Ahh, it appears I haven't released any news for a couple of months. So, just to let you know, NESLORT has been in and out of the studio to record 10 excellent tracks of music. The name of the new CD is, "MYSTICAL SCAM," dedicated to organizations that promise us wealth, health, happiness, 20 virgins awaiting us in heaven after we kill 3000 people and the such...

Featured are Larry Sieberth on keys, Time Robertson on Guitar, Matt Perrine on Bass, Boyanna Trayanova on drums and Kyle Cripps on Tenor and Soprano Sax.
It was recorded, mixed and mastered at Misha Kachkachisvili's studio in Metairie La., Axis Studio. www.axistudio.com

Anyhow, the band sounds great. Anticipated release will be in October. Visit www.neslort.com for dedicated info on NESLORT.

So the summer, is off to a great start,(with the exception of the fact that our Oil Addiction is going to make us all extinct) Oh well, win some, lose some. That's Life.

Anyhow...This weekend I'm taking my traditional Jazz group, "The New Orleans Po' Boys" to Asheville N.C. to play at the Western North Carolina JAZZ SERIES 2010, in the DIANA WORTHAM THEATRE, Sponsored by the Western North Carolina Jazz Society on
SUNDAY, JUNE 6, 2010, 7:00 pm.

WCQS, the local NPR station in Asheville has offered to record our performance, and I have hired a videographer to film us! So, quality permitting, this will eventually become the first N.O. Po' Boys CD release.

The NOPB's play a wide mix of traditional jazz music, drawing from the music of Jelly Roll Morton, Scott Joplin, Louis Armstrong, and Kid Ory, as well as "chestnuts" from the likes of Irving Berlin, Hoagy Carmichael and others.

The group features myself on trombone and vocals, Tom McDermott on piano, Charley Fardella on trumpet, Bruce Brackman on clarinet, Cori Walters on drums, and Danny Rubio on Tuba.

Then, in July, my all original "instrumental rock" group, "Neslort" will be recording our first CD in 14 years, ughh, it's hard to believe that I have let so much time slip away with that group. Anyway, onwards and upwards.

Neslort features in addition to myself, Larry Seiberth on keyboards, Matt Perrine on the bass, Tim Robertson on the guitar, Kyle Cripps on saxophones and Boyanna Trayanova on drums.

Notice the fact that each of these bands has a female drummer. This was not intentional.

See ya 'round! ~Rick

Nine to Fivers Special performance. If you are one of those that complains that our performances start too late, here is a great opportunity to hear us AND get to bed early. Neslort will be playing from 8pm-11pm at the relatively new club, Maison @ 508 Frenchmen St. Come on down and have a few early nite caps!

That's right folks, Friday, January 15th, Neslort will continue it's wave of Primordial Fusion at the Hi Ho Lounge, 2239 St. Claude Ave. New Orleans.
It's a Friday folks, you can stay out as late as you want! If you caught the set at the Blue Nile this past Tuesday, you know what's to come, but if you didn't catch us, you really need to come and get a little "glortinshnort" in your soul. You won't regret it!

That's right folks! The Return of Neslort is here, and we're not talking of a tax return either. God forbid if the group should ever make enough money to be taxed! Bookings have resumed, a new website is being developed by our good friend Michael Tomb in Rochester, and Threadhead Records is helping us fund the next CD, due out in the spring! Stellar musician, Larry Seiberth is not only playing with the group, but he is also acting as producer! Yes...many exciting developments are underway. If anyone wishes to help, please visit www.threadheadrecords.com

Watch our performance dates here, and/or eventually at www.neslort.com

As they say in Bogsquat, "wonga-winga!" (that's bye bye in the native Bogsquation language)

Currently I am on tour as a featured guest artist from New Orleans, along with Roderick Paulin, and Charley Fardella, with The Barrelhouse Jazz Band. Check out http://www.barrelhouse-jazzband.eu/english_frameset.html

For years, I have heard of the Festival in Ascona Switzerland. Seemingly, everyone I know in New Orleans has been, as for the most part, the Festival is a tribute to New Orleans music and/or traditional jazz. Well finally my day has come! Nico Gilliet, the artistic director for the festival, has invited me come as a guest artist to be featured with Louisiana musician, Don Vappie, and French Musician Thomas l�Etienne. I will be playing 10 consecutive days while I'm there. I can't tell you how excited I am to be part of this festival! http://www.jazzascona.ch

Gringo do Choro returns to Dos Jefes Uptown Cigar Bar this Saturday!
Come hear a new lineup featuring Eduardo Tozzato at the piano, Marcio Periera on the Guitar, Steve Braun on the Bass, and Doug Belote on the drums! Great music indeed! Lift off is set for 10:00 pm.

5535 Tchoupitoulas St.

Threadhead Records, an unprecedented non-profit record company formed out of the love for New Orleans and its music, and its musicians, has agreed to fund the next NESLORT CD! The recording date has not been set, as funds are being raised as we speak. Neslort's last CD was recorded back in 1996. With a fresh new line-up of musicians and new material, the next CD promises to be innovative and energizing. If you want to help out with this project, or any others that are underway with Threadhead Records, you may become involved by visiting their website at: http://www.threadheadrecords.com/ricktrolsen.htm

Yes that's right folks, fasten your seat belts for the zany yet intriguing music of Neslort, soon to be recording the first CD since 1996 thanks to the help of Threadhead records! (See the link)

Well, it's been a great summer! I've been working "Gringo do Choro" pretty consistently throughout the last several months and there's definitely a groove happening. In just a couple of weeks we'll have a completed a demo recording in our hands to conjure up some out of town work. It's a great package designed by my good friend from Rochester, Michael Tomb. I'll upload the cover so you can see it on my photo page.
Just yesterday we did a Tipitina's Workshop for kids at Tipitina's. It was great. 8 or so kids on stage playing trombones, saxes, clarinet, and a bunch of percussionists learning how to play a Samba. It was kicks for sure!

Staying in town has really been quite rewarding. One can get so much more done when one isn't waiting to check into a hotel room, waiting for soundcheck, waiting for the bread etc etc etc...

I haven't been on an airplane in months!!! What a luxury, staying at home, making a fun living. But that will soon come to a delightful end when on August 13th I board a plane bound for Rio de Janeiro. Yes that's right, I have two weeks down there. The only thing I have "scheduled" is a master class at a college and one performance. The rest of my time, I will be listening to music, sitting in with different groups, studying portuguese and brazilian rhythms and taking in the night (right) life. I will try to keep a log and publish it if anyone is interested. "Gringo do Choro's" mandolinist, John Eubanks will be joining me for the 2nd week, as will New Orleans' pianist extraordinaire, Tom McDermott. It's going to be "Otimo!"

Ate' Logo!

Just wanted to let everyone know about a last minute gig that came up! This Tuesday 7/1/08 at the DBA on Frenchmen St. I'll be playing with John Vidacovich, the baddest jazz drummer in the world as far as I'm concerned!
It'll be just the two of us. We've done this before and it came off great! Come check it out!

Oi Gente!
Beginning in August, Gringo do Choro will be performing the first Monday of each month at the DBA on Frenchman St!

Let's make it a regular date!!

See ya August 4th!

Yes, it's humid. A part of me likes it.... and a teensy weensy little part of me likes it. I try to ignore the bigger part of me that despises it.

Gringo do Choro will be plugging away the summer months without guitarist Marcio Pereira, as he will return to Brasil for a couple of months to be with his family. Aptly filling in for him will be local legend, Steve Masakowsi of Astral Project as well as Guitar extraordinaire, Davy Mooney. He has a love for Brazilian music as well, and has a great feel for it!

Also plugging away this summer will be my Primordial Fusion group, "NESLORT." With things slowing down in town, we'll have some time and energy to get this group "happening" again. The usual lineup as of lately has been Brent Rose on reeds, Tommy Sciple on bass, Jay Griggs on Guitar, Larry Seiberth on keyboards, and Jason Marsalis on drums. Without any rehearsals, the last two performances have been magical. Perhaps we shouldn't rehearse…? But if we do, what happens then?! If you've never heard Primordial Fusion, then ya gotta come hear this group…and bring plungers!

For the last two evenings, Gringo do Choro has been in the studio recording a few tunes for a demo! I want get this band rollin’ and start taking it to foreign lands...ya know, somewhere other than New Orleans. It really helps to have a recording of how the band sounds now, as opposed to what I did in Brazil in 2003. I can’t tell you what a great lineup we have now.
Ole’ vets of Gringo do Choro, John Eubanks (mandolin) and myself, have found ourselves with a new rhythm section that just grooves like nothing else. Bassist Tommy Sciple had just returned from Oregon where he ended up after Katrina, when I found myself looking for a bass player. He’s played the music before and knows the role he plays.
When Guitarist Marcio Pereira sat in with us one night at Dos Jefes, it was evident that we needed in the group guitar rather than piano, so we made the switch. Marcio is from Salvador, Bahia in Brazil. Naturally, his feel for Brazilian music is impeccable, and he offers much insight into the rhythms that we are trying to play. A couple of months ago, I had a handful of bookings I was trying to fill, and drummer Wayne Maureau, who had been playing with us, couldn’t make most of the dates. Coincidentally, another Katrina evacuee, drummer Julian Garcia, had just returned to town. We had played together many times before the storm, so I knew already that he could handle the job…and trust me, he does much more than “handle” it!
We’ve had a great time in the studio and accomplished a lot in working out the finer details of what we’re trying to do. To me, a group is nothing without the input of everyone in the band. I’m very excited and enthused about what’s going on!