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Sept. 29
Well my optimism was certainly unfounded on September 23. The account of what
happened is in my journal and I don't want to revisit it here. The boys were
pro's all the way. The showed grace and compassion which is right in line
with what their music says. I love them all.
Sept. 23
Tonight is the big night at the Ballroom of the Inter Continental Hotel for
the Freedom Tribe. I don't believe anyone has talked to the band yet today
about the show. It is crazy in town so if word gets around there could be
a big turn out. I have met some crazy people here. The person who is doing
this promotion is Scott and he introduced himself as Demetri or something
like that last night. Freedom just called and told me everything is cool.
They are taking care of the hotel rooms right now. I was worried because this
room is $350 per night. There are a lot of other things I would rather spend
$1000 on right now. I am getting excited for the boys now. They are checking
out the venue and will be back later to fill the rest of us in on what is
happening. I guess this is time for Papa Murat to have a little nap. I hope
to have some pictures from the show up tomorrow.
Sept. 19
Playing music all these years with so many people has been very rewarding
to my heart and soul. To the players who came to Provinces this weekend, thank
you. Jimmy Culler has been there for decades and is better known and loved
than me by our audiences because he is a good guy. He has a ton of stories
of his adventures and they are never dull. Dale Fuentes has been there through
all the groups and added a magnificent amount of magic to the music. He is
an amazing player and my friend for so very long. Christopher Nickels is a
new member of the family and has his own uniqueness to add to the music and
he does it with a flair, well, actually with a guitar. Thank God for music
and for friends, those who plan and those who listen.
Provinces 9-17-05
Sept. 13
Mike did a little engineering for me last night so I could re-sing The Trouble
with Love. He spent 7 hours painting his house before coming to Silent T so
it was a short session. The news of the upcoming adventures for the Freedom
Band changes my mixing plans for our CD. Rob will be busy. That is kind of
a funny statement since Rob is always busy. This time it will be rehearsing
for the concert in Texas. I am going to take a week or two of intense focus,
long days and lots of Starbucks and wrap this puppy up. Everyone seems so
busy, Ronnie with family concerns, Christopher just hurt his neck, Jimmy is
pulled 50 directions, Mike, mister focus, Dale with Island blues, John with
the video camera on the run and so it goes. Does that all matter, yes and
no. Prayers for the weary travelers amongst us. Work and play for those who
have the inclination and the time. It will have been a fun ride and like so
many other artists we are already talking about the Bosa nova CD and the one
after that. CD's make great coasters.
Erik
Helmersen and Papa G
Sept. 9
I had a very nice recording session with Erik Helmersen last night.
I introduced him to the art of Silent T Studios and we actually got two very
good takes of a couple of his songs. It was a lot of fun, especially on Walking
Tall on which he played guitar, keyboards and shaker and I played djimbe.
His enthusiasm is contagious and refreshing to a tired old dude like me. I
said I feel like I am like a person who has to run a 26 mile marathon and
then afterwards wants to sprint 100 yards because that is what he truly loves.
The marathon seems to be a daily requirement and what is left over for the
dash is not much. Still if I set a focus and goal I can do it. For some strange
reason I can do it better for other artists than I can for myself. Erik has
the passion it takes to drive you in the business of music. God bless him
for that.
Sept. 4
I talked to Dale Fuentes on Monday and we are going to get
together next week to record his album, Fresca, onto CD. I hope to make a
version with Flute and one without Flute. He can use the minus flute version
for accompaniment when he is in Mexico, or when he is up here in the Northwest
for that matter. I am excited about this because it is a great album he made
all by himself on a four track cassette. I was watching a home video not long
ago and that Fresca is the music playing in the background. We are also going
to have a listen to the tracks for the new CD. I hope to have this wrapped
up by the end of September.
Also, Saskia Ana will be coming in at the end of the week
or the week after to begin her new CD project. It has been a long time and
it should be fun. She really has a great vision of how to use her music for
good and I am happy to be a part of that dream.
Rex Hjelm and Walt Steinbach
Sept. 3
I got together with Rex Hjelm, drums and Walt Steinbach on bass out at Walt's
place on the reservation for a nostalgia jam. It was a great time. It has
been over twenty years since Rex and I played together and he has just gotten
better and better. Walt has more basses than Guitar Center. We played through
the set list Walt made up to come sit in with me at Provinces the weekend
Jimmy was supposed to be out of town. The session was great fun and I look
forward to doing it again in the very near future. We gelled the best on the
Jazz, Latin and Bosa Nova stuff. We had a group together way back in the days
of Ricardo's in Everett. We played a house gig of Sunday night jams and we
had quite the guest list. I recorded so many of those nights including some
nights with Boy Meets Girl member George Merril on piano and Moog Synthesizer.
All those tapes were lost in the many moves over the years. We had some good
times which are now only accessible by our remaining and limited memories.
Sept. 1
September brings the fall, the falling leaves and the prelude to winter. I
spoke to Mike Daily today and he is mixing Casey's project. It is the second
project for Mike for this artist that Dale Fuentes found and recommended.
Finder's fee is pending. I want to have a listen to what we have. Jimmy was
going to have a drink with his boss and unwind. I said I wanted to make his
session later. Christopher called mostly to check on me and say he was ready
to visit, talk, play if we could synchronize our schedules. It looks like
Saturday mornings are going to be good. I still haven't spoken to Rob so I
don't know if he is back or not. Josh has been spending a lot of time in the
studio this week and I guess He and Christina are coming back tonight. So
we are not bored and we are making progress.
I am adding some links to some other artist's websites. Check them out.
I got an e-mail from Saskia Ana
last night and today. She and Sarah Maria worked together on some performance
projects and I was lucky to be a part of one. We worked together on another
project and she was talking about venturing onto a new CD plan. She has an
ethereal quality to her voice. I first heard her on the Art Walk in Seattle
when she was sitting in an alleyway wrapped in sheets like some one in a Maxfield
Parish painting and she was singing this beautifully haunting melody in a
language that was strange and somehow familiar. She was improvising. When
we worked together I told her to use that gift and I am looking forward to
seeing and hearing her once again.
Local artist Serity has launched two new websites. She dances in many circles
from singing and writing songs, to healing,
Eyes of Visions In her words:
Founded in 2002 by Serity, Eyes Of Visions is a website designed to share
the inspirational music of Serity, to aid in raising levels of awareness and
consciousness and also to help promote other local artists. The Web address
in http://www.eyesofvisions.com. The site seems to be down today.
The
Isles of Serity http://www.theislesofserity.com
In her words:
Beyond the water's across the sea lies the Isle's Of Serity
High end Gifts, Art, Collectible, Native American Art, Women's Apparel, Bath
& Body Potions, Home Furnishings and Accessories, Inspirational
material and Music from Serity and other Local Artists.