Fall was certainly wrapping itself around us as we moved into the Rev. Gary Davis Weekend at the Fur Peace Ranch.
The Fall road behind my little studio
On this glorious weekend the Wonderful Woody Mann came to teach and to amaze and enthrall us on Saturday night at the Fur Peace Station with the Empire Roots Band.
Seth Farber came to join Woody, and played the Birman’s old 1913 Chickering baby grand.
Seth at the Chickering
Also on stage was Bill Sims Jr. Even though with the band, Bill sang and played guitar… he sat down at the grand also.
Bill Sims Jr. at the Chickering...
The music… touching and powerful!
The men, with Brian Glassman on bass
Brian Glassman played upright bass… awesome, in every respect!
Seth, Bill and Woody... Brian in the background
A fantastic measure of sound, passion and tradition!
Brian, Bill, Jorma, Woody and Seth
These aren’t the only moments that uplift my soul… but they’re a big part.
Then before we knew it… Sunday came, Student Performance… pictures…
The gang...
Big thanks to Roy Book Binder and Tom Feldmann for helping to make this weekend possible.
I would like to think that Rev. Davis would have enjoyed this little tribute to his memory!
@Jorma
Or should we talk about the Four Aces of Piedmont Blues including Blind Willie Mc Tell ? In any case, you can be blind and still see the light.
AMEN.@rich l
This was My 3rd Rev Weekend at Fur Peace….and 7th workshop weekend at The Ranch…
Best
One
Yet!!
Great Class (Thanks to Jorma and Tom!) Damned if I didn’t actually learn some tunes this go ’round !!
The Saturday night concert was a truly spiritual experience
And the food! …….The bread bowl soup for lunch on a rather chilly Saturday was sooooooooooooo perfect.
Thanks again to my Fur Peace family
Brett
Yup
who’d a thunk it
77
Buon Campleanna
Peace
Love All Ways
10/30/16
Happy # 77 Grace
The Beacon is less than a month away. I can’t wait. Hot Tuna is gonna rock NYC once again. This will be the original 3 member band that I first saw in 1973. Haven’t seen that in awhile. I get the feeling that this will be epic. Can you please play Feels So Good – for old times sake.
I found my own answer. They are not one and the same, even remotely.
living in the moment…
I was cutting the grass last weekend and two kids about in 7th grade walked by. It was a gorgeous Fall day in Chicago. I said hi to them and then quoted one of my favorite verses from Psalms;
Psalm 118:24 “This is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
The kids walked on a few more steps and then one of them throws there hands in the air and shouts, “Hallelujah!”
It made my day.
Can I get an amen?
Jorma, your life seems to be an shining example of that verse. I wouldn’t know who those blind pickers were if it weren’t for you. Keep those lamps, trimmed and burning…
Thank you, Jim. It’s been a trip.@jimhitchcock
Carey, good job in the NYT interview, fun to read.
One more question. Are Sonny Terry and Sonny Boy Terry one and the same? That’s the only Piedmont player name I recognized. I mean, I heard the Levon Helm Band play “Blind Willie McTell” once, but I didn’t know at the time if that was a fictional character or not.
on another note, I just received my 2016 Hot Tuna Shirt that I ordered from the fur peace ranch and couldn’t be more pleased with the design, quality of the material and ease of ordering. Thanks FPR!!!!
Wow. It’s amazin’, the stuff you never think of until you sit down and think a little. I’m not a musician, but I love music, and I love history. It’s always been for me, Delta blues, Texas blues, and Chicago blues. But of course, there were great populations of African-Americans east of the Appalachians, so why the heck wouldn’t there be a different style coming from the east? The first Reverend Gary Davis I listened to immediately brought to mind the call-response I’ve heard at black churches I have attended. I’ve listened to some Blind Boy Fuller and Blind Willie McTell, and the difference is striking. Somehow, seems a little more folksy, and the picking style is quite evident. I’m so glad I found this blog. Onward, through the fog!
Amen is right. It was a great weekend.
Dion DiMucci (yes Dion and the Belmonts Dion) was certainly one of his students and in my humble and prejudiced opinion one of the greatest rock and rollers to ever walk the planet. If I ever won lotto I would contact Jorma and Dion’s agents and put on an acoustic /electric show at the Loew’s Paradise on the Grand Concourse in the Bronx. Red Apples as you left in memory of Bill.
@Mark K
It seems right that like The Reverend later in life you have become the teacher to so many guitar players. I wonder how many of his “students” went on to careers in music and continue to preform today and how many of yours will follow in that tradition. They continue influence others even over 40 years after his passing. Many hope for legacies, and I think it does not get any better than that.
I’ll have to study a little history@Jorma
An excellent and wonderful weekend! It was great to be back at FPR and part of it all. Looking forward to my next visit to the ranch. I’m already missing all that great music and friendship. Thanks Jorma!
Dang, I hope I can get up that way for a show someday. I reckon tickets are scarce as hen’s teeth?
Am I anywhere near correct in assuming that the Reverend Gary Davis is to the piedmont sound what Blind Lemon Jefferson and Lightnin’ Hopkins were to the Brazos bottom/Texas blues sound?
The Holy Trinity of Piedmont players…
Blind Rev. Gary Davis
Blind Boy Fuller
Blind Arthur Blake
These are the Big Dogs!
Wow…big class you had for the Rev Gary Davis tribute weekend. Wish I was there. His music is food for the soul – it has a spiritual message – and it’s blessed from above. That’s why we love it so much. And to think we’re still listening to it all these years later. You guys must’ve felt his presence there with you. Thanks Jorma for keeping his legacy alive.
Amen Alleluia brother
Peace
Love All Ways