Orkestar MEZE next Friday 7/11

It's hard to believe it is almost July…until you step outside and get cooked. After another two productive days of recording for the new Mahadev album this past weekend, it's time for me to channel my inner funky peasant and get ready for an Orkestar MEZE show at a brand new venue (for us), the Pig 'n Whistle in Hollywood!

Along with the grooviest Peasant Funk you could ever hope to dance to, this event will feature authentic Bulgarian food (served from 10pm) and rakia (Bulgarian moonshine) served at the bar in addition to all your other favorite drinks - true Peasant Party style. Of course, we will do our signature belly-dancing contest as well, so be ready to shake it!

Orkestar MEZE Peasant Party in Hollywood
Friday, July 11th
Pig 'n Whistle
6714 Hollywood Blvd.
Hollywood, CA 90028
$10 cash at the door
21+
Doors at 9:30pm
RSVP on Facebook

Recording Projects

The past two days have seen the first recording sessions of what will become Mahadev's sophomore release. I have been involved in Mahadev since it's inception by bandleader Dave Cipriani in 2011, and through several changes in size and lineup over the years, the band continues to evolve. Like so many musical projects these days, Mahadev is difficult to describe without either using blanket generalizations or far too many words strung together - suffice to say it draws from multiple traditional music cultures from around the world and filters them through the members' individual interpretations, styles, and personal study.
Blogger is not currently letting me embed the player, so click here to check out a track from the first Mahadev album. You can stream the rest of the album as well.

I'm into the mastering stages for the Michael Mull Octet album, with initial passes on two of the songs. They both are sounding really solid already, so aside from a few potential tweaks, I'm going to be saving up some cash to send the rest off soon! The rough plan at the moment is to try to release the album sometime this Fall, so stay tuned.

Lastly, the second Orkestar MEZE album is also slowly coming to be, with mixing underway and some ridiculously fat sounds happening! We are definitely bringing the peasantry, but with an extra thick slathering of funk and soul this time around. We're talking SPF 100. We have a potential July show in the works, so keep an eye on Facebook and/or peasantfunk.com.

I count myself very fortunate to be involved in such adventurous and musically fulfilling projects, especially with such a wide range of style, dynamics, and personalities...keeping me on my toes and giving me plenty of practice material!

Vinny Golia Large Ensemble 4/9/14

Played an incredibly fun, sold-out show with Orkestar MEZE on Friday at Golden Road Brewery in LA. Great crowd, great beer and food, and tons of new music...the proceeds will help us to finish our new album, which will hopefully be out this Summer. You can check out some pics by visiting this link to MEZE's Facebook page. We will definitely be putting on some more shows at Golden Road, so if you couldn't make this one, keep your eyes open for the next one and get those tix before they sell out!

Vinny Golia

On Wednesday, April 9 I'm honored to be joining the Vinny Golia Large Ensemble at the REDCAT Theater in downtown LA. I have been able to play a couple of times at REDCAT (attached to Disney Hall) and it is a fantastic venue. More importantly, performing with Vinny is always a unique pleasure and challenge; he was one of my mentors when I attended CalArts, and a huge part of my development as a clarinet/bass clarinet player. I will be playing clarinet on Wednesday in his Large Ensemble, an amazing semi-orchestral group of over 40 musicians, with Vinny at the helm playing a multitude of woodwinds and the great Marc Lowenstein conducting. You can find all the information here.

The Works

Wanted to share some news blurbs:

- Michael Mull Octet show at the Blue Whale 10/25 went great, with our friends KROM making the first set a memorable one; it was there last show after a few weeks on the road, so they were tight! I'm compiling some video of the Octet from the show and will slap it up here as soon as I can.

- The following weekend, I found myself playing on my Central Coast home turf with Orkestar MEZE, and then up a bit farther in San Jose. Great crowds for both events, much line-dancing and get-downing, trash-talking (in the van), and gracious hosting in both locales. We'll be back, and next time with the new record in tow (due out in early 2014)!

- Speaking of new records, there is going to be a CD release for a quartet led by tenor saxo-blaster Frank Silva (of Octet fame....?) on December 18th at the Blue Whale. The group is currently in name-limbo.

- Speaking of new records (is there a tape-delay in here?), I'm hitting it hard and getting ready to record the Michael Mull Octet early next year. I will be setting up a fan-funding campaign about a month beforehand (January-ish), so if you like us and you know it, clap your hands (over your wallet)! But seriously folks, it's going to be a doozy...stay on top of things here, and like us on Facebook and follow on Twitter if you're into that sort of thing. We love ya!

October Heat

Been off the ol' Blogger for a bit, sorry to be elusive. A quick update of happened and happening:

I got to help out my good friend and Michael Mull Octet bandmate Tim Fischer on a DMA lecture recital as he completes his Doctorate at USC. Luckily, for me that translated to playing great tunes with an even greater band that included Octet bassist Emilio Terranova and the illustrious Joe LaBarbera on drums! Tim's lecture focused on the music of Miles Davis's first great quintet, styles in which Joe is an expert, not to mention being "two degrees of separation" from Miles himself --- it's hard to describe, but playing with a tight group like that is so "easy"!

Beginning at the end of August, I am fortunate to be teaching Jazz Arranging and coach "combo class" at Cal State University Northridge this semester, and it has been a rewarding experience so far. This is my first time teaching in a full classroom setting, so I'm really trying to do it right and give the students a good balance of structure and freedom.

Continuing the higher education trend, the Michael Mull Octet had the pleasure of doing a masterclass at CalArts, where I did my graduate work. This was an excellent experience all around, playing some new and older music and fielding thoughtful questions from both students and faculty. It was especially interesting for me to answer some of their questions, thinking and trying to describe aspects of my music and writing process for the Octet that I had never really sat down and considered, recognizing some of the reasons for my musical choices. Thank you to David Roitstein and Larry Koonse for hookin' it up, and to the students for being fantastic - hope to see you at a show soon!

SPEAKING OF OCTET SHOWS WHATSTHATYOUSAY? Yes, the Michael Mull Octet is going to de-blubber the Blue Whale once again on Friday, October 25th, this time with the help of NYC-based trio KROM. They play some remarkable and fresh music, so this is a date to make if at all possible! Mark them calendars and cave walls, more details to come. In the near October future:

Fri 10/18 - River Song and Walsh Set Trio @ ArtistShare LA (I'm not in this but GO SEE IT and thank me later) 8pm https://www.facebook.com/events/367428453387824/

Sat 10/19 - Orkestar MEZE @ 4th Annual CalArts Wild Beast Concert Series: In other words, a FREE dance party...https://www.facebook.com/events/515180121898672/ 6:00pm

Thurs 10/24 - Mahadev @ The Crest Bar in La Crescenta: also featuring Fumosonic and Bubbeleh, 8pm (Mahadev around 10pm)

Fri 10/25 - Michael Mull Octet and KROM @ Blue Whale: 9pm, 21+ and only $10 for both sets, no minimum. Check back here soon or on facebook for more details.

MEZE @ El Cid Tonight 8/9/13

Last minute post, folks! Orkestar MEZE is going into the studio next week to record some incredibly grooving new music for our sophomore release! Come celebrate with us and hear some of the new tunes, performed live in public for the very first time. Two other fantastic bands are warming up the room before us, Klezmer junkies Bubbeleh and techy-world-jazz wizards Orange Tulip Conspiracy. The show starts at 9pm, but if you can't make it until "after hours", don't despair!!! Orkestar MEZE takes the stage at 11pm, and we play until last call. Tell them you are here to see MEZE!

Orkestar MEZE/Orange Tulip Conspiracy/Bubbeleh
El Cid
4212 W Sunset Blvd
Doors at 9pm, MEZE at 11pm
$10, 21+ only
Facebook it!

Bring your belly-dancing skills...there are prizes to be won at the classic Orkestar MEZE belly-dancing contest during our set!

MEZE Marquee

Only 2 days away! Email names to peasantfunk@gmail.com for the FREE guest list! Orkestar MEZE rocks the stage at 9pm...

FREE SHOW - Orkestar MEZE at House of Blues

Join Orkestar MEZE for an absolutely FREE show this Saturday 7/13 on the famed House of Blues main stage! Here's the trick - you still have to get tickets to get in. Just email peasantfunk@gmail.com with your address and the number of tickets you want. That's it. FREE! If we can't mail them to you in time, we'll find another way to get them to you at the show! Look what happened last time we explodified the HOB mainstage:



We have another amazing guest this time around - K'noup from VIZA, a longtime friend of Orkestar MEZE and a helluva singer. We will be performing a song of his, a slamming Greek MEZE staple tune, and some edgy Bulgarian pop songs with a MEZE "tvist". Don't miss this one! Details below:

Orkestar MEZE feat. K'noup @ House of Blues Sunset
Saturday July 13th, 2013
9:00pm, one set only
FREE (email peasantfunk@gmail.com for tickets)
ages 18+
8430 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood
RSVP on Facebook

Michael Mull Trio + Gene Coye, Tempest Twins

Reached my 27th year on June 7th last week, and am ready to keep the ball rolling along with perpetually increasing musication! Orkestar MEZE played some super funky sets down in San Diego, the Michael Mull Octet is sounding incredible on some new music, and the Tempest Twins are officially launched on bandcamp and youtube! Get launched while you read the rest of the post - play the track below:


I'm excited to announce that I'll be playing a Michael Mull Trio gig at the Blue Whale's new outdoor series this Saturday, June 15th at 6:30pm! Shows have been taking place outside in the Weller Court area every Saturday and are ALL AGES and FREE. The Trio will feature a special guest this time around, the illustrious Gene Coye on drums! I saw Gene play shortly after I moved to LA and have been hoping to play with him since...come and see it go down if you are in the LA area. Did I mention it's FREE?! Bennie Maupin Trio is playing upstairs at the Whale after we play, so stick around!

And a shout-out: if you are in the Valley on Saturday the 15th, you might like to go to Barclay's in Northridge and catch Ami & The Marissa Calille Quartet at 7pm!

Summer Begins

Long time since the last post...what a busy Spring it has been! Had a great Octet show at the Blue Whale, played a musical, did some fun sets with Mahadev, and recorded with tenor saxophonist Frank Silva for a new record of his original music. It's going to be a rip-snorting record, and I even got a tune on there, so keep your eyes here for more info as it gets released.

May is flying by, and I have a few shows with Orkestar MEZE coming up. First, this Sunday 5/19 we are playing at the Annual Bulgarian Festival in Culver City. It is a four-hour event with tons of other music, delicious Bulgarian food, arts, dance, and all that wonderful festival stuff! Best of all, pre-sale tickets can be purchased online for only $11. Eleven bucks. Yeah! Still only $20 at the door, but get them early and pick them up at the venue. Event runs from 12:30 to 4:30pm at the Veterans Memorial Complex, 4117 Overland Ave, Culver City 90230.

A week later, on Saturday 5/25, we are driving the plow and mules down to sunny San Diego (albeit with a somewhat downsized MEZE) to play a small daytime festival, and then rock the Turquoise Bar at night! We'd love to meet some new SD Peasants, so please tell your friends and enemies to come check us out.

Lots of other good stuff in the planning stages right now...stay in touch! Here's Orkestar MEZE with the incredible Ellis Hall in March!

March Rolls On

What an extreme second week of March last week...full of highs and lows, but I'm sure only to remember the highs in years to come! I was battling a nasty flu all week, but was able to participate in a couple great nights of music.

Orkestar MEZE played a ferociously energetic set of peasant funk on the House of Blues main stage on Thursday night! We were blessed to give out so many free tickets as a gift to our fans, old and new, for their incredible support over the past year. Part of the treat was sweetened with our guest, the ambassador of soul, Ellis Hall, sitting in on our version of Stevie Wonder's "I Wish". I wager that the House of Blues hasn't been that funky in a while!

One day's rest afforded me a little increase in health, so I was ready to join my wife Ami on Saturday for a night of female singer-songwriters at the Tribal Cafe in Echo Park. She performed a diverse set of originals and arrangements to open the night.

Getting excited to keep the ball rolling and bring my Octet to the Blue Whale for a full night on March 28th! A full post with more details to come.

FREE Show with Orkestar MEZE 3/14/13!

Our Orkestar MEZE show at MALABOMBA! two weeks ago was a rip-snorting good time, full of sweaty peasant dancing and foot-stomping grooves. As you might remember, we also played a few weeks prior to that at the House of Blues Foundation Room.....and sold out the show! We owe it all to the fans for your amazing support, so we want to say "thank you" with a FREE show this Thursday night, 3/14 - this time, on the historic main stage of the House of Blues on Sunset! That's right: not only a chance to rock out with MEZE for free, but you'll be doing it at one of the premier clubs on the West Coast with fantastic sound and good vibes. What's more, we'll be hanging out in the Foundation Room after our set to keep the party going, so come on upstairs and have a drink with the band! We're all peasants here!

The great Knoup from Viza joined us at the Foundation Room to rock some Greek goodness:



Word on the farm is that we will be hosting another legend with some major tricks up our shirtsleeves on Thursday night, so don't miss it! All you have to do is send an email to peasantfunk@gmail.com with your name, and the number of tickets you want for you and your buddies. As many as you want. Free. Just show up, pick up those bad boys at will call, and you are ready to get down! Here's the skinny:

Orkestar MEZE @ House of Blues Sunset - FREE SHOW
Thursday, March 14th
7pm, ages 18+
FREE - email peasantfunk@gmail.com to be added to the will call list
orkestarmeze.com
House of Blues Sunset
8430 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood
RSVP on Facebook

MEZE at MALABOMBA! 2/27/13

Back in 2010, Orkestar MEZE played one of its first official shows at the massive sexy dance party that is MALABOMBA! We are prepared to knock your peasant socks off this Wednesday night...I can't put it any better myself - see what the MALABOMBA! site has to say:

Release the goats and fill your flask with plum brandy, because on Wednesday, February 27th, you’re ditching the farm and heading down to MALABOMBA! L.A.’s favorite international dance party returns to La Cita to get down and dirty with the funky Bulgarian sounds of Orkestar MÉZÉ! Long-time Malabombaderos will remember their magical JBs-meet-Ivo Papasov stylings from the last time they blew the roof off a couple years back. Whether you’re a MALABOMBA! virgin or you love us long time, you won’t want to miss this one! Crooked dances, blazing horns, sultry vocals, and more funky Balkan madness than you can shake a shepherd’s crook at!

 Oh yeah! Entry is FREE before 10pm, and only 5 bucks after that...fits the peasant budget quite nicely. RSVP on Facebook if you please, and check the details below. See you there!

Wednesday, Februray 27th, 9:30 PM until last call
La Cita Bar, 336 S. Hill St, LA 90013 
FREE admission before 10:00 Only $5 cash after 
FULL BAR - FULL BOMBA!

Here's a taste of what went down last time MEZE took over the place!

Peasant Funk March 2nd

Orkestar MEZE is rocking Rusty's Surf Ranch again, tomorrow night in Santa Monica! To hold you over, here's a fun video of our CD release show at the Key Club overlayed with some cuts from the album. You can get event info on facebook or just come by Rusty's around 9pm!
     Rusty's Surf Ranch
     Santa Monica Pier
     Friday, March 2
     10pm; all ages
     $7 at the door

Mahadev CD Release at Alva's Showroom 2/26/12

The Mahadev debut album has finally arrived and looks/sounds fantastic! I'll let bandleader and guitarist give you the details in the following press release:

"Ok it is almost here! We're getting ready to perform for you on next Sunday at Alva's. The CD's should be arriving to my house today, we had an awesome gig Saturday as a warmup for this coming sunday, and we're ready to go.

The show is $15. Remember,  it's an early show (4 PM), so you'll be able to get back home in time for the Oscars, and we're offering the CD for JUST $5! It will be the only time you can get it so cheap.

You can hear a few tracks at http://soundcloud.com/davecipriani/sets/mahadev-tracks-1

We'll be posting it on Bandcamp later in the week and it will be available to purchase directly from us for those who can't make it this Sunday.

We're going to do all the songs from the CD, and we have awesome trumpet player Greg Zilboorg from Sogo Takeover now in the band and percussionist Jamie Papish from the Yuval Ron Ensemble. We're also going to have my good friend Rafe Pearlman join us for a vocal improvisation; you can see a video & interview with him here.  It's going to be a really wonderful show, with high charged music and deep meditative grooves.  

RESERVATIONS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED!

We'll be lining up more gigs as the spring comes.  Please also signup to our official email list at www.reverbnation.com/Mahadev to stay in touch!

See below for details on each one as well as FB event pages if you want to send it to your friends! We look forward to seeing you there!"

SUNDAY FEB 26, 4 PM, $15

THE BIG SHOW! MAHADEV CD RELEASE AT ALVA'S IN SAN PEDRO!

Special guest Rafe Pearlman (others tba)

Dave Cipriani, Indian Slide Guitar & Classical Guitar

Eric Klerks, Bass

Michael Mull, saxophone & clarinet

Chris Payne, percussion (cajon, frame drum, shakers, zabumba)

Jamie Papish, percussion (cajon, riq, frame drum)

Greg Zillboorg, Trumpet

800-403-3447

1417 W. Eighth Street

San Pedro, CA 90732

http://www.alvasshowroom.com

https://www.facebook.com/events/348239991861287/

The band is sounding beautiful and this will be an experience to remember! In other news, Orkestar MEZE had a killer show at the world-famous Troubadour last weekend, and will return to Rusty's Surf Ranch in Santa Monica for our monthly peasant party on Friday, March 2nd. It's already proving to be a productive and eventful year, with much more on the menu; stay tuned here for all the gory details, and I'll see you on Sunday!

Peasant Funk Video Preview

Here's a fun video promoting Orkestar MEZE's debut album, "Peasant Funk"! We're pioneering a new style of music under the same name, mixing Balkan melodies with American funk, jazz, and soul. The video features some footage of us workin' hard in the studio set to the title track of the album. I hope you get a kick out of it, and please stop by www.peasantfunk.com to hear more music and purchase the album!

Bring in 2012 with MEZE!

Happy New Year to all! I'm looking forward to pushing harder, working more, and enjoying more fully than ever this year. A lot of fun coming down the pipe already, help kick off 2012 the peasant way by attending this year's first Orkestar MEZE gig at Rusty's Surf Ranch in Santa Monica! This Friday, 1/6, we're starting up our "first Friday of the month" residency once again, so let's party hard Peasants!


1/6/11 @ Rusty's Surf Ranch
256 Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica 90401
9:30pm-12:30am
$7 ($12 if under 21 without guardian)


Check back here soon for some nerdy musical treats of the transcription variety...

Mahadev & MEZE This Week!

Two fun shows this week, both in the Santa Monica area.

This Thursday, December 15th, catch Mahadev at Bar Pico, a new venue for me. There will be two other acts, on being Amadou Fall, a master of the Senegalese instrument Kora. Rumor has it, he may even sit in with us! Check out the event on facebook, and listen to a rough cut below from our album in the works!

Eastern Promise by davecipriani

12/15/11 @ Bar Pico
2819 Pico Blvd
Santa Monica 90405
8pm --- Amadou Fall
9pm --- Mahadev
10pm --- Matatu
NO COVER

On Saturday, December 17th, Orkestar MEZE returns to Rusty's Surf Ranch on the Santa Monica Pier for a Balkan-Gypsy-Funk Holiday Party! We'll have some peasant surprises and tricks up our sleeves as always, along with new merch to go with the recently released "Peasant Funk" album - T-shirts for men and ladies, posters, stickers, and of course, CD's. Stock up and spread the funk this holiday season.

12/17/11 @ Rusty's Surf Ranch
256 Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica 90401
9:30pm-12:30am
$7 ($12 if under 21 without guardian)
view on facebook

Mike Keneally Retrospect

What a month of music for me, definitely a lot to be thankful for! After an incredible "Peasant Funk" CD release party with Orkestar MEZE, it was straight to a week of grueling rehearsals for guitarist/keyboardist Mike Keneally's "The Universe Will Provide". This 50-minute piece for a rock power trio-plus-an-orchestra was set for its US premier on Friday, November 18th at the REDCAT theater downtown, and everyone in the group but Mike was a CalArts student or alumni.  I had my fair share of musical challenges; my part covered alto sax, soprano sax, clarinet, flute, and my first forays into the bass saxophone. A feat in itself, full rehearsals were run Monday through Thursday, and the result was an incredible performance those involved won't soon forget. You can read a lot about the piece and its conception here. The performance was recorded and documented by multiple cameras, so I'm hoping I can direct you to a stream or DVD in the near future. Until then, suffice to say that I am honored to have been included in this performance and am proud of my fellow CalArts denizens for really pulling as much life, blood, and jumps-for-joy out of that music as possible!

Coming soon: my octet, take two. People are on board, music is being written and arranged (including some Placebo and 38 Special), and we'll see an inaugural performance early 2012. Two woodwinds, two trombones, two guitars, bass, drums...here we go!

"Peasant Funk" CD Release 11/11/11

The time is finally here! Orkestar MEZE is geared up for an incredible show this Friday night, 11/11/11, at the Key Club! We're proudly releasing our debut album, "Peasant Funk", as well as some killer merchandise like T-shirts, posters, and stickers, all adorned with that classy peasant look you've come to expect from MEZE. Check out the event on facebook, and get cheaper pre-sale tickets at http://www.milenkirov.net/, our leader's website. We'll have some incredible special guests sitting in with us as well, not to be missed. It's bound to be a legendary night...get a piece for yourself!

The album cover!