A blog by Jorma Kaukonen

Osaka, Kyoto & Nagoya

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Well, it’s been a hectic three days. Haven’t had a chance to do any updating until this morning. What a great series of concerts we just had. This little entry started in Osaka.

We were on the radio with Kamasami Kong and his fearless sidekick. We got to chew the fat and play some tunes.

We sure enjoyed talking with the folks at the Cocolo scene… and then it was off to Janus for the show here in Osaka.

Foto by Doug ...
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Shizuoka To Osaka

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Oddly enough, in some ways Shizuoka reminded me of Santa Cruz, California. Not visually, but the head space. Lovely place to visit and play!

We walked up the street to get something to eat at the Pimpers Paradise. Some of the best pizza I’ve had, and I’ve had plenty!

Foto by Doug Allsopp

Here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 38, 2014
The Acoustic Duo
Jorma Kaukonen & Jack Casady
Club Freakyshow
Shizuoka, Japan
Saturday, April 26, 2014

First Set:
1. True Religion
2. Nobody Know You When You’re Down & Out
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Quattro And Onwards

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Last night we played the Club Quattro in Shibuya. I also got a chance to do an interview with the folks from Acoustic Guitar Magazine. A really good chat with really good folks!

Before we started out for Shibuya, we had to eat… at the Ramen Place again!


Quattro is a great club!

…and here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 37, 2014
The Acoustic Duo
Jorma Kaukonen & Jack Casady
Club Quattro
Shibuya, Japan
Friday, April 25, 2014

First Set:
1. Re-Enlistment Blues
2. Dime For Beer
3. Been So Long
4. Come Back Baby
5. Let Us ...
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Thumbs Up In Yokohama

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At 0800 yesterday morning we hit the train from Yokohama to Tokyo for an interview with .Peter Barakan and his pals

Foto by Doug Allsopp

Foto by Myron Hart

This program was a place for music aficionados and it was a pleasure to play for them and their collective audience.

Foto by Myron Hart

After the show, it was back to Yokohama but this time, the station was almost empty.

There’s no way I can help my American readers to actually visualize how much rush ...
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A Day Off In Yokohama

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There’s a little coffee shop in the lobby of the hotel, so after a cappuccino and a croissant it was out into the streets to see what was going on.

The streets in this town range from wide boulevards to ones that you can barely fit bicycles on. I chose to walk the narrow streets for the most part.

Everybody walks or bikes so the pedestrian is right at home here… unlike most cities and roads in the U.S.

Gaming is even ...
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A Yokohama Landing

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In 1945 and ’46 my Father, Jorma Sr., found himself a young Naval officer attached to an Army military intelligence unit with General MacArthur’s staff. As a first generation American born in this country, Dad was already something of a linguist. His first language was Finnish, then English taught at the Carnegie Library in Ironwood, Michigan. As a thirteen year old, the Kaukonen family moved to East L.A., Lincoln Heights to be exact… so his next language was Spanish. ...
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The Spring Of Many Cultures… Spring Has Sprung

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So my son Zach was with us for his Spring Break and he was able to join us for the family Seder at Hillel Of Ohio University.

Foto by Vanessa Kaukonen

It was a sweet evening… and yes, I had seconds of gefilte fish.

Foto by Vanessa Kaukonen

Foto credit… Selfie

That’s how the week started out. Now in the beginning of the week, it was so cold, we laughingly called it, ‘Winter Break.’ But then, fortunately it warmed up.

Yeah, Zach and I got ...
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Wanee Update…

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Yeah I know Wanee was last week… I’ve been busy…

How’s about the Blind Boys Of Alabama?

We drove down… did the show… and drove back to the Ranch. Here is our set list from Wanee:

Hot Tuna 35, 2014
The Electric Quartet
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
Barry Mitterhoff & Skoota Warner
Wanee Music Festival
The Mushroom Stage
Live Oak, Florida
Thursday, April 10, 2014

1. Can’t Get Satisfied
2. Ode To Billy Dean
3. I See The Light
4. Hesitation Blues
5. Bowlegged Woman
6. Come Back Baby
7. Children Of Zion
8. 99 Year Blues
9. Rock Me Baby
10. Water Song
11. Funky #7

Back at the Ranch, ...
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Happy Birthday, Jack Old Friend… An Open Letter To John William Casady

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Dear Jack:

Your old buddy Jorma here. Man, we sure have known each other a long time… through the neighborhood, through school, through nicknames, through the music, through joy and sadness, through the years… through a lifetime. We have been blessed in so many amazing ways, and here we still are. Yes I know your birthday was two days ago, but remember, I called you at 0500 your time to sing you Happy Birthday! Sorry I didn’t have time for ...
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Fair Winds And Following Seas, Joe!

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A couple of years ago down at the Fur Peace Ranch a bunch of our New York Friends would show up every now an then for our Saturday night shows at the Fur Peace Station. In many respects, ever since the 60’s, the Northeast United States, especially New York, has been a very real home to Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna and myself. For many years we have all soared on the wings of dear friends like Joe LaMontagne. When ...
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