Jorma Kaukonen's Online Diary

Yesterday some of the Pck 'n' Putters came in early so we could get a ride in before the weekend. We had a great ride yesterday and hope to get another one in today even though it is a little cloudy right now. Summer, guitars, motorcyles and the ability to still enjoy them all...

Priceless!

I'll admit it, it rained today but I think tomorrow is going to be OK for the big ride in the morning. Oteil, Bill Kirchen and Michael are all here and the folks are all terrific. I'm the overnight security at the Ranch tonight so I've got to lock up some buildings and get ready to get up at 0500. I'll admit it, it's past my bedtime but what are you going to do?

What a great gig!

What a weekend! Even though I had my computer with me at the Ranch, I was so busy with guitars and motorcycles I just didn't get around to keeping on top of things. Bill Kirchen's show Saturday was terrific and he even let me sit in on a couple of numbers. Yikes! Our Saturday ride was stellar... the Twin Rivers Run skirting the Muskingum and the Hocking... A little brisk but no rain. Sunday after student performance, we had another little run with only a few drops of rain.

It was great to see Michael Falzarano again as well as Bill and a great opportunity to get to know Oteil. Lot's of new friends and plenty of old.

Another one for the books...

Most of this week so far has been spent saying goodbye to campers and working with Myron to get ready for the upcoming tour. Tomorrow I'm going up to Akron for four days for Founder's Day. I've decided not to take my computer with me so I'm going to try to get some more writing in later today and then I'll be offline until late Sunday night or Monday morning.

In the meantime, it is a truly beautiful day here in the County. I've got a new gas grill to put together. the manual looks like a phone directory. I better get on it!

Wow... I'm home and back on line. What a great weekend, more constantly being revealed. For more detail on this subject, click on over to the Thoughts Page.

I'ts good to be home folks!

I spent the last two days mowing a number of acres with my tractor and then, yes, actually doing some hand mowing. I love riding the tractor, hand mowing doesn't do much for me. That said, when the jub was done, it just looked great. I could beg work mowing graveyards or ball parks. That's how good it looked. Has it come to this? When we were kids, I was an indentured servant to the little lawn around my our house in D.C. Now I look at my handiwork and pat myself on the back. Once again, who would have thought?

After the job was done, Ness and I went for a motorcycle ride down to the river and then a quiet evening at home. The calm before the storm, that's what we have going on today.

There's a camp this weekend. I'm not teach but I'll be in and out. I have a private workshop today and tomorrow and next week we hit the road.

That's about it for now. I have to get some material together for today's lesson.

So it goes!

When I awoke today I found a marvelously cool morning with a hot day in store waiting for me. As I walked the Chihuahua in the morning dew it was a moment of great serenity for man and little dog. The little guy is almost thirteen years old, but he is still a great friend and a bounding contender.

Yesterday after a workshop at the Ranch Vanessa and I rode our motorcycles into town for an Indian dinner. Indian food in Southeaast Ohio... who would have thought? There have been a lot of changes down here in the fifteen years we have been residents.

Today, after some breakfast it's back to the Ranch for the second day of the workshop. I'm really enjoying these sessions with Zak. He's a very bright and talented young man with a deep love for music well matched by his ability. Great stuff! For me, these days are the calm before the storm that is our summer touring schedule. Well, that storm won't come until next week, for now I hear some food calling my name.

Carpe diem!

In lieu of a Diary entry I went straight to the Thoughts Page. I'll simply say here that when someone asked me this morning how I was, I answered with complete honesty, 'Never better!'

...and so it goes.

Dawn rises eloquently as memories of the great show that Fareed, G.E. and DAvid Lindley put on list night replay in my mind. It was a packed house and I guarantee everone had a great time. I know we're on the right track when it all comes together like that.

I got an email from my old friend Paul up in Mass. this morning and in the spirit in which it was offered, I'd like to pass it onn:

'Hi Jorma,

I read these passages in a story in the AARP magazine of all places. I figured you would appreciate them.

"The friends who mean everything to us - the friends without whom our lives would be empty - are our most enduring models of grace and good fortune. When we lose them, we realize that our own lives have been filled to over-brimming with the grand, invisible gifts they have given us."

"There are a handful of people, during your lifetime, who know you well enough to understand when the right thing to say is to say nothing at all. Those people will be with you during your worst times. When you think you cannot bear that with which the world has hit you, their silent presence will be all you have, and all that matters."

See you soon,
Paul'

I think that says it all for me today.

Gotta walk the Chihuahua... onward... all of us.

What a weekend. Sometimes I find I'm just along for the ride, and what a ride it is. After being able to listen to Fareed, David Linley and G.E. for thelast couple of days as well as being able to cut some demos myself and ride my motorcycle every day, well... it was just superb. There is a saoking rain out this morning... no bike today. the plants will be glad though and maybe I'll have a chance to mow before the bus leaves on Wednesday. My time is filled with sequences of must do's and in some odd way that is comforting.

I'm going to head on over to the Ranch to have breakfast and say hello and goodbye to the folks. Another good one!

After some soul satisfying yard work yesterday, I started to pack my junk for the tour. The bus will be at the Ranch tonight and we leave in the morning. I find myself somewhat loathe to leave home right now and at the same time excited to be on the road playing again. Yep, I'm still nuts. that said, all things considered, it's not a bad set of opposites. Let's go!

And so it begins... I'm just finishing up a few last minute things here at Hillside and then it's off the the Ranch to meet the bus and head north. It's still a little overcast here at the Farm but it promises to be a scorcher today.

Now that I'm packed, I'm looking forward to this. More anon...

Here I am in the back of the bus for a moment as we set up for tonight's show. There are several pictures of Mom and Dad looking down on me in the back lounge of the bus. They view me from the twilight of their lives as I sit here in the afternoon of mine. Such is the human condition of family.

It was a long day yesterday for a number of reasons none of which are important today, but here we are as the tour begins. More on the show later tonight.

Well the first show of the tour went remarkably well and I think a good time was had by all. Here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 14, 2006
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
Barry Mitterhoff & Erik Diaz
Sellersville Theater
Sellersville, Pennsylvania
Thursday, June 22, 2006

Acoustic Set:
1. New Song For The Morning
2. Big River Blues
3. More Than My Old Guitar
4. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
5. Parchman Farm
6. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning
7. Preaching On The Old Camp Ground
8. Breadline Blues
9. Come Back Baby
10. I See The Light
11. Hesitation Blues

Electric Set:
1. Serpent Of Dreams
2. Soliloquy For 2
3. Talking ‘Bout You
4. Ode To Billy Dean
5. In The Kingdom
6. Living Just For You
7. Can’t Get Satisfied
8. Bowlegged Woman
9. Corners Without Exits
10. Trial By Fire
11. Rock Me Baby
12. Hit Single #1
13. Funky #7

We ran into the curfew so there was no time for an encore but all in all, it augers well. Tmorrow's going to be another busy day. It's off to the arms of morpheus.

this is going to be very short... it's been a really long day. It culminated magnificently though in our show with David Bromberg. I sat in with David on his acoustic set and he with our electric. I don'w have the acoustic list but here is the electric one:

Hot Tuna 15, 2006
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
Barry Mitterhoff & Erik Diaz
The Ram’s Head Live
Baltimore, Maryland
Friday, June 23, 2006

1. I Wish You Would
2. Day To Day Out the Window Blues
3. Can’t Get Satisfied
4. Ode To Billy Dean
5. Been So Long
6. Soliloquy For 2
7. Talking Bout You
8. Corners Without Exits
9. I’ll Take You Back with David Bromberg
10. Bowlegged Woman with David
11. Living Just For You with David
12. 99 Year Blues with David
13. Baby What You Want Me to Do? with David
14. Encore: Baby What You Want Me To Do

What a time! great music for us at the least. now to bed.

Another short note. The gigs with David Bromberg are so enjoyable. Last night in David's set he played with Barry and Jack and then called me out. It was all about the music as it should be. The electric set has been growing too and just keeps getting better and better. I don't have the set list with me right now in the hotel room, but when we get to Asbury Park I'll get back on line and update it.

Onward!

On the road update. Here is our set list from last night:

Hot Tuna 16, 2006
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
Barry Mitterhoff, Erik Diaz
With David Bromberg
Westbury Music Fair
Westbury, Long Island
Saturday, June 24, 2006

1. True Religion
2. Trial By Fire
3. Talking ‘Bout You
4. Ode To Billy Dean
5. Been So Long
6. Corners Without Exits
7. Funky # 7
8. I’ll Take You Back with David Bromberg
9. Bowlegged Woman with David
10. Living Just For You
11. Walking Blues

NIce... very nice. More after tonight's show.

Last night at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park was the last of our trio of dates with my old pal David Bromberg and his friends. We truly loved this little interlude with David. To be able to play music with friends is truly a priceless moment. Here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 17, 2006
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
Barry Mitterhoff & Erik Diaz
With
David Bromberg
The Stone Pony
Asbury Park, New Jersey
Sunday, June 25, 2006

1. Day To Day Out The Window Blues
2. Corners Without Exits
3. Can’t Get Satisfied
4. Ode To Billy Dean
5. In The Kingdom
6. Talkin’ Bout You
7. Funky # 7
8. Driving Wheel with David Bromberg, Nancy and Jen
9. Living Just For You with David Bromberg
10. Walking Blues with David Bromberg
11. Baby What You Want Me To Do? with David Bromberg
12. Encore: Bowlegged Woman with David Bromberg

Today is a 'day off' such as it is. I've got some work to do for a new CD I'm planning and maybe I'll take an afternoon nap.

What a concept? Onward!

We actually had a day off on Monday. Vanessa and Phil and I drove up to Saco to visit Vanessa's sister, eat some seafood and walk on the beach a little. It was overcast but it just couldn't have been nicer. Yesterday morning as I was in the shower I heard Vanessa yelling 'Fire!' from the room. At first I thought it was something outside but when I came out our desk lamp was on fire and the room was filled with smoke. The smoke detector didn't even go off. Confidence inspiring to say the least. The good news was that no one got hurt and the better news is that we had a rocking night at the Stone Church. Here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 18, 2006
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
Barry Mitterhoff & Erik Diaz
The Stone Church
Newmarket, New Hampshire
Tuesday, June 27, 2006

First Show:
1. True Religion
2. Day To Day Out The Window Blues
3. I Wish You Would
4. Can’t Get Satisfied
5. Been So Long
6. Trial By Fire
7. Ode To Billy Dean
8. Talkin’ Bout You
9. Living Just For You
10. Embryonic Journey
11. 99 Year Blues
12. Hit Single #1
13. Encore: Come Back Baby

Second Show:
1. Serpent Of Dreams
2. In The Kingdom
3. Rock Me Baby
4. Bowlegged Woman
5. Sea Child
6. Soliloquy For 2
7. I Know You Rider
8. Can’t Get Satisfied
9. Walkin’ Blues
10. Corners Without Exits
11. Funky #7
12. Encore: Baby What You Want Me To do

It was one of our best nights for sure. Now we're off to Bridgefield, Conn. and we're leaving within the hour so here I go.

Where's breakfast?

Man was I bushed at the end of last night. Still and all we had a great show. Here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 19, 2006
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
Barry Mitterhoff & Erik Diaz
The Ridgefield Playhouse
Ridgefield, Connecticut
Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Acoustic Set:
1. Re-Enlistment Blues
2. Blue Railroad Train
3. How Long Blues
4. I’ll let You Know Before I Leave
5. I See The Light
6. Heart Temporary
7. Come Back Baby (the Lightnin’ Version)
8. Bread Line Blues
9. Preaching On The Old Camp Ground
10. Good Shepherd

Electric Set:
1. Soliloquy For 2
2. Living Just For You
3. Ode To Billy Dean
4. Can’t Get Satisfied
5. Sea Child
6. Embryonic Journey
7. Talkin’ ‘Bout You
8. Rock Me Baby
9. Corners Without Exits
10. 99 Year Blues
11. Funky #7
12. Hit Single #1
13. Encore: Come Back (our version)

It's almost 0900 an I just got up. Wow, what a difference a little sleep makes, I think. Last night we had some friends from before the day visiting. These are good things. Any friend is good, but old ones now where you have not only been, but where you come from.

Bus time...

We just finished our show at the Music Hall in Tarrytown. I full acoustic set and almost a two hour electric one. I have to say I'm a little tuckered out as I sit on the bus and wait for us to start driving to Lowell, Mass. It was a rocker, but I'm going to sleep well tonight, bus sleep or not. Anway, here is our swet list:

Hot Tuna 20, 2006
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
Barry Mitterhoff & Erik Diaz
The Tarrytown Music Hall
Tarrytown, New York
Thursday, June 29, 2006

Acoustic Set:
1. That’ll Never Happen No More
2. More Than My Old Guitar
3. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
4. Parchman Farm
5. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning
6. Prohibition Blues
7. Preaching On the Old Camp Ground
8. I See The Light
9. I Am The Light Of This World
10. Just Because

Electric Set:
1. I Wish You Would
2. Ode To Billy Dean
3. True Religion
4. Sea Child
5. Bowlegged Woman
6. Talkin’ ‘Bout You
7. Been So Long
8. Living Just For You
9. Can’t Get Satisfied
10. Rock Me Baby
11. Corners Without Exits
12. Walking Blues
13. Hit Single #1
14. Funky #7
15. Encore: Baby What You Want Me to Do?

Well, two more days of shows and then a day off. As much as I lake to play, i can't say I'm not looking forward to a day of nothing. And now... my bunk calls.