Jorma Kaukonen's Online Diary

Our friend Sergio has been our promoter here for ten years. How the time flies. We have gotten to know his family and his team and indeed, I always look forward to seeing and working with them all. We will be leaving the Cesena area today, but we will remember the times we have shared and look forward to the next time. We have two more gigs here in Italy and then it is home on Monday. There is nothing like working with old friends... except maybe making new ones. Anyway, time to turn off the computer and close up the bags.

Genoa here we come!

The show in Genoa was completely sold out. His Holiness, the Pope, passed away at 2140, just as we were taking the stage. What Are They Doing In Heaven Today? is dedicated to his memory. And so it goes... Here is our set list from tonight:

Hot Tuna 34, 2005

Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady

& Barry Mitterhoff

Genoa, Italy

Saturday, April 02, 2005

 

1.               That’ll Never Happen No More

2.               Big River Blues

3.               Waiting For A Train

4.               Hesitation Blues

5.               Red River Blues

6.               I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave

7.               Prohibition Blues

8.               How Long Blues

9.               Parchman Farm

10.         Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning

11.         Heart Temporary

12.         Uncle Sam Blues

13.         99 Year Blues

14.         I Am The Light Of This World

15.         What Are They Doing In Heaven Today?

16.         Just Because

17.         Encore: San Francisco Bay Blues

We don't have to check out until noon tomorrow so I'm going to write some more when I get up. I forgot the name of the venue... I'll fix that then tomorrow too.

What a fantastic month this has been. Every job was great! You just can't ask for more in this line of work. The Maison Musique was a grand little world unto itself and a great place to put this this puppy to bed. Here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 35, 2005

Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady

& Barry Mitterhoff

Maison Musique

Turin, Italy

Sunday, April 03, 2005

 

1. True Religion

2. Blue Railroad Train

3. I’m Free From The Chain Gang Now

4. Death Don’t Have No Mercy

5. Do Not Go Gentle

6. Serpent Of Dream

7. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave

8. Bread Line Blues

9. Blues Stay Away From Me

10. That’ll Never Happen No More

11. Living In The Moment

12. Good Shepherd

13. Genesis

14. Hesitation Blues

15. Encore: 9 Pound Hammer

Barry and Jack were sharp as tack... as always. OK, so superlatives are boring. We're going to be up in two hours to head into Milan for the flight home. Before I sign off another thought crossed my mind. In 1955 the Kaukonen family stopped in Turin to pick up their new Fiat Millecento Turismo Veloce... ah those were some days... and this is some bed.

I woke up yesterday at 0430 in the little hotel behind the Maison de Musique and we drove to Malpensa in Milan. Everything at the airport went remarkably painlessly. I thought of the great 3 weeks we had in France... the new friends we made... our new buddy Tilo who I hope to be able to show around or corner of the world sometime... The great week in Italy with our old friends... an arrivederci to our pal Alberto some time in the airport and an eight and a half hour trip in the big bird to Kennedy in New York. In New York, it became immediately apparent that we were back in the States. When I cleared customs the agent there recognized me in a distant way and welcomed me home.

Before I knew it, I was through the transfer line and on a little commuter jet as Myron and I beat feet for the Buckeye. An hour and fifteen minutes later there we were back in the Buck and there was Vanessa waiting for me. What a welcome sight. The next welcome sight was when she suggested that we stop for a burger at Wendy's. After all the great food we ate for the last month... the Wendy's #2 combo sounded like desert. Odd... but true. Two hours later we wound our way through this hills of Southeast Ohio, dropped Myron off at his pad and headed for Hillside Farm. I'm up early, obviously... my clock is six hours off, but it sure is great to be home. From my point of view, everything we did, everyone we met, everywhere we went was simply spectacular. Still and all, there's no place like home!

The weather for my first day home was fantastic... the weather was perfect so Vanessa and I took the day off and out came the Harleys for an all day ride. With temperatures in the 80's it just couldn't have been more perfect. I managed to stay awake until 2200 so I'm almost back on American time. The Ranch opens this weekend so I'm going to head over there right now to do some prep work.

Today is our opening day at the Ranch. There's me, Michael Falzarano, John Cephas, Ernie Hawkins and Tommy Emanuel... Mose Allison is playing tomorrow night with John Cephas and on Sunday Tommy Plays at the Station. It's a little overcast today, but I am really excited to be home and believe it or not, it is our eighth season at the Ranch. Well, gotta get over there and star pickin.' More anon...

We were graced with beautiful weather... the hills are ringing with guitars... I walked around surrounded by music and thought, 'This is a nice reality to be surrounded by!'

Time for a dog walk, a quick shower and back to the Ranch.

Last night John Cephas played at the Fur Peace Station and his show was as brilliant as I expected. As if that weren't good enough, Mose Allison came on with his trio and did a stellar two hour show. We have been trying to get Mose at the Station for a while and it was worth the wait. I've been a fan since I was a senior in high school (that wasn't yesterday folks) and he didn't let me down with songs both old and new. Well, it's already 0830 and I gotta get back the Ranch for the Sunday session.

The opening weekend at the Ranch was unbelievable...Thanks go to Ernie Hawkins, Michael Falzarano, Tommy Emanuel, John Cephas and of course all the great folks who showed up. Tommy's show last night was stellar. I mean, he's always great, but last night he really touched my heart. The music, the fellowship, the great spring weather.... and yes... the food... yow! I have to get over to the Ranch now for the final workshop, but I'm going to write more later.

Boy, the time is flying by at an alarming rate. We're already getting ready for our second camp weekend... this time with Barry Mitterhoff, Jack Casady and myself... with an acoustic and electric Hot Tuna concert at the Station. Spring is rolling on... kids are growing... I'm getting older... What else is new? As I look out my window, the hardwood forest shows a sprinkling of light green everywhere. I mowed the dog's area for the first time yesterday and today I have to take the plow off the tractor. Yes, it's true... It's probably not going to snow any more this year. With this in mind I strum a few chords on the old guitar, put it back in the case and head for the shower

The weather is holding beautifully. Chilly at night, warm during the day... low humidity. What a concept for Southeast Ohio. I went up to Columbus and got Barry Thursday evening... Jack was already here. The workshops are going well and tonight we have our first electric Hot Tuna show since February. It's going to be fun to be back in the Station and I'll give a report when I get in tonight. Now for the Ranch... and some bagels and lox.

The weekend has been unfolding magnificently. Erik came down from Akron to play with us last night and even though we hadn't played an electric set since February, we rocked out. Jack had some problems with his gear in the beginning of the acoustic set and we needled each other lovingly while he and Myron sorted things out. By the time the electric set rolled around, everything had smoothed out and all we had to do was to play. Here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 36, 2005

Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady

Barry Mitterhoff & Erik Diaz

The Fur Peace Station

Darwin, Ohio

Saturday, April 16, 2005

 

Acoustic Set:

 

1. Blue Railroad Train

2. Waiting For A Train

3. Parchman Farm

4. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning

5. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave

6. Blues Stay Away From Me

7. Prohibition Blues

8. That’ll Never Happen No More

9. Heart Temporary

10. 99 Year Blues

 

Electric Set:

1. Can’t Get Satisfied

2. I Wish You Would

3. Corners Without Exits

4. Serpent Of Dreams

5. Rock Me Baby

6. Living Just For You

7. Bowlegged Woman

8. Water Song

9. Hit Single # 1

10. Funky # 7

11. Encore: Come Back Baby

We did a 75 minute acoustic show and a 90 minute electric one. I have to admit the bed felt great when I got home about 0100. Anyway, I'm up and at'em and it's off to the Ranch for the Sunday duties.

Our second Ranch weekend was absolutely outstanding. Beautiful weather, great folks and great music. Later in the evening we went for some sushi with Barry, Jason and Dan in Athens and shortly thereafter home, and a much needed rest. Barry and I headed into Athens to the community center at 0630 this morning and after an hour or so of sweating to the hits we went to the Casa for breakfast where we saw all my pals from the Blue Eagle. Now back at Hillside, Barry is going to give me a mandolin lessons and we're going to prepare for our gig tomorrow in Yellow Springs. By the way, it's another beautiful day and the red bud is on fire.

More anon...

We started driving to Greene County yesterday about 1430... picked up John and Myron (Barry was with us) and off we went. The ride out on Rt. 50 through Macarthur involved passing lumber trucks but then from Chillicothe out on Rt. 35 the splendor of the rich farmland was undeniable. Driving down from Xenia to Yellow Springs on 68 I remarked that a lot had changed in the last 46 years since I first drove that road. Where do those half centuries go?

Peaches was next to the old train station on the bike path... where my favorite old burger joint used to be. It was a nice club run by some really nice people and the food was great. Burp... Fortunately, unlike Italy, we didn't have to play fifteen minutes after we ate. The joint was packed with folks of all ages... which is always good. Here is our set list:

Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff 2, 2005

Peaches Grill

Yellow Springs, Ohio

Wednesday, April 20, 2005

 

 Set 1:

1.               Big River Blues

2.               Waiting For A Train

3.               How Long Blues

4.               I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave

5.               Parchman Farm

6.               Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning

7.               Do Not Go Gentle

8.               Bread Line Blues

9.               I See The Light

10.         Uncle Sam Blues

11.         That’ll Never Happen No More

12.         Blue Railroad Train

13.         I’m Free From The Chain Gang Now

14.         Prohibition Blues

15.         Embryonic Journey

16.         Good Shepherd

17.         I Am The Light Of This World

18.         Just Because

19.         Encore: Hesitation Blues

It was a late show and Barry headed out to a hotel near the Dayton airport while we drove home getting to bed about 0300. A splash of the past, a dash of the present and a gently raining morning here at Hillside.

Last night we went to Marietta for an infant CPR class at the Red Cross. It's good to know I can still learn things and pass tests. It's beautifully green outside right now, but they say there may be snow this weekend. What's up with that? Anyway, I've got a short trip to NY in store, and as always, more will be revealed.

We come up to the North East to visit some friends and take care of some business. Usually when I drive myself, we make the trip in well under ten hours but this time we were beset by weather in the form of fog and rain and as we got into Pennsylvania, traffic and endless construction. We wound up driving through Manhattan where there was less traffic than there was on the highway. 2300 and the streets with people doing New York things in the rain. Boy, for cities, you just can't beat New York. The stress of the drive disappeared as we drive through NYC. What an interesting concept. Anyway, we're here... we're happy... and we're going to ride the subway. This beats Six Flags any time!

We took Ness' car out of the garage yesterday and drove into Manhattan to visit friends. We drove here, drove there... searched for parking places... had a really good time but resolved to take public transportation this morning when we went in to go to Temple. It is quite an experience for me to come here and not be working all the time. I mean we're working too on this trip but there is actually time for socializing.

OK, the day is upon me and I have to seek out some coffee. More later!

Last night Vanessa and I celebrated Passover with good friends in New York. It was a truly wonderful evening filled with tradition, love of family and spiritual awakening. Wait, I almost forgot... the food was unbelievable too. It was a moment of true serenity for me. Today I am heading into town to do some writing with Gerard. This book writing business is not for the faint of heart or for chronic procrastinators. I'll report in later after I see how it feels to squeeze my head all day.

To the streets!

We spent all day in meetings in NYC yesterday... cabbing... training... going here, going there. We really got a lot done... the agency, record companies... real NY stuff. It was late when we got back to the hotel and we had a delicious Chinese dinner at Shanghai Joes in Flushing... Later than I would have liked to have eaten, but you have to eat. Anyway, we're up and heading to Manchester, Connecticut to meet Cousin Audrey and go to the cemetery where my Grandfather's family is buried.

More later from the Constitution State.

What a day this has been! We came up here to Connecticut to meet Cousin Isabel and Cousin Audrey who took us to the cemetery in Ellington where the taproots of my family are buried. My Grandfather Ben, who meant so much to me was there... I was able to pay my respects and put a pebble on his stone. My Grandmother's name was there... my Mother's... and so many names from the stories. My Great-grandfather Shmuel and his wife Gittel... and so much more. I'm taking notes for some more lengthy writing that I will post on my Thoughts page down the road, but I just wanted to share a little of this. After the cemetery we stopped by the old Shul. The smells, the visions... the Torah scribed by my Great-grandfather... it was quite the moment.

Well, there's going to be more in store from Audrey and Isabel... we're going to put a little web page together that will be accessible from here. As I said, it's been quite a day and we are all smiles.

You can't make this stuff up!

Through torrential rains Vanessa and I went in search of her family yesterday. After a stop at the cemetery in Rocky Hill we crossed the state to Gaylordsvilles. What beautiful country that is. The little town is even smaller than Pomeroy so after a quick stop at the Post Office for directions it was easy to find the quiet hillside where the Morningside cemetery lay. After a quick call to Ness' Mom and some looking, we found her Grandparent's headstones. The rain had stopped for a bit and a light fog washed over the hill. After a bit of quiet meditation as we headed back to car, four fawns ran broke into our field of vision and dashed through the stones and into the forest. 'The Baer family saying hello,' Ness told me.

Back in Manchester we got together for another dinner with Isabel and Audrey and after a great evening of sharing thoughts and feelings we parted, vowing to meet again. Oh yes, here is the URL of the little Shul in Ellington... http://www.ellingtonshul.org

Well, we're getting ready to head on down to D.C. for a couple of days so I'll check back in later. What a grand journey this has been!

The trip down to the D.C. area was pretty much the way it is driving from New England down to I-95 and on into the D.C. area. Lots of traffic at the Cross Bronx and onto the George Washington Bridge but otherwise uneventful. After a brief stop at Mike's Famous Harley shop in Wilmington, Delaware we made it to Bethesda. We went out to dinner last night at an Afghan Resteraunt and then hit the sack.

Today, we're going to pick up my son Zack at his school and he is going to spend the night with us. We're taking a parenting workshop called 'The Soul Of Discipline' over at the Waldorf School so this should be interesting. This certainly is a week of family, living and dead... and of course, more will be revealed.