Last week I shared the teaching and an impromptu show on Thursday night with the incomparable G.E. Smith. G.E. brings so much to the musical table, no matter what genre he cloaks himself in… well, you just have to hear it. Thanks George! Thanks so much!!!
The man... the legend...
The class of... last week.
Foto by Vanessa Kaukonen
Good job y’all!
The ubiquitous selfie...
Foto by Vanessa Kaukonen and John Hurlbut
Well… with that magnificent teaching experience wrapped up… I had the weekend to hang with the family.
If I have to see one more magnificent sunset...
Well… winter here in San Diego is sure different than it is back in the good old Buckeye State.
A morning walk on the beach
Nice breakfast… a walk on the beach… How good does it have to get?
High tide in La Jolla
Yeah… it’s darn scenic around here.
My nephew is in town so we took the kids to the Birch Aquarium over at Scripps… University Of San Diego.
Not your normal University...
Wow… this almost makes me want to go back to college.
I heard tell this is a 'benign' shark
I’m not sure how the concept of a ‘benign shark’ fits into my reality scheme… but so be it.
What a great weekend. Last night I bopped over to the airport and picked up Larry Campbell. He and I will be teaching this week and this weekend he an I and Teresa Williams will head up to Santa Monica for four shows at McCabe’s.
Meanwhile… messing around on Google Earth… I came up with this back home (warmer weather) screen shot of the Fur Peace Ranch including the Psylodelic Gallery and the Fur Peace Station.
NIce... and I never heard the plane...
That’s about it for now… gotta do some interviews about ‘Ain’t In No Hurry.’
I ain’t in no hurry… but I gotta run!
@Jorma
Oh, man! I really appreciate your taking time to answer – Thank you, Jorma! This song hits me right where I live, seems to say just what I’m feeling (yep, I’m on the backside of the mountain). And it’s a blast to play! Hope you and all the FPR folks have a great summer…I know I will, practicing this sparkler of a song.
– Jeff
I know it’s almost 6 months after the fact, but I just discovered your excellent blog, Jorma, and so wanted to say I loved attending the San Diego workshop with G.E. Smith, meeting you and all the other Fur Peace regulars (hmm, I found out every single other participant was a “repeat offender”, and I was the only first-timer…yay, me).
Also, I’ve been working out how to play some songs from your wonderful AINH album. Can I ask a some questions? 1. In lyrics for The Other Side of the Mountain, right after “I seek a congregation to hold me to the flame”, I can’t quite make out the words of the next line, i.e.
“And [ ????? ] hope and grace and clearly [say my name?]”.
2. Oh yeah, chords would be nice to know, too!
Hope I’m not imposing, but I figure it can’t hurt to ask.
Thanks for that SD workshop, it was eye-opening, inspiring, and a whole lotta fun!
Jeff
Here ya go Jeff… It’s in E capo 2
The Other Side Of The Mountain
By Jorma Kaukonen
E
Every mountain has two sides, which side are you on
Most time’s spent just climbing up and the rest is sliding down
A
The Light you take for granted, when the climb begins
E
Will let you wander in the dusk as the trail nears its end
G D C7
A flight of fancy turns my head, I can’t see where I’ve
B7
Been
E7 D#7 D7 E
I must have dropped that torch they passed…
E B7
But I can’t remember when
I never thought it easy, fear dogged my every move
One foot passed the other, looking for the groove
In my imagination a kingdom called my name
But the closer to the top I got was still the same old same
I couldn’t see the forest, there were way too many trees
I’m looking for some meaning Lord
Won’t you help me please
We talk about the purpose, the meaning to this climb
Life itself is its reward, the bonus, peace of mind
Sometimes we get forgiveness for the things we didn’t do
Sometimes the blame, it shakes our soul, we can’t deny it’s true
I seek a congregation to hold me to the flame
I rise from ashes cloaked in grace and clearly say my name
The life up on this mountain is the only one we’ve got
A smile today, a passing frown, I’ll give it my best shot
The road that leads forever could be better than today
In any case I’ll stay the course no matter what they say
The only shortcut exit, a solution I can’t take
I’ll climb and climb and fall and fall
Until they call my name
The backside of the mountain is the only one I know
The upward climb a distant thought that melts like passing snow
The memory of that moment like a postcard in the dust
Reminds me even polished steel will slowly turn to rust
I try to hold this moment like a precious thought of grace
And try to find the road ahead to some celestial place
v
Every mountain has two sides, which side are you on
Most time’s spent just climbing up and the rest is sliding down
B
The Light you take for granted, when the climb begins
F#
Will let you wander in the dusk as the trail nears its end
G D C7
A flight of fancy turns my head, I can’t see where I’ve
B7
Been
E7 D#7 D7 E
I must have dropped that torch they passed…
E B7
But I can’t remember when
I never thought it easy, fear dogged my every move
One foot passed the other, looking for the groove
In my imagination a kingdom called my name
But the closer to the top I got was still the same old same
I couldn’t see the forest, there were way too many trees
I’m looking for some meaning Lord
Won’t you help me please
We talk about the purpose, the meaning to this climb
Life itself is its reward, the bonus, peace of mind
Sometimes we get forgiveness for the things we didn’t do
Sometimes the blame, it shakes our soul, we can’t deny it’s true
I seek a congregation to hold me to the flame
I rise from ashes cloaked in grace and clearly say my name
The life up on this mountain is the only one we’ve got
A smile today, a passing frown, I’ll give it my best shot
The road that leads forever could be better than today
In any case I’ll stay the course no matter what they say
The only shortcut exit, a solution I can’t take
I’ll climb and climb and fall and fall
Until they call my name
The backside of the mountain is the only one I know
The upward climb a distant thought that melts like passing snow
The memory of that moment like a postcard in the dust
Reminds me even polished steel will slowly turn to rust
I try to hold this moment like a precious thought of grace
And try to find the road ahead to some celestial place
Jorma you are going to miss the coldest two days around here since 1944. Shame your in San Diego.
Hey Jorma,
Nice to hear that the workshop was a success once again. I was fortunate enough to be in South Florida for a week so I had just the opposite, beautiful sunrise’s and walks on the beach, didn’t make the Keys this time for the sunsets, then I came home to 4 feet of snow and a high of 2, it was nice to have a break. All the reviews I’ve read on the new Album have been great…Congratulations…hoping to catch a couple of shows in March with you and Barry. Enjoy the family before the tour starts.
See you then and safe travels
Hogan
🙂
Hi George! Hi John! And of course Hi Jorma and Vanessa. Would love to be there at McCabes….
I like sometimes the concerts on YouTube but when the audio ends half-way I feel like I want to hear the concert, entire with the audio.
It is like eating the start of a delicious meal but the dishes are cleared from the table after the appetizers, so I must look at other people dining on the full dinner with main course and tasty desert. I am hungry for more. @charles newman
I am looking forward to the new Jorma album. We made the pre-order and it will be here soon!@johno
JK! and JC!@John B
This might be old news for some but I see that somebody has posted on YouTube the entire 3/4/88 concert at the Fillmore with Jorma, Jack, Paul and Grace. The audio is very good although it ends about half-way through. However if you want to see and hear something really special check out this very tight performance. This is the best hour and a half you’ll spend for a long while.
I heard Bar Room Crystal Ball from the new album on relix’s site. Sounded great! Got mine pre-ordered
Two things I really can’t wait for – Jorma’s new album and spring!!!
JK. JK.
Also before I go back to work I read Jorma writes the Google Earth photo was taken in warmer weather. The other photos from before Jorma went to California show the over night snow growing bigger and then he needed to plow.
Jorma did not hear the google plane taking this photo.
@John B
I am advised not to rely on my iphone because it gives choices for words but I will learn to read and write English better to learn the words and write them.
The weather in New Jersey, NYC and Long Island is because weather patterns bring heavy snow to places but not deep snow and ice to other places in the East of America (I now learned to say “America” and to say “the USA”. No word “the” before the name of “America” Why? I am learning to try and go with the American language flow.).
The photos Jorma puts on here are better to be viewed on a lap top computer so to get the big full picture. Every day is more learning English for me.
@John B
Things still looking pretty green down there Jorma. We lost our leaves months ago and there is snow everywhere. I didn’t realize tha the climate is so different in Ohio then here in NJ. Maybe it is because you are in southeast Ohio I guess.
Hey brother… that ain’t now… it’s miserable now… that’s just Google Maps
Stop with the sunsets please. Only kidding – it’s the only thing keeping me from from cutting my wrists. Glad to hear your having a good time. It hasn’t stopped snowing since you left.