T. J. Ricer

CASH Back had a great time in the studio over the past weekend. We managed to lay down 21 solid tracks. . . now comes the hard part: deciding which ones get on the album and which ones don’t.

CASH Back is going into the studio this weekend in hopes of releasing our first album! We’ll be recording down at Finger Lakes Community College with Bob Potter More info on this, as it becomes available.

If you’re near Palmyra, NY this week, check out Pal-Mac High School’s production of “The Music Man,” I’ll be playing upright bass and might even sneak in a sousaphone for 76 trombones (instead of tearing my fingers off to compete with the brasses on that tune!).

I’ve had a big couple of weeks. . . in the last two weeks I have given a masterclass, a lecture, a solo recital, a quintet recital, a quartet performance/lecture, played with a professional symphony orchestra, a modern jazz ensemble, and my Johnny Cash band, played on the radio, given a newspaper interview, and taught a handful of lessons ranging from junior high to graduate students. Hopefully, I can keep this momentum going as I finish my graduate school career!

I will be performing a solo recital at Mansfield University in Mansfield, PA this coming Monday, February 15th at 7:30 PM accompanied by Dr. Todd Ranney, piano. The show will take place in Steadman Theater, a part of the Butler Music Center on Mansfield’s campus.

The program has a loose theme of “Where we’ve been and where we’re going” and will include a couple of my new commissions, a few old-school tuba solos, and a 21st century concerto. It should be a lot of fun.

This performance is hosted by Dr. Nate Rinnert of Mansfield University.

A masterclass titled “Where to Begin with Improvisation” will follow on Tuesday at noon for the tuba, euphonium, trombone, and horn studios.

Check out this page to see how Dan Schultz changed this tuba:

into this tuba:

Thanks to Dan for the great work; I was very pleased by the results. Along with my Mira/York CC built by Tim Owens, I believe I now have excellent, competitive contrabass and bass tubas of my own conception. Here’s the MiraYork:

I’ve just returned from playing at the Midwest Clinic with Keith Brion’s New Sousa Band and this incredible low brass section!

Check out this new article from the Springfield News-Sun. Apparently, I’m not the only crazy person (or even the craziest) when it comes to commuting to work!

Also, I have been invited to perform with Keith Brion’s New Sousa Band next week at Chicago’s Midwest Conference. This will be an exciting chance for me to share the stage with such greats as Don Harry, Earl Louder, and John Beck!

I just got back from playing an entire day of shows with the Dave Rivello Ensemble at SUNY Brockport’s “Jazz Day 2009″

Brockport did a wonderful job of “rolling out the red carpet” for us. . . I think they served us 5 meals over the course of one day!

The guys did a great job of staying sane with both the downtime and the several shows!

Just returned from a very successful fall tour with the Po’Boys Brass Band. We gave masterclasses at Ithaca College and Penn State and did club hits in New York City, Williamsport, Collegetown, and Ithaca.

I’m back into life in Rochester, having seen a great tuba recital by Tim Buzbee last night and taught New Horizons this morning. . . working on preparing for the comprehensive exams these days, as well. –T. J.

I’ll be touring New York and Pennsylvania for the next couple of days with the Po’ Boy Brass Band! Come check us out, the schedule is below:

Or check us out on the web here