Working with New World Symphony is always such a blast. They know how to rock out during (and after) a concert.

Spent Saturday with my friend Sebastian Spreng, who is an amazing painter. Click the link to check out his work. I own two of his paintings and so should you! He showed me around the Miami arts district, where I saw some amazing Latin American art. Then we went to lunch at the famous dive sandwich shop Enriqueta’s, which is apparently where the elite meet to eat. I say this because at the next table was Gloria Estefan and her whole family. Sebastian knew her, so I got to meet the creator of …

comeonshakeyourbodybabyDOTHECONGA! somethingsomethingsomethingsomethingANYLONGA!

That was cool. I also caught one event at the Winter Music Conference … a 1am set by Paul Oakenfold.

Can you tell I like many things about Miami?

Now I must sleep.

Getting ready to conduct the New World Symphony tonight here in Miami Beach. The program features Mussorgsky/Ravel Pictures at an Exhibition, which is always fun, especially with an orchestra as spirited and virtuosic as this one. I’ve added some special effects, including an electornic church bell at the end that makes the piece even LOUDER, and creates the right musical picture, I think.

Speaking of electronic sounds, Miami Beach is bustling and exciting right now because of the Winter Music Conference, one of the most famous electornica/DJ festivals in the world. Everywhere I go, I hear electronica. It’s the soundtrack to South Beach life I guess. Even the most mundane tasks, such as buying dental floss, are accompanied by groovy beats. It’s kind of fun, but would it remain fun if I lived here? BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM

Spending the week in SF studying, resting up and getting healthy, and preparing for a busy spring. A staggering amount of music seems to be floating in my head right now: Gluck, Walter Piston, Mussorgsky, Dutilleux, Shotakovich, Berlioz, Beethoven, Barber, and there’s more I need to pick up.

A little surfing can really calm all of that down, which is a good thing. The music of the ocean distracts me from the music in my head. Out in the waves, I’m reminded about something Buckaroo Banzai once said: “Wherever you go, there you are.”

Also, a little palate cleansing between composers is a must. Rock, Electronica, Dub.

Right now, I’ve been checking out the Bedroom Community website for some fresh sounds, and the new Arcade Fire album is giving me some major chills. Could they be the next great band?

headline from today’s San Francisco Chronicle:

“CHARGES IN YALE SINGERS’ BEATING
D.A. calls alleged attack cowardly — 2 S.F. men expected to surrender today”

Maybe we need an a cappella “safe house” in San Francisco, where college-age, close-harmony singers from the Ivy League can enjoy our city in peace.

I know all about a cappella violence. My college singing group, the Harvard Din & Tonics, somehow got in a bar fight in Taipei back in 1992.

We emerged slightly bruised, but didn’t press charges.

I had the good fortune to read an advance copy of my friend Antoine Wilson’s new novel, The Interloper. On the surface, it’s just another story of vengeful epistolary transvestitism, but it’s been whirling around in my brain for a long time since I read it. Its many layers are gradually becoming clear to me.

Right now, I think it’s all about the power of words. Should you believe what you read, or what you write? In a sense, it’s a celebration of writing itself. But it’s also very odd, twisted, and fun. A page-turner.

So if you like writing, or your stories nice ‘n’ creepy, give Antoine’s book a shot. You’ll be glad you did.

Been reading some blogs recently, and there’s a nice trend of people setting their iPods to random and writing about what comes up. Here’s my version.

1. Mum - “We have a map of the piano” This is a nice electronica band that I haven’t gotten sick of yet. Melodic, finely crafted stuff. A nice soundtrack to a cool everyday life.

2. Magnetic Fields - “Blue” (from 69 Love songs) Just getting to know these songs, haven’t heard this one till now. Stephen Merritt’s vocals get really Tom Waits like here … very depraved.

3. Current 93 - “Then Kill Caesar” I learned about this guy at a record store in Kitchener. Apocalyptic neo-folk. It’s weird and evocative, but for me ultimately annoying and unlistenable.

4. Palast Orchester mit seinem Sänger Max Raabe und H.K. Gruber - “Tango Ballade” This is a BRILLIANT re-creation of decadent German/Austrian party music by my friend H.K. Gruber. I love this disc — so fun. Get it now!

5. Lou Harrison - “Varied Trio (1st movement) I think Lou Harrison is one of the great melodists of the 20th Century.

The concert in Boca went well. I tried something new. After playing Carl Ruggles’s prophetic and dissonant work “Men and Mountians,” I encouraged the audience to applaud the piece if they liked it, and boo if they didn’t. There were defintiely some boos, but there were also a few bravos. I prefer either to tepid applause.

Meanwhile in Miami beach, I caught a concert at New World Symphony conducted by Benjamin Shwartz, with Yuja Wang as piano soloist. Before each piece, words ticked onto the screen behind the orchestra, describing the piece they were about to hear in a humorous and snarky manner. I felt like I was watching “Adult Swim” on the Cartoon Network. That’s not a bad thing. Also, there were free cocktails one and a half hours before the concert. Everyone had a fine time, and somehow the music was still at the center of everything. It was a cool way of refreshing the concert “format” without dumbing-down or overwhelming the music.

Today, in San Francisco, I caught rehearsals for the premiere of Robin Holloway’s Fourth Concerto for Orchestra. Massive, complex, tonal, and worth hearing. Aarron Jay Kernis, who just premiered a piece at the SF Conservatory, dropped by to listen as well.

It was just one of those fine SF days —
A friend was visiting from LA, so we went downtown to check out an art show called “Sensacional! - Mexican Street Graphics” at Yerba Buena. Very cool and I saw this video which is like a Mexican David Lynch movie that you can dance to ….

Afterwards, we headed to Groove Merchant records in the Lower Haight. My elementary school friend Chris owns the store — and he turned me on to a recording of a radio broadcast from Philly in 1969 (W.H.A.T am). 1 hour of rare grooves and serious funk. I’m sad I wasn’t alive then.

Finally, I ran into another friend of mine who introduced me to an amazing woodworker in SF who is going to build a table for me. He’s kind of an obsessive genius, and I’m glad he’s making my furniture.

It was a good day.

Returning to many old haunts this week. The orchestra here is rising again, with a sold-out performance of The Planets and some John Williams on the first half.

I’ve got nothing but love for the music of John Williams. Great tunes, well-orchestrated and fun to play. And I still get chills when I conduct the opening fanfare of Star Wars, even though I must have done it at least 100 times by now!

I’m thrilled for the Tulsa Symphony, they have an innovative plan merging musicians and management, and are making some strong connections with the community again, and most importantly, their vibe is very inclusive, collaborative and positive.

I don’t want to do two food entries in a row, but you can check out my myspace page for thoughts about how to make a hamburger.

I’m thrilled to announce that I am the new Music Director of the Kitchener Waterloo Symphony. I begin in September 2007, and have been appointed artistic advisor effective immediately. The Kitchener Waterloo Symphony is an outstanding and accomplished group of artists, and I couldn’t be happier.

For those new to the site, welcome! This is a good way to get to know me. You’ll hear about what I’m conducting, where I’m surfing (waves, not the internet), what I’m reading, and general thoughts about music.

For those new to the Kitchener Waterloo Symphony, find out more HERE.