Bruce Donnola: News

Alex Dawson's legendary and soon to be vanished book store The Raconteur will be presenting this multi-media event. Alex will read his lengthy short story, By the Hand of Horace, with illustrations by Janice Fried and a live accompaniment by yours truly. This is my first live public performance in years. I've composed an instrumental guitar score (with considerable improvisation) for Alex's dark and creepy story.

I previously collaborated with Alex on his play Nosferatu (music snippets can be found on the music page of this website). This is the first time we're performing live together. Should be interesting, especially with Janice's artwork projecting overhead.

Jono Manson's recording of our song "Soul Traveler" will be prominently featured in the upcoming 3D children's movie "I Heart Shakey". No release date yet but hopefully we'll have that info son. Meanwhile you can go to their website to learn more about the film:

www.iheartshakey.com

Unfortunately, it turns out Nosferatu won't be performed as a staged play this fall. However, it looks like there will be a live radio play performance some time in Oct or Nov, probably at the Forum Theatre in Metuchen, NJ. Another venue is being sought for the staged version. Ah, showbiz...

 

Regardless, an album of the music WILL be released this fall. Stay tuned.

It indeed does appear that "Nosferatu" is going to be officially premiered in October. More details will follow - including info about a soundtrack CD, which I hope to produce in time for the opening. Stay tuned!

Discussions are going on to produce Alex Dawson's "Nosferatu" at a commercial venue in NJ. If it goes through, and right now it looks like it probably will, the play would run for the month of October (just in time for Halloween). The production in October was considered a workshop production so script is being revised.

As a result I am returning to the original score and writing MORE music for the play, as well as completing some pieces which I didn't have time to finish to my satisfaction (they worked fine in the performances but need some polishing). If we get the green-light to go I will most likely proceed with a producing CD of the score. Because of the cost of studio time (this stuff REALLY needs proper mixing and mastering) I may try going the crowd-funding route (Kickstarter, Ulule, etc). If so, I'll be posting updates soon.

The Nosferatu score may have been the best-received work I've ever done. I was honestly surprised by the response. Something totally out of left field for me and it gets raves. In the immortal words of Randy Newman, maybe I've been doing it wrong.

3/1/11 - John Popper & the Duskray Troubadours on "Lopez Tonight" performing "Something Sweet" by yours truly & Jono Manson - quite a thrill:

http://www.lopeztonight.com/episode_recaps_and_highlights/john_popper_and_the_duskray_troubadours.php

"Something Sweet", a song I co-wrote with Jono Manson, has been released as the single from the upcoming album "John Popper & the Duskray Troubadours". The single is now available for download from iTunes. Buy it here:

Something Sweet - Single - John Popper and the Duskray Troubadours
The album gets released March 1. Touring begins soon for the band and at least one TV appearance is coming up performing our song. Very exciting.

As I noted before "Something Sweet" - written with brother Jono Manson - is the 1st single off the upcoming John Popper album (March 1 release date). 429 Records is using our song in the ad campaign - here's a taste:

http://www.429records.com/sites/429records/429details/d_johnpopper.asp
I'm told the single should be available from iTunes in February.

And of course, Happy Holidays - and let's ALL have a healthy, successful and peaceful 2011.

Love,
b.

"Something Sweet", a song I co-wrote with br'er Jono Manson, will be the first single off the new John Popper album, "John Popper & The Duskray Troubadours". The album is being released March 1 but the single comes out in early-mid February. You can get a taste of it here: http://www.amazon.com/John-Popper-Duskray-Troubadours/dp/B004ELSU6W/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qi;Once it's out look for downloads on iTunes, or good old fashioned CDs (sheesh, whatever happened to LPs) at your local mom & pop record store (i.e. Amazon.com).

I've written a score for the new stage production of "Nosferatu" adapted and directed by Alex Dawson (based on the silent film by the GREAT F.W. Murnau, one of my favorite filmmakers).The world premiere of the show is this month. MOre info here:

NosferatuOnStage.blogspot.com

The score is very different from anything I've released before: all keyboards, loops and ambient sound. Some sound collage, some melodic pieces, some underscoring. There are about 14 or so pieces - it runs through a good deal of the play.

I may produce a soundtrack album of it, probably just for download. Stay tuned.

John Popper has recorded "Play Me Something Sweet", written with br'er Jono for Popper's next album (Jono produced it). It should be out in March, 2011 on 429 Records.

Sorry I haven't been keeping up on this. A song co-written with br'er Jono - "(Ain't it Good to Have the Family) Together Again" - - has been used in the Kara Sachs film "Freedom" soundtrack, which Jono produced. It also was recently recorded by Lee Simpson.

I've co-written 2 songs with Jaime Michaels, both on his new cd "crooked". The songs are "Maybe Superman" and "Momentary Thing". Jaime is opening the Kerrville Festival Sunday, May 24. Not sure if the CD's available online yet but you can check out www.jaimemichaels.com .

I've been a bit delinquent updating news on the site. Sorry!

Jono Manson's recording of our song "Soul Traveler" is now a KIA commerical. I'm told it's currently playing in movie theatres around Italy. Not sure if it's on TV?radio yet.

You can see the 3 versions on Youtuvbe. Here's one of them: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fahxV1_grvw

I'm teaching again this year at the National Guitar Workshop Acoustic Summit in San Francisco (actually, in Belmont, CA). The classes are from July 12-17. For more info: http://www.guitarworkshop.com/summit.php?campus=SF&summit=The+Art+of+Songwriting&summitId=73

I'm playing a set sharing the bill with the lovely Janice Fried. She'll be showing her artwork at an opening at the bookstore The Raconteur in Metuchen, NJ. Should be fun.

8 PM, FRI. DEC 14
JANICE FRIED & BRUCE DONNOLA
The Raconteur
A Damn Fine Bookstore
732.906.0009
431 Main Street
Metuchen , NJ 08840
www.raconteurbooks.com

Back from the Italy tour. A real pleasure to play for a completly new audience in another country. The show in Savona was espcially good (anyone out there tape it?) and I was treated wonderfully by Marco and the folks at Raindogs. Hopefully I'll be back next year with a longer tour visiting more towns. Grazie!

I'm currently booking a tour of Italy for October. So far two dates are confirmed (Savona and Arcola), with a few others pending. This will be brief but wonderful. I hope my Italian fans will be able to make it to the shows.
I'll post more dates as they come in. Check the calendar for more information.

I'm teaching another songwriting workshop. This is for both the novice songwriter and the musician who is already writing but needs help moving forward or gaining a better understanding of how songs work. An emphasis is placed on lyric writing and general musical concepts, so although having the ability to play a musical instrument is helpful it is not necessary.

The workshop meets once a week for four weeks at The Raconteur (431 Main Street, Metuchen) and consists of no more than ten students.

7:00 - 9:30 PM, Weds. Sept 19 - Oct 10

Contact me for more info.

I will be teaching a new Songwriting workshop at The Raconteur Bookshop in Metuchen, NJ. The workshop will run Sept 19 through Oct 10, 7pm-9pm. For more information you can e-mail me or contact:
The Raconteur
431 Main Street, Metuchen
732-906-0009
www.raconteurbooks.com

Some late-breaking news: I've just been asked to teach a week-long class, "The Art of Songwriting", at the National Guitar Workshop's Acoustic Summit, in Belmont, Cal. I'll be filling in for Catherine Berry. The workshop runs from July 14-19. That means I'll be heading to California in 2 days. A somewhat frantic change of plans but it should be fun.

It's official - "The Peaches of August" has been released in Italy on Club de Musique Records. (www.clubdemusique.com). Forza Italia! Il ritorno di Donnolas. Il mio padre sarebbe fiero.

I'll be appearing in the Club de Musique Records Showcase during the SxSW conference in Austin, Texas. The date is March 14, the showcase starts at 1 pm (I'm scheduled to play at 2 pm). The location is the Hole in the Wall at 2338 Guadalupe. My old friend David Hambuger will be backing me up - first time we've had a chance to play together in years, so I'm really looking forward to it. Jono will also be there, along with Jaime Michaels and other great performers from the C de M roster. It's going to be a great time, so if you're in Austin you gotta cut school or call out dead from work and come down to the show.

"The Peaches of August" has been picked up by Club de Musique Records and is set for release in Italy. Release should be in March, 2007. We'll post more information soon. Forza Italia!

You can now buy the whole album or individual songs at iTunes. Here's the link: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=178213071&s=143441
"Vaudeville" is also available there.