Here in Los Angeles there are angels… and I visited them today at the Inglewood Cemetery. My Grandparents, Ida and Jaako, my Mother and Father, Beatrice and Jorma, and my Uncle Pentti all rest here together, not far from the airport. My Uncle Tarmo is in a military cemetery and I have never had the honor to pay my respects… perhaps next time. The last time I was here was right around the time Barry Mitterhoff’s Dad, Murray, passed. How the time flies. My Father has now been gone fifteen years, my Mother fourteen… and I still miss them. I never knew Tarmo, he died in the service in WW II. Pentti was my friend though and he passed way too young. I miss them all.

It is a shame that our children will never meet these wonderful people and hear their stories from their mouths, but that is just the way it is.

It is just the way it is… but I miss them all… and Grandma Ida… thanks for River Of Time. I’ll take another song from you any time.

My heart is full!

Barry and I played two sold out shows ate McCabe’s last night and here are our set lists:

Jorma Kaukonen And Barry Mitterhoff 1, 2012
McCabe’s Guitar Shop
Santa Monica, California
Friday, February 3, 2012

First Show:
1. True Religion
2. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
3. How Long Blues
4. Children Of Zion
5. Second Chances
6. I See The Light
7. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
8. Barbeque King
9. Sea Child
10. Full Go Round
11. Goodbye To The Blues
12. 99 Year Blues
13. I Know You Rider
14. Encore: Embryonic Journey
Second Show:
1. Been So Long
2. Search My Heart
3. Hesitation Blues
4. Things That Might Have Been
5. Mama Let Me Lay It On You
6. Candy Man
7. Red River Blues
8. Come Back Baby
9. Vicksburg Stomp
10. 99 Year Blues
11. I Am The Light Of This World
12. Uncle Sam Blues
13. Parchman Farm
14. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning
15. Encore: Genesis

Life is a genesis… and so it goes.

As we all know, it’s a long flight from Honolulu to Los Angeles in the cheap seats of any plane. Hey, it could be worse. Anyway, breakfast by the beach and reasonably warm weather. A couple of ‘days off’ which means no gigs per se, but lots of work to do. Friday and Saturday, Barry Mitterhoff and I will be holding forth at McCabe’s on Pico in Santa Monica. The shows are sold out, but I thought I’d mention it anyway.
I’ve been missing Barry so it will be really swell getting together with him for this weekend in the LA area as well as our trip to Japan and China.

Good times to come!

We certainly have enjoyed our sojourn here in the Islands… What a grand time! Yesterday we drove across the Big Island from Kona. I’ve never done this before and the lava flows were equaled by the wildlife. This is indeed a wondrous state.

Down in Hilo, we set up at the Palace Theater and walked over to Pesto for dinner. Great food… I recommend it highly next time you’re here. After a nice cup of coffee we walked back to the Palace, down the little alley and up to the backstage door.

The was the last show for Chris Smither and myself on this little run. We’ve had a great time and we can’t wait to do it again! Here is my set list:

Jorma Kaukonen Solo 3, 2012
Palace Theater
Hilo, Hawaii
Sunday, January 29, 2012

1. Search My Heart
2. Serpent Of Dreams
3. Second Chances
4. Hesitation Blues
5. Come Back Baby
6. River Of Time
7. Let Us Get Together
8. Things That Might Have Been
9. Living In The Moment
10. Full Go Round
11. Uncle Sam Blues
12. I Know You Rider
13. Encore with Chris Smither: Statesboro Blues

This is as accurate as I can remember, which is not saying much, but so be it.

This whole trip has been so delightful on every level… I can hardly wait for the next time over here.

It certainly is a different lifestyle, but even in the midst of paradise, I sometimes miss my muddy driveway at home. I’m not seeing much wintry mix here.

After the show, we went to Ken’s House Of Pancakes all night diner. I just couldn’t resist one last loco moco. Good times. Well, back here at the hotel, it’s time to get ready to finish packing. It’s a bone early fight tomorrow.

Aloha!

Well, last night Chris Smither and I played at the Royal Kona Resort here on the Big Island. I mean look… how good does it have to get. Here’s the view from our back stage:

OK… here is my set list:

Jorma Kaukonen Solo 2, 2012
Royal Kona Resort
Kona, Hawaii
January 28, 2012

1. True Religion
2. I See the Light
3. Trouble In Mind
4. How Long Blues
5. Hesitation Blues
6. Second Chances
7. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
8. Come Back Baby
9. Full Go Round
10. River Of Time
11. 99 Year Blues
12. I Am The Light Of This World
13. Barbeque King
14. Parchman Farm
15. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning
16. Encore with Chris Smither: Statesboro Blues

A beautiful evening… and done in time for me to do my laundry. Now that’s paradise!

Just a quick entry as I get ready to head to the airport en route to Kona. Chris Smither and I played the Iao Theater last night and it was a wonderful way to start our little two island run…

Here, as best I could recollect is my set list:

Jorma Kaukonen Solo 1, 2012
Iao Theater
Wailuku, Maui
Hawaii
Friday, January 27, 2012

1. Been So Long
2. Search My Heart
3. Second Chances
4. I See The Light
5. Full Go Round
6. Sea Child
7. Hesitation Blues
8. Barbeque King
9. Things That Might Have Been
10. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
11. Uncle Sam Blues
12. 99 Year Blues
13. I Am the Light Of This World
14. I Know You Rider
15. Encore with Chris Smither: Statesboro Blues
16. Encore 2: Genesis

I think that’s it… pretty much. Now we’re off to the Royal Kona Resort for tonight’s show.

Aloha!

Monday, the kids and I drove up from Lahaina to the top of Haleakala. If you’re ever lucky enough to come to Maui, this is a trip you must take. Sunny at sea level… through the clouds and up to the top of the volcano.

It’s better up here than I imagine a moonscape would be. Millions of years of history unfold before you in layers of color.

We spent some great time up there with Norm and Mary and then we headed home via the Paia Fish Market in Paia. Now, I’m not much for crowds, but I’ll wait in line for this food. After the fish a quick stop at the Ono Gelato Shop. Well, I really did it for the kids, but I figured since I was there anyway, I might as well have some.

After a great trip with the gang, we headed back to Lahaina to get ready for this week’s Fur Peace Ranch Maui session. Back at the hotel, we were greeted seaside by one of the transient residents who wave cheerily at us.

Well… it’s time for breakfast. Onward!

Well, Brett Thompson back at the the Fur Peace Ranch sent me this shot and I thought, what an affable looking bunch of old pickers. That was a good start to the day. Later that day, I was walking to class and Vanessa caught me thus:

What a place to be after what coninues to be a long, strange, trip. Well, the trip headed for the deep blue out of Lahaina Harbor yesterday as we boarded to Jayhawk for a day trip of deep sea fishing.

Captain Steve and his sidekick Peter, walked us through every step of this grand fishing day (mixing metaphors I know) and what a trip it was.

We set out for what would be over a one hundred mile journey. First we headed out to Kaho`olawe Island… no fish but beautiful weather. Onward we motored, lines trailing. We headed around to the backside of Lanai.

Well, my son Zach, landed a 20 pound Ono… his first deep see fish and I’ll hook onto his coattails… mine too. We’re going to be eating that fish tonight… barbequed ocean side.

That’s what I’m talking about. Off to dinner…

Yep… while I’ve been teaching in a windowless classroom, my son has been having… well, fun! Needless to say, I love what I do but you know, I’m hitting the beach after this Fur Peace Ranch session closes tomorrow.

I hear it’s rally cold back home in Ohio.

Oh well… Oh yeah… Tracks In The Sand indeed…

Well we got to Maui day before yesterday… got a walk on the beach before the sun set and yesterday spent the day on the beach with the whales. Quite a change from the eleven degrees it was at home when we left. The whole family is with me here on this one so it’s some seriously good times.

I mean really… how much better than this does it have to get?

The students came in for dinner and orientation later on in the afternoon and, as always, this promises to be a really good time!

This is our second year of doing the Fur Peace Ranch on the road here in Maui and I can tell you that it never gets old! I’m going to post this and get down to the classroom early so i can start yakking. Like Roy Book Binder says, ‘I can play the guitar and talk about myself all day… I can’t do that at home!’

Good Times!

Getting ready to head out to Hawaii for a Fur Peace Ranch On The Road session… Tough job, but somebody’s got to do it. Pictures will be forthcoming when I get settled.

Thanks to everyone for their thoughts, prayers and well wished for Jack’s brother… and my old friend Chick Casady. Something must be working… he’s still hanging in their and I’ll tell you, it didn’t look good in the beginning. Keep’em coming… couldn’t hurt, could help.

Gotta finish packing… where is that bathing suit?