A grand moment in the sun

Well, I’ve been home for four days now and I just wanted to close out our trip to Italy. The last show was in Nembro… a solo Jorma gig and I had another blast.

Jorma Kaukonen Solo 6, 2012
Modernissima Auditorium
Nembro, Italy
March 27, 2012

1. I See The Light
2. Heart Temporary
3. Search My Heart
4. Children Of Zion
5. Second Chances
6. Hesitation Blues
7. Come Back Baby
8. Sea Child
9. Another Man Done A Full Go Round
10. How Long Blues
11. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
12. 99 Year Blues
13. Things That Might Have Been
14. Mamma Let Me Lay It On You
15. Genesis
16. I Am The Light Of This World
17. I Know You Rider
18. Encore : Uncle Sam Blues

My set list as you can see…

I know there are dark places in Italy just like there are anywhere… but we were always surrounded by light.

I mean, how many great architectural views are there?

You know, we lose so many good friends each year, and yes I know that life is more about saying goodbye than it is saying hello sometimes but sometimes one just has to appreciate those moments when one’s time begins to teeter on the brink of history. There will always be something new hopefully… and more stories yet to be written.

OK... here's another one...

I think it is important to somehow try to tune in to the changes that surround us without losing our grasp of our place in the river of time.

Woody... and shoes?

Well… life is still good for me… and yesterday I took our six year old, Izze, for her first motorcycle ride… and she loved it! Actually, she asked me to take her. I think it was stressful for Vanessa… but we all loved it. I mean really… how good does it have to get?

Well... I got to smooch my sweetie too!

We knew that Doc Watson was in the hospital… I heard about it when I went to Italy. This morning as I was reading the news I saw that he passed yesterday. The caption to this entry is a title of a Roy Book Binder song that I recorded on River Of Time a couple of years ago and in this context it seems sadly fitting.

It was Roy who first got me to Merlefest in the late nineties and on that trip John Cowan approached me and asked me if I wanted to sit in on one of those memorable gangtwangs with Doc. This was so long ago I was still playing the blue Gibson Starburst… I remember it well. It is resting at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame for a while. Anyway, there I am, a guest of Doc’s on the main stage. Before the set, I remember asking him only half in jest, ‘Be gentle with me. I’m just an old folkie.’ Well, gentle and gracious he was. We all passed solos around and after mine, Doc ‘looked’ in my direction and said, ‘Take it again Jorma!’ This moment will always live comfortably in my house of memories.

It has been a distinct honor for all of us to have shared space on this earth with Doc and I know that he now plays in the Heavenly Band and that the Circle is truly unbroken.

Rest well elder brother… your work on earth is done.

Say hello to Levon and my old dog Marlo for me… Thanks!

Festival in the fortress

So we’re here in Sarzana enjoying the big Acoustic Guitar Festival… a trade show and concert site. Acoustic music rules here this weekend and last night, David and Nancy Bromberg, Mark Cosgrove and I got a chance to play for the folks.

The scene of the crime

Here is my set list:

Jorma Kaukonen Solo 5, 2012
With David Bromberg
Acoustic Guitar Festival,
Tortezza, Firmafede
Sarzana, Italy
Friday, May 25, 2012

Jorma Set:
1. True Religion
2. Children Of Zion
3. Hesitation Blues
4. Living In The Moment
5. Full Go round
6. 99 Year Blues
7. Things That Might Have Been
8. Parchman Farm
9. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning

Unfortunately I don’t remember what David and I did together, but perhaps Myron and I can reconstruct that set together. Today we got up, had breakfast and headed back into town for a little sightseeing, shopping and a trip back to the venue.

The little market at lunch break

As I walked through this ancient city, I got to talk to people who saw our show last night and lovers of the guitar in general. What a grand devotion to the art.

Shopping... always inviting

Shops, handcrafts… and always… music, everywhere.

Little shops...

I could go on and on… suffice it to say… this is all really good stuff.

The walled festival

Tomorrow we’re off to Nembro, Italy and the Modernissimo. Onward!

Where all is ancient, but not old

Well, we got to Italy three days ago and I’m just taking a moment here at the Diplomat Hotel in Torino to avail myself of their lovely internet. Our first stop two days ago already seems like a lifetime in the past. Of course we welcomed ourselves to Northern Italy with a superb meal… as always.

Eating in Vicenza

Next, of course… the gig with David Bromberg.

Mmmmm good!

Jorma Kaukonen Solo 3, 2012
With David Bromberg
Panic Jazz Club
Marostica (IV)
Italia
Wednesday, May 23, 12

Jorma Set:
1. What Are They Doing In Heaven Today?
2. I See The Light
3. Hesitation Blues
4. Second Chances
5. 99 Year Blues
6. River Of Time
7. Barbeque King
8. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
9. I Am The Light Of This World
10. I Know You Rider
Jorma and David Bromberg
11. Come Back Baby
12. David?
13. Whinin’ Boy Blues
14. David… Dylan Song…
15. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
16. David… If My Luck Don’t Change
17. Uncle Sam Blues
18. David.. Long Tall Mama
19. That’ll Never Happen No More
20. David, Nobody Knows The Way I Feel
21. Keep Lamps Trimmed And Burning
22. Encore: David… Helpless Blues

Always great to see David and Nancy anywhere in the world… Then it was off to Torino, homeplace of Fiat Motorcars and a great solo gig at the Folk Club.

But first a communing of spirits

And then the gig… sold out!

Jorma Kaukonen Solo 4, 2012
Folk Club
Torino, Italy
Thursday, May 24, 2012

First Set:
1. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out
2. Heart Temporary
3. Hesitation Blues
4. Genesis
5. Children Of Zion
6. Sea Child
7. 99 Year Blues
8. Come Back Baby
9. Parchman Farm
10. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning
Second set:
1. I See The Light
2. True Religion
3. Living In The Moment
4. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
5. Uncle Sam Blues
6. Mama Let Me Lay It On You
7. Things That Might Have Been
8. Candy Man
9. How Long Blues
10. Keep On Truckin’ Mama
11. That’ll Never Happen No More
12. I Know You Rider
13. Encore: Embryonic Journey

Same as it ever was... old school

Off to Sarzana… and another one with David.

Vanessa And Izze Buy Books For The Summer

Friday was Izze’s last day of kindergarten. Friday night was the ice cream social and book sale. Our big girl is reading by herself now and chose a bunch of books for the summer.

This morning was Izze’s piano recital and she aced it… bows before and after her piece. Then it was time for me and Uncle Barry to head to Nelsonville, Ohio to the Nelsonvile Music Festival… this would be our recital… and here is our set list:

Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff 7, 2012
The Nelsonville Music Festival
Nelsonville, Ohio
May 19, 2012

1. Blue Railroad Train
2. I See The Light
3. Hesitation Blues
4. Bread Line Blues
5. Come Back Baby
6. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
7. How Long Blues
8. Vicksburg Stomp
9. I Am The Light Of This World
10. I Know You Rider

A great festival… and right in our back yard. Thanks for coming in on this one Barry…

A good time was had by all…

ps It’s been a month since Levon Helm has been gone. We miss you brother.

...and then there's this!

Just a short note. It’s been a busy week… being home and all. Lots of rain and a little chillier than I would like, but yesterday there was this view in my ‘neighborhood.’ There’s never a bad time for a nice day and even the bad days beat the alternative. My son Zach, is here for the weekend, we have a great class at the Ranch and it’s a beautiful morning.

I think we’ll go to Millie’s for breakfast. Millie’s is a little diner in Rutland, Ohio… famed for their pies and written about in Saveur Magazine. Yow…

More will be revealed…

A Walk In The Sun

Yeah… it’s been one of those times. I said goodbye to five people I knew in the last thirty days… may they all ride free to the edge of the universe! There is no life without death and truthfully, I embrace that as I must. As Rev. Davis would say, though… there’s a bright side, somewhere. I went to Izze’s school to pick her up today and we stopped off at the playground so she could hang with her friends. She headed straight for the big kid swing and before I knew it, she was parallel with the crossbar. That girl flew! Yeah, I’ve lost some friends… all of whom lived a full life even if it was too short by my standards… but my daughter flies… and so does my son in his way and you know… it truly gets no better than that.

I would take a bullet for my kids and I wish there were some way I could infuse the dubious benefits of my experience into their ken… but there is not and I must accept that. In this time though… they fly. Vanessa flies too… soars…

May they always fly
and fly
and fly

My blessings are boundless.