Jorma Kaukonen's Online Diary

Well, today was a 'day off,' in which Barry picked me up at 0900 and took me and Myron up to Fordham in the Bronx where we played on WFUV which is always a joy. Last night I was at B.B. King's in NYC with the Guitar Blues show. This is a fun show and we continued to make progress playing with each other. Good stuff. Here is my set list:

Guitar Blues 3
With
Jorma Kaukonen, Robben Ford
& Ruthie Foster
B.B.King’s
New York City
Monday, February 2, 2009

Jorma’s Acoustic Set:
1. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
2. Come Back Baby
3. Izze’s Lullaby
4. Been So Long
5. Search My Heart
6. Good Shepherd
7. Full Go Round
With Robben:
1. Rock Me Baby
2. I Wish You Would
With Robben &Ruthie
1. You Gotta Serve Somebody
2. Encore: Don’t Think Twice

I feel like writing more, but my body says, 'Get your clean clothes out of the dryer and go to be. You're going to be working the next seven days in a row.' My body is smart... sometimes. That is what I'm going to do.

The show in Morristown tonight was the best one yet. The sound was great, a fine crew to work with and well, us of course. Here is my collective set list:

Guitar Blues 4
With
Jorma Kaukonen, Robben Ford
& Ruthie Foster
Community Theater
Morristown, New Jersey
Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Jorma’s Acoustic Set
1. What Are They Doing In Heaven Today?
2. I Know You Rider
3. Living In The Moment
4. Come Back Baby
5. 99 Year Blues
6. I Am The Light Of This World
With Robben
1. Rock Me Baby
2. I Wish You Would
With Robben & Ruthie
1. Serve Somebody
2. Encore: Don’t Think Twice It's All Right

Really good stuff this evening. Tomorrow is a bus call so I'm going to get stuff ready tonight before I hit the sack. I'm all smiles!

Last night this merry company of men and women played the Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood. It was another great sounding room... these performing arts centers are all right with me. Here is my portions of the show:

Guitar Blues 5
With
Jorma Kaukonen, Robben Ford
& Ruthie Foster
Bergen Performing Arts Center
Englewood, New Jersey
Thursday, February 5, 2009

Jorma’s Set:
1. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
2. The Terrible Operation
3. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
4. Izze’s Lullaby
5. Genesis
6. Barbeque King
7. Hesitation Blues
With Robben:
1. Rock Me Baby
2. I Wish You Would
With Ruthie & Robben
1. Serve Somebody &
2. Don't Think Twice

As we all get to know each other's music, the ensemble playing really begins to lock in. Good stuff... On to Harrisburg.

Yikes... we got back to the hotel a little late and we're leaving early. Well, for what it's worth, I'm up and at'em. Last night the Guitar Blues tour was at the Whitaker Center For The Performing Arts here in Harrisburg. I was there with Hot Tuna last year... it was fun then, and it was fun last night. Here is my part of the show:

Guitar Blues 6
With
Jorma Kaukonen, Robben Ford
& Ruthie Foster
Whittaker Center
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Friday, February 6, 2009

Jorma’s Set:
1. What Are They Doing In Heaven Today?
2. Follow The Drinking Gourd
3. Heart Temporary
4. 99 Year Blues
5. I Know You Rider
6. Embryonic Journey
7. Full Go Round
With Robben, Dewane and Gabe:
1. Rock Me Baby
2. I Wish You Would
Add Ruthie for the final song: Serve Somebody
Robben, Ruthie & Me
1. Don't Think Twice

We're all really locking in together in the ensemble stuff. I dig it... and now...

Even though it's early, there's a good chance I might find some breakfast.

OK... we're working here. I actually got to sleep in until 0900 today. Truly good stuff that is. Last night we were at the Stamford Center For The Arts. I got to see some old friends there as well as meet some new ones, and I played music too. Well... Here is my part of the show:

Guitar Blues 7
With
Jorma Kaukonen, Robben Ford
& Ruthie Foster
Stamford Center For The Arts
Stamford, Connecticut
Friday, February 6, 2009

Jorma’s Set:
1. Been So Long
2. How Long Blues
3. Izze’s Lullaby
4. That’ll Never Happen No More
5. I Am The Light Of This World
6. Follow The Drinking Gourd

With Robben, Dewayne and Gabe:
1. Rock Me Baby
2. I Wish You Would
With Robben, the boys and Ruthie:
1. You Got To Serve Somebody
2. Encore: Don't Think Twice with Robben and Ruthie

As we all get to know each other we are starting to stretch out more on the songs that are 'new' to the collective group. I love it when the magic starts to happen. Well, bus call... off to Poughkeepsie.

I lived in Upstate New York in the 80's. I played around the area a lot and made lots of friends. Tonight I was back at he Bardavon with Ruthie Foster and Robben Ford. Usually Hot Tuna plays this gig, but this was quite different. I love this show and everyone was hot tonight. here is my set:

Guitar Blues 8
With
Jorma Kaukonen, Robben Ford
& Ruthie Foster
The Bardavon 1869 Opera House
Poughkeepsie, New York
Sunday, February 8, 2009

Jorma’s Set:
1. Trouble In Mind
2. Good Shepherd
3. Come Back Baby
4. That’ll Happen No More
5. I Know You Rider
6. Full Go Round
With Robben, Dewane and Gabe
1. Rock Me Baby
2. I Wish You Would
Adding Ruthie: You Got To Serve Somebody
Encore with Ruthie and Robben: Don't Think Twice

There were some good songs played tonight... and some jamming too. Well... Tomorrow's an early bus call, so off to bed.

While I've been on the road here in the States we've been complaining about the cold winter, the power outages and he indignity of having to drive to the service station to get gas for the generator. I just got an email from my guitar picking pal Geoff Achison down in Australia where he lives. This helps put things in perspective for me and I would like to share the message with you all... thanks.

From Geoff...



------ Forwarded Message
From: Geoff Achison
Date: Mon, 9 Feb 2009 12:05:00 +1100
To: Geoff Achison
Subject: Bushfires

Hi Everyone
We are experiencing some of the worst wildfires on record this week.
Fires have ravaged communities across the state of Victoria.

You may read of the town of Marysville being razed to the ground.
It was a beautiful place in the hills and one which I visited many times to perform at the historic Homestead Inn. That venue is, in all likelihood, gone.
You may have also read of the devastation wrought on Kinglake. This township is only a few miles from our beloved St Andrews pub and we fear very much for our people there.
Many lives have been lost and hundreds of properties utterly destroyed.
The danger has not yet past either.

Michelle, Jacob & I have been fortunate enough to live in a region un-touched by this disaster but we have been watching and listening in a state of shock.

We are very distressed and concerned for all those affected by the fires.
The work now being carried out by such organisations as the Red Cross and Salvation Army are providing much needed food, clothing and emergency shelter.
The best thing we can do though is to raise as much money as we can to allow these essential services to continue and help those people in burnt out areas make the first steps towards re-building their lives.

Michelle is at this moment organising a benefit gig for Tuesday 24th of this month where we will stage the biggest concert we can to assist with fund raising. We’ve done it before with enormous response for the victims of the Asian Tsunami and then again for Hurricane Katrina. These are tough times for all but even one Dollar, Pound or Euro from enough generous people around the world can make an enormous difference.

If you’d like to help you can make a secure online donation via the Victorian Red Cross here Victorian RED CROSS site http://www.redcross.org.au/vic/services_emergencyservices_victorian-bushfires-appeal-2009.htm

Thank-you.
Geoff Achison
Bushfires – ABC News Link http://www.abc.net.au/news/events/bushfires/
Victorian Bushfire Appeal – news link http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/745164/victorian-bushfire-appeal-launched/?rss=yes

Well, we're moving into overdrive here... rolling at 0600 for Virginia Beach. Anyway, the troupe was at Stockton College down here in the pineys this evening... and once again, if I do say so myself, we put on a great show! Here is my portion:

Guitar Blues 9
With
Jorma Kaukonen, Robben Ford
& Ruthie Foster
Stockton College
Pomona, New Jersey
Monday, February 09, 2009

Jorma’s Set:
1. What Are Doing In Heaven Today?
2. Search My Heart
3. Izze’s Lullaby
4. 99 Year Blues
5. I Am the Light Of This World
6. Trouble In Mind
7. Follow The Drinking Gourd

This entry is painfully short... I've jsut got to get a little bit of sleep and I need to string my guitar before I go to bed. Manana...

Seven gigs in a row... and tomorrow is a day off. We left the 'suburbs' of Atlantic City at 0700 and seven and a half hours later, here we were in Virginia Beach. Tonight's Gig was at a lovely performing arts building called the Sandler Center. The sound was great and hey, it was Ruthie Foster's birhday. Here are the tunes I was a part of:

Guitar Blues 10
With
Jorma Kaukonen, Robben Ford
& Ruthie Foster
Sandler Center For The Performing Arts
Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Jorma’s Set:
1. True Religion
2. Living In The Moment
3. I Know You Rider
4. Come Back Baby
5. That’ll Never Happen No More
6. Full Go Round

With Robben, Dewane and Gabe:
1: Rock Me Baby
2. I Wish You Would
With Ruthie, Robben, Dewane and Gabe:
1. You Got To Serve Somebody
Encore with Ruthie and Robben:
1. Don't Think Twice

Well, everyone played well as they have every night. that said, having tomorrow off will be a blessing indeed and who knows, I might actually have time to do a little more writing. This has been a trip to remember so far... and we're not even halfway through. More will be revealed...

A great day off today. I slept late, walked a couple of miles down to the beach. I sat on a bench at the boardwalk for a while and wound up chewing the fat for a while with a retired Navy guy named Pauly. Good stuff. We talked about Social Security and Medicare. You ahd to be there. Myron showed up a little later and we went to a seaside raw bar and ate food things from the ocean. I'm back at the room, packing up and getting ready to leave for Wilmington, Delaware tomorrow morning at 0900.

Tonight was one of those nights when everything just clicked. Everything from the audience to our individual sets was just perfect. How does that happen? Who knows? Too bad you can't bottle. Anyway here is a list of the tunes I was involved in:

Guitar Blues 11
With
Jorma Kaukonen, Robben Ford
& Ruthie Foster
Grand Opera House
Wilmington, Delaware
Thursday, February 12, 2009

Jorma’s Set
1. What Are They Doing In Heaven Today?
2. Fur Peace Rag
3. Trouble In Mind
4. Genesis
5. Re-Enlistment Blues
6. Nine Pound Hammer
7. Full Go Round
With Robben, Dewayne & Gabe
1. Come Back Baby
2. I Wish You Would
With Robben, Ruthie, Dewayne & Gabe
1. Serve Somebody
With Ruthie & Robben
1. Don’t Think Twice

It was just sheer fun.. that's it... and now to bed. It doesn't get too much better than this short of being home with the family.

Tonight at the Paramount Theater was enjoyable indeed. Once again, there is going to be a relatively early bus call so indeed it is time for bed... but first, my set list:

Guitar Blues 12
With
Jorma Kaukonen, Robben Ford
& Ruthie Foster
Paramount Theater
Charlottesville, Virginia
Friday, February 13, 2009

Jorma’s Set:
1. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
2. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
3. Living In The Moment
4. I Know You Rider
5. Full Go Round
6. Water Song

With Robben, Dewane & Gabe:
1. Rock Me Baby
2. I Wish You Would
With Ruthie, Robben and the Boys:
1. Serve Somebody
Encore with Robben and Ruthie
1. Don't Think Twice

'Nuff for now.. more tomorrow.

Happy Valentine's Day to all! Yes, I remembered to send Vanessa flowers. Well... This tour with Robben, Ruthie and the gang just continues to get musiclly deeper as we get to know each other. It's just plain fun... the playing and the listening. Here's my part of the show:

Guitar Blues 13
With
Jorma Kaukonen, Robben Ford
& Ruthie Foster
Carolina Theater
Greensboro, North Carolina
Saturday, February 14, 2009

Jorma’s Set:
1. True Religion
2. Izze’s Lullaby
3. Trial By Fire
4. Hesitation Blues
5. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning
6. Follow The Drinking Gourd

With Robben, Dewane and Gabe:
1. Rock Me Baby
2. I Wish You Would
With the guys and Ruthis:
1. You Got To Serve Somebody
Encore Trio with Robben and Ruthie
!. Don't Think Twice

I love returning to the Variety Theater in Little Five Points. We've played there so often and it's always a pleasant experience. Tonight was no different for me. Here is my part of the show:

Guitar Blues 14
With
Jorma Kaukonen, Robben Ford
& Ruthie Foster
The Variety Theater
Atlanta, Georgia
Sunday, February 15, 2009

Jorma’s Set:
1. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
2. Trouble In Mind
3. Izze’s Lullaby
4. Let Us Get Together
5. I Know You Rider
6. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
7. Full Go Round
With Robben, Dewayne and Gabriel
1. Rock Me Baby
2. I Wish You Would
With Ruthie, Robben, Dewayne and Gabriel
1. Serve Somebody
With Ruthie and Robben
Don't Think Twice

Tomorrow is really a day off, so I'm going to cut this short and hit the sack. More tomorrow... really...

A night at the Carolina Theater... good stuff. This show is really growing on me and I liked it in the beginning. Here's my set list:

Guitar Blues 15
With
Jorma Kaukonen, Robben Ford
& Ruthie Foster
Fletcher Hall Auditorium
Durham, North Carolina
Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Jorma’s Set:
1. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
2. Fur Peace Rag
3. Come Back Baby
4. Genesis
5. 99 Year Blues
6. I Am The Light Of This World
7. Full Go Round
With Robben, Dewane and Gabe
1. Rock Me Baby
2. I Wish You Would
With the boys and Ruthie:
1. Serve Somebody
With Ruthie and Robben
1. Don't Think Twice

I thought that when I got on the road I would have more time to write in my journal. This has proved not to be the case. I got up a 0445 this morning and I'll be up at 0600 tomorrow morning. This is a great gig, but it's tiring.

At least I get to play music.

Well, I just couldn't sleep, so even though we're going to hit the road in four hours, here I am awake. I just got an email from a friend down in Louisiana and he told me the Snooks Eaglin, New Orleans Street Singer.'It's been many years since I listened to this LP, but I used to love it. When I get home, I'll have to pop it on Dad's old turntable and check it out again. Time is indeed marching on... Another man don a full go round, as Roy would say.

Anyway, tonight's show at the State Theater went well and I got to see my boy Zach for another evening. Here is my part of the show:

Guitar Blues 16
With
Jorma Kaukonen, Robben Ford
& Ruthie Foster
The State Theater
Falls Church, Virginia
Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Jorma’s Set:
1. Been So Long
2. Let Us Get Together
3. Trouble In Mind
4. Living In The Moment
5. Hesitation Blues
6. Full Go Round
7. Water Song
With Robben, Gabe and Dewayne:
1. Rock Me Baby
2. I Wish You Would
With the boys and Ruthie:
1. You Got To Serve Somebody
With Robben & Ruthie
1. Encore, Don't Think Twice

OK, at least I made a brief entry. I'm going to try to catch another hour of sleep or so.

Well... as I've said several times over the past couple of weeks, this has been a hectic tour... but it's also been really fun. Tonight we were here in Newark, Ohio... not far from my homeplace. Vanessa and Izze came up from Meigs along with a host of others from Columbus to the Ranch. It was nice to see my family and friends and it was nice to be playing in such a beautiful historic venue as the Midland Theater here in Newark. Ruthie and Robben were fantastic as always. What a good time. Here is my set list:

Guitar Blues 17
With
Jorma Kaukonen, Robben Ford
& Ruthie Foster
Midland Theater
Newark, Ohio
Thursday, February 19, 2009

Jorma’s Set:
1. What Are They Doing In Heaven Today?
2. Search My Heart
3. Barbeque King
4. Izze’s Lullaby
5. 99 Year Blues
6. I Am The Light Of This World
7. Full Go Round

The other songs were the same as previous nights but I just love the way the arrangements are gelling. Good stuff indeed. It's cold and windy here, but I'm close to home... and now to bed.

Beautiful hall tonight, great audience as well as friends I haven't seen in a long time. Good stuff again... My setlist:

Guitar Blues 18
With
Jorma Kaukonen, Robben Ford
& Ruthie Foster
Macomb Center For The Performing Arts
Clinton Township, Michigan
Friday, February 20, 2009

Jorma’s Set:
1. Death Don’t have No Mercy
2. How Long Blues
3. I Know You Rider
4. Izze’s Lullaby
5. Hesitation Blues
6. Full Go Round

Once again we're leaving very early for Chicago and I am going to bed. Except for the hours, I love this tour... almost as much as I'm going to love my bed!

Tonight's show was stellar in every way. It was another long drive... another long day on the road in a snowstorm, but it all came together at the show. Here is my set list:

Guitar Blues 19
With
Jorma Kaukonen, Robben Ford
& Ruthie Foster
College Of DuPage
McAninch Arts Center
Glen Ellyn, Illinois
Saturday, February 21, 2009

Jorma’s Set:
1. What Are They Doing In Heaven Today?
2. I See The Light
3. Living In The Moment
4. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
5. 99 Year Blues
6. Follow The Drinking Gourd

When the whole gang got together at the end of the set, we got a standing ovation... well deserved I must say. Tomorrow I'll be in the hotel all day before going to the gig. It's to bed now and the morning is another day.

Another fine gig... I had expected to do some more writing yesterday, but I wound up playing the guitar all day so I guess that's all right. Well, we're heading to Colorado tomorrow morning early so as soon as I finish this entry I'm going to arrange my things and hit the sack. Anyway... here's my part of the show:

Guitar Blues 20
With
Jorma Kaukonen, Robben Ford
& Ruthie Foster
Lumber Center For The Performing Arts
At The College Of Lake County
Grayslake, Illinois
Sunday, February 22, 2009

Jorma’s Set:
1. Been So Long
2. Serpent Of Dreams
3. Search My Heart
4. I Know You Rider
5. How Long Blues
6. Full Go Round
7. Mann’s Fate

I'm guessing I'll get to write more one of these days... perhaps even tomorrow when we get into the hotel in Colorado. We'll see...

What a trip this has been. The dates are passing as fast as life itself. Yikes... Here is my set list for the evening:

Guitar Blues 21
With
Jorma Kaukonen, Robben Ford
& Ruthie Foster
Vilar Center For The Arts
Beaver Creek, Colorado
Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Jorma’s Set:
1. What Are They Doing In Heaven Today?
2. I See The Light
3. That’ll Never Happen No More
4. Izze’s Lullaby
5. I Know You Rider
6. Full Go Round

I got to see a couple of my Colorado pals after the show and then we buzzed back to the hotel where I will start to pack as soon as I have uploaded this missive. The music is always good...

A nice night at the Wheeler Opera House. The rented equipment worked reasonably well for my and I had a blast. Were leaving at 0600 for Monterey tomorrow morning and my own equipment will be waiting for me. Hallelujah. Here is the set list from tonight:

Guitar Blues 22
With
Jorma Kaukonen, Robben Ford
& Ruthie Foster
Wheeler Opera House
Aspen, Colorado
Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Jorma’s Set:

1. Been So Long
2. Let Us Get Together
3. Hesitation Blues
4. Living In The Moment
5. Genesis
6. I Am The Light Of This World
7. Follow The Drinking Gourd

I'm only going to get about four hours of sleep tonight so you know where I;m going right now... good night!

Yesterday was a long day indeed. We gathered at the ride to the airport in Aspen at 0600 but I had been awake since 0300 unable to sleep for some reason. After a three hour layover in Denver we flew to San Jose where we met Bob and our bus... the Eau Claire Express. We haven't had the bus since Chicago so it was nice to get back in that zone again at least. I was tired to say the least. Of course I wasn't the only one. The whole company had put in some serious time in the last forty eight hours. I was listening to Ruthie's set which was stellar as always. I knew she had been feeling a little under the weather and I figured if she could sound that uplifting, what the heck did I have to complain about? Anyway, I started to just suck it up and when I started to play, the day fell into place for me. From that point on, tired or not, I thoroughly enjoyed the evening. Here is my set list:

Guitar Blues 23
With
Jorma Kaukonen, Robben Ford
& Ruthie Foster
The Golden State Theater
Monterey, California
Thursday, February 26, 2009

Jorma’s Set:
1. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
2. Izze’s Lullaby
3. Hesitation Blues
4. I See The Light
5. Come Back Baby
6. Full Go Round

With Robben, Dewayne and Gabe:
1. Rock Me Baby
2. I Wish You Would

With Ruthie, Robben and the boys:
1. You Got To Serve Somebody
Encore with Ruthie and Robben
1. Don't Think Twice

My pal Luke from Red House is going to pick me up in an hour and we're going to precede the company to San Francisco where I'm going to do an interview of sorts and the on to San Rafael for this evening's Bay Are show. Life is sure full of lessons...

Yesterday morning, my friend Luke Welsh from Red House Records and I drove up Route One on the coast from Monterey to San Francisco. It's been some time since I've made that drive... I can't even remember when. Anyway, it was one of those magic Northern California days... no fog, almost Spring temperatures, blue skies... you know the deal. Indeed, it was one of those days that makes you want to move here. We got up to the City in a little more than two hours and did an interview for House Of Blues Radio. After that gig, I took Luke and Ben to the Mifune in Japan Town for noodles. I've been eating there for over thirty years. It's still just as good as it ever was. After that it was off to San Raphael and the gig.

My Dad used to ask me why I never played the Civic Center before. 'Well, they never asked me,' I would say. Dad, I've done it now... and it was great. It had a feeling of homecoming to me even though I had never lived in Mill Valley, my parents did and my brother and his family still do. Home can be in many places. Here is my set list:

Guitar Blues 24
With
Jorma Kaukonen, Robben Ford
& Ruthie Foster
Marin Civic Center
San Raphael, California
Friday, February 27, 2009

Jorma’s Set:
1. What Are They Doing In Heaven Today?
2. Been So Long
3. Let Us Get Together
4. Living In The Moment
5. I Am The Light Of This World
6. Full Go Round

We're off to Redding soon so I'm going to post this and throw my stuff back in the bag. Another darn good day on this trip!