08-06-08  August
Started August off with my pal Simone Perrin, we always have so much fun. Then, my first Fringe Festival with the ultra talented cast of Lili's Burlesque. The show is so great, it landed the cover of City Pages and has many great reviews, just an absolute blast to be doing the music for the show. TCHC travels to Madison WI for the Midwest Gypsy Swing Festival and The Southside Aces travel to Stevens Point for the River Front Jazz Festival. Tons of other shows, check the performance link!
07-08-08  July and tons of music!
Twin Cities Hot Club, Hot Swing Combo, Southside Aces, Batak, Robin Pluer, Andrea Sander-Connett, solo guitar, Mark Bobnick quintet, Lake Harriet 2x, Bastille Days in Milwaukee, Weddings, Private Parties, Fringe Festival @ Ritz Theater with Lili's Burlesque, it all adds up to tons of great music.
06-10-08  June Junity June
June is a busy month! A number of wedding performances for some wonderful couples. Batak will perform a few times, including a show at McNally Smith College. I will perform less with the group in the near future. TCHC every Sunday at the Times Bar and Cafe. The end of the month has the Hot Swing Combo with Nancy Harms at a great Lindy event- Octoplexy which has super Minneapolis people to thank for organizing the event.

Learning some great new material this month from Iron and Wine, the Beatles and the Peruvian Lando with breaks in between tending to the garden and remodeling a bedroom.
05-03-08  May
The Twin Cities Hot Club will travel to Omaha on May 10 for a great Balboa festival. Artist's Quarter on May 14 with Patrick Harrison joining us. A great joy on May 15 when I join Kaleena Miller for the cutting board, a tap dance event in NE Minneapolis. Matt Senjem and I will join Maud Hixson at Bellasera on May 16 for some intimate jazz. Kafe 421 on Mother's day with Andrea Sander and solo on May 23. Check performance section for more details.
03-01-08  March March March
The Southside Aces travel to Denver for the Rocky Mountain Balboa Blowout Two nights of music for great dancers. We fly back and then perform as part of the Twin Cities Winter Jazz Festival 3pm MacPhail Center for the Arts.

Karen Vieno Paurus is a really wonderful musician. She was voted best vocalist at the Minnesota Music awards, has appeared on NPR, fronted pop bands and we have worked together during Lili's Burlesque and MPR Stage Sessions as well as her own cabaret performances. Karen has yet to release an album featuring her own music. Until now! Passion Prayer and Poison will be released on March 15, 2008 at the Times Bar and Cafe in Minneapolis MN. This was such a great project to be a part of. I recorded the guitar for the album and also got to produce and arrange some really incredible original music. This project was also so lovely as it felt like a return to my roots; original music heavy on collaboration light on ego, an honor to be involved.
Kafe 421 with Andrea Sander-Connett March 28, 2008. Andrea is a great person to work with. She has a really diverse repertoire and has me singing in languages I do not speak. Come to the show!
02-01-08  2008!
Well, here we are in 2008. Look at that date, the number 2, two zeros, the 8 could also be viewed as having two zeros. Even numbers with odd numbers of letters. It looks lovely, and while symmetry is no obsession of mine, it makes for a simple appeal. Patterns. Consider fitting in some live music this month, do it twice in the second month of the year and you've got yourself a nice pattern. Check my performance link. Be sure to say hello...twice.
12-01-07  December...yikes! are we flying?
I wish everyone a warm and happy holiday season. I have some great performances and hope you can make it out soon! December 1, 2007 at Zander Cafe with the Creole Four. CF is comprised of the young turk Tony Balluff and legend Dr. Henry Blackburn on clarinets and the stellar Mr. Bill Evans on Bass. I will be sitting in for Dave McCurdy. Traditional jazz and lots of Bechet, great food here as well. Speaking of sitting in, Dean Magraw was unable to do a gig a while back and I got a call to join Robin Pluer. We performed in my hometown of Milwaukee for the ultra cool Greg Postles Invitational, she is in a word, incredible. Everything was lovely and we are doing it again- December 13,14 in Milwaukee at Elliot's Bistro we will make some music, French in flavor. Catch the Southside Aces December 15, 2007 at the Times in NE Minneapolis. Lili's on December 22 at Stasiu's in NE Minneapolis. Speaking of the Times, I'll bring a guitar, you bring a smile (okay and fifty bucks), come hungry and let's ring in the New Year there. Alright, no more writing yet claiming to be speaking.
11-01-07  New venue (for me)
So, now that things are slowing down a bit from the busy late summer fall season, concerts, weddings, 48 jobs in September and October, travel to Yellowstone and out west with family, plus painting the entire exterior of my home... I have been invited to a perform in a warm and wonderful new venue. kafe421 Do you live in Minneapolis and like food? Do you enjoy live jazz guitar while drinking wine? See you at kafe 421. Check performance schedule for dates.
08-04-07  August
A bounty from my garden with heirloom tomatoes and my apple tree producing lovely fruit. Musicially, a bountiful month as well. TCHC and Maud Hixson at the MN State Fair. Robert Bell Erin Schwab Hot Swing Combo in Omaha Cowtown Jamborama, it's a national dance event and I think the organizers have done a great job lining up what will result in an amazing weekend. I had a blast playing with Wengenta, a Ethiopian funk/soul group at the Cedar. The Aces got rained out, but also opened a new Jazz club in St. Paul. Private parties and weddings are keeping me very busy.

We had a major tragedy occur with the collapse of the I35 bridge in Minneapolis and my prayers include those affected.

07-20-07  July
Check performance for upcoming shows! My first gig with the talented Simone Perrin was a blast, we will return to the Mill City Cafe in September. Andrea Sander-Connett and I will perform at Kafe 421 in Dinkytown, she can deliver the goods. TCHC has been very busy and the wedding season is in full-swing and we are having a great time. Tons of outdoor performances, Nichola Miller the Thriller and TCHC July 21. Batak-third show for the Intercontinental music series. Aces at the Times on the 27th of July, can jazz be any hotter? Be there! A big thank you to the musicians that have shared the stage as I recover from the dislocated finger.
06-09-07  Unfortunate Injury
I am generally protective of my hands. Participation in certain activities makes me nervous due to the opportunity for accidental injury. Basketball is a good example of an activity that I consider high risk.

The night was lovely, I had just finished my run and saw two fine gents shooting hoops in the park near my home. I thought it might be nice to get a quick game in and my hand preoccupation was far from thought.

Everything changed on my second drive to the basket when I dislocated my pinkie on my lt. or guitar fretting hand. Not good. I rushed to the Emergency room with my disfigured pinkie serving as guide atop my steering wheel. The fine doctor(s) were able to set it and I was on my way. I am now doing therapy and hope for a full recovery in 4-8 weeks. I had a performance the very next night and have not missed one yet. I got the okay to tape my fingers and perform with two. This is not easy, but I am grateful for those hours spent working on two finger guitar. Thanks Django.

06-06-07  Early June
Stage Sessions is back this Thursday mpr.org at the Fitzgerald. Come out and listen to TCHC at the timesbarandcafe.com on Friday June 8th, 2007. Southside Aces at the nomadpub.com
05-03-07  May is a beautiful time in MN
A great number of shows to start May as well. AQ with TCHC. MWLF with the Robert Bell Hot Swing Combo. Batak's second show, plus many more, 9 shows in 4 days not a record beater, but a great time in a beautiful place. My most thankful thoughts to those in difficult circumstances or unkind places to enable these experiences.
04-13-07  
April is proving to be a really exciting month. The Southside Aces went to Omaha NE and performed for the Midwest Balboa Festival MWBF now that was an amazing show! Batak, my new latin-african jazz group had a a great debut performance, hot music. The Robert Bell Erin Schwab Hot Swing Combo, or in this case Twin Cities Hot Club and Erin Schwab are performing in Washington D.C. at DCLX should be a blast. Finally, from trad jazz to latin-african, pop music with Karen Paurus and gypsy jazz in D.C. I am off to perform in "A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline" in MA. This is a really wonderful show and was my first professional "gig" almost exactly 9 years ago. I learned so much from that experience and look forward to performing with some old friends again. What a great opportunity to keep the wonderful music and story of one Patsy Cline alive. I might just might, sneak a Django lick in over a Grady Martin run.
03-26-07  THE CEDAR
Friday March 30, 2007 8pm $12 adv. or $15 day of show. The Southside Aces and Twin Cities Hot Club join forces for a great concert at one of my favorite venues. thecedar.org
02-09-07  Live at the Times DVD Release Party
Friday February 9, 2007 9:30p.m. & Sunday February 11, 2007 8:00p.m. at the Times Bar and Cafe in Minneapolis MN. We did a TV appearence, check it out HERE!
01-05-07  TCHC DVD!
The Twin Cities Hot Club DVD Live at the Times is complete. The DVD captures TCHC in concert and has footage of dancers, interviews with the band and fans of the band. Our official release will be Feburary 9,11 2007 at the Times Bar and Cafe in Minneapolis. Now, if you would like your own copy and cannot make it to our show, you may order it here, here, or here.
12-08-06  Minnesota Public Radio - Stage Sessions
Heather McElhatton will present an eclectic Christmas show featuring an unexpected mix of literature, music and more. I will perform with poet Phebe Hanson and the Robert Bell trio will perform as house band during the show. Be sure to check out the groovy theme music. Fitzgerald Theater $20-$29 www.mpr.org
11-08-06  TCHC at Artist's Quarter!
Gypsy Jazz as performed by the Twin Cities Hot Club will be featured for the first time in one of Minnesota's most revered clubs, the Artist's Quarter. $4 9:00pm www.artistsquarter.com Please show your support for TCHC, this genre and the AQ. Also, the Twin Cities Hot Club was nominated as best Jazz artist 2006 by the Minnesota Music Academy.
09-24-06  DVD Filming! Twin Citites Hot Club
The Twin Cities Hot Club will celebrate two years as a band and two years performing our weekly show at the Times Sunday the 24th of September 2006. We will have a film and audio crew to record and capture the event for an upcoming DVD/CD release. www.tchotclub.com
09-15-06  ULTIMATE LINDYHOP SHOWDOWN
September 15-17, 2006. One of my favorite shows! I mean, 300 REALLY good swing dancers in a beautiful setting, HOT jazz, great competitions, all this and I will perform all three nights with three different groups, Robert Bell and Erin Schwab Hot Swing Combo, Twin Cities Hot Club and Southside Aces. www.rhythmpursuits.com
09-09-06  BUCKTOWN BOUNCE
Southside Aces "Bucktown Bounce" I am very proud of this CD, had to post it twice, great group of musicians/friends. Have a look/listen! www.southsideaces.com
09-09-06  Uptown Row Django Jazz Fest
Saturday 09/09/06 The Festival celebrates the swinging "hot club" style, also known as Gypsy jazz, developed by Django Reinhardt and first performed in the cabarets and caf?s of 1930s Paris. Featuring Parisota Hot Club, Twin Cities Hot Club, Clearwater Hot Club, Connie Evingson and the Hot Club of Sweden. http://www.track29uptown.com/jazzfestival.cfm
09-01-06  SOUTHSIDE ACES new CD
NEW GENERATION OF NEW ORLEANS-STYLE DANCE-HALL BANDS EMERGES: ?Southside Aces? Announce CD-Release Weekend for "Bucktown Bounce" Friday, September 8, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. ? 11:00 p.m., Patrick?s Cabaret Minneapolis $5 Saturday, September 9, 2006 at 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m., & 9:30p.m. - 12:30 a.m., Times Bar and Caf? www.southsideaces.com
08-23-06  2006 MN State Fair
Twin Cities Hot Club will perform at the Minnesota State Fair on Saturday and Sunday August 26, 27 from 10:30am to 1:45pm on the Ramberg Senior stage. Ever hear Gypsy jazz and eat fried cheese? mnstatefair.org/TCHC@Ramberg
07-14-06  Bastille Day at Th??tre de la Jeune Lune
Twin Cities Hot Club will perform as part of this Bastille day event. $5 Come celebrate the French National Holiday. 'http://afmsp.org/bastilleday.htm'
06-23-06  Hot Summer Jazz Festival
The Twin Cities Hot Club will perform Friday June 23rd, 2006 at the Millenium Hotel, start time is 9:00PM This will be our second year performing at this great festival. www.hotsummerjazz.com
06-16-06  Twin Cities Hot Club on WCCO ch.4 CBS in Mpls MN
The Twin Cities Hot Club will perform at 10:00am on Saturday June 17th on WCCO ch. 4 CBS to promote the 8th annual Hot Summer Jazz festival.
04-26-06  Armenian Dance Ensemble of Minnesota
May 5th,7th 2006 I will perform with the Armenian Dance Ensemble of Minnesota at various times during the Festival of Nations. Never been? Be sure to visit this wonderful event! www.festivalofnations.com
04-26-06  Midwest Lindyfest 2006
I really enjoy playing for dancers... it is incredible! The energy is so high, being a part of the pure enjoyment of dance and music as they work off of one another is a gift. I am not surprised this art exists and is alive and vibrant. Do you dance? See you there. Like great swing/jazz? See you there. May 6 2006 9:00PM $20 www.rhythmpursuits.com/mwlf/2006/index.php
04-24-06  Stage Sessions on MPR
Sunday April 30 2006 6:00PM on KNOW 91.1 FM in Minneapolis, Stage Sessions on MPR will broadcast "Myths, Legends and the Stories that haunt us with Sebastian Junger". The program was the last in a series produced by Heather McElhatton (kudos to Heather!) www.heathermcelhatton.com During the run of the show I was able to stretch out a bit musically, not to mention meet some amazing people. I performed in the house band, Frenchy's BBB Band and also collaborated with Dr. Wa Chen on Erhu as well as Karen Paurus, the lovely vocalist (listen to the last song on the program, our version of Jeff Buckley's version of Hallelujah is a keeper!). We are hoping the sessions will resume in September!
04-08-06  Twin Cities Hot Club / Southside Aces
Saturday April 8 2006 9:30PM the Twin Cities Hot Club takes the stage at The Times Bar and Cafe www.timesbarandcafe.com Sunday April 9 2006 8:00PM TCHC takes the stage again, this is a special night as we are performing our first commissioned piece! Come have a listen and be a part of a grand celebration. Southside Aces Tuesday April 11 2006 at Mitch's in St. Paul #651-228-1408 seriously, trad Jazz at a supper club, just that way.
04-04-06  Recording Rumor
I have received good information suggesting that the Southside Aces are planning a recording session. No official word from label executive Melvin at KGC Records. All Aboard! has sold out and KGC has not issued a reprint, rather stated "the band is too hot, get these boys a session" so be it. www.southsideaces.com
12-01-05  Maybe it's just too early in the game...
12/31/2005 The Twin Cities Hot Club will ring in the New Year with Erin Schwab on vocals and G Bergh at the Times Bar and Cafe. Great food, hot Jazz super folk and wonderfulness, make your reservation today! www.timesbarandcafe.com
10-10-05  Minnesota sur Seine 2005
Minnesota sur Seine 2005 celebrates the musical exchange between the Twin Cities and Paris. Twin Cities Hot Club is honored to be a part of the festival. tickets and information www.surseine.com

Friday 10/14/05 Twin Cities Hot Club @ Black Dog Cafe 308 Prince Street in St. Paul MN $4cover 10:00PM

Saturday 10/22/05 Dorado Schmitt with Twin Cities Hot Club @ The Varsity 1308 4th St. Mpls MN Every now and then when we pay attention we might notice gifts, a special confluence in this case. While visiting Paris in 2002 I had the pleasure of listening to and meeting Dorado Schmitt. He was just the top gypsy guitar player for me. Fast forward to 2005, a phone call, "Robert, are you available on Oct. 22 to perform with Dorado?" Well, ... Yes! Are you a fan of TCHC, gypsy jazz, Dorado, or music? See you there.

Following sur Seine - CD release performance for fellow TCHC member Reynold Philipsek, his CD 25 has an amazing story www.reynold.com

10-01-05  New Orleans Benefit Show
Despite the fact that I am on the ticket and have to be there, I would not miss this show. 10/06/05--- Lili's Revue--- 9PM Southside Aces Jack Brass Band Stooges Brass Band $8 will go directly to N.O. musicians. Great venue, a real N.O. brass from N.O. and two hot MN bands, excellent cause. www.lilisburlesque.com
09-14-05  Ultimate Lindyhop Showdown 2005
Here it is... THE Lindy event to check out takes place the weekend of September 16-18. Friday night at the Varsity I will be joined by sassy songstress Erin Schwab, Twin Cities Hot Club players Gary Schulte, Reynold Philipsek and Matt Senjem. A man whose abilties have been compared to Kenny G, Tony Balluff on clarinet. George Bergh of BellCats fame on drums and of course Patrick Harison handles all tones created by pressing and squeezing. This group will perform for some seriously hip dancers. www.rhythmpursuits.com
08-23-05  Twin Cities Hot Club CD
The Twin Cities Hot Club CD is available online! www.cdbaby.com/twincitieshotclub
05-31-05  7th Annual Twin Cities Hot Summer Jazz Festival
7th annual Twin Cities Hot Summer Jazz Festival! Great event, be sure to make it out to any performance you can, check www.hotsummerjazz.com I will be performing with Southside Aces June 19th 2:30PM to 3:30PM on the Hopkins stage and of course Twin Cities Hot Club June 24th 12:45PM to 2:00PM on the Mercedes Benz main stage, come on out!
03-28-05  Benefit for Raphael Fraisse 04/18/05
Monday, April 18, 7pm -12am The Dakota Jazz Club and Restaurant 1010 Nicollet Mall (612) 332-1010 "April in Paris" - An Evening of music with a French flavor, featuring the Parisota, Clearwater and Twin Cities Hot Clubs, Cafe Accordion Orchestra, The Creole Four and Honeysuckle Rose! Plus, a special appearance by Michael Dregni, author of "Django, The Life and Music of a Gypsy Legend". Proceeds for tonight's event will help defray medical expenses for Hot Club violinist Raphael Fraisse, a beloved member of the Twin Cities music community who is battling leukemia. Admission: $10. Add'l donations accepted.
02-23-05  An Evening of Gypsy Jazz ~!~
Friday March 4 2005 at The Cedar 8PM Honey Suckle Rose opens at 7:30PM Twin Cities Hot Club and many special guests will join vocalist Connie Evingson and present An Evening of Gypsy Jazz. Look for us on local NBC affiliate Kare 11 on Thursday between 9:30am and 10:30am for a preview. More info here
02-01-05  Southside Aces CD release and Mardi Gras Party
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 8 2005...The Southside Aces will release their live recording ALL ABOARD! at the Times Bar and Cafe in Minneapolis. It will be a Fat Tuesday Mardi Gras Bash as well. Come have a blast with the Aces brand of traditional Jazz. click here
01-13-05  Gypsy Tendercies makes Best of List
Gypsy Tendercies was selected by Jazz 88.5 FM as a Best of 2004 winner, the track I'm Confessin was selected. Jazz 88.5 needs your support, their relationship with MN Dot which supplies a large potion of their budget will expire in 2005. More information here
12-31-04  Great Year!
It was a busy and exciting year. With over 150 shows divided between 5 groups, it felt great to share the stage with such wonderful musicians and music with such appreciative audiences. BellCats and Southside Aces appeared on the 2004 Art-A-Whirl CD. I started Gypsy Jazz Sundays at the Times Bar and Cafe, and released my debut CD "Gypsy Tendercies." The Southside Aces recorded "All Aboard" to be released in 2005. I met and began working with Paul Cherba at Cafe Havana. Some great shows with the band and of course the performers at Lili's Burlesque. The formation of the Twin Cities Hot Club is a really amazing development, look for us in 2005. Thank You to everyone for your support and have a great New Year!
11-30-04  Gallery Grooves@The Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Thursday December 2nd 2004 at The Minneapolis Institute of Arts 7PM to 9PM. Robert will perform with The Twin Cities Hot Club. We will perform live Gypsy Jazz for The Rake magazine event Gallery Grooves. The wonderful work of Beauford Delaney will be featured in the amazing MIA. Don't miss it !
11-17-04  MICHAEL DREGNI BOOK RELEASE
On Monday, November 22 at 7:00pm, Robert Bell and Reynold Philipsek will perform gypsy jazz to support Michael Dregni. Matt Senjem (b) and Gary Schulte (v) will also perform making this a Twin Cities Hot Club performance. Michael has just authored a new and most definitive Django Reinhardt biography entitled " DJANGO: The Life and Music of a Gypsy Legend," just released by Oxford University Press. I am very impressed by Dregni's work. The gig will be at the Barnes & Noble at the Galleria in Edina Minnesota.
10-20-04   KBEM Jazz 88.5FM
Robert will be a guest on Larry Wolf's Hot Club Saturday program from 12:00PM to 1:00PM on Saturday October 30, 2004. Tune in and listen to Robert's latest CD, discussion about Gypsy Jazz, guitars, players and some of Robert's favorite music.
10-20-04  Southside Aces
Saturday October 23rd 2004 10:00PM The Southside Aces will perform at Lili's Burlesque 327 N. 2nd Ave. in downtown Minneapolis. The Southside Aces will record our hot traditional New Orleans jazz sound LIVE! Don't miss your chance to be a part of the Aces history! null
09-24-04  Twin Cities Hot Club
Hello everyone,

Wow! The Twin Cities Hot Club performed their first show under that name on Friday September 24th. We had the great honor of performing for some of the best lindy dancers in the world, period. Dancers from Denver, Seattle, Washington D.C. and even Sweden attended the event. Amy Johnson did a wonderful job organizing the event, she is super cool. Please visit www.rhythmpursuits.com for more information.

I know she had a million people assisting her but, I must give a big thanks to Jason Wussow (the man), Chance (super smooth), Mike (TC Hot Club) and everyone else for helping us to bring our eventual A game to our first "official" show.

Our first set was a bit rough as we battled the sound system and forgot the cardinal rule when playing for dancers, succinct solos make a for good dancing. I know this professionally as a band leader for a 7pc. group but it got lost in the shuffle. Amy kindly got us on track with a friendly suggestion and we ended the night with a spirited version of Dark Eyes and encored with Limehouse Blues. I wish every musician out there the opportunity to experience the energy of hundreds of dancers gathered around the stage and giving everything they have. It is overwhelming. I hope that Django is smiling, knowing that dancers are now the next group of people to experience Gypsy Jazz!