The Duende Project

Back together tomorrow to start writing and recording.  YESSSSSS!

We’ve been somewhat quiet here in Duende Project territory, but that’s about to change as we start gearing up for recording sessions next weekend…stay tuned for more news about that, and about the potential for a local gig at a favorite spot sometime soon.

In the meantime, for a dose of older stuff and some lovely commentary, the wonderful Indiefeed Performance Poetry podcast has recently posted an older Tony and Faro track, “Everything I’ve Learned,” along with some of host Wess Jolley’s thoughts on our work.

You can listen to it here.

If you feel so inclined, you can dig back for past samples of our stuff on the site — not to mention the vast depth of the archives there for so many other wonderful poets.  Although the podcast itself is ending, this incredibly rich archive will be preserved at a new location TBA, and we’ll let you know that information ASAP after we get it ourselves.

…is a philosophy that Tony and Faro started following years ago for Duende Project shows.  “Always try to do one thing that scares you on stage…” means doing an improvisation, an arrangement never done live, a revamped poem with revamped music…something untested and untried to keep things fresh.  This past weekend, at the Jazz Fest, the four piece band did an arrangement of “Maya And Aztec” that we’d never even rehearsed together — all of us working out our parts separately.  Little things, but they keep us fresh. We might fail, but it’s the only way to grow.

Do you ever try to do “one thing that scares you” on stage…or in life?  Drop us a comment and let us know.  Love to spread that spirit a bit…

We’re back from our gig in White Plains, NY, where Eric “Zork” Alan, Laura Vookles, and Ben Himmelfarb welcomed the band to the main library for a poetry slam and feature performance during the White Plains Jazz Fest.  This was the first set ever where we delivered a straight ahead set of nothing but our jazz-inflected work without reaching for the rock and funk stuff.

Anchored by Faro switching off between the nylon-string guitar and his six-string electric bass, we cruised through a well received set:

From Afar
Awake
On Nantucket (featuring lovely slide work on electric guitar by Lawton)
Trinity Tango (complete with the now required drum solo by O-D)
NYC Serenade
Maya And Aztec ( first time ever anywhere with the four piece…never even rehearsed. Our “one thing that scares” you moment of the show — we always try to have one. One deliberate one, anyway.)
Zodiac Mindwarp

Thanks to all who attended and to Ben, Laura, and Zork for having us.

There are no gigs on the horizon at the moment though some things are cooking.  Next plans include some writing, some recording, and firming up thoughts about a NEW ALBUM…stay tuned…

All kinds of good stuff strewn about here at theduendeproject.com.    Links to tracks, videos, press…a growing collection!

GREAT practice today, spiffing up our more jazz-oriented work as we prep for our appearance at the White Plains Jazz Fest next Saturday, September 26th at 3 PM. Gonna be a great set…

If you’re in the area, come on out and see and hear us. We’ll be part of the afternoon session of the White Plains Library Slam!

to all who came out to Ralph’s last night for the Dirty Gerund Poetry Show’s sixth anniversary!  Two blistering sets of poetry and music were dealt to keep the crowd warm on a chilly night!!!

Next up:  The White Plains Jazz Fest, September 26th!

Great practice this morning for our shows over the next couple of weeks…prepping both our rock stuff and our more jazz focused work.

Hear samplings of each at our show tomorrow in Worcester MA and on the 26th in White Plains, NY.

NEW in the “About” section:  handsome (more or less) head shots of each member of the band.  Suitable for use while framing us…for something or other.

Welcome to the site for The Duende Project.  You found us!

We’re just getting going on this, so be patient and keep checking.  Thanks!