Here are some bands I'm working with right now:
Maelstrom Trio, with Seattle-based saxophonist Skerik and my Red-Stick-to-Big Easy brother, drummer Simon Lott;
the David Mooney Trio, put together before Katrina by the NOLA/NYC guitarist and singer, again with Simon Lott on drums, which plays Davy's original music and released an album of it in early 2008 called "Astoriano" (available online);
the Simon Coogan Duo, going back to Mondays at the Bayou in Baton Rouge, 2001, for when we want to honestly wear our diverse array of influences on our sleeves; we've also added thirds and fourths over the years (recently, David Polk and Jason Moore, or Ashlin Parker and Rex Gregory) to expand upon the palette;
NYC guitarist Mike Gamble's various projects, among them crazy people music at his Bar 4 Mondays, with amazing improvisors like saxophonists Tony Barba and Pete Robbins, drummer Conor Elmes, and/or bassist Rob Jost;
Johnny Vidacovich's Duos and Trios, for d.b.a Tuesdays or Maple Leaf Thursdays;
occasionally, the very original New Orleans/Lafayette band The Other Planets;
my man Bill Malchow, who's from Connecticut and lives in Brooklyn, but knows a whole hell of a lot about NOLA music and NOLA piano especially, and who has a band called the Go-Cup All-Stars (apparently he knows a lot about NOLA culture too), in which I've played organ to his ivory-tickling;
Brian Seeger's Gentilly Groovemasters super-project, which recently recorded some groovy tunes as a septet;
Bobby Previte's Coalition of the Willing, playing Bobby's unique original music;
every once in a while, George Porter, Jr., who needs no introduction;
Jamelle Williams calls me now and again to play with accompany his excellent trumpet playing;
a ton before Katrina but sparingly these days, Jason Marsalis's various bands, in which he played either drum set or vibraphone, and featuring great musicians like Derek Douget and Peter Harris;
Nori Naraoka's 93D, with Russell Batiste, for when I'm across the ocean;
Bay Area saxophonist Matt Morrish's quartet/quintet Trinket Lover;
Jonathan Freilich's beautifully quirky bands Klezmurder and Naked on the Floor, not nearly often enough.
You may also have seen me in the past couple of years on the road or in NOLA with any of these bands, in which I am an occasional or former member: Bonerama, Will Bernard Trio, Good Enough for Good Times, Stanton Moore Trio, Mike Dillon's Hairy Apes BMX.
Also, I recently wrote and performed some music for the hotel chain Ritz-Carlton, which appears on one of its websites. It's three-handed piano music (one pass both hands and another right-handed pass) beautifully recorded by Bill Kelly at LSU. You can check that out here: www.theresidencesnorthhills.com .
