JANUARY 2006

I am desperatley trying to update this page every 11 MONTHS to deliver the absolute cutting edge! 2005 was an active touring year for Trevor Dunn's Trio-Convulsant. The Night Porter recorded a full-length to be mixed soon, Secret Chiefs 3 recorded enough material for 3 albums. Ceramic Dog has been rehearsing, writing, and gigging often, and will tour Europe in May. Good for Cows is trying to find time to record our fourth album. The duo record Carla Bozulich/Ches Smith is still looking for a home. Looks like a solo Congs for Brums set will open for Xiu Xiu on a US tour in October. I will also be playing in the Xiu Xiu set.
Oh, and I live in L.A. now, sort of.

FEBRUARY 2005

February was a crazy month for me. It began with Good For Cows and the Night Porter LA dates, then a 7 Year Rabbit Cycle/Warbler tour in which the rear wheel of Carla Bozulich's borrowed van cracked off at 80 miles per hour. After Rob Fisk heroically steered us to safety, we had the vehicle towed to Gallup, New Mexico for 2 days of dealing with mechanics and 2 nights of unexpected hotel hot tub fun. Thanks to the Ramada Inn for not calling security to kick us out as they had threatened. Due to the strength and greatness of the Individuals in 7 Year Rabbit Cycle and Warbler, breaking down has never been so much fun. The Night Porter then did a bunch of LA and Bay Area gigs.

More recently, I just got back from New York playing and hanging out with friends Shahzad, Trevor, Joe and Mary. Trevor Dunn's Trio-Convulsant will tour with Fantomas and the Locust in April. Secret Chiefs 3 will tour Europe in June. Good For Cows and the Ben Goldberg Quintet will play in New York in August. The duo record with Carla Bozulich is done, label and release date TBA. Theory of Ruin is finally doing some more shows in March. Link and I saw an amazing Kool Keith show at the DNA lounge in January. Miya and I saw an equally fantastic Evens/Barr show at the Swedish American Hall in February.

OCTOBER 2004

I just got home from a U.S. tour with Trevor Dunn's Trio-Convulsant supporting Melvins. That was a good time. Every person on the tour was great. It ended too early, though. Extra thanks to Melvins for letting us crash in their rooms on bad merch nights!

David Link and I are currently trying to wrestle workaholic Alex Newport away from the mixing board to write and record a new Theory of Ruin record...and play some shows for Chrissakes.

Carla Bozulich and I are teaming up with New Yorker Shahzad Ismaily to form a new band. Our first shows are on the west coast opening for Wilco, November 10-19. I suppose the venues and schedule should be on a Wilco site somewhere. Informative, I know.

Good for Cows now has a website, goodforcows.com. Its up, but also in progress. Thanks once again to Miya Osaki!

I will debut two big band pieces on Thursday, November 4 at the Victoria Theater, S.F. (16th street between Mission and Capp), as part of the "Mitch Marcus Quintet plus 13" concert. I apologize in advance, as they were written almost entirely on a melodica during Melvins soundchecks.

Finally, more Good for Cows shows (see shows page).

JULY 2004

I've been teaching classes at the Berkeley Jazz School summer youth program--chaos in the classroom!!!

Trevor Dunn's Trio-Convulsant Fall U.S. tour (w/ Melvins) is rapidly approaching. Check "upcoming shows" (or with ipecac.com) for dates and venues. New CD sister phantom owl fish should be out on Ipecac by the end of July.

Carla Bozulich and I are working on a "duo" record. Piano, vocals, drums, vibraphone and samples. Not one stringed instrument. Copious overdubs and editing. Will hopefully come out in early 2005.

The third Good for Cows CD, Bebop Fantasy, is back from the presses. Should be available August 17th at your local record store. Or, try asianmanrecords.com, mordamrecords.com, or at a GFC show.

Devin Hoff's project called Redressers just released its first CD, to each according... Features Carla Kihlstedt, Marika Hughes and myself. Go to freeporcupinesociety.com for details.

Finally, I am writing a solo drums/vibraphone record to be released on free porcupine society sometime in 2005.

APRIL 2004

Okay, I suck at piano. I quit. I am now studying "pitches" with John Schott.

Good for Cows Northwest tour dates pending for June and August.

Theory of Ruin SF and LA show dates pending for the end of May.

It looks like Trevor Dunn's Trio-Convulsant will tour with Melvins in early fall, dates tba.

I was lucky to be involved with a bunch of recorded music to be released by the end of summer, including Good for Cows third CD, "Bebop Fantasy" (Asian Man Records), a new Trevor Dunn Trio-Convulsant album, "Sister Phantom Owl Fish" (Ipecac Recordings), and Secret Chiefs 3's "Book of Horizons," and a drum solo on Fever Pitch Magazine's "Just Drums II" compilation. The debut album of John Schott's Typical Orchestra will probably be finished by then, too, as well as a recording of Devin Hoff's featuring Carla Kihlstedt and Marika Hughes. Soon after (I hope), we will see a recording of Will Bernard's Trio, a highly anticipated (by me) recording of Graham Connah, and an album by Todd Sickafoose's band, Tiny Resistors.

Good for Cows are writing a tune for a Ben Goldberg solo clarinet record "Ben Goldberg Minus Eleven.". Steve Lacy, Roswell Rudd, Trevor Dunn, John Schott, and Vijay Iyer also are contributing pieces, so keep us in your prayers, please.

Thanks.

FEBRUARY 2004

I've been busy writing music and practicing for my piano lessons.

I've recently recorded with XIUXIU, John Schott's Typical Orchestra, Good for Cows, Secret Chiefs 3, and Trevor Dunn's Trio-Convulsant.

I wrote and recorded a drum solo "Preposterous B." for a Fever Pitch magazine compilation 3 CD. It should be out in early summer 2004.

I still teach drums. Email me if you are interested: ches@chessmith.com

Miya finally made my website.