1st ever Blog page

Busy January

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:14:50 GMT

I thought January would be pretty laid back- we have the Newburg Trio's concert at the Taft Museum on Jan. 22 (2.30 pm- FREE!), but that changed in a very short period of time when I got calls about playing guitar/banjo with Dayton Philharmonic Pops (the three Phantoms, guest tenors) with concerts on Jan. 13 and 14, AND playing mandolin in ConcertNova's "Shut up and Play your Frank Zappa" concert on Jan. 22 at 8pm (20th Century Theater).

hooooooooo--eee....(!)

RING II on the way!!

Wed, 07 Sep 2011 09:07:35 GMT

Ring II is not a sequel to an American remake of a Japanese horror film....well, it is, but THIS ONE isn't- this one is the sequel to last year's very successful "Cincinnati Guitar Christmas for Public Radio" CD. It features several new artists, plus at least one who just missed the deadline last year. I don't have the tracklist yet, but the CD should start showing up in a few weeks - in announcements on WGUC, WNKU, WVXU, and....um...one more...WOBO??? I confess I'm not sure.

wow...long time no been here!! UPCOMING.....

Sat, 30 Jul 2011 20:36:31 GMT

Very nice (if I must say so) concert coming up Aug 6 '11 at the Devou Park Amphitheater in Covington KY- The Floodwall Jazz Quintet- a kind of jazz/classical mash-up group affiliated with the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, will be joined by Jeremy Long on Alto Sax and JR Cassidy on trumpet for a concert of music by Claude Bolling, Astor Piazolla, Vince Gauraldi, and Dave Brubeck. DID I MENTION IT'S FREE??!!! (although a small donation to the orchestra is not discouraged)...Bring a blanket and a family friendly cooler- great way to spend a summer Saturday eve!

Aug. 21 from 10am to Noon, the Newburg Trio will repeat at the Western-Southern tennis tourney pre-finals brunch! be there....

Exciting concerts/shows- lately, and upcoming!

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 09:07:24 GMT

I've been truly blessed- after the disappointment of the Lion King gig going down the tank, some very cool things materialized. I played two great fun concerts in Dayton- the Celtic Tenors were great, and the video game music concert gave me the opportunity to be 'featured' in front of an excellent orchestra in a US premiere of an award-winning piece! Truth is, the singer was the real soloist, and I was just there for accompaniment and balance. Other truth is- I was sure glad that guitar part wasn't hard! Upcoming, I've gotten the music for Shrek, the musical (at the Aronoff April 12-24), and I like the guitar part. For the most part, it suits the way I play, which is not so true of a lot of newer Broadway stuff. In May, it looks like I'll be playing another great cool thing in Dayton- Leonard Bernstein's 'Mass'. I really look forward to that one!! peece out....

Celtic Tenors Concert follow-up

Sun, 20 Mar 2011 10:16:21 GMT

Celtic Tenors II was tonight, and it was another enjoyable experience- this one may have been 4 standing ovations. Granted, standing ovations can be cheap at pops concerts, but these guys were really very good. In tune-great ensemble- good balance of beauty, humor, and skill........... nice concert weekend.

Celtic Tenors concert with Dayton Pops

Sat, 19 Mar 2011 10:23:23 GMT

This was a very enjoyable concert- the lads are fine bonny singists, with great senses of humor and harmonies that'll melt your ever-lovin' heart. There were 3 standing ovations tonight. Concert repeats Saturday, March 19 - 8pm- at the Schuster Center in Dayton. And yes,,,,, they sang Danny Boy.

"Cemetary Club" at Mayerson J.C.C.

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 11:25:00 GMT

My lovely bride will co-star as the floozy in Stagecrafter's production of "The Cemetary Club" at the Mayerson JCC just south of Reagan Hwy on Ridge.....Feb 17-Mar.3.... Info at http://www.cinstages.com/Theatres/theatredetail.asp?TheatreID=296 .. scroll down the page to the 'cemetary club' link for accurate date and time info. Some great acting in this show..... you'll laugh....you'll cry.... you won't hurl!.....

Public Radio Christmas CD almost finished!

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 08:33:53 GMT

Public Radio CD tracklist:

1. The First Noel - Rob Fetters
2. Greensleeves - Ric Hordinski
3. O Come O Come Emmanuel - Paul Patterson & Sylvain Acher
4. Variations On The Coventry Carol - Jose Madrigal
5. I Saw Three Ships- George Cunningham
6. Esperanz (a meditation on hope)- Tina Gutierrez
7. God Rest ye Merry Gentlemen – Mike Wheeler
8. Silver Bells – Goshorn Brothers
9.In the Bleak Midwinter – Jeffrey Seeman
10. Away in a Manger- Scotty Anderson
11.Joy to the World- Chris Arduser
12.O little town of Bethlehem - Scott Covrette
13. Lo How a Rose/Still Still Still – Brian Deyo
14.Jolly Old St. Nicholas- Nick Radina
15. It Came upon a Midnight Clear- Roger Klug
16.We Three Kings- Marcos Sastre
17. Noel (Ancient French Carol)- Chris and Sarah Wilke
18. O Holy Night – Peter Frampton

Everybody's Buddy

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 09:10:00 GMT

Well, the 4 show run of 'Everybody's Buddy' is finished... kudos to Ed Howard, who wrote the score, and sat in the pit for every performance- prompting the conductor. Good orchestra. Buddy himself is remarkable and inspiring. The show was nice- about what you'd expect, except that the score was better than you'd expect....

Holiday CD for Public Radio

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 09:33:38 GMT

So, the inimitable Brian O'Donnell has teamed up with guitarist/producer Joe Madrigal, at least 3 local public radio stations (WGUC, WVXU, AND WNKU), and asked a number of local guitarists to participate in a project- a CD of Christmas/holiday music, which will be a promotional item for contributors to the stations. Your humble host was honored to be amongst the requestees, and have submitted my track (Lo, How a Rose e'er Blooming, with 3 variations, and a coda of Still,Still,Still) a mere 11 days past the hopeful, but flexible, deadline.....the ensemble includes 2 guitars, 2 mandolins, 2 recorders, 1 charango, 1 guitalele, (all moi), and the fab Amy G on 'cello.

3 weddings- 3 cities, 3 cellists...

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 05:31:57 GMT

Friday the 18 at a beautiful Episcopal Church in Clifton with the great Kaylie Erikson, Saturday at my neice's wedding on a museum rooftop in Louisville with a 'cellist and fluglehornist/singer (both of whom I met for the first time that day, and both of whom were excellent!), and Sunday at Drees Pavilion in Covington's Devou park with my usual duo partner, the fab AmyG. The Church was air-conditioned. The others were really warm. But we had shade. It's all good......

11 down 5 to go

Fri, 21 May 2010 08:29:48 GMT

Legally Blonde is going well...............not full houses, but decent houses....nice crowd tonight. It's such a hard score to learn, it's good that there's more than 1 week of performances. 2's enough, tho'. Don't know where they're going next. The associate music director is leaving the tour after Sunday. I think he's going to law school. + )

Long days

Tue, 11 May 2010 08:30:00 GMT

Well, Legally Blonde opens tomorrow- rehearse at 9, for 5 or 6 hours- soundcheck at 6, open at 8. It is what it is, but the music and lyrics are pretty good, so it's a better show than you think... + ).

Then to a funeral Wednesday morning for a dear friend's grandchild, taken tragically and suddenly- at such a young age. Prayers and condolences to all of the Osborne family. I can't even imagine.... :_ (

There are no words. Music can come close to saying what words cannot.

wedding music season is underway...

Sun, 18 Apr 2010 09:00:49 GMT

not too many weddings between the first of the year and last week.... but it's weddings every available weekend for the next few months...

You know you're busy when.....

Sun, 18 Apr 2010 08:59:00 GMT

I had a request tonight to play at a wedding in July 2011, and I had to 'demur', as I'm previously engaged. On the other hand.... numerous open dates THIS year....

"Light in the Piazza" at Wright State University

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 10:00:18 GMT

going into week 2 of "the Light in the Piazza" at Wright State .... this week, shows are Wednesday, 2/24/10 at 7pm, then Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 8, and matinees on Saturday and Sunday at 2. It's quite well done, and worth a look.... the student crew and cast have done a fine job!

WeddingWire, Inc.'s 2010 brides' choice awards, woo-hoo!

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 10:50:00 GMT

I got this nice email today:

Dear Brian,
Congratulations! We are excited to announce that Newburg Trio has been chosen to receive the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2010. This award recognizes the top 5 percent of local wedding professionals from the WeddingWire Network who demonstrate excellence in quality, service and professionalism.

The Bride’s Choice Awards™ are determined exclusively by recent newlyweds (brides and grooms) through extensive surveys and reviews, which means your past clients have spoken on our behalf and selected you to receive this honor.

Saturday night at Marty's Hops and Vines

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 22:00:55 GMT

This past Saturday, I played solo guitar at a new place in College Hill- Marty's Hops and Vines combines retail beer and wine sales with a bar/lounge + hors d’Oeuvers, and some non-alcoholic beveages. This is a very nice place, run by nice people, and the joint was pretty busy. This was kind of a last-minute booking, but I'm sure I'll be back there....In fact, I've never had a CD release party for "Vignettes and WarPonies", and I believe it will happen right there... maybe in March.... 6110 Hamilton Ave. in College Hill.

Really enjoyable gig with the Miracles.

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 07:38:31 GMT

The concert was the Miracles opening for Martha and the Vandellas. I only found out a few days before the show that Martha had her own guitar player, so I was only playing on the Miracles set. I'd have like to play Martha's set as well, as I really like some of those songs, and have played some of them in different bands, most notably Four on the Floor (soon to be resurrected as "the Fourth Floor")..

People might think the Miracles weren't happenin much after Smokey left, and I really didn't know what to expect, but they were terrific! Very nice people, great singers, great entertainers- Mark Scott, Tee Turner, Dave Finley, and Bobby Rogers brought back the real sound, and going through an hour of hits with no covers, I was reminded just how bug they are! 16 top 20 singles, 6 top 40 albums, songs covered by LOTS of other famous artists, 4 songs in the Grammy Hall of Fame, 3 songs on the Rolling Stone's list of 500 greatest songs of all time....Plus a bunch of hit songs which band members wrote, but were hits for other bands, and never even recorded by the Miracles.

I didn't play for Martha Reeves, but I did get to meet her, (and wave at the Vandellas). She's very very nice, and they sounded great at soundcheck.

Nice gig. Thanks, Bob!

"Chicago" (the musical) opened tonight

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 10:30:00 GMT

Is this the fourth .... or fifth time that "Chicago" played in Cincinnati? I honestly don't remember... at least the fourth. But it's been quite a while since it was here last. Carol Woods is still beltin' 'em out as Mama- Tom Wopat is a fine Billy Flynn, and a very nice guy. Great cast all around, and a fab orchestra, of course! here through Sunday, 12/6.