[NEohioPAL]Drumplay and Daniel Thompson @ AJ Rocco's espresso bar - May 24

[Oonawolf at aol.com]

Greetings, everyone.

As some of you may know, Daniel Thompson, poet laureate Cuyahoga County, is 
back in town from his stint in Phoenix, AZ; and he will be performing with 
Drumplay, tomorrow night, May 24, at AJ Rocco's Espresso Bar at 816 Huron Road, 
just west of East Ninth Street, in the Caxton Building, downtown Cleveland.

Drumplay will be performing from 9:00 p.m. to midnight, with two sets of 
world music and poetry.  Very special guest, Joshua Smith, saxophonist for Birth, 
winner of last year's Scene Music Awards for Best Jazz Act 2002, will be 
sitting in.  Joshua Smith is one of the Young Lions of Jazz, and should not be 
missed.

Later, at midnight, we will move our instruments down the hall in the same 
building to the newly-revived Wilbert's at 812 Huron Road, to the rear and east 
side of the building.  This is a nicer space than the old Wilbert's, with 
better sight lines, a nicer stage and better ambience.  I think they will do well 
in this location.  Kung Fusion opens.  Drumplay performs from midnight to 2:00 
a.m.

These will be our last gigs before our European tour, beginning June 5.

To reiterate to this e-group of several months ago, Daniel Thompson suffers 
from leukemia; but it is in remission.  Although at last week's Hessler Street 
Fair, Daniel was not feeling well; and he missed the last day of that event, 
resting at home.  Who knows what time any of us have left?

I am pleased to announce that Drumplay has been invited to return to Festival 
Internationale de Musique Universitaire in Belfort, France.  This is a major 
festival with over 60,000 people attending.  Based on the strength of our 
lastest CD "Under the Map of the World Where I Sleep", we are returning for the 
second straight year.  This is a huge honor.  

Although the French may be upset with our politicians, they are embracing us 
as artists and musicians.  Daniel Thompson's poetry, which speaks to the human 
condition, resonates.  Please go to www.fimu.com for more information.

Drumplay will be at F.I.M.U. performing all three days, June 7, 8 and 9.  We 
will be joined by Benoit Moerlen of the old Gong "Expresso" days, and of late, 
Gongzilla, for these dates.  The band and bard then go on to Luxembourg, 
Belgium, Germany and Holland, ending our tour June 19, in Amsterdam.  This last 
concert is being produced by Theater de Cameleon in Amsterdam.  Please go to 
www.decameleon.nl.  Click on Agenda and then the month of June, for more info.  

After our European adventures, Daniel Thompson takes our music and poetry to 
Festival des Rabat in Morocco, beginning June 20.  Given Daniel's history and 
connection with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; our collective philosophy of 
finding non-violent solutions to world conflict; and our goal of bringing 
alternative American voices to other countries and cultures, we definitely feel a 
higher purpose for going on this, our second European trip..  We are calling this 
our "Message to Moslem" Tour. 

Please say a prayer for our success and well-being.  Better yet, come down to 
the Caxton Building on May 24 to wish us good thoughts and a bon voyage.  We 
represent YOU - those U. S. citizens who feel in their hearts that war is not 
the answer to long-held prejudices and hatred.  We need to win minds and 
hearts, and come together as a human family living on Planet Earth.  I hope our 
music and poetry can aid in that effort.

See you tomorrow night, May 24 @ 9:00 p.m., AJ Rocco's Espresso Bar, 816 
Huron Road, Cleveland, Ohio - and midnight @ Wilbert's  If anyone has any 
questions, please feel free to contact me at 216-429-1152.

Peace, No War.

James Onysko 

P. S.  Congratulations to the "new" Free Times.  It's great to see that paper 
again.