There’s no real reason for me to fill up this posting with a bunch of alliterations, marketing fluff and crikey bullshit to draw your attention. The line-up of this show speaks for itself. It's an amazing group of musicians, most of whom have been playing in different configurations for many years. The chemistry will be dripping off the stage. Even better, it's a free show.

Moraine & Zen Tornado
Saturday, May 8th, 2010
Cafe Racer, 9pm
NO COVER
5828 Roosevelt Way Northeast
Seattle, WA 98105
www.caferacerseattle.com

This could possibly, maybe, might likely be Zen Tornado's last show before we take a break for the summer. I dunno, if we perchance get a nice offer to play some swanky festival, we may accommodate. But for the most part, we'll be trolling around the mountains, lakes, bays and trails like everybody else in Washington, not hanging out in some dark club. We'll save that for the Fall.

That's all to say, catch us Saturday or hold your peace until September.

There. 'nuff said.

Rik
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RSS: http://feeds.feedburner.com/zentornado

Thanks so much to all of you who came out to our "Not-so-Secret" show last month in West Seattle. We were really inspired by your enthusiastic response. Turns out you like us, you really truly like us :)

This month, please join us for the debut of Zen Tornado, the second coming, the sequel, part deux. This is your official invitation for our christening next Thursday evening, April 29th at Egan's Ballard Jam House.

We're breaking the champagne bottle (see side bar) on the bow of my new ensemble, featuring Jim DeJoie, Walter White and Jim Parsons. We're excited to be returning to one of our old haunts with 100% new music.

     Thursday, April 29th, 2010
     Egan's Ballard Jam House
     1707 Northwest Market St.
     Seattle, WA 98107
     (206) 789-1621
     http://www.ballardjamhouse.com/
     7-8:30 pm, $7 Cover, 21 & over
     Reservations Recommended

If, for some bizarre reason, you haven't been to Egan's before, we strongly recommend you call ahead. It is a fabulously intimate venue, but that also means there are about 20 tables, so make sure you have one. We hope to see you there!

Next month we'll be playing a joint bill with co-conspirators Moraine for a all-up night of progressive jazz nirvana at Cafe' Racer. Stay tuned for more information!

Rik
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RSS: http://feeds.feedburner.com/zentornado

Well, not really. We’re kinda like a slobbering puppy dawg. And I have no freakin’ idea what that means. I guess I’m kinda giddy because my first show in a year and a half is coming up just a week from now.

I can’t tell you how excited I am to share this new band with you. It’s the culmination of many, many, many months of writing, collaboration and tons of hours of dissecting little electronic toys, all in a jazz context of course :)

Seriously, you have to check it out, and I’ll even give you two opportunities – Next Friday, March 26th, we’re playing a warm-up gig in a little joint in West Seattle.  It’s a really low key space just to get the guys up on stage and get our feet with the new group. We’re inviting friends and family to come celebrate the birth of the new Zen Tornado with us and you’re welcome to join:

Coffee to a Tea with Sugar
Friday, March 26th 8-10pm
4541 California Ave. S.W.
Seattle, WA 98116
(206) 937-1495
http://www.sugarrushbakingcompany.com/
No cover. All Ages.

For those of you “in the know”, I’ll even put a little icing on the cake – There will be a short opening set by singer/songwriter Lisa Duncan (of Cyclone Killers and Fear of Texas fame) accompanied by none other than yours truly, Connie Bigelow on guitar and vocals, and the fabulous Alicia Allen on violin. So get there early.

*THEN* We’ve got our club debut scheduled on April 29th at our old haunt, Egan’s Ballard Jam House. This will be full-on Zen Tornado in all our pestilent fury!

Egan's Ballard Jam House
Thursday, April 29th, 7-9:30pm
1707 Northwest Market St.
Seattle, WA 98107
(206) 789-1621
http://www.ballardjamhouse.com/
$7 cover. 21 and over.

So come out and dig it! What better way to start your Spring season than with a Tornado?

Rik
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RSS: http://feeds.feedburner.com/zentornado

So where the hell have I been for the last year and half???

Well, I suffered a really nasty neck injury, and for many months I couldn’t play my instrument for more than half an hour a day… but enough of that because WE’RE BACK!!!

In about a month from now, I’ll be hosting a “secret” show at a small venue in West Seattle to start warming up the new band. We’ve returned to our roots with this project, no matter how odd and twisted those roots may be. Harkening back to my days of aggressive electric bebop and progressive jazz fusion, I’ve put together a quartet that pushes a few of the boundaries of whatever genre you want to try to fit us in.

You see, while my physical body wouldn't let me perform, I spent my time all up in my psyche writing new material. 100% brand spanking new material, that we're going to give our friends and family a preview of at this secret "not-so secret" performance. 

So, if you find you are so inclined, please join myself, James DeJoie, Walter White and Jim Parsons for the underground debut of the newest incarnation of my “Zen Tornado” ensemble.

Rik Wright’s Zen Tornado
Friday March 26th, 2010
Coffee to a Tea (with Sugar)
4541 California Ave. S.W.
Seattle, WA 98116
(206) 937-1495
http://www.sugarrushbakingcompany.com/