This last weekend at the Fur Peace Ranch was our third of this year and what a killer one it was. We were honored to host Jimmy Dale Gilmore as well as our old pal Bill Kirchen. What a weekend indeed!

Friday was chilly to say the least but the weekend warmed up in more ways than one and Spring was in the air! Saturday night Bill and Jimmy Dale did a simply amazing show!

Jimmy Dale and Bill’s show was indeed, Poultry In Motion… I mean Poetry In Motion. Perfect in every way!

In and around the concert and classes, there is always plenty of time for folks to jam!

The weekend moved magnificently towards the first of the week.

Foto by Vanessa Kaukonen

Nice shot of my guys here!

Foto by John Hurlbut

Monday evening Izze and Vanessa and I drove into Athens to celebrate Pesach with our community at Hillel.

The Jewish community here in Southeast Ohio is a singular creature… if it weren’t for Ohio University, it would be pretty lonely.

Foto by Vanessa Kaukonen

It was nice to reconnect with friends we only see periodically through the year… and share a meal together.

The brisket was awesome and the gefilte fish rocked too. I had double helpings!

And so as the full moon begins to wane, Zeissen Pesach to all out there!

Foto by Vanessa Kaukonen

I have had the distinct honor to become friends with Dr. Michael Drake, the president of Ohio State University. President Drake invited me to be a part of a class he was giving with Alan Michaels the dean of the The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law on the Supreme Court And Civil Rights. Now it’s been a long time since I’ve been involved with organized academics of any sort so to be invited to speak in this university setting was an honor indeed!

The Supreme Court And Civil Rights… this is heady stuff and certainly a realm most Americans should probably concern themselves with. What could I offer to anyone in this setting? As a sidebar, this class also concerned itself with the music of the times and one of the times they were concerned with was the 1950’s through the 1960’s. I went to Antioch College in Yellow Springs in 1959 and aside from meeting guitar players there who would change my life, we also marched. One of the marches we did was at the barber shop in Yellow Springs which was totally segregated at that time. Now I never went on any of the Freedom Marches in the South, so I’m not patting myself on the back here, but I was at the barber shop.

Now the music of the late 50’s through the 60′ had a relevance to social change in a way that I just don’t see happening today. Yeah, I know… old guy stuff. Anyway, the music was and is part of my mainspring so that’s what I focused on.

Foto by Vanessa Kaukonen

I’m normally not comfortable with public speaking, although I’m getting better at it. Funny for a guy who makes his living doing stuff in front of other people. Anyway, the students made me welcome and I got to entertain some questions and play a couple of songs, which for me is where the rubber really meets the road.

I played two Rev. Gary Davis tunes, Death Don’t Have No Mercy and I Am The Light Of This World. I closed out with one of mine, Embryonic Journey. Some of the students got fired up when I talked about Rev. Davis and looked him up after the class. When I am asked what I am most proud of in my life, my answer always is, ‘After my family and my children, introducing people to Rev. Gary Davis is at the top of the list!’

Foto by Vanessa Kaukonen

Think about this. Ohio State is a very big school… but also a has small school attributes. Where else could a freshman take a class hosted by the dean of the law school, the president of the university and also have a guest who survived the 60’s and is in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame!

Foto by Vanessa Kaukonen

Foto by Dubi Silverstein

Another week has come and gone and then some. We had a camp last weekend with G.E.Smith and Woody Mann. It is always great to hang with these two guys… personally and musically.

Now it is true that Spring is unfolding, but on this weekend we had a couple of really cold nights… a last gasp of Winter. The FPR is getting back into the rhythm of camp season and what with that and the Pho Restaurant, as always it’s a full plate. It’s a good plate though. Last Saturday night came and it was concert time at the Station. The show was G.E. and myself. We love doing this show. We just hit the stage and play songs together. On this particular night, we had a captive Woody Mann… so for us it was quite an evening. We didn’t do a set list and Myron did his best to keep track of the songs, so this is incomplete… but at least it’s something!

I didn’t get the first solo GE songs of each set. (GE did 3 first Set and 2 second Set, I think?) So sayeth Myron Hart II.

Jorma Kaukonen, G.E. & Woody Mann

Ain’t In No Hurry
Second Chances
Things That Might Have Been
Whining Boy
Highway 61
Barbeque King
Arrowhead
Death Don’t Have No Mercy… with Woody
Sweet Loraine… with Woody

That’ll Never Happen No More
Living In The Moment
GE. – Trail Of The Buffalo
Come Back Baby
GE – Handsome Molly
Search My Heart – Woody… from here to the end…
Sleep Song
GE – Buddy Bolden Blues
Candy Man
GE – Let It Rock
Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning
Encore: Who knows?

Thanks Myron… better than nothing!

On Tuesday night my goddaughter Mia Falzarano stopped by on her way to Cleveland.

Foto by Vanessa Kaukonen

The last time this young lady was here, she was barely walking, now she’s in her last year of Law School. What a world, and how glad I am to be part of it!

On Wednesday, Vanessa celebrated her 55th birthday. The hits just keep on coming. Vanessa is even more beautiful today than when I first met her, and that wasn’t yesterday! It’s been a fine week, all things told and this weekend is an ‘off’ weekend at the Ranch so I’m guessing yard work is in store, as soon as it dries up from the mega rain we had last night. In the meantime…

Onward!

Friday the 17th of March, we opened for our 20th year here at the Fur Peace Ranch. It has been such an odd winter… some really cold days, some really warm ones… lots of rain an not much snow. Weather… gotta love it. This weekend started out cold but wound up in the 50’s. Rainy and muddy… thinking about it… typical for Southeast Ohio. It was great having Jack back on site again and our annual Double Dose Class went well.

Saturday night Jack and I played a two set concert in the Station…

Hot Tuna 11, 2017
The Acoustic Duo
Jorma Kaukonen & Jack Casady
The Fur Peace Station
Darwin, Ohio
Saturday, March 18, 2017

First Set:
1. Ain’t In No Hurry
2. Second Chances
3. Hesitation Blues
4. What Are They Doing In Heaven Today?
5. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out
6. I See The Light
7. Candy Man
8. Watch The North Wind Rise
9. In The Kingdom
10. How Long Blues
11. San Francisco Bay Blues
Second Set:
1. Whining Boy Blues
2. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
3. That’ll Never Happen No More
4. Come Back Baby
5. Brother Can You Spare A Dime?
6. Sleep Song
7. Good Shepherd
8. Living In The Moment
9. Keep On Trucking Mama
10. Bar Room Crystal Ball
11. Water Song
12. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning
13. Encore: Genesis

We’ve got so many good things coming up this year… great classes an shows at the FPR, great gigs and tours coming up for me and Jack. Yeah, so far so good. Everyone is alive and well and you can’t ask for much more than that. Spring is here now and I look forward to some of this mud drying up.

Onward!

After coming home from Nashville there was lots of cleaning up around the Fur Peace Ranch that had to be done. Our good friend Smiles did most of it, of course, but I got my hands a little dirty. I brought a nagging chest cold back from Spokane with me and today is the first day that I’m really starting to feel normal… whatever that is. The girls and I took a killer hike in the hills for a couple of hours and I got some work done on my book. This coming week is the beginning of the 19th full season here at the Ranch and Jack and I will be teaching and doing the concert on Saturday night.

At this point in my life when so many of my friends and colleagues are starting to fall I must share with the universe the gratitude I feel just to be able to get up in the morning unassisted, not to mention all the other things I am still able to do. Life is good, most of the time and I cannot allow myself to take that for granted.

Spring break is over for the kids and Izze is back to school tomorrow with extracurricular activities abounding… Irish Dance, to Photography, to Piano… yep… we’re Izze’s Uber Service.

Jack will be in Wednesday night and even though it’s only been a month since we played together, I’ve missed the hang. Sub freezing temperatures here the last two days, but we barbecued dinner both nights.

Uneventful… but precious!

More will be revealed!

Last Tuesday, Phil and Myron and I drove my truck over to Charleston, West Virginia so I could open for Tedeschi/Trucks.

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Little did I know what was coming at the time. Over in Charleston, it was just bleak and raining.

Foto by Phil Jacobs

I was feeling a little under the weather, but playing with Susan and Derek is always a pleasure and an honor!

Jorma Kaukonen 1, 2017
Opening For Tedeschi/Trucks
Charleston Municipal Auditorium
Charleston, West Virginia
Feb. 28, 2017

1. Whining Boy Blues
2. That’ll Never Happen No More
3. Ain’t In No Hurry
4. Trial By Fire
5. Watch The North wind Rise
6. Barbeque King
7. Candy Man
8. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
9. San Francisco Bay Blues

I went back to the hotel after my set. I wanted to be rested and well for the Ryman!

As we were loading the truck on Wednesday morning the rain was blowing sideways. I got a call from Vanessa as a tornado was hitting the Fur Peace Ranch.

Selfie by Vanessa Kaukonen

It was frustrating for me not to be there, but I doubt if it would have changed anything. I thought it might be a derecho wind, but it wasn’t. I was a bona fide tornado! As we drove towards Nashville in crazy winds… the really crazy winds were at home.

Foto by Vanessa Kaukonen

You sure find our who your friends are when a disaster strikes. My heartfelt thanks to all who came to Vanessa’s aid in this moment of crisis!

While this was going one, we made it to Nashville and on Thursday, played our gig with the Gang ate the Ryman Theater.

After sound check we got to walk around a bit.

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Jorma Kaukonen 2, 2017
Opening For Tedeschi/Trucks
The Ryman
Nashville, Tennessee
Thursday, March 2, 2017

1. True Religion
2. Hesitation Blues
3. Come Back Baby
4. Been So Long
5. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
6. In My Dreams
7. How Long Blues
8. Sea Child
9. Good Shepherd
10. I Know You Rider

Foto by Myron Hart

I got to play The Sky Is Crying with Susan and Derek, then to bed and home to help pick up the pieces.

Things are getting back to normal… we took the dog and went for a hike behind Ginger’s place.

And time for relaxing at home.

More will be revealed…

On the way up to Grants Pass we passed the Oroville Dam… I can see why the evacuated the town. Uneventful for us though… and then we were at the Rogue Theater.

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Lots of great people have passed through Grants Pass and the Rogue.

Hot Tuna 6, 2017
The Acoustic Duo
Jorma Kaukonen And Jack Casady
The Rogue Theater
Grants Pass, Oregon
Wednesday, February 22, 2017

First Set:
1 Dime For Beer
2 Ain’t In No Hurry
3 Hesitation Blues
4 How Long Blues
5 Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
6 Barbeque King
7 Things That Might Have Been
8 Death Don’t Have No Mercy
9 San Francisco Bay Blues
10 Trial By Fire
11 Sleep Song
12 That’ll Never Happen No More
Second Set:
1 Genesis
2 The Terrible Operation
3 True Religion
4 I See The Light
5 Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
6 Come Back Baby
7 Watch The North Wind Rise
8 Sea Child
9 Good Shepherd
10 Candy Man
11 Brother Can You Spare A Dime
12 Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning
13 Encore: Keep On Trucking Mama

A good time had by all…

Then on to Portland and the Aladdin.

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Hot Tuna 7, 2017
The Acoustic Duo
Jorma Kaukonen And Jack Casady
The Aladdin Theater
Portland, Oregon
Thursday, February 23, 2017

First Set:
1. Too Many Years
2. Second Chances
3. Hesitation Blues
4. Been So Long
5. I’ll Be All Right Someday
6. Barbeque King
7. I Am The Light Of This World
8. 99 Year Blues
9. How Long Blues
10. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning
Second Set:
1. I See The Light
2. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
3. Brother Can You Spare A Dime?
4. Where There’s Two There’s Trouble
5. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
6. The Terrible Operation
7. Come Back Baby
8. In The Kingdom
9. Good Shepherd
10. Watch The North Wind Rise
11. I Know You Rider

Then on to Seattle…

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Time for a little dinner before the show… Pho, of course.

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Hot Tuna 8, 2017
The Acoustic Duo
Jorma Kaukonen And Jack Casady
Benaroya Hall
Seattle, Washington
Friday, February 24, 2017

First Set:
1. True Religion
2. Ain’t In No Hurry
3. Hesitation Blues
4. Wolves & Lambs
5. Barbeque King
6. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
7. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
8. Trial By Fire
9. Sea Child
10. Whining Boy
11. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning
Second Set:
1. Heart Temporary
2. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
3. Brother Can You Spare A Dime?
4. How Long Blues
5. Candy Man
6. Come Back Baby
7. Been So Long
8. The Terrible Operation
9. Watch The North Wind Rise
10. Good Shepherd
11. San Francisco Bay Blues
12. I Know You Rider
13. Encore: Genesis

Then a rockin’ drive over the Snoqualmie Pass to Spokane.

In Spokane were at a historic spot.

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Hot Tuna 9 & 10, 2017
The Acoustic Duo
Jorma Kaukonen And Jack Casady
Chateau Rive At The Flour Mill
Spokane, Washington
Saturday, February 25, 2017

First Show:
1. True Religion
2. Ain’t In No Hurry
3. Hesitation Blues
4. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
5. The Terrible Operation
6. Barbecue King
7. Heart Temporary
8. That’ll Never Happen No More
9. Sea Child
10. Trial By Fire
11. Whining Boy Blues
12. I See The Light
13. How Long Blues
14. San Francisco Bay Blues
15. Encore: Embryonic Journey
Second Show:
1. Dime For Beer
2. Been So Long
3. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
4. Brother Can You Spare A Dime
5. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
6. Come Back Baby
7. Candy Man
8. In My Dreams
9. Wolves & Lambs
10. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning
11. Living In The Moment
12. Watch The North Wind Rise
13. Sleep Song
14. Good Shepherd
15. Hesitation Blues
16. I Know You Rider
17. Encore: Re-Enlistment Blues

Then a very early airport call for the flight home.

Foto by Phil Jacobs

Then… beating feet for home!

Tomorrow I head on over to Charleston, West Virginia to play with Tedeschi/Trucks at the Charleston Municipal Auditorium. Looking forward to this as always.

Onward!

Larry Coryell
April 2, 1943—February 19, 2017

I was so sad to hear about Larry’s passing yesterday. Up at the Fur Peace Ranch we were all looking forward to sharing time with him later this year. He was going to teach and play a concert for us at the Fur Peace Station.

Larry and I go back a long, long time. I met him in New York City in 1966. It was one of the very early trips to NYC for the Airplane and we were staying at some ‘affordable’ hotel. It was either the Albert or the Van Rensselaer, I can’t remember. I think Mike Bloomfield introduced us and we became friends. As a musician Larry was light years ahead of me. I was just transitioning from folk music to rock and roll. The electric guitar and I were just getting to know each other. Larry graciously made this introduction attainable. He showed me lots of stuff I could never do, and some that I still do. Thanks buddy!

We reconnected about a decade ago when he graced us with his presence at the Fur Peace Ranch. One of the nice things about old friends is that no matter how long it has been since you saw each other, when you finally get together is seems as if it were only yesterday!

The second time Larry came to the Ranch, G.E.Smith was there too. I recall G.E. sitting in with Larry for a song or two. They did a version of Wichita Lineman I will never forget. Stunning!

There is never a good time for bad news and I was sorrowed to hear that Larry was gone. I will miss our occasional intersections but his spirit and friendship will live in my heart.

Fair winds and following seas brother… fair winds and following seas.

The last time I was in San Francisco I was devastated to find that my favorite noodle joint in the Kintetsu Center had gone under. Yep… the Mifune was gone. This time I was pleased to find that it was back in another location. A little different, but better than nothing.

Noodles… and then… The Fillmore!

Justin Guip flew in for this one and we got ready to play some music… standing up!

We’re always stoked to play… but this was our first electric gig for a while and we were really looking forward to it.

Hot Tuna 4, 2017
The Electric Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Justin Guip
The Fillmore Auditorium
Sunday, February 19, 2017

First Set:
1. Been So Long
2. Candy Man
3. Can’t Get Satisfied
4. Ode To Billy Dean
5. Trial By Fire
6. Watch The North Wind Rise
7. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
8. Come Back Baby
9. Bowlegged Woman
Second Set:
1. Ain’t In No Hurry
2. Hesitation Blues
3. I See The Light
4. Rock Me Baby
5. I Wish You Would
6. Sea Child
7. Sleep Song
8. Good Shepherd
9. Hit Single #1
10. Funky #7
11. Encore: Water Song

Jack and I have played the Fillmore since the stage was eighteen inches high… an honor then, and an honor now!

Then on a rainy Monday we drove up to Grass Valley and played the Center For The Arts. Jack and I have history up here in this part of California and it was great to be back… Another sold out show as was the Fillmore!

Hot Tuna 5, 2017
The Acoustic Duo
Jorma Kaukonen And Jack Casady
The Center For The Arts
Grass Valley, California
Monday, February 20, 2017

First Set:
1. Ain’t In No Hurry
2. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
3. Hesitation Blues
4. Things That Might Have Been
5. Candy Man
6. Barbeque King
7. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
8. How Long Blues
9. Sleep Song
10. Watch The North Wind Rise
11. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
12. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning
Second Set:
1. I See The Light
2. Whining boy Blues
3. Second Chances
4. San Francisco Bay Blues
5. Come Back Baby
6. I’ll Be All right Some Day
7. Brother an You Spare A Dime
8. Sea Child
9. Good Shepherd
10. The Terrible Operation
11. I Know You Rider
12. Encore: In My Dreams

Now we’re going to dodge Oroville and the dam… and head up to Grants Pass Oregon to the Rogue Theater.

More anon!

In 2001 a dear friend of mine and her then seven year old daughter were walking to school. They chanced to look up at Dad’s office there in the Twin Towers in time to see the first plane strike. In that microsecond Dad… and so many others were gone. They did not put a photo up down by the church… they did not have to. They knew where he was.

In the years that followed, the little girl grew to be a woman, but in that nanosecond back in 2001 the world changed for her in a profound way. The earth we inhabit would never be her home. Something broke, that would never be the same again. A week or so ago she chose to leave this life. It seemed it was a long time coming.

I have traveled quite a way in life and the times were not always good… yet I always felt there were better times on down the road. I believed my work on earth was not yet done. There is sadness in my heart to know that she did not live long enough to experience the ebb and flow of life. Perhaps for her it was always ebb. It is not for me to know this.

There is a profound sorrow in my heart to know that my young friend could never find peace on this side of the pale. Perhaps this is the way she needed to fly.

There are some broken things that can never be fixed.

‘Healing is the return of the memory of holiness…’

Deepak Chopra