially planned (around the end of February), I made a mental list of things I should do before I left for good. Tiny things - mostly having to do with food in the proximity, that I might not get the chance to cross off in the few remaining days I have left here:

Thai North (Oak Square)

Angora Cafe (BU)

Super 88 (Packard's Corner)

one last ride into the Back Bay on the BU Shuttle

...and a stop in Roslindale, which is easy enough to get to from here via the 51 bus.

I've been to all of those places before, but Super 88, Angora, & Thai North are much easier to get to from my current dwelling. Oh well...

Super 88 Market and food court

I did take a walk to my old apartment by Rogers Park a couple of weeks ago, after which I discovered that it had been vacated and sold twice in the last two years. This wasn't a shock, and gave me a strange sense of relief. I'm imagining that my old street will be developed with apartment buildings in the next 15 years or so, and will look similar from where I'm living now. During my last real search for housing in Boston (circa 2011), the realtor was quick to tell us of a housing crisis in Boston due to a larger influx of students. Casey and I landed in Rozzie, and I'm happy to see more of my friends living out there now.

I've also been thinking about things that made me want to move to NY in the first place, and those same things never fail to excite me. Among other things, I listen to Milton Babbitt, Andrew Hill's later recordings, or TILT Brass, and I can't help but feel great about going back - this music is alive, and offers true inspiration for my return.

Personal Landmarks

Commonwealth Avenue Mall in the Back Bay with Winter Lights 

It's May, the flowers are blooming, and I've been back in Boston for about 5 months now. I wasn't planning on a stay that lasted this long (I'll be moving back to New York in July), but it's been pretty fruitful for the most part, and I was made a housing offer that I couldn't refuse. Among other things, I played a solo set at the Advent Church in March, and FULL CIRCLE TIME MACHINE appeared in Jordan Hall as part of the CI department concert last month. I'm finding myself really happy with the way things are going here. Though I'm excited to return to NY and pick up where I left off (I've already arranged a couple of performances), I'm not feeling any rush to get out of here soon.

At a JP house concert performing
Lemming (or Advent, 138th st., Williamsburg & Brighton Rails)

When I signed a sublease in Vermont (10/2012), the first thing I did was buy a bus ticket in advance to come back and play a gig here in November (only three weeks after I moved).  On that first trip back it didn't quite hit me, but later on I found myself constantly revisiting specific places that had personal significance to me. Living here again, I've definitely added a few places to that list, and I'm always going back to them  - sometimes on purpose, and sometimes spontaneously. Those places exist in NY and VT now, too. I know I'll always walk by W.138th Street in Manhattan thinking about the Autumn months that I lived there, being able to walk to the Hudson River in about 45 seconds. One recent piece of mine is somewhat of a comment on this (and playing trio with Allison & Eve at the Advent Church last year). Over the last year I've started naming and constructing pieces after places I've lived, or people I've met while there. I'll be playing another one of these in Somerville this weekend.

The Charles River near Harvard

I could go on and on detailing some of these places, but I don't think I will too much, other than that this time of year has a bit more of a lift to it that makes me want to actively ponder them. This could be due to a slowing of activities centered around schools, the weather being nicer, or people leaving for the summer (my roommate just moved back to NY, so I have the place to myself for most of the next 5 weeks).

I've been living in this apartment near Cleveland Circle since January, and I'm about a mile away from Brighton Center, where I lived in the winter of 2007. For a few reasons, it wasn't the most pleasant time or living situation, but it's been in my brain for the last several weeks, that maybe one of these nights I should walk over there and see the neighborhood and house where I used to live. I have no doubt that my perception of that area will change, and that l may get some sort of strange feeling from walking by an old house that I haven't seen in 7 years. If I get a vibe walking by my old apartment in Burlington, or when I pass my former street in Roslindale on a bus, I can imagine that this will have similar affects, maybe deeper due to the time that has passed since then.

Other places, like the Commonwealth Avenue Mall, ArtsRiot in VT, or 808 Gallery at BU are ones that I pass by much more frequently (usually en route to somewhere else), but am making an effort to revisit. Now more than ever, I feel like a miner in places like these, and I'm happy to find a little piece of gold every now and then.

North Street in Burlington VT

Pittsburgh: Music on the Edge 2/14

Pittsburgh skyline from the Duquesne Incline

Shortly after we recorded Burr Van Nostrand's Voyage in a White Building I at NEC in October 2012, Mathew Rosenblum (a composer teaching at the University of Pittsburgh) approached us about performing the piece on UPitt's Music on the Edge series sometime in 2014. It was a prospect that took a few months to unfold, but by the 4/2012 release of the recording, we had a date for the concert planned, and some information about funding. It took place on February 22nd, and also featured the other two pieces on the NWR release.

By Thanksgiving (the time my living situation in NY was shaken up), we knew we were on, and had just started to get deep into planning for the event. It was rather convenient that I had to relocate to Boston, as I was largely responsible for coordinating schedules of those at NEC who would be joining us for the performance. Anthony and I had to make some player changes, and I was busy showing the score to the newbies before we started rehearsals in January. We had 3 consecutive weekly rehearsals in Boston before we traveled to the University of Pittsburgh to get settled and rehearse with their string orchestra.

Ducks in a Bowl

Also leading up to our trip was the issue of travel. We explored a couple of options (renting a van vs. flying), and decided to fly most of the soloists, while Allison Poh (the new flutist) and I would drive to PA via New Haven to pick up Burr. Allison had done a few substantial road trips before, and has a great set of wheels. We made our journey out there in two legs, leaving for New Haven on Thursday night, and leaving for Pittsburgh on Friday.

Allison was playing in a concert at NEC the night we left, and we arrived in New Haven shortly after midnight. Burr put us up in his music room, where we found a bowl of painted ducks, and several other interesting things, including old sketches (mostly harmonic schemes) on Burr's electric keyboard. When we got up in the morning, Burr made us breakfast, and by the time we got moving we were fully awake and ready for the long drive ahead.

Getting out of the snow in New Haven

The night before, we parked too quickly to realize that we would be stuck in a snowbank (New Haven doesn't have great snow removal tactics), and though we intended to leave before noon, we had to dig ourselves out before the car could move. Burr had warned me of this, and I wish I had been alert enough to remember that when we arrived. We had a good shovel, patience, and were assisted by two very strong and generous locals named Eddie and Al. If it weren't for them, I'm not sure we would have been able to get out! We were successful, and we hit the road by 12:15pm. Almost as soon as we hit the highway out of the city, it began to rain, but this wasn't a big issue. It stopped by the time we entered New Jersey, about two hours into our drive.

We knew we'd have to make several rest stops, but I don't think we stopped until we were in Westchester NY. About an hour into NJ, we stopped at a Starbuck's, and for Burr this proved to be a new and delightful experience. Considering the several quick stops we made, our time (and gas mileage) was great. We arrived in Pittsburgh at 10:15pm, checked into our suites at the Shadyside Inn, and went to Ritter's Diner, the local 24-hour joint with Mathew. This place was a real throwback - nor the interior, menu, or staff had changed for years, and while the food wasn't life-changing, it was cheap, and exactly what we needed at that time.

Ritter's Diner!

Shadyside is a residential area that is populated by a large number of families and students (it's about a half-mile from the hall our concert was in). The Inn is two blocks from a good strip of restaurants and shops, so we didn't have to go too far for anything we needed.

Allison at Jerry's

The next morning, we hit another great diner for breakfast, and proceeded to visit Jerry's Records. Jerry's is a place where anyone could spend a day looking through their collection. I really mean anyone. I scored an LP of a Japanese marching band, if that tells you anything. Allison walked away with a few records as well. If it were up to her, we would have spent more time there, but I was anxious to see more of Pittsburgh, and meet up with the others who had flown in that day. Before our 9 to 11 rehearsal with the string orchestra, we met up with Jason Coleman (solo cello) and Tara Mueller (solo violin) for dinner near the hotel. Allison plans to someday start a blog rating french onion soup around the country, and I think the french onion soup at Elbow Room ranks high on her list.

After dinner, we went to a bottle shop to pick up some libations (we knew we'd want them), and walked away with a wide array of beers - ranging from local craft brews, to standards and specials that were too cheap to pass up. Between 8 of us, we managed to finish everything we bought by the end of the trip. Pittsburgh's own Black & Gold went 6 for $3, and it was pretty awful. On the other hand, Great Lakes brewing company does wonderful things.

A suite at the Shadyside Inn

Mathew arranged for hotel shuttles to take us to the hall, but we ended a slightly extended rehearsal with the soloists just late enough that we couldn't be taken back. I bought a few samosas earlier from the Indian market around the corner, but after the rehearsal most of the soloists decided to visit Ritter's again, and we were joined by Anthony, who kept the jukebox going. We listened to alot of classics, and went back and forth on our opinions of Beach Boys favorites, and pop-jazz singers of the 80's (I'm blanking of particular names that Anthony and the others discussed in detail). We left Ritter's for the second and last time at 2:30am.

The next day, I got up and had the most incredible french toast at the diner (Pam's) on Walnut Street near the hotel. We met up with Sonny Lalchandani (sitar), and drove out to the Strip in downtown Pittsburgh. The Strip is an area filled with restaurants and shops that turns into an open marketplace on the weekends. It was around 55 and sunny when we were out, and we walked around for a few hours, eating incredible food, and interacting with the incredibly nice locals. Below is a list of places I recal visiting, and a brief description of each:

Leaf & Bean

Leaf & Bean Cafe - we got our morning coffee here. This place reminds me of the Radio Bean in Burlington - they had live music going between 12-3, and in place of serving alcohol, there were two humidor rooms. Patrons could smoke inside, too. It is something you'd never see in MA or VT, but it seemed to have a regular crowd, and similar fragmented and funky decor not at all unfamiliar to my experiences at the Bean in VT. The music was good, too.

S&D Polish Deli - This place was both a restaurant and a market, complete with giant barrels of sauerkraut, pickles, and potatoes. We ordered a dozen perogis, and ate them rather quickly. Polish food is new to me, but if Boston has a good Polish place, I'm going to frequent it. We could have eaten more, but we knew that we'd be going elsewhere not too long after.  We walked out and promptly scored some great oysters being sold on the street.

The Thin Man Sandwich Shop - This was a great example of something Boston desperately needs - a good local sandwich joint! They had a paired down menu, and I got the least ornate of their offerings. It was simple, but really great. Allison and Sonny went for the chicken liver sandwich, and while they probably wouldn't order it again, it proved to be an interesting experience.

Peace, Love, & Little Donuts - These donuts were tiny, but extremely good nonetheless. We were full after our visit to the Thin Man, but it didn't take long for us to finish a dozen of these things. I think I ate more than the others, but it took a couple hours of stomach settling and more tourism to finish them off.

Sonny and I at the top of the incline

After leaving the strip, we drove over the river to the Duquesne incline. The inclines (there are two) are tramways that scale Mt. Washington, a steep hill that gives you a great view of the city. The cars are large enough to fit a few dozen passengers, and you have a great 360 degree view. When you get to the top there's a big observation deck with a gift shop and general store. We spent just enough time up there to get the idea, and left feeling pretty special. Pittsburgh is a very hilly city, and when you see it from up there, the layout of the roads into Shadyside and Squirrel Hill make much more sense.

Anthony in rehearsal

We went back to the hotel with enough time for a quick power nap, and I took a shuttle to the hall with Burr. The others had either gone to the hall earlier, or walked to reenergize a bit before our last rehearsal. Voyage had really come together, and we left the rehearsal feeling great about what would happen that evening.

While we were touring the strip, I got a voicemail from my best friend and significant other Kalindi Bellach, saying that her plans that day had changed and she was coming to the concert from Ohio.  I was surprised by this, and it's one of the things that made this trip even more wonderful for me personally. Initially, it wasn't looking like she could make it, and I went into the trip feeling sort of bummed. She got in after the rehearsal let out, and we went to the inn to get a parking permit for the car she was driving. I'm not sure she'd ever seen me perform, but she's seen the evolution of the project from day one. We got to the hall just in time to catch the first piece (Phaedra Antinomes for solo violin, played wonderfully by Paul Severtson - it's original performer).

Fantasy Manual for Urban Survival was next on the program, and this was by many accounts the most up-to-date and definitive performance of the piece. The trio that played it had worked together before, and they plan on keeping it in their repertoire. It lasts about 35 minutes, and is in many ways more intimate and epic than Voyage. During the performance, I couldn't help but glance around the hall in amazement of people's reactions to the sonic universe that we'd been cast into. It's something I want to feel like always and forever, and this whole experience proves that we're all getting closer to that goal.

After intermission, we played Burr's Voyage in a White Building I, and this was by far the best performance we've had to date. Everybody was on top of their game, and following the performance we were assured by Anthony and many others that we'll play it again. I wasn't too worried about that, but at the same time, we didn't fully know how it was going to turn out, and it's quite the production. There are several avenues that could lead to the next performances of this big crazy piece, and I have no doubts that we'll get to them. I was very happy to hear from the audience afterwards that they really loved what they'd heard, and as my friend Andrew Clinkman (the guitarist for Voyage) noted, this particular context for our performance was truly life-affirming.

Just after the concert, we all headed to a gathering at Mathew's house, where there was a ton of great food, and a great drink selection. It was great to spend some time with everyone after the performance, and meet even more audience members. It surprised me how late we ended up being there, despite having to get up the next morning and travel back home. 1 1/2 hours was our collective sleep average, and fortunately everybody flying out the next morning made it out on time. Kalindi was driving back to Ohio, and left when we did. I think since we've been in different cities, this was the shortest amount of time we've spent in the same place, but I couldn't have been happier to see her.

Burr, Allison, and myself left around 7:30, and made even better time on the way back to CT (we got in just after 5pm). After dropping off Burr and a quick stop for dinner in New Haven, we continued our trek to Boston, and arrived at 7:30. Exactly 12 hours prior to our departure from the 'burgh. On our last leg of the drive, we continued to stop frequently and recharge with coffee and sugar. Allison went straight to another rehearsal for a gig at Boston College (conveniently not far from my apartment), while I sat in amazement of what we had all just experienced. Though we were beat, I was also completely wired, and thrilled at what we had packed in to 4 or 5 days. Though this wasn't a multi-city tour, it was my first real experience on the road with music, and I was happy to share it with so many others. This project is not over, and we know that Burr's music will continue to play on for years to come.

Burr with the Fantasy Manual trio, post-performance

NY: August-November

Manhattan from the Williamsburg Bridge

On July 31st, a warm sunny day in Burlington, I loaded two duffle bags, a suitcase, and a couple instruments into a cab, and left my apartment on Hyde Street behind. It was the first time I'd attempted to move on my own, and overall it went well. Still, it was pretty weird...

I had made arrangements to sublet a room in a New York apartment just three weeks before, and during that time, I managed to sell or give away things I didn't need, and find storage for books, and other stuff I wanted to hang onto. I actually gave away my air conditioner in exchange for storage - a great deal. I left the apartment spotless, and didn't say anything about leaving to my roommate, who was 2 months behind on his rent, and yielding the constant threat of eviction from our landlord, who at least accepted my taking off a month early.

I had a really great time those last few weeks - I was performing all the time up until the day I left, and the weather was awesome. a few friends from Boston even came up and played a couple things. It was a good way to go out, and I knew that I'd achieved my goal of connecting with another place that I love. I've been back there three times for gigs since I moved, and it's been a complete blast.

Anna Pardenik playing piano in New City Gallery on Church Street in Burlington, VT

I spent a week at home in MA, and left for NY on 8/8. Upon my arrival there, I started looking for work, and had a really decent transcription job that got me through the month. The 156th street sublet was not long, but I knew this. In September, I brought my things to another friends place in Brooklyn, and went up to Boston for a few gigs. Although it had been only 3 weeks, I needed to recharge before going on a housing search. When I returned, I got right to it, and moved into an apartment on W.138th Street on september 14th - my 26th Birthday.

W.138th Street in September, near my apartment

Living in NY was great up to that point - always new and interesting, cheaper than people say it is. but definitely not conductive to blogging. Some highlights would have to include going to hear music all around the city (for relatively little money), going to the Whitney Museum every Friday, and meeting a ton of musicians. While I only had a few gigs in the short time I was settling there (two of them in Jersey), I'd managed to find other work, and more copying jobs - two things I was on the lookout for.

In terms of concerts, I was particularly drawn to things at the Manhattan School of Music - I had a few friends there already, and found it easy to meet potential collaborators. When you get out of school, you realize how small that world really is. They also have a very strong Contemporary Music program. I particularly remember going to hear the MSM percussion ensemble play George Antheil's Ballet Mechanique. I could walk there in about 15 minutes from my place. I loved living in Harlem, and though I could be wrong, I'm not sure I'll ever find a deal like that in Manhattan again.

I'm finishing this post a couple of months after starting it, and perhaps the biggest reason for that is that the building I moved into caught fire on November 24th - less than 3 months after I began living there.

The fire was a tremendously surprising event, as the building seemed to be in good shape from my perspective. Perhaps living on the first floor hindered my view of the buildings overall condition, though I'm still not exactly sure.

I rented the room from Juan and Maria Hernandez, a retired couple whose kids had since grown and left the house. They were originally from Cuba and the Dominican Republic, cooked amazing food, and were enthusiastic to host a recent arrival from Vermont who didn't speak their native language. How I came to find these people is really a strange story that I have told a lot recently, and will try and spell out here:

The Whitney Museum in August 2012

Before I left for Labor Day gigs, I noticed a number for "rooms available" on a billboard near my first place on 156th and Broadway. I wrote it down, but I wanted to look at other things first. It seemed a bit odd, so I kept my distance. I found a similar ad on Craigslist, but with a different number, and the name Gabriel.

I waited until the last possible minute to call this number. I wanted to find a place by meeting with my potential roommate first, and handing them a check. When I realized that I wasn't going to have enough money to put down first and last as required, I resorted to calling Gabriel's number. His office was located in a regular 5-story building on E.33rd street. I was buzzed in by a receptionist who told me to go to the 5th floor. On that floor, I found Gabriel's office at the end of the hallway. His name was on the door, in arching decals:

G-A-B-R-I-E-L

It was then that I knew this was special, and I rode the special train to the end of the line.

He explained to me that he was a liaison to the company that dealt directly with the rentals, and that he would send me to them for a small fee. He explained how it worked, and it was definitely within my means. I was very hesitant at first, but also desperate! I gave him the fee, and he sent me to this other office - strangely, the same office for which I saw the billboard near my sublet. I showed them that I had payed the fee, and then waited to speak with them. 

Just about everyone in this office spoke fluent Spanish, and when I got to the desk I was asked to fill out a short form that also stated the process in detail. They had several notebooks with numbers and addresses. Though I never learned Spanish, I could tell that they were asking if there was a room available. If the person on the other end said yes, they went on: "OK. He's American, mid-20's, doesn't speak Spanish" etc. After about 10 minutes, they gave me two addresses. If either of those worked out, I'd pay the rent directly to the people in the unit, and move in immediately.

The people I spoke with at these addresses had no interest in me, likely because of my non-existent Spanish language skills. I went to the office the next day, and asked for a few more places to look at. This time around they were slower, and perhaps more detailed in their searching. They gave me two places to look at, and 138th street was the first. The building and unit were nicely kept, and Juan and Maria were incredibly warm people. Their English was a bit rough, but their will to communicate with me was strong. We definitely enjoyed each others company, and I was really starting to feel settled before the fire. A few days before it happened, they left for the Dominican Republic, where they were already planning to spend a few months. We'd worked out an arrangement for me to pay rent a relative of theirs who lived across the hall, and would clean for them while they were away.

The night before the fire was the coldest of the season. I went out for my usual walk around 10 or so, and made it down to 125th street before turning back (it was about 23 degrees, and windy). It made me feel exhausted, and I fell asleep quick after getting home. The next morning around 6am I woke to the sounds of firefighters breaking windows above our floor. I was a bit confused at first, and began to hear  shouting, catching a faint whiff of smoke.

My first instinct was to go into the kitchen, where I saw no sign of any fire. My neighbor and I quickly got out of the building. Being in a panic, I hadn't grabbed any belongings. I don't think I'd realized yet that the fire started on the 3rd floor and spread upward. Our unit was affected only by water damage - not the whole unit, but it's bad enough that they have to gut the whole place out and remodel it.

We spent the next four hours or so hearing updates on the fire, and by 10am it was declared extinguished. One of our neighbors (of several buildings over) let us into her apartment, where we made massive amounts of hot chocolate, and brought it to about a dozen people downstairs trying to keep out of the cold. The Red Cross was also present, with two large busses on Broadway, blankets, and food items. I spent a good amount of time in one of the busses chowing down on oreos and talking with some of my neighbors. One guy lived on the 5th floor, and didn't know if he could get back into his unit. Later I saw him on the corner with a few bags - he said he was able to get most of his stuff, but he was headed to live with a friend until he heard anything else. By noon, we were able to get into our unit, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that my room was dry(unlike the living room and the master bedroom, which both had windows near the street).

I grabbed my computers, packed a bag full of clothes, and made sure that anything that could possibly get wet was elevated before I left. When they let us in, they made it clear that our unit would not be habitable for a while. After saying a temporary goodbye to the building, I made my way down the the East Village for a meeting, as if nothing special had happened. I resolved to treat myself that day, ate really good food, and ended up staying with a friend in Brooklyn that night. Oddly enough, I'd scheduled to leave NY for Thanksgiving the day after the fire, so while it was a horrible thing, it couldn't have happened at a much more convenient time.

After Thanksgiving, I went back to 138th Street to clear out my room. It was going to take them at least 4 months to renovate the place, and I'm doubtful that I'll be going back there. However, crazier things have happened. We'll see what happens, always and forever.

I was grateful to have a few friends who could help me move and temporarily store my stuff. I don't have many things - just a few boxes, but enough that a solo move would be impossible. I spent the next few days working out details with some of my clients about how to continue working while away. It didn't seem worth it to search for a new place just then, and as I was technically subletting without a lease, the housing authority probably couldn't do much.

I left Manhattan for Boston on December 3rd, and I'm still traveling back and forth for activities relating to my work. I'm lucky to have great friends here who took me in before I was offered a stellar housing deal (by another great friend)  in Brighton. I currently plan on getting back to New York before July, almost a year after this whole Post-VT adventure started. The things that have happened to me since my unexpected return to Boston have generally been quite wonderful. Another new chapter starts there, and I'll be sure to share more frequently with anyone who is still reading.