Jorma Kaukonen's Online Diary

Ah, home from Merlefest. I'm working on some stuff for the Thoughts Page. Hopefully that will be up later today. In the meantime, Merlefest was a complete blessing as always. Old friends and new... spiritual and musical heaven. Yesterday morning we had a set at the Hillside Stage... Blues for Breakfast it was. Here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 13, 2006
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Barry Mitterhoff
Merlefest
Wilkesboro, N.C.
Blues For Breakfast
The Hillside Stage
Sunday, April 30, 2006

1. New Song For The Morning
2. I Belong To The Band
3. Blues Stay Away From Me
4. How Long Blues
5. Prohibition Blues
6. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
7. I See The Light
8. A Life Well Lived

After lunch I hung with Book Binder and some of his pals for a little fingerstyle workshop and then we headed for home. Five hours later I was back here in the county. It's always nice to be home... but I brought some gredat memories with me this time!

More anon...

A tunnel of green wrapped around my truck as I drove over thed hill tonight on my way home. The hills were rosy twilight wrapped in tendrils to toolie fog. I just love this time of year.

After a great dinner with Vanessa and Roy Book Binder down at the river, the drive home was just perfect.

A peaceful evening, and tomorrow camp at the FPR.

We're having a beautiful weekend. Pete Huttlinger, Roy Book Binder, Patrick Sweany and myself are holding court. Tonight, blue Highway is coming in to play our Saturday show and pete is opening. It's going to be a great evening! I'lve got to get som tab together for the afternoon class... more about the shows later!

The show last night was Stellar. Pete Huttlinger was tastefully dazzling. This was the first time I had seen Pete live, and it was a real treat.

I've been a Blue Highway fan for some time now but I'd never seen them live either. What a great bunch of guys... a great bunch of players and singers and generally speaking, a great evening of music and entertainment.

The workshops this session have been great, the concert last night was terrific, the weather's been fine... and well, what else could one want.

More anon...

Another great weekend at the Ranch over. I just said goodbye to Roy and I came home to mow the dog pen. That done, I'm heading over to the Thoughts Page and make an entry in memory of mom.

Onward...

Yesterday was beautiful and Vanessa and I took advantage of a day off by going canoeing on Dow Lake. We had a fantastic paddle and when we go t hope we spent the rest of the day piddling around in the yard.

Today, my bud Jerry and I Spent the morning riding and mapping out our Pick 'n' Putt run. This year we will be featuring the Fur Peace Ranch 2006 Pick 'n' Put Twin River Run featuring the Muskingum and the Hocking. This could be one of our best plans... and they've all been good so far.

Anyway, I got home just before the weather turned and now I'm getting ready to head for New Jersey tomorrow.

Onward.

We were running around so much this weekend I didn't have a chance to update my diary, so here I am better somewhat late than never. The show we did for Lori Rocker's horse rescue folks was a grand success... at least from our point of view. Hopefully they made a bunch of money for the ponies and the good folks who take care of them.

Saturday night at the Bearsville Theater we had a great show after one of the best steaks I have ever eaten. This steak was to be found next door at the Bear. Hmmm... Anyway here are our set lists for the two days.

Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff 18
The Bearsville Theater
Woodstock, N.Y.
Saturday, May 13, 2006

Set One:
1. Big River Blues
2. How Long Blues
3. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
4. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
5. Do Not Go Gentle
6. I See The Light
7. I’m Free From The Chain Gang Now
8. Come Back Baby
9. Embryonic Journey
10. Trial By Fire
11. Waiting For A Train
12. I Know You Rider

Set Two:
1. Blue Railroad Train
2. More Than My Old Guitar
3. I Belong To the Band
4. Parchman Farm
5. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning
6. Bread Line Blues
7. Uncle Sam Blues
8. Good Shepherd
9. 3rd Week In the Chelsea
10. San Francisco Bay Blues
11. Encore: Genesis


Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff 17
Livestock
Bernardsville, New Jersey
Friday, May 12, 2006

Set One:
1. I Know You Rider
2. New Song For the Morning
3. Parchman Farm
4. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning
5. More Than My Old Guitar
6. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
7. Living In the Moment
8. Good Shepherd
9. Prohibition Blues
10. Red River Blues

Set Two:
1. Tom Cat Blues
2. Serpent Of Dreams
3. Heart Temporary
4. Bread Line Blues
5. Preaching On The Old Camp Ground
6. Come Back Baby
7. Search My Heart
8. Hesitation Blues
9. I Belong To The Band
10. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
11. A Life Well Lived
12. Just Because
13. Encore: Blue Railroad Train

The stormy weather disappeared Friday long enough for the show and it was merely a little chilly on Saturday. Yesterday was Mother's Day of course so lot's of love to all you Mom's out there.

After a quick breakfast at the hotel, Myron and I drove six hundred and fifty miles home just in time for Sopranos. By the way, Barry was simply outstanding this weekend. I love playing with that guy. Well... gotta go catch up on my email.

The rain has been falling off and on, mostly on, since the weekend. It's OK, we need it. It's only Wednesday but I'm already starting to get ready for the weekend at the Ranch. Yes, I'm preparing in advance. Roger McGuinn and I are doing the show at the Station Saturday night and needless to say, I'm excited about that.

I've been doing my online diary and related stuff for four years now. I started out doing it all myself and as the site grew it became apparent that the logistical considerations were way over my head. I started this thing before the word 'blog' existed... to my knowledge. To be honest with you all, I still don't know what it means but I am going to research it today... and here's why. We got an email from one of our efriends out there who was been requesting web log form whatever that is. I guess this request is is a good thing. It would seem to mean that people read my site so I'm going to look into it. If this is going to cost me a bunch of money to have someone else take care of this, it probably won't happen, but that's not a given either. We'll see.

I am loving my new Canon EOS 30 single lens reflex and I almost know how it works... kinda. This means that I'm looking forward to getting some new pictures up on the site within the next week or so. These time saving devices sure take up a lot of time.

Yow! Well outside the trees are lush and green, I'm going to have to mow again soon and at least I know how to do that. Technical frustrations notwithstanding, life is still totally happening!

This is truly a time of passage. Ramrod, my old buddy who was such an important member of the Grateful Dead family died this morning. We knew it was coming, but it was still a shock. We rarely saw each other anymore, but we were friends and I will miss him and his light of contentment.

I was on my way to meet with some friends last night and Vanessa called me to tell me that my friend Teo Leyasmeyer who books me in the Boston area had died suddenly. Last Thursday we were negotiating a date and Tuesday he was dead. A great musician in his own right he played keys with Johnny Copeland and Freddy King and Buddy Guy and countless others. I knew him back when he was a full time musician but I really got to know him when he started booking us at the House Of Blues in Boston. He was such a great guy. I always looked forward to seeing him on our trips to New England. His wife was frequently there to help with amenities and it just all felt like family. He leaves behind his lady and two young daughters. This is so sad.

I also heard just today that Gary Blackman, the author of the After Bathing At Baxter’s poem and the nose solo on the album of the same name died last month of a massive heart attack. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family as well. What a day for thoughts and prayers.

I am truly grateful for the blessing of today!

This is truly a time of passage. Ramrod, my old buddy who was such an important member of the Grateful Dead family died this morning. We knew it was coming, but it was still a shock. We rarely saw each other anymore, but we were friends and I will miss him and his light of contentment.

I was on my way to meet with some friends last night and Vanessa called me to tell me that my friend Teo Leyasmeyer who books me in the Boston area had died suddenly. Last Thursday we were negotiating a date and Tuesday he was dead. A great musician in his own right he played keys with Johnny Copeland and Freddy King and Buddy Guy and countless others. I knew him back when he was a full time musician but I really got to know him when he started booking us at the House Of Blues in Boston. He was such a great guy. I always looked forward to seeing him on our trips to New England. His wife was frequently there to help with amenities and it just all felt like family. He leaves behind his lady and two young daughters. This is so sad.

I also heard just today that Gary Blackman, the author of the After Bathing At Baxter’s poem and the nose solo on the album of the same name died last month of a massive heart attack. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family as well. What a day for thoughts and prayers.

I am truly grateful for the blessing of today!

Indeed, I have a great class of over achievers this weekend. Lots of fun being had by all and more notes than, well, you know. The weather finally broka and yesterday was stunning... as today looks like it will be. It should be a good day for a walk in the woods.

Last night Roger McGuinn and I did a sold out show at the Station. I went on first and did my solo thing. It's the first time in a long time I've really played solo and it brought back a lot of memories of when that's all I would do. Here is my set list:

Jorma Kaukonen 1, 2006
An Evening With Jorma
& Roger McGuinn
Fur Peace Station
Darwin, Ohio
Saturday, May 20, 2006

1. I Know You Rider
2. More Than My Old Guitar
3. Come Back Baby
4. I’ll Be All Right Some Day
5. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
6. That’ll never Happen No More
7. Heart Temporary
8. Uncle Sam Blues
9. Living In the Moment
10. Hesitation Blues

After a short break, Roger went on and took us all for an incredible journey through time. The house was completely sold out and for most of us, his songs were part of the soundtrack of our lives. Really good stuff... what a night!

On this note, I've got to get some breakfast and prepare for my morning class.

What a time!

What a weekend this has been! A great bunch of instructors... the concert Saturday night with Roger McGuinn and of course all the wonderfull campers. The weather broke for us on Saturday and was simply beautiful. Yesterday started out cloudy but wound up with blue sky and this morning is beautiful again.

Last night after dinner, Sally Van Meter, Geoff Acheson, Ed Gerhard and myself put on a little impromptu show at the Station. This was another one of those moments that reinforced why I got into the music game in the first place. The shear joy of playing music with friends is unmatched. We did a round robin with solo stuff as well as jams. Before we knew it almost two hours had passed and there we were. It doesn't get much better than that.

It was worth missing Sopranos for!

I don't know what it was this weekend, I just came out of the whole thing feeling somewhat fulfilled. Even though we all put in a lot of hours it was just so much fun playing and sharing things. It was like playing music in the old days, before Hot Tuna, before the Airplane... back when life was simple, simply because we were young. After the dust settled at the Ranch and everyone left, we got together over at Hurlbut's place for a BBQ with friends and the fellowhip just continued.

I'm going to DC tomorrow to ride the bus with my son and his little pals on some sort of field trip. You full time parents out there will get a chuckle out of this I'm sure. This will be an experience I haven't had before. If I survive the museum trip I'll be bringing Zack back to Ohio for the Memorial Day weekend and weather permitting we have some boating in store.

Man, what a collection of odd blessings! Who would have thought? Now it's off to town to do some voiceovers for our WOUB NPR radio show and then who knows?

More anon...

Up bright and early this morning and off to school with Zack to be part of the 'responsible' parent team on board the bus. Yes folks, we rode the bus! Three hours later we returned to school with the kids. they were gentle with us, but still I say, 'Only the strong survive!'

Three thirty baack to school for Zack's soccer practice and now we're back at the hotel and he's doing his homework unbidden. He didn't get that from me... that's for sure. What a great day!

I need a nap...

We got Zack to school a little early this and had a chance to meet with his teacher for a bit. This is good stuff. We got some homework assignments for the Memorial Day weekend and we'll be there to pick him up at 1130 today and spring him a little early so we can beat feet back to Ohio.

We have lots of fun stuff planned for the weekend. I've got a cone trip in the offing and plenty of PFD's to go around. (That's Personal Flotation Devices.) Wow. OK... gotta finish packing up and head back to the school.

Just a short note to show that I can actually occasionally get on line when my son is with me. Barry kids me about that. Anyway, Zack is taking a bath right now so here I am for a moment. We went to see Over The Hedge tonight. I love this movie. I need to see more 'kid' movies... and with that I have to go and see if there is a naval battle going on in the tub.

First of all, a hearty thanks from me to those Americans who served, serve now and who will serve. On this Memorial Day I thank you all!

My son Zack has been with us for the Memorial Day weekend. Of course at the Farm there are lots of things to do but yester4day, we went up to Burr Oak Lake with some friends, took my canoe, rented a pontoon boat and spent the whole day on the lake swimming, fishing, canoeing, eating and basically enjoying the day we siezed. I'm so behind in my picture gallery but sometime in the near future (I hope) I'll be posting some new pictures. There's some great ones of Zack driving the boat. The fish were biting, the sun was shining and in that moment, all was right with the world. I'm up a little before him right now or I wouldn't have the time to write this. What a concept! Now it's back to the house to cook some breakfast so it will be ready when he gets up.

Happy Memorial Day all!