Joe Shotwell |

New Video: Twitter-fueled SSIJ Jazz Band (LIVE)

Rob Michael — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 21:07:33 +0000

It’s been a couple of weeks now since the SSIJ (Secret Society of Internet Jazzers) played the Beta Lounge in Berkeley, CA.

We enjoyed an enthusiastic audience both in the room and on Ustream. The club was very dark so our Ustream crew was treated to primarily audio feed. Fortunately, we had a couple of other cameras that were able to catch a enough visual data for me to provide you this glimpse of the show.

The main thing that struck me from this show was the musical strength and depth with which these musicians play. Who knew a pick-up band from Twitter would be so burning!

Thanks again to my compadres Jason Parker, Steve Uccello, Darin Wilson, Dave Hoffman and Joe Shotwell.

Video: Tearin’ it up One Night in Glen Ellen

Rob Michael — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 18:01:21 +0000

Here is the Atmos Trio functioning as “The guys” in support of singer Cynthia Tarr. We’ve held down this regular gig in Glen Ellen CA at Olive & Vine for a couple of years and have developed a very enthusiastic audience there.

Here’s a fairly up-tempo tune that the band stretches out on a little. Good times!

This was filmed on a Creative Vado HD cam. Audio was EQ’d/ compressed using Ableton Live and video edited in Final Cut Express.

“Cry Me a River” in the Wine Country

Rob Michael — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 05:38:58 +0000

Here’s the classic “Cry Me a River” from my gig last Friday night in the California wine country. Glen Ellen, CA is home the the Olive & Vine where the Atmos Trio functioned as “The Guys” to singer (and wife to our bass player Cliff Hugo who’s currently rehearsing with Super Tramp for their European summer tour) Cynthia Tarr.

What’s on “The Bench” this week in the Studio? Guitar stuff, of course!

Rob Michael — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 20:13:32 +0000

Here’s another quick preview peak into a project I’m wrapping-up. This an excerpt to a rough mix–just to show you what I’m up to.

“Reptile” is basically a funk tune. The instrumentation is a little different in so far as the rhythm guitar part is played on a steel-string acoustic guitar. The solo is my old work-hourse frankestein ’80′s-era Strat.

This track features my buds Joe Shotwell on drums and Jack Hines on bass.

Reptile by AtmosTrio

This week’s “Forgotten” Atmos Trio tune: Bill Frisell’s “Is It Sweet?”

Rob Michael — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:44:38 +0000

From a July 2004 session, "Is It Sweet" is a classic Bill Frisell piece that features a really cool "drunken" feel in the groove and some folky- country-blues tones.

Again, I'm offering a tune we played out of the love of playing. There are no edits or overdubs here.

Is It Sweet? I think so…
Is It Sweet by AtmosTrio

Another “Forgotten” Atmos Trio track: Stephanie’s Soliloquey (2004)

Rob Michael — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:37:16 +0000

This offering is the sixth in an on-going series of “Forgotten Music“ that has been rediscovered after years of languishing on a hard drive. This music was never intended for release, but after sitting all this time, has been considered worthy, at least, to share. it may be that a “Forgotten Album” will emerge.

Recorded in July 2004. Atmos Trio wasn’t even recording an album–just sight-reading some charts.This is another beautiful Peter Sprague tune we used to play during our Monday morning jam sessions.

This song is something of a rarity in that it does not feature solos but instead, features the composition itself as the main character in this particular music tale.

Features Rob Michael on guitars, Joe Shotwell on bass and Jeff Obee on bass.

Stephanie’s Soliloquey by AtmosTrio

Posted via email from atmosmusic’s posterous

Atmos Trio Monday morning sessions: Miles Davis’ Solar

Rob Michael — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:38:31 +0000

The Atmos Trio first started out as an excuse to play in a very conversational way. We were (and still are) seeking a musical discussion that required no words. We were out to explore group improvisation but hopefully present it in such a way that it almost sounded composed.

For a time, our method of operation was to converge on my studio each Monday morning, throw up some mics, hit RECORD and just play. Here is a result of one of those session from July 2004.

Never intended for release, this recording of Solar really was a happy accident which was captured to disk. We played it and moved-on. Only during a later review of the session did we realize the level of musical interactivity that had apparently occurred earlier that day.

Here is your invitation to eavesdrop on our conversation.

Solar by AtmosTrio

Posted via email from atmosmusic’s posterous

Clearing-out hard drive space and discovered these Forgotten Atmos Trio Tunes.

Rob Michael — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:32:09 +0000

These are live recordings that were never intended for release but that, upon reviewing years after the fact, seemed worthy of sharing with interested listeners.

These are from a time when the concept of The Atmos Trio was still crystalizing.

Hypothetical Premise-A live track that captured an early Atmos Trio as we tuned-up (2004). There is no preconceived composition– just a jam. We know what song sound like, so we made one up on the spot

Hypothical Premise by AtmosTrio

Kylie-Another nearly forgotten track from the Atmos Studio archives. This track was recorded live during the 1st year Atmos Trio started playing together.

This composition is by San Diego guitarist Peter Sprague. Peter was one of my favorite teachers from when I attended GIT in the late ’80′s. If he hears this–I hope he digs it.

Kylie by AtmosTrio

Lonely Woman-A beautiful masterpiece by the great Horace Silver. Recorded in 2005, this live performance features Rob Michael on steel-string acoustic guitar, Joe Shotwell on drums and Jeff Obee on six-string fret less electric bass.

Lonely Woman by AtmosTrio

Posted via email from atmosmusic’s posterous

Olive & Vine w/ Cliff & Cynthia

Rob Michael — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 16:52:30 +0000

Each month, Joe Shotwell & I play with bass player Cliff Hugo and his wife, vocalist Cynthia Tarr at the Olive & Vine in Glen Ellen. It’s a super fun gig. Here are some photos.

If you have attended one of these show and would like to share photos you’ve taken, please email them and be sure to put Cynthia Tarr as the subject.

See the entire Gallery here.

Post Christmas gig

Rob Michael — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 03:14:00 +0000

On the 4th Friday of each month, Joe and I play this super-great gig
with bass virtuoso Cliff Hugo and his wife, singer Cynthia Tarr.

Not only are they both great musicians but really great folks on the
human-level too.

This all happens at The Olive & Vine in Glen Ellen, CA.