Jorma Kaukonen's Online Diary

This entry will take only seconds to read. We spent our New Year's Eve with our friends the Morgans and other like minded spirits. Zach, Izze, Vanessa and I were home in time to watch the ball drop in Time's Square at midight. Where do the seconds go much less minutes, hours and years?

2007 is history and we're off to 2008. May the year bring nothing but the best to all of you out there!

Well, it's 2008 all right. Now if I can remember to write that instead of 2007. The big freeze of the last couple of days is passing and the weather is warming up. We had quite a bit of snow but it is all turning to slush. Ah, mud... it's what we're all about down here in the winter, most of the time. I spent the afternoon working on some Hank Williams songs abd biw U see a Chihuahua trying to get my attention. Yep, the little guy wants to hit the slush for a bit and who am I to deny him.

The year is starting out well... all five days of it. It's a drop in the bucket, but I'll take it. Onward...

Listen up folks! The New York Guitar Festival is coming up again and Mr. Spelman has pressed yours truly into service as 'Artist In Residence.' Well. I seem to be involved in four weeks of shows. If you go to the Tour Page here in Jormaland, all the details are to be found. I look forward to some wonderfully idiosyncratic interpretations of the four artists we have selected.

I would like to take this monent to tell our potential audience that out of deference to their artistic sensibilities, I (Jorma) will not be yodeling. These are going to be great shows and I hope to see my friends in the NY tri-state area there!

The guitar is such a wonderfully diverse instrument that there is no way to predict what will be going up the musical flagpole this time around. As for me...

Onward!

Kirsten Dahl and Marty Brennan sent me a fantastic retrospective collection of Ian Buchanan’s works. The earliest works are from 1957 and the latest are from 1982. Most people have never heard of Ian Buchanan. You missed good one. I met Ian in the Winter of 1960. By some quirk of fate we both wound up in the same house in Yellow Springs, Ohio at Antioch College. I was already in love with the guitar and had been for about five years, but even I knew back then that I really didn’t know shit… about much of anything.

I heard Ian play. To say I had an epiphany doesn’t even come close. I had been in love with the music for some time but I had never seen it played close up. Even though I came from Chevy Chase, D.C., in reality I was a hick kid from southern Maryland. What did I know? My first visit with Ian and his music was like the opening shots of a Fourth Of July fireworks show. As exciting as that was, I had no idea of the multi-dimensional show to come.

There were a lot of guys and gals up New York way who could play that stuff, but I didn’t know any of them and I had never been to New York. In that oddest of places, Yellow Springs, my life intersected with one of the greats of that or any time, Ian Buchanan. Why did he choose to befriend me, I’ll never know. He was only a little bit older than I at the time, but he was generations ahead of me in the music. We did both love motorcycles as well as guitars, but that is another story for another time. Anyway, I watched and marveled and asked him to teach me. He said, ‘Yes,’ and that moment has defined the rest of my life. I wasn’t a quick learner. I remember agonizing over West Coast blues. He stressed the development of my right hand, something I stress today when I teach. ‘The right hand,’ he said, ‘drives the music.’ Indeed, how right he was. I remember he and Alan Heald and I went to Dayton to Pop’s music and I bought my old J-50 for a hundred bucks and an old five string banjo that inherited me from somewhere. I practiced almost every waking hour of every day and I started to learn. I still remember the moment when I was first able to keep an alternating thumb going in a tune. It was better than winning the lottery!

In the three months of that quarter my career as a finger picker was launched. At the end of that Winter Quarter I got a Co-op job at the Rusk Instituted Of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. It was on 400 E 34th St. as I recall. Anyway, Joe Zinman, Josh Davidson and I got a furnished flat at the Lincoln Square Hotel, somewhere off Amsterdam Avenue in the seventies. I can’t remember exactly where. I worked as an attendant down at the hospital during the day and spent every night either with Ian and his friends in Queens or down in the Village. The first time I played a hoot at Gerde’s Folk City I, well… felt pretty good about myself. Ian’s friend Marty Brennan and I along with a gal named Linda Fuchs picked a little music together and actually had a couple of gigs. I spent as much time with Ian as he would allow and continued to try to learn. I’m not sure I ever pleased him with my progress, but he continued to tolerate me.

I was in New York for three months on that gig. When I left New York, spurred by a less than exemplary academic record I dropped out of Antioch and went back to the Philippines where my Dad was still stationed. I took my still pristine J-50 headed out to the P.I and went to college at the Ateneo de Manila. I had a couple of Gary Davis albums with me as well as a ten inch Folkways solo Brownie McGee. This and a head full of memories had me practicing non stop for the next year. In a way this was perfect for me. I was and am a slow learner. I had a year to go over and over the songs Ian started me on… He gave me the keys to the highway… I have been driving ever since.

I never saw Ian again. I got so caught up in my own life on the West Coast trying to become somebody I let my old friends slip away. Jack was the only one from the East Coast gang that I kept in touch with and he and I have now been in touch for fifty years. Linda moved to California shortly after I did. We used to keep in touch but then she dropped of the face of the earth. I hope she is well. I learned much from her too. The Jefferson Airplane was working the Café Au Go Go down in the village sometime in the mid sixties. One of my new twin reverbs had blown up. I those days, when we flew, I just used to put a cover on the amp and check it in as luggage. I remember seeing it crash down the carousel in baggage claim more than once. Anyway, one of them died and I had to take a cab up to 48th St. to get it fixed. (I hailed a cab and threw the damn thing in the trunk. Man those twins were heavy. The cab driver turned around and said, ‘Hey Kaukonen, where’s my dobro?’ It was Marty Brennan and the dobro story is a tale for another time.

I never forgot Ian and his music, but I forgot that is nice to keep in touch with friends. In the early 70’s, Linda called me from Oakland to tell me that Ian had sustained a dreadful fall and had survived as a paraplegic. My California buddy, Billy Dean Andrus died of a drug overdose right around the same time. I dealt with these realities by ignoring them as best I could and spent most of my time chasing my own tail as my colleagues and I slipped into moderate fame and notoriety. Sometime in the early eighty’s I found myself in New York and decided to actually give Ian a call. I was talking to a friend of mine, Gary Kiyan, who knew. ‘Let’s go see Ian,’ I said. Gary looked at me for a while and then said, ‘Haven’t you heard, Ian died last week.’ I remember that moment.

Well, life went on as it does if you stay alive. I am listening to Ian’s recordings that Kirsten sent me and I easily slide back more than forty years into that time when we were all young and the endless summers stretched out in front of us. The excitement of being able to focus on one thing found me transfixed by the guitar. I had no children yet so it was easy to just be a guitar player. I now have children late in life and this is giving me a new perspective I could not have conceived of even a few short years ago. At my age, I am starting to see my old friends trickle off into the next world whatever that might be. I am reminded to tell my family each day that I love them and to try to keep in touch with those friends that I can.

Yesterday was another fluke day in a weather kind of way. It was in the forties, which says to me, ‘go for a motorcycle ride.’ I went to a Music Together class with my wife and daughter and then I went home, suited up and rolled out the scooter. It was in the low forties but I had the right gear for a ride under these conditions. My friend Jerry and I went for a hundred plus mile ride through the beautiful Southeast Ohio hills… beautiful even with the bare trees of winter. I thought of Ian and I going for rides back in Yellow Springs in 1960. I am sorry that he died so young before the world could discover more of his music. I also wish we had time for more rides together. Perhaps he is riding free on whatever plane he inhabits. In any case, today I am grateful for having lived these memories and for being alive to create more. There is no time like the present to be alive I must say. I have dwelt in some dark spaces in my life, but I have dwelt in some bright ones too and I am in a bright one today.

Ian, I never had a chance to tell you how much your friendship meant to me… or your art. It would have been a different world for me had you not chosen to be my mentor.

Thanks!

There was a warm ( and I use the term loosely) day yesterday but today it's back to winter and I suspect that it may be here to stay. I'll be heading out on the road for a bit next week so I sure am enjoying my time at home this weekend.

I got to go to a music class with Vanessa and Izze yesterday and that was more fun than I could have imagined. Kids, who would have thought? My son is getting ready for the Pinewood Derby later this month and I must admit I think we have a real contender in his car.

I've got some guitars to string and a little more practicing to do so I'm going to get to it. I spent some time writing a piece for my thoughts page earlier so if you have nothing to do, check it out.

Onward...

Up bright and early so I could get ready to head on over the the Ranch and meet the bus. We loaded up and were out of there by 1000 and by the time we got through West Virginia the snow was gone and it was just cold. It's been a while since I've been to NYC and it is always exciting to see the skyline rise up in front of you. New York has always seemed like a second home to me and it is good to be back.

There is lots to do tomorrow so now... it's to bed!

Bright lights... big city...

Well, I'm not going to go into details for fear everything might go south, but I updated something on my computer yesterday that totally screwed everything up. I've been on the line with tech support in various different parts of the world and nothing helped. I was finally able to do a systems restore... and since we're having this conversation, I guess it worked, at least for now.

Yesterday, Barry and I went up to WFUV with Barry, Myron and Phil and we had a great time on Dennis' show. Right now I'm getting ready to load in over at Merkin. More later... I hope!

Tonight was our Hank Williams show at Merkin Hall. In the gig were Toby Walker, Chocolate Genius, G.E. Smith, Dan Zanes and others whose names slip me at the moment. I loved every aspect of the show. There was a lot of great picking and some great interpretations. I had some great ideas for artists as did David Spelman. He sure knows how to put together a festival. Anyway, here is the set played by Barry Mitterhoff, Larry Campbell and myself.

1. Long Gone Lonesome Blues
2. Ramblin' Man
3. Lonesome Whistle
4. The Angel Of Death
5. I Can't Get You Off Of My Mind
6. Honky Tonk Blues

I like these songs so much, I'm going to keep them in the repertoire. By the way, what a treat playing ith Barry and Larry. I'm in guitar picker heaven!

We're off to Fall River, Mass. tomorrow so it's off to bed now.

There was supposed to be a huge storm yesterday, but thank goodness nothing happened. It was almost like spring in the morning and freezin cold by showtime. It's January in the Northeast... so be it.

Tonight was the first full show Barry and I have done since Australia in November of last year and it was great to be back in the saddle again. Here is our set list:

Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff 1, 2008
The Narrows Performing Art Center
Fall River, Mass.
Friday, January 18, 2008

First Set:
1. Re-Enlistment Blues
2. Blue Railroad Train
3. How Long Blues
4. More Than My Old Guitar
5. Will There Be Any Stars In My Crown?
6. Fur Peace Rag
7. I See The Light
8. Sea Child
9. Lonesome Whistle
10. I Know You Rider
11. Late Breaking News

Second Set:
1. That’ll Never Happen No More
2. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
3. Come Back Baby
4. Serpent Of Dreams
5. Heart Temporary
6. The Terrible Operation
7. Trial By Fire
8. Hesitation Blues
9. Good Shepherd
10. I Am The Light Of This World
11. Just Because
12. Encore: Genesis

Cousin Audrey was there with her family as well as my friends Chris and Paul. It's always good to see family and friends. Well, time to call home and out the door. Onward!

We were at the Mt. Sinai Free Synagogue last year and loved it. Needless to say we were thrilled to be there again tonight to another wonderful crowd. Here is our set list:

Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff 2, 2008
Mt. Sinai Free Synagogue
Mt. Vernon, New York
Saturday, January 19, 2008

First Set:
1. Search My Heart
2. Parchman Farm
3. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning
4. Lonesome Whistle
5. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
6. More Than My Old Guitar
7. I See The Light
8. Heart Temporary
9. There’s A Table Sitting In Heaven
10. Hesitation Blues
11. Late Breaking News

Second Set:
1. I Know You Rider
2. Come Back Baby
3. Sea Child
4. 99 Year Blues
5. The Terrible Operation
6. Working Man Blues
7. Fur Peace Rag
8. Will There Be Any Stars In My Crown?
9. Been So Long
10. Operator
11. Trial By Fire
12. How Long Blues
13. San Francisco Bay Blues
14. Encore: Nine Pound Hammer

I just can't say enough about this gig. Tomorrow we're off to Wilmington, Delaware to do a show with David Bromberg at the Grand Opera House. It's going to be a long day, so for now with a smile on my face... to bed!

Getting together with my old friend David Bromberg is always a treat and a blessing. Our musical friendship is deep and intuitive. Talking together is always satisfying... playing music is breathtaking.

Last night, Barry and I were guests in David's 'own house...' the Grand Opera House in Wilmington, Delaware. This is a beautiful historic venue where the physical qualities of the room as a performing site are matched by the hospitality of the the folks who make things happen there. We're talking food, fellowship... the whole ball of wax. Thanks folks!

David started out his set by himself and then asked me to join him which I gladly did. I didn't keep track of our set list but I loved it all. After a short intermission, Barry and I took the stage, played for an hour or so and then had David come out again for the end of our set, a list of which follows:

Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff 3, 2008
The Grand Opera House
Wilmington, Delaware
Sunday, January 20, 2008

1. Big River Blues
2. Search My Heart
3. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
4. More Than My Old Guitar
5. Serpent Of Dreams
6. Heart Temporary
7. I Know You Rider
8. The Terrible Operation
9. Working Man Blues
10. Sea Child
11. Good Shepherd
12. Keep On Trucking with David Bromberg
13. Uncle Sam Blues with David Bromberg
14. Nine Pound Hammer with David Bromberg
15. Encore: I Am The Light Of This World with David Bromberg

After the show it was back to the hotel where I actually got a full night's sleep. Is this perfection of what? Now it's morning and in an hour or so we're going over to David's place to tape a radio show and then it's back up to New York City. What a night! It was worth missing the playoffs for!

Monday of this week before we left Wilmington I went over the the Bromberg's place and Nancy and David certainly made us feel welcome. We were there to tape David and I picking and chatting for a radio show they were producing. First, however, there was some great food Nancy cooked... briskete and more... then we relaxed and just talked and sang for several hours. All in all, there's nothing like spending time with old friends. This was a blast.

Several hours later we were up at a hotel in Elizabeth, New Jersey and yesterday Barry took Myron and myself to a studio in Chinatown where Margot Leverett had graciously invited me to play a couple of songs with the Klezmer Mountain Boys. Barry had given me a heads up on the tunes wo I wasn't completely in the dark. Thanks Barry! It's a style of music that I know little about in terms of playing, but Margot encouraged me to just be me... and that seemed to work pretty well. It was an honor to be asked to play on that project.

Later in the evening, Barry and his lovely wife Stephanie, took Myron and myself to an old Italian eatery called Spirito's. All I can say is that if you are ever in Elizabeth, New Jersey and have time, go to Spirito's and try the lasagna with meatballs. It's twelve hours later and I'm still not hungry.

Well, I'm off to Manhattan in a couple of hours and tomorrow is our Merle Haggard Night at Merkin Hall. Onward.

At Merkin Hall the other night we had some dandy talent fot eh Marle Haggard show. Jim Lauderdale, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Larry Campbell, Teresa Williams, Barry Mitterhoff, Lincoln Schleifer, Tony Leoni and me. Here is what we did in our set. Barry played mandolin and tenor guitar, Larry played steel, six string and fiddle, Teresa sang, Lincoln played upright bass and Tony played drums. Here is our little set:

1: More Than My Old Guitar
2: I Think I'll Justs Sit Here And Drink
3: If We Make It Through December
4: Sing Me Back Home
5: Big City
6: Working Man's Blues

Everyone got together fo rhte encore and Jim led us in Mama tried.

Tonight at the Boulton Center Barry and I did two dandy shows. Here is the set list:

Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff 4, 2008
Boulton Performing Arts Center
Bayshore, Long Island
New York
Friday, January 25, 2008

First Show:
1. Search My Heart
2. Trouble In Mind
3. More Than My Old Guitar
4. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
5. Serpent Of Dreams
6. Heart Temporary
7. The Terrible Operation
8. Sea Child
9. There’s A Table Sitting In Heaven
10. Come Back Baby
11. Hesitation Blues
12. Working Man’s Blues
13. Candy Man
14. Just Because
15. Encore: Embryonic Journey

Second Show:
1. Parchman Farm
2. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning
3. How Long Blues
4. If We Make It Through December
5. Been So Long
6. Operator
7. I Know You Rider
8. Let Us Get Together
9. Babe I Want You To Know
10. Uncle Sam Blues
11. Good Shepherd
12. Trial By Fire
13. I Am The Light Of This World
14. Late Breaking News
15. Encore: Genesis

The bus is about to head out so I'm going to post this before I lose my internet connection. More anon...

A wonderful two set night at the Ridgefield Playhouse. Some old friends were in attendance and well, it just doesn't get much better than that. Here is our set list:

Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff 5, 2008
Ridgefield Playhouse
Ridgefield, Connecticut
Saturday, January 26, 2008

First Set:
1. Re-Enlistment Blues
2. Search My Heart
3. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
4. How Long Blues
5. Serpent Of Dreams
6. Heart Temporary
7. There’s A Table Sitting In Heaven
8. I Know You Rider
9. If We Make It Through December
10. Sea Child
11. Come Back Baby
12. Late Breaking News

Second Set:
1. Hesitation Blues
2. More Than My Old Guitar
3. Will There Be Any Stars In My Crown
4. The Terrible Operation
5. I See The Light
6. Living In The Moment
7. Good Shepherd
8. Lonesome Whistle
9. Genesis
10. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning
11. San Francisco Bay Blues
12. Encore: Embryonic Journey

I seem to be getting a cold so I'm going to crawl in my bunk and try to sleep it off. More anon.

Yesterday we did two shows at the Ringwood Public Library in New Jersey. I had picked up a little cold and it was really starting to make me feel crummy. The good news was that I think the music, the fellowship and the environment got me through. Here is our set list:

Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff 6, 2008
Ringwood Public Library
Ringwood, New Jersey
Sunday, January 27, 2008

First Show:
1. Candy Man
2. That’ll Never Happen No More
3. How Long Blues
4. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
5. There’s A Table Sitting Heaven
6. Fur Peace Rag
7. I See The Light
8. Babe I Want You To Know
9. Sea Child
10. Trial By Fire
11. Come Back Baby
12. Hesitation Blues
13. Late Breaking News
14. Encore: Let Us Get Together Right Down Here

Second Show:
1. Blue Railroad Train
2. Bread Line Blues
3. Parchman Farm
4. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning
5. Heart Temporary
6. Serpent Of Dreams
7. The Terrible Operation
8. Living In The Moment
9. Good Shepherd with Tony Trischka
10. Nine Pound Hammer with Tony Trischka
11. Just Because with Tony Trischka
12. Encore: San Francisco Bay Blues with Tony Trischka

Barry was outstanding as always and Tony was the icing on the cake. Today is a 'day off' and I been spending most of it in bed which is where I'm off to right now. Thank goodness for the music!

Well, I was indeed cold inflicted for a couple of days but today I'm feeling normal... whatever that is. Barry and I were rehearsing for the Loretta Lynn show tomorrow and it's going to be a dandy. Danny Weiss and Mary Olive Smith will be joining Barry and Larry Campbell and myself and along with everyone else... it's going to be a great time!

So great I think I'll go get some dinner.