Hi everyone, 

I’m happy to say that I’ll be on tour in Europe and in the eastern U.S. with a few different projects for most of the next two months. First up in Europe I have several improvised music shows with terrific players in the Netherlands and France. Musicians include trumpeter Franz Hautzinger, Luc Ex (the bass player from The Ex), drummer Tony Buck, and saxophonist John Dikeman.

Next is a few weeks of touring around Italy with drummer/vibraphonist Marco Di Gasbarro (Squartet) playing duo renditions of my songs. Marco has a weird way of knowing my music backwards and forwards. He’s a unique and versatile player and it’s a treat to play with him on both drums and vibes. I also have no problem at all with spending a few weeks hanging around in Italy in the summertime. 

After that I head to the east coast of ‘merica… I’ll respam with more info closer to the dates but if you like you can check them out below. 

A highlight of the last month for me has been writing live scores for four Buster Keaton silent films with Merril Garbus of Tune-yards. We played live to these films with the full Tune-yards band at the Castro Theater in April. Fortunately we are going to get to do it again in the future. There’s a review of the show here:http://blogs.sfweekly.com/shookdown/2012/04/live_review_4232012_tune-yards.php). 

Thanks everyone! I know most of you aren’t in places I’m playing on this tour but if you like please forward these dates to anyone you know that might be interested. Please let me know too if you want to be taken off this list. 

Best,

Ava

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EUROPEAN DATES SPRING 2012:

5/9/12 @ OT301, Amsterdam, NE 
QUARTET w/ John Dikeman- saxes, Luc Ex (The Ex)- bass guitar, me- guitar, Onno Govaert- drums 

• 5/11/12 @ Palais de Tokyo, Paris, FR 
  w/ REGENORCHESTER XIV-(Franz Hautzinger- trumpet, Raphael Vanoli- guitar, me- guitar, Luc Ex (The Ex)- bass guitar, Tony Buck- drums)
  http://www.latriennale.org/fr/agenda/concerts5/12/12 @ Sonore- La Carene festival, Brest, FR 
  w/ REGENORCHESTER XIV (Franz Hautzinger- trumpet, Raphael Vanoli- guitar, me- guitar, Luc Ex (The Ex)- bass guitar, Tony Buck- drums)
  http://www.lacarene.fr/index.php?id=2321

  MENDOZA/DI GASBARRO ITALIAN TOUR:
  me- guitar, Marco Di Gasbarro (Squartet)- vibes, drums
  5/18/12 @ Init, ROME 
  5/21/12 @ Clan Destino, FAENZA
  5/22/12 @ Volume, FIRENZE
  5/23/12 @ The Hub, Rovereto
  5/24/12 @ Rock n Roll Club, BOLZANO
  5/25/12 @ Mearivolutionae, ANGHIARI
  5/27/12 @ Circolo Hemingway, LATINA 
  5/30/12 @ tba, CATANZARO
  5/31/12 @ Il Bak, REGGIO CALABRIA
  6/1/12 @ Le Macerie, MOLFETTA
  6/2/12 @ Riot Studio, NAPOLI
  6/3/12 @ Teatro dei Calanchi, VITERBO

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EAST COAST U.S. DATES SUMMER 2012:

6/8/12 @ BONNAROO MUSIC FEST 2012, Nashville, TN
MERRILL GARBUS (TUNE-YARDS) + AVA MENDOZA live score of four Buster Keaton short films

6/16/12 @ venue tba, Brooklyn, NY
w DOMINIQUE LEONE BAND
also: 
MICK BARR-guitar/MIKE PRIDE- drums

6/17/12 @ The Stone, Avenue C and 2nd street, Manhattan, NY
AVA MENDOZA TRIO:
me- guitar, Dominique Leone- synths, Nick Tamburro- drums

6/18/12 @ Galaxy Hut, 2711 Wilson Blvd., Washington D.C.
AVA MENDOZA TRIO- me- guitar, Dominique Leone- synths, Nick Tamburro- drums
and w/ Aaron Novik’s DANTE COUNTERSTAMP- AN-bass clarinet, me- guitar, Michael Coleman-keys, Jordan Glenn-vibes, Bill Wolter-bass, Sam Ospovat-drums

6/19/12 @ The Stone, Avenue C and 2nd Street, Manhattan, NY
Aaron Novik’s DANTE COUNTERSTAMP

6/20/12 @ 8 pm, Elevens, Northhampton MA 
AVA MENDOZA TRIO
Aaron Novik’s DANTE COUNTERSTAMP

6/21/12 @ Intercambio, 756 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT
AVA MENDOZA TRIO
Aaron Novik’s DANTE COUNTERSTAMP

6/22/12 @ The Lily Pad, 1353 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA
AVA MENDOZA TRIO
Aaron Novik’s DANTE COUNTERSTAMP

6/23/12 @ Highwire Gallery, 2040 Fraford Ave., Philadelphia, PA
AVA MENDOZA TRIO
Aaron Novik’s DANTE COUNTERSTAMP

I first heard Ava Mendoza at Make Out Mondays booked by Lisa Mezzacappa, maybe two years ago now. The best part was last summer I could hear that Sunset Magazine had started their yearly party and told Terry we should go check it out and rush over there — we live near enough that they comp us in to keep us from complaining. I recognized Ava in a pop surf band and chatted her up and then went to the City later that weekend to see her accompany a dance concert at Fort Mason. The leader of the short lived surf band is a bassist who now also plays with Beth Custer. I think they are the Salmon Ellas.

I also had to search-injun to distinguish Mick Barr from Andrew Barr of The Slip, from BARR the gay rapper who opened for the Evens from The Barr Brothers Canadians booked by High Road.