Get it together people – IT’S 2012!!!!!  It’s time to think in a new way, to pass the baton (goldie and I just saw The Mountaintop play and it was fantastic), to try to present this original American art form in a new way.  let’s see….how to do it….hmmmmm…..

I bring you THE RETRO ACTIVE PROJECT.

the ebt and my good friend Jeff Gruber at blue house productions jumped on an idea by our new social media guru Omar Capers: let’s give everyone and anyone an opportunity to see us work.  The goal is that, hopefully, this will help grow our audience and show people our unique sense of 21st century swing.

I love Robert Glasper, Chick and all those pianists that push the jazz envelope forward.  But for me I also adore Red Garland, Wynton Kelly, Gene Harris and those cats too.  Don’t get me started talking about the piano work of Brother Ray either…all that stuff swings to me and I enjoy fusing all of my influences into what you hear.

So every other week or so you’ll hear the EBT at the blue house studios talking and playing music.  Pass the video around to your friends and send an email to:

eric@ericbyrd.com

saying ADD ME!

and we’ll put you on our mailing list.  Let me know if you like what you hear.  Tell your friends to like us on facebook.  Buy the CD from itunes.  just support and we’ll love you for it.

God bless

ebb

Updating...

Wow.  Wowwie.  Wowzers…What a December:

When I tell you the EBT was on the road playing, we were on the road playing!!!!  Let’s see – 3 shows at the Carroll Arts Ctr, Blackrock in Germantown, Avalon in Easton got 2 shows, PSU, VA and Wor Wic CC got one a piece, West Church got some love and 2 shows at the MD Science Center.  Brilliant!  Thank you to all for booking the band and letting us do our thing.  My son sang great and we certainly expanded upon the wonderful legacy of the Vince G Trio.

I’ve got to tell you about the Hamilton though.  The newest spot in town is all that + sha fa fa on the side.  If you’re reading this you’re obviously on the web so don’t take my word for it: go to thehamiltondc.com and see for yourself.  Yours truly was the very first pianist to play their house Yamaha C7 Grand, a 60k instrument of course.  Mavis Staples is coming soon and so is Chris Big Daddy Watling of the Grandsons and Bro Ray Band.  Check them out.

Lastly I want to announce that we are very excited to make some ‘behind the scenes’ type videos of the EBT in action.  Some will be posed and in a studio environment, some will be ‘homemade’ and live, none will be dead – just another way we can bring you guys closer to the band.

If you want to be added to our mailing list, send the message ADD ME to eric@ericbyrd.com and we’ll make it happen!  God Bless

Keep Swingin

ebb

Related show

• Artist: Eric Byrd
• Tour: Pianist Eric Byrd
• Date: Thursday, January 6th 2011
• Time: 6:00pm
• City: Eric Byrd in Washington, DC
• Venue: Westminster Presbyterian Church
• Country: US
• Age restrictions: All Ages
• Notes: 400 I St, SW Washington, DC EB gigs with vocalist Lavenia Nesmith and some guys named Bhagwan and Alphonso I think are on it too
• Add to Google Calendar | Download iCal

Big shout out to the CCAC in Westminster and my girl Sandy Oxx, Exec director.  Charlie Brown Christmas was another great success.  We sold out a show, had a near sellout of another, and had a very large afternoon performance.  Thank you to everyone for buying the CD’s and supporting the band and this program of music.

And for my people that paid for a CD with my SQAURE device, that thing is hot, ain’t it!!!! lol

I don’t know where exactly all you guys come from to see lil ole us, but we certainly thank you.  If you are visiting the web page for the first time and/or you want to be apart of our mailing list, email eric@ericbyrd.com and write ADD ME.  We’ll put you on!

Love you!!!

ebb

Hey y’all,

It’s been a minute but let me just say that Omar Capers is THE MAN!!!  He has very graciously taken the EBT on as clients and is working magic as our ‘social media/web page’ guru.  So many things he’s hipped us too (I can’t tell you all his secrets) but I do want to make a big announcement.

Al, drumroll please!

The Eric Byrd Trio is pleased to announce we will be making new, fresh music available for you to access, listen to, comment on, very soon.  We’ll be playing jazz in the moment, largely unrehearsed without any knowledge of how we’ll start or end each song and get it to you – our fans – to enjoy.  Omar helped us realize that we need to get more music to our people:  sure we just released Up The Road with Chuck Brown but we need to be playing and releasing that music to your friends.  That means you

so check out the page very soon.  we are locking in some studio dates today and will get some music to you soon.  God bless you

check us out at a gig – we’re working a lot so I expect to see you!

God is great and worthy to be Praised

ebb

So it’s back on the road with the exceptional vocalist Lea Gilmore again  We’ve been doing this for a looooong time now…I guess she first took me on the road back in 2001 and here we are, 10 years later, back together again.  She could ask any musician/pianist in the world to work with her so when she asks me, I jump at the chance.  The gigs will be great and the fellowship will be even better.

These shows/recordings will come at a good time for me:  FOUTR with the EBT/BRB has just come out – (have you gotten your copy?  get one sent to you or download it from http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/ericbyrdtrio ) – and it has been steadily selling, and now these concerts with LG will be recorded for a future release.  I can’t wait for the rehearsal tomorrow.

Walking through the airport I was reminded how much I think I need the road.  I hate leaving my beautiful wife, my kids that mean so much to me, even my church and students…but once I get over all that and my fear of flying, you can’t help but enjoy the validation of the road.  The fact that someone values you so much that they are willing to fly you in, pay you, treat you well and allow you to use your God given talents helps remind me God made me who I am.  The last few years I got lost and had trouble understanding that…but I’m getting back on track and the road reminds me that God loves me enough to give me these 2 hands to use for Him.  That’s cool.

I’m exhausted as it’s 11am here I think but my body still thinks it’s 506am.  I’m going to bed.  more later.

God Bless,

ebb