My heart races, jumps and skips beats like a school child enjoying a little double dutch session with friends everytime we (my awesome team filled with friends and people I am humbled to be lucky enough to work with) get close to releasing a new project. To date, this series of videos soon to be released will be the most extensive audio/video projects I have produced and I’m super excited

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It has taken me a while to complete my last journal entry and as I was expecting to do a more elaborate entry on the subject I think I will just share a few closing thoughts:

The beautiful evening could not have occured without the support of all my fans and friends nor could it have occured without the fabulous work done by each of my band mates, Lee Nadel, Ryan Vaughn and Jeff Berner. Lastly, had I not had the constant support and love of my partner in crime Emily Sinnott I’m sure my sensitivity would have overcome and destroyed me multiple times over. Alas, I am loved and I love each and every one of you. This journey called life is an impossible battle do face alone and as for me I feel blessed to be so supported.

In finishing:

“You can tell who a man or woman is by looking at their friends”

Thank you friends, I bow to you.

I awake to the sun’s warmth upon my face. Blanketed brilliantly in light, my awareness quickly shifts, to my heart’s rapid pounding within a cage of ribs. Today is the day. Seven years I have focused, patiently waiting. Listening, traveling, searching, crying, surviving, laughing and loving. I shall stand upon the cliff once again, anew. Looking out within the light, shadows and smiles looking back. Eleven hours and counting..

My mind is hot with anxiety, the circuits glowing a fiery red. Energy, bursting synapses, neurons torpedoing information, ungodly amounts of information. The hallways of our minds glistening like star dust. I love this feeling. Adrenaline. I guess this is a large part of why I do this. The excitement, waves beating upon me like the endless tides of and ocean upon it’s shores. We’ve been preparing for months for this day. I’m so excited to introduce this new sound to my friends and fans… I feel elevated playing music with this excellent group of human beings that I’ve been calling “the Bandits”. Emily Sinnott, Ryan Vaughn, Jeff Berner, and Lee Nadel have added incredible elements of beauty and excellency to this project.

For the first time ever in all my shows I feel completely rehearsed. I understand that growth shall always be possible and I feel very centered within myself knowing that I have given this my all. Emily and I have been playing together daily, her cello work is rapidly growing and it is so much fun to share this with her.

After doing yoga and meditating my mind has finally come to a place of peace. I packed up my gear and we are on our way to Euphoria studios where we will be playing our last rehearsal before the gig tonight. I’m elated.

Rehearsal, booked for tow hours took no longer than an hour and fifteen minutes. We are tight, Emily nailed it on the cello. Ryan Vaughn is tearing it up on the drums, Lee Nadel keeps making me laugh with his fills in the pocket ( I love having Lee on bass with us he has such a solid groove and perspective on music), and Jeff Berner is awesome on the electric guitar tearing it up like the best. I only wish the stage we were playing on this evening was about three to four times the size, that it is, so we could jump and dance around the stage with ease. I have been looking forward to playing at Rockwood Music Hall now for over a year. The last time I played a gig at this venue was over two years ago on my birthday in 2008 prior to any of my major trips or tours, prior to Africa, Central America or the four month National tour we just completed. I can’t wait for all of my friends and fans to see the change and growth. I can’t wait to bring to everyone my vision in this way.

After a killing rehearsal with the group Emily and I jump in a cab with two guitars, one cello, my professional cameras, tripod, bags of alcohol, clothing and party supplies. Needless to say, we should have hired a camel to help with the carrying of all the goodies. We arrive on the lower east side at Em’s apartment at about 5pm. One hour and thirty minutes until we need to be at the venue setting up. At this point my adrenaline is at about an eight out of ten. My heart only calms down from it’s insanity of pounding for seconds at a time and only after I do a series of large, deep, exhales. Everything is looking great- I’m just excited and a bit hungry. Until, Wham! Shit, I forgot to restring my guitars, I forgot the batteries for the instruments pickups, for my peddles, and this awareness comes no sooner than 30 minutes before show time!

Luckily everyone that was supposed to arrive prior to the show does so in a timely manner and we get out of the door after the minor (near major) panic attack. I only had time to restring “Lucia”, so I’ll have to make due. Each friend grabs an instrument, I throw my hood up over my head and we hit the streets. We are now ten minutes behind. Making it to the venue by 6:30 is an impossibility, the best we are going to do is arrive by 6:45pm (15 minutes before show start). Why does this always seem to happen? No matter how much preparation a wrench always falls into the gears…

We arrive with about ten minutes to spare. I find my camera people, Rhiannon Hyde and her friend Selene Preston, give them a small amount of direction in what I hope to have captured on film for the behind the scenes video I am producing. I meet a photographer my friend Gary suggested, Emmely Pierre-Louis. I locate Tommy, give him a few details about the show as he will be handling sound and lights for us and it is now about show time. A couple hugs, a couple kisses, sharing of support from my closest friends and it’s time to stand upon that cliff once again.

My heart calms. breathing normalizes. I feel at home on the stage, all the weeks of preparation have come to this moment. My mic is set, guitars are ready, the band looks amazing (Emily is sparkling in her dress and the guys look cool as cucumbers). My one major fear that no one will show up has been obliterated with the line out the door and the room packed back to back by so many amazing people I look out into their eyes announcing myself and The Bandits. 1, 2, 3 chica chica… and we are off to the races.

The entire show was an amazing experience. I could not have asked for more as my expectations were surpassed in every way. It’s hard to select which moments were my favorite but I shall let you know more soon

My friend and vocal teacher Wendy Parr took this photo of me at the event

The debut album “Long Journey Home” CONCERT & RELEASE PARTY is happening March 25th, 6:45 at Rockwood Music Hall and will feature James Ruff with his never seen before new group “The Bandits” which comprises of Lee Nadel on Bass, Ryan Vaughn on Drums, Jeff Berner on lead guitar and the lovely Emily Sinnott who will be playing the cello, percussion and dancing in her seductively electrifying way. Not to mention, special guest such as Wendy Parr, Ian Axel, and Danny Musengo are rumored to be joining “the Bandits” for this exciting experience.”

James Ruff plays Haiti benefit concert March 8th @ 6:00 pm – A multi-cultural music event presented by HarmoNYom in association with Drom & WKCR 89.9 FM will features many maestros from India, Pakistan, Africa, and Haiti live in a beautiful concert to help raise funds and awareness for those families effected by the most recent earthquake in Haiti.

The artists featured:
Singer Rene Collins
Singer & Song Writer James Ruff
Source w/ Abdoulaye Diabate & Special Guest Yacouba Sissoko/Kora
Zing Experience (Paul Beaubrun & Cynthia Casasola)
Drummer Percussionist Tiga Jean- Baptiste & Tchaka
A.R. Balaskandan on Mridangam
Niti Mitta on Tabla
Arun Ramamurthy Carnatic Violinist
Sitarist Ustad Ikhlaq Hussain
Pandit Ramesh Misra on Sarangi

Hope to see you there!

During the 2009 “Long Journey Home” national release tour, and upon the sandy shores of Seaside Oregon, whilst basking in the warmth of dancing bonfire flames, this sweet melody found it’s voice. Originally sung with different lyrics, the chorus “compassion work upon my mind give me hours share my time forgiveness hold my hand…”, arose from the ashes in a prayer to heal the rifts and challenges found in our most intimate relationships.

Regardless of who were are and where we have come from, can we recognize and embrace each-other’s trials and tribulations? Can we clean the wounds of our once called enemies and bury the bones of our painful pasts allowing the winds of change to fertilize the flowers of our souls happiness?

Success comes from continuously jumping on the saddle of the horse that has bucked you regardless of the amount of times you awake dumbfounded and bruised on the floor. In your errors, can you choose to exercise care and thoughtfulness? Do you choose to clean up your mess or will you walk with bloody hands for the entirety of your life? Each of us fights a battle uniquely. Will you choose to be gentle with those around you?

Forgiveness, both with our selves and of other is a day to day process. I love you, always have, always will.

This is for each of you,

James

The four month “Long Journey Home” National Tour which spanned 23 states during the summer of 2009 has just been completed! Over 40 shows were performed, a plethora of new friendships were found and formed, mission intankable made it across the nation then died as soon as she made it home to NYC. Learn how we lived in a converted van, foraged berries on the side of the road, and took pictures of thousands of fantastic worlds right here in the stunning U.S. of A. Detailed stories and more information to come! Read up on the best and worst moments of the experience soon in our soon to come blog!