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HELLO!!!

Dayton Ohio. We played our first gig at the Victoria Theatre and the audience was wonderful. We're still getting the bugs out as far as technical stuff is concerned. The tenors are INCERDIBLE!! I love Aussies! They're so nice and relaxed about things. Steven and Flash (Michael) are so kind and great musicians. I hope to keep working with them in the future. We'll see?? Check out the ten tenors website. There's a link on my main page as a link on the "links" page. We will playing in San Diego in Nov around the 17th. Check the tenors page for exact dates.

Before I left I had rented a bass trunk and it turned out it was too big and heavy and the airline would not allow on mainly because the connecting flight was a VERY small aircraft. They would have said yes if I was flying all the way on a big jet. So I had to buy a ticket for my bass. Luckly I own a 5/8ths size bass and not a 3/4. Any larger and it would have not fit on the plane. You should have seen all the stares and glares trying to go down the aisle with that thing. It gave me a real good workout walking around airport terminals with it on my back and hold in one hand a carry on and a 14 pound 6 string electric bass in the other. WHEW!!! HUFFF PUFF PUFF!!! Sometimes I could find carts but sometimes not. Oh well....

My new upright bass pickup from David Gage is working beautifully. My sound is so much better than before. It's like having a new bass.

See ya next time!

-Ruben

Well, I'm off today to play with The Ten Tenors in Dayton OH for two weeks. It's part of a world tour their doing. I have been looking forward to spending some time with my great friend Tim Curle. We should be a deadly rhythm section. I love playing with Tim and along with some of the best singers in the world, life doesn't get any better. Please feel free to email me by going to the contact link while I'm away. I have internet access in my room. See ya later!!

-Ruben

Hello,

I will be playing with my good friend Tim Curle with a group from Australia called
"The Ten Tenors". I will be playing upright bass as well as electric. The group plays a big mix of musical theatre, jazz and classical. I will play with them for two weeks in Oct and a week in Nov. It's part of a world tour they're doing. I'm really looking forward to this great experience. We will also be in San Diego for a week so check "The Ten Tenors". tour dates if you want to get info and see the show.

Thanks to those who came to my "Solo" set at Beantown a few weeks ago. I had fun and it was good practice. One of my students Randy Carpio did two of his songs and sounded great. Randy is the son of my wonderful girlfriend Tracy who was there that night taping the show. Laura and Kim came down and we played Laura's "Spike and a Bump" song. Kim added some backup vocals and it was really fun. Christina also came up later in the set and did Pobre Bohemio a song about poor bohemians. Yes, I can relate. Joe one of the local guys sat in towards the end. He writes nice tunes.

I have more openings for lessons at The Fret House so if anyone you know wants Guitar, Bass, Voice, Trumpet & Trombone lessons. Let me know. But remember I'll be playing with the Ten Tenors in Oct.

Take care

-Ruben

Hello,

I want to thank all of you who came to the Sierra Songwriters Showcase on Sat. I felt everyone did a great job and I enjoyed everyone's set. I hope you enjoyed as much as I did. It was my very first time playing a whole set of mostly original music. It was also my first time hosting so bear with me if I forgot to mention footnotes or names and my small verbal screwups. My head was spinning trying to keep up.

I thank you for the few of you who congratulated me on doing this. Your words touched me in a very positive way.

Here's a shot of me and Chris



On Sunday my friend Blake Wöken shot my new pictures for my website and promotional stuff. It was a long day and I got sunburned! Blake is one of the best photographers on the planet and I feel very lucky he was the one who shot my pics. As soon as I get some, I'll post it on my website.

Hi,

I just finished seeing Luis play at the VIllage Vanguard with the Thad Jones Orchestra which has been playing there since 1968. The night before I heard Chico Farell at Birdland. Mucho Salsa!! It was wonderful! I also listened a Rhumba jam in Central Park on Sun with a group of Cubanos and Puerto Ricquienos that Luz (Luis's wife) knows from many years back. Sorry I didn't have my camera. Grassroots was a real fun gig and I got to hear Tinarwen from West Africa. They were SO GOOD. The festival had so much diversity that combined with NYC, the music experience has been a little overwelming. You thought you would never hear that a person who prides on being VERY eclectic with their music influences. So I will return on Wed and I will hope to see you at my gig on Sat at Beantown. You will get to hear my music influences fresh out of the NY pizza oven!

-Ruben

Hey Gang,

Things are great! I'm leaving for New York on Wed. I know I will have the time of my life. Luis has already warned me of that. He has a flat in the village in Mahattan! So I'm crashing in the heart of New York City! My songwriting is coming along. I hope to open mike night in NYC. We'll see.

Hey!

I'm about to venture into singer/songwriter land this Sat. I'm excited but also a little insecure since I'm still becoming friends with the songs I've written as well as a great song by Laura Lovelace about her buying her first house. I hope I do the music justice. I will push myself to do a great job. I'm also heading to Ithaca in upstate New York and New York City late this month. I'm doing a gig with Christina Ortega in Ithaca NY for the Grassroots Festival from July 21-24. Christina is great so it should be a lot of fun. I will be heading to NYC right after that weekend and staying with one of the best trombone players in the world "Luis Bonilla". I feel privedged to have friends so talented and I get to perform and hang with them.

I just inquired with National Schools to finish up my Bachelors degree and credential. It looks I will be a school teacher like I dream't about many years ago. Wish me luck. I don't know how I'll pull it off but I know I'll find a way. I feel very centered and my life has purpose. I want to share my enthuasism with everyone! Thank you to all of you who are supportive of my endeavors. I have some awesome friends and two wonderful brothers.

-R

In the good dept. I have some great gigs coming up. I will playing with Christina Ortega in Ithacca NY in Late July. I will also be playing a steady Flameco Nuevo gig in Dana Point with my friend Doug Noffsinger. on Fri and Sat. The Jim stubblefield album is almost done. Also Im have a warmup gig on July 9th for my song writing gig in aug. So only come if you want to hear less than perfect notes and singing. I have an updated website once my friend Blake takes new pictures.

I want to make sure your aware that I will be coming out of my song writing closet after about 16 years. Not many of you know that I contsantly wrote songs from Jr. High all through early college days. So on Aug 27th, I will be showcasing 5 other songwriters and myself at Beantown coffee house http://www.rubenramos.net/calendar.html

It should be a good time and I'm busy writing songs at the moment. I'm rusty but a little wiser and I hope to entertain you as well. And if I suck, I will at least have some cool shoes to wear. Wish me luck!

-Ruben

I just saw the pre-screening of "Batman Begins" at the Directors Guild in Hollywood thanks to my friend Laura. When I saw the Batman preview a few weeks ago at a Star Wars III show, I thought this movie was going to be lame. Boy was that trailer was VERY misleading. This is by far the best Batman movie to date. The acting, the all start cast, the screenplay, the stunt work, the soundtrack (original work by Hans Zimmer not Danny Elfman), the effects, the directing, O.K. O.K. there was a slight shortfall when Christian Bale does his lines when in the Bat Suit. But the rest was just great! Micheal Cane, Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman (my favorite) and Rutger Hauer and Liam Neeson make this movie a steller cast. As soon as it's out on DVD I will have it in my collection as the only Batman DVD on my shelf. No others just this one. I have faith that Hollywood is mirroring society in positive way as this film cleans up stereotypes as the previous Batman films caused. Go see it!

-Ruben

Music I'm listening to:

Fantomas - Suspended Amimation

Half Japanese - Loud & Horrible

Lucinda Williams - Live at The Filmore

Richard Devine - Caultella

Indestructible African Beats Sampler - Tinariwen, Issa Bagayogo, Daara J & Manou Callo

The Beau Hunks - Plays the original Little Rascals Music

DVDS watching in progress: Devdas (Bollywood Film) , Frank Zappa - Does Humor Belong in Music? 1984. Los Lobos - Live at the Filmore

I just played for Western Beat with Laura Lovelace and boy was she just fantastic! She's come a long way and she really rocked. Our set was short but the Parking Ticket song was a big hit as well as the Homeowner's Waltz. I got to rock out on Handsome. I got to see my now chiropractor "John Ciambotti" who played on all the early Elvis Costello records, play with his daughter "Gia" who has sang backup for Bruce Springsteen and others. John is fantastic bass player and friend. The other acts were also great and Bliss was the best host who got the schedule moving along on time and made sure everyone played. Things are great right now and I feel centered for the first time in many years. So look for bigger and better things to come. See ya soon.

-R

I just played Catalina Bar and Grill with Mike Bagasao for the First Filipino Jazz Festival. The talent was quite good. Our set started about half way through and we had a blast. I hope Mike gets more gigs out of this since it's real nice to play for a real "JAZZ" audience. Here's a pic from last night from left to right: Matt Bagasao, Me (Ruben), Mike Bagasao & Craig Bunch.

Reno. I'm in Reno. I hate to be negative about people and things. But this city has a very sad and destitute look and feel everywhere you go. The best hotel in town and they didn't have AA batteries or 9 volt batteries!!?? I had to walk a mile to a Seven Eleven to find they didn't have them either! I had to walk another four blocks to Walgreens to find the stuff. This town sucks1I'm just ready to go to bed and finished practicing for the Mt SAC vocal jazz gig tomorrow. The tunes are great. Bill McIntosh is a great arranger. We're doing Babylon Sisters by Steely Dan. We also doing a salsa version of Earth Wind & Fire's "Sing a Song" i also started charting out Circe Link's tunessince I can't sleep. Anyway I'm going to bed1 See ya!

-r

Life is good. I have many up and coming projects that will bear fruit very soon. I have just become aware of an artist named Circe Link http://circelink.com She has a great voice and her tunes are what I love to play. A mixture of swing, blues and overall americana music. I may be playing for her at some point on standup bass. Also I'm doing a show with my friend Laura Lovelace on June 2nd for Western Beat. I think we go on early like around 8 pm. It's a duo and her songs are simple and short but I really dig her charisma, humor and vibe with songs that are well written and creative. So come see us! And I'm in Reno this weekend playing for the vocal jazz dept at Mt. San Antonio College. I can't wait to play again with Barbara Laronga since the gig kicked butt! I'll let you know when we're playing again.

-R

I'm recording with Jim Stubblefield tomorrow for the 3rd time. His album is turning out just awesome. I can't wait to hear it when it's done. It's kind of Flamenco meets smooth jazz but don't be frightened of the smooth part. The tunes are very well done and I promise it will have you toe tapping and listening to it for hours. I promise to let you know when it's in stores near you! I'm also playing in a sextet with Barbara Laronga http://www.barbaralaronga.websiteanimal.com who is a really great trumpet artist I've had the pleasure on meeting with this passed Monday. We had our first rehearsal for a concert at LACC on April 14th @ 11am. The group sounded great! I love playing Cachao tunes as well as Ornette Coleman in the same band. Life is good my fellow cats! Some folks keep sending me emails like I'm the Tejano guy Ruben Ramos from the Texas Chainsaw Tornados. So rest assured I can play Norteño and Tex Mex, I really don't do it as my mainstay. So if your one of those people asking me when I'll be in Chicago, you need to get me a gig there first! But I won't be the same guy. I have new music of my own coming out real soon. I will let you know when it's on CD baby. -R

Hi,

I tweeaked my back so it's been a little rough this week. I'm working on my solo album and it's coming along pretty well. I have about 5 tracks in rough right now and hopefully it will be done soon. I have other projects to finish first before I go on to the next phase. That'a all for now!

-Ruben

Hi Folks,

The weekend at NAMM was insane. I can't go to those shows for more than two days at best. Saw all kinds of cool stuff I can't afford. So I didn't try to hustle any endorsments like I should have. I'm more focused on writing music anyway. By the way, I have a movie from the trip in Afghanistan. Go To:

http://www.rubenramos.net/afghan.mov

It's 20MB so your better download it with cable or DSL.

Enjoy, I will be working on part two in a few weeks.

-Ruben

Boy it's been a long while writing about anything. We are in Afghanistan and the shows are going well. It's been pretty quiet here and we're ready for the last two shows. I had the chance to try some local food as far as green tea and flat bread. It was a real treat! I'm getting a little tired and I hope that we're in good shape for London right before we come home. All I know is I'm glad I dressed up like Nanook From The North. It's keeping me healthy. I hope your New Years goes well. Happy New Year!

-Ruben

Hey,

Saturday I went to the Inland Invasion 4 which featured many 80's bands like DEVO, Billy Idol, X, Tears For Fears and new bands like Franz Ferdinand. I finally got to see one of my favorite bands of all time "DEVO"" Yes I am a "SPUD". They went on about the time I showed up around 6pm while daylight was out. I missed two tunes but got to see them in there glory even with the touch of grey and few extra pounds. But I was bummed that their set was so short. In my opinion DEVO was the best band there and they stole the show. They invoke a flavor of music that is definitely unique and is well written. They use many different meters in their songs. Like 7/8, 5/4 and 6/4. And atonal at times with chords like Gmajor and playing a melody in C# major. It proves that people do want more challenging music and the big labels are clueless most of the time. It seemed that the song Jocko Homo was sung by at least half the crowd. "Are We Not Men?" "We Are DEVO". And I saw teens singing the songs as well! Go figure!? I also got to see Franz Ferdinand a band from Scotland. FF is the band name and not a person. They were really good! I like to hear some well arranged post new wave rock tunes. I think I will buy one of their CD's! I also got to see Billy Idol. Boy does this guy have a big head. The band sounded great don't get me wrong and Billy is a great stage performer. But in that sort of 80's narcissistic anthem rock style. A style I cringe at a little nowdays. But he does look good for a guy pushing 50 years old. He still thinks he's a current sex symbol and probably to many older women he may symbolize that. But it looks a bit silly lapping your tongue while pinching your nipple at 18 year old girls! i would have stayed for Morrissey but he would have made me slit my wrist if I had stayed. Not because I don't like the music, but because the lyrics are somewhat depressing to me and I'm in psycotherapy.

The week before I got to see my best friend Tim Curle play with Josh Groban at the Greek Theatre. I was expecting a Yanni or a John Tesh type of show which is a little light for my taste. But Josh's voice and the show were amazing! I really loved the concert. I think if your into classical or a new age vibe, Josh's music is by far the best at doing that genre. But he's hard to pin down and maybe Adult Comtemporary is a better label. I got to see Tim after the show and he actually got mobbed by fans. He was so gratious and kind to all these people. I wanted to tell the fans to get lost since I hadn't seen him in a long time! Just kidding! No actually I felt like shooting pepper spray on the Grobanites. Hmm.... maybe next time..I'll...do.... I felt bad that it was me that pulled him out and caused a scene at stage right. He sounded so good. He sings with Josh on one tune where he harmonizes the melody. I was very proud of him and all the hard work he puts into his music and still stays in touch with good friends. Tim is of very fine character and I'm proud he is my friend.

Things are a bit slow for me right now. I'm looking for more gigs and students. I teach guitar, bass, voice, brass and some beginning cello after a few months of lessons. I have some fun gigs with the Magic Black Snakes in Oct, Nov & Dec. And I will list them sometime later in the week. Chris & myself have plans on getting the Snakes to do a European tour and hopefully to Switzerland. Chris's friend "Momo" is visiting from there in Dec and we're going to try to introduce him to many California sites, smells & sounds. The Rat Fink Car show will be up high on the list!

Hi!!!

I'm back home decompressing, resting and relaxing. It's good to be home!

-R

Whew!

We made it out of Iraq all in one piece. It was somewhat uneventful for us but not for others. We did miss some attacks either by a day late or by a day early. We are waiting for our flight to LAX from Amsterdam. I can't wait to come home. We have flown more on this tour than I care to imagine. I just want to be staionary for a while. I will be making a documentary of the trip so I hope to get it started right away. Thanks to those who stayed in touch. It helped me get through some stressful moments. See you sometime this weekend if your free!

-Ruben

Hi,

I saw Saddam's palace and it was incredible. The palace was actually part of a resort at one time. Saddam would from time to time purchase tigers and his guest would hunt them down for sport. Maybe once Saddam is convicted, he could run around these grounds unarmed with 20 or so VERY hungry tigers and see what it's like. People that use animals for sport are pretty screwed up.

BTW the pictures are up at:

http://groups.msn.com/balkansentertainment/totalrecallinthesforao.msnw

I don't mind some emails since I haven't gotten very many. I can get access so don't worry about that aspect of the tour. I miss home and I'm ready to be back.

-Ruben

Hiya,

We just did a tour of the main palace on the grounds of this resort. The palace is breathtaking for being privately owned. The amount of work along side the suffering of locals forced to work for almost nothing, makes me question why this jerk did this for as long as he did. Rumsfeld and his buddies propped him up to begin with and now they blame the CIA thing.and Clinton for the whole thing. I will be making a documentary with all the footage I have. I hope to shed more light on this subject. Please feel free to email me. I'm not hearing a whole lot from home. I really like getting emails from home. I will see you guys sometime real soon.

-Ruben

Whew!

I finally got to a PC. We are now in BAGHDAD. We are staying at a sub-palace now become hotel in Tikrit. This building housed members of the BAHTH party. The whole place used to be a resort for Saddam's friends. Even though we are not in the main palace, the building is absolutely sureal. We are staying in one the rooms that looks like something you would see at the Huntington library. Gold leaf on the toilets everywhere, gaudy beds with big chandeliers. The surronding town is dirt poor. The comparison is startling. I knew Saddam was an evil person but it puts things more in perspective. I still think the jury is out on why we're here. But he did screw his people on a vast scale. We're all healthy and hanging in there. Last night there was screw up on our Chinook helicopters on why they didn't show up around midnight last night. We have been up for almost two days straight and I just got a few hours of napping a little while ago. The shows have been awesome in Iraq. The last place we were was in Balad which is north from here. We played in a movie theatre built on location of an old Iraqi air base. The AC wasn't working so I sweated more than I have ever done in my life. We play two shows on this base and then two more who knows where. I will be looking forward to coming home. See you soon!

-Ruben