Checking The Levels

With the Holidays approaching I wanted to let you know about some great music I’ve been enjoying. Music is always a nice gift and a gift that keeps on giving. My friend Rob usually has to prompt me to write about “what I’ve been listening to” but here you have it, just in time for last minute shoppers and some suggestions that you can also put on your wish list.

First off…….and I’m not just saying this because I am true to my team……although I am definitely that…. Should you have a friend that doesn’t have the new HOT TUNA CD / LP, STEADY AS SHE GOES give them this as a gift. Jorma and Jack waited a long time to go into the studio to record this gem and it is a crucial Hot Tuna release. A great gift for a Hot Tuna fan and at the same time a great gift to turn a friend onto a great band with a great new release. The CD is also available as a limited edition record (LP) as well……for those vinyl aficionados……the LP shows off the beautiful LP artwork….by the way KEVIN MORGAN the Fur Peace, Jorma, Hot Tuna artist has been nominated for a GRAMMY for his work…….and the LP also is beautifully packaged in a gatefold sleeve with pictures omitted from the CD…….it has three sides of great music and a fourth side engraving of Jorma and Jack in the vinyl. Records are making a strong comeback (YEAH!!!) and this would be a great gift for a record collector with impeccable taste in music.

I also want to let everyone know……the FUR PEACE COMPANY STORE is running some great specials through December for the Holidays. Discounts in several departments and FREE shipping on ALL orders…..there are some great gifts to be found at the Co. Store. Our CAMPFIRE COFFEE and our FPR teas are all on sale and they make a tasty gift.

Now…….back to CD recommendations.

In the Rock, Blues category, this year has given us some great releases. JOHNNY WINTER is back with a great new release, appropriately titled, ROOTS. This CD finds Johnny with a host of special guests playing homage to his Blues’ heroes. All solid Blues’ covers that sound fresh and Johnny’s guitar playing and singing sound crisp as well. Even with all the great guests, it’s Johnny’s trademark guitar slinging that comes through loud and clear. One of my favorite tracks, “Dust My Broom” is all JW and it finds him in top form. A real nice surprise this was. Some other old favorites have come through with great releases as well this past year. Check out STEVE CROPPERS tribute to 1950’s – 60’s R & B on his release, DEDICATED. The legendary guitarist is joined by some great guests on this record and the results are great fun. WARREN HAYNES’ CD, MAN IN MOTION, is another great release with some special guests. As special as the band is, it is Warren’s great guitar playing, singing and song selection that make this CD standout. It’s a Warren record, so you know it jams…..but the R & B originals give it a special turn.

A couple of other old faves released impressive CDs late in the year. DAVID BROMBERG’s new CD USE ME finds the A-list session man getting help from a top shelf group of special guests. David is known for his acoustic guitar playing, but on this release he pulls out the electric and really goes back to his roots for a great record. Another great going back to his roots is RY COODER on his new release PULL UP SOME DUST & SIT DOWN. Well done Ry!

I’ve really been enjoying TRANSLUCENT BLUES the new collaboration between DOORS’ keyboardist RAY MANZAREK and slide guitar king ROY ROGERS. Roy’s slide playing is brilliant and exciting…..he is one of the greatest in that style….and Ray’s singing is strong! Some of the songs have a “Roadhouse Blues” feel to them and it is good to hear. Ray’s keyboard playing is stellar as well. I picked this up without a listen because I knew how good the players were and I was happy I did. GEOFF ACHISON came by the Ranch in late September and he was kind enough to lay a copy of his recent “Live” CD on me. JAMMIN IN THE ATTIC catches Geoff and RANDALL BRAMBLETT live in Georgia in 2010 and this CD kicks butt…..great sound, great songs, great solos……..really was knocked out by this one. I could say I was surprised…..but I really wasn’t……I hold Geoff’s playing in high regard and this collaboration works real well too!!!

I love Native American flute music and really would recommend R. CARLOS NAKAI’s CANYON TRILOGY. This was originally released in 1989 and I still have my vinyl copy, however I was thrilled to find in on CD. This is a great CD to listen to for relaxation, meditation, grounding and pure aural enjoyment. I like to listen to it while driving and that is another reason why I was happy to find the CD…..the turntable in the truck hasn’t been working to good. This is solo flute and it is beautiful.

The new CD from SEUN KUTI, one of FELA KUTI’s sons, is killer Afro-Beat. This finds Seun joined by his father’s late band, Egypt 80, for a blistering set of infectious African groove music. The CD is titled…. FROM AFRICA WITH FURY: RISE.

The great GREGORY ISAACS has left this world for Zion, but while he was with us he recorded some of the most crucial Reggae music you can find. Gregory was know for his beautiful voice and his vocal styling. He was a genuine hit machine in Jamaican music. THE RULER 1972 – 1990 serves as a perfect anthology of his hits as well as some obscure gems. This is a nice 2 – CD package along with a DVD of his 1984 performance at Brixton Academy…..the DVD is a real treat. This is a winner.

One of the great things about music listening is all the joys that are waiting to be discovered. Very recently I made such a discovery and it’s been knocking me out. I had heard of JOHN MARTYN and was aware of his high status in British Folk Music, but did not have any of his recording in my collection. I had a chance to hear the Deluxe Edition of SOLID AIR and I’ve now been playing it in heavy rotation…….what a gem……what a voice…..what a guitar player and songwriter. I just love this album and have gone on to also pick up SWEET LITTLE MYSTERIES the Island Records Anthology by John, which I also thoroughly enjoy. Solid Air was originally released in 1973 and I’m glad I finally got around to adding it to the collection.

My musical palette is far ranging and I picked up a classical guitar CD recently by MILOS KARADAGLIC, a nice Italian guitarist, called MEDITERRANEO and am really impressed by his classical guitar playing. He is a master and at a very young age…and yes I was kidding about his Italian heritage. This CD on DEUTSCHE GRAMAPHONE sounds beautiful and his solo guitar playing is extraordinaire!!!

I have found myself a fan of some ELECTRONICA music and my fave in this genre is THIEVERY CORPORATION. Their 2011 release, CULTURE OF FEAR, finds them doing their thing, which is world music as well as outernational music, and they have never disappointed me. Their sound is exciting and they cover a far range of musical stylings and they always add the Thievery touch, which makes it all so special. I highly recommend this CD if you’re looking for something different. On the same record label as Thievery Corp, ESL RECORDS, is a group called THUNDERBALL and their recent release, 12 MILES HIGH, is also a top pick and very well may end up in my top ten for the year. Thievery Corporation uses a great cast of singers and players to make their sound. Two of these singers……who bring the Reggae vibe to the outfit…..are known as SEE –I…..and their self-titled debut is a killer. This has some straight ahead Reggae but they take the music to higher heights and new dimensions. This is a sleeper and I find myself liking it more and more. These guys know how to plant a groove and make it grow.

Well……there you have it……some of my best picks and most enjoyed CDs of this past year…..I hope you get a chance to give some of these a listen and I also hope you’re enjoying your music, whatever you’re listening too……..because life is too short to miss a beat…….but long enough to catch one too.

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Hey……well,…. how do you like my new Checkin the Levels mast head? I want to give thanks to several friends who put that together for me….Dennis Powell took the picture in my office using his FUJI X100 Panoramic Camera…..KEVIN MORGAN, took the picture and did his magic to make every little t’ing look Irie…..and let me not forget my great co-worker, Brett, who put it up there for me. What a team…..all MVPs!

We have extended the close off date for the STEADY AS SHE GOES ARTWORK AUCTION. We plan to sell tickets for the raffle right up to half-time at the Electric Hot Tuna show here at the Ranch on November 12^th. Before the band kicks off the second set……we’ll pick the winner. This is a beautiful piece of artwork and the LINK gives you all the information about the print. This is a very limited poster and it is beautiful and it is signed by Jorma, Jack and the artist, Kevin. All respect to Kevin Morgan….his visual concept and artistic talent makes the STEADY AS SHE GOES cover one of the most creative and striking pieces of album art that I’ve seen in some time. If you think the CD cover looks great…..wait till you see the poster…..the larger format really lets the cover art speak…..and how about those eyes? Someone is going to be very happy when their number is drawn. Remember…..you don’t have to be present to win.

As for GOOD WORKS, we are so glad to have them as the beneficiary of this raffle. Good Works helps those struggling with poverty in our area of rural Appalachia. As you know…..we are in the midst of some troubling economic times and the work they do and the folks they help are more urgent then ever. Thanks for supporting a very good cause and good luck!

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I lost one of my best friends a couple weeks back…..Donnie Ruben……passed away on September 16th. Vanessa and Jorma have both written about D on their respective blogs and I wanted to honor my friend with a few words and the eulogy I wrote for his service.  Donnie was a major player in this thing called life and although I miss him greatly…..I’m keeping the vibe on how lucky I was to have had him as my long – time friend.  He was my “oldest friend” and by that I mean…..his age…..not how long we had been friends.  The nice thing about having an older friend is that they are able to give you some insights from a perspective that you only get with years.  He was like a big brother to me and there were several times throughout my life that I would go to him with questions or troubles and he ALWAYS came through for me ….. supportive and contemplative.  I think that is what I’m going to miss the most.  The picture with D and my Dad is from this year’s Super Bowl….we were all feeling good and confident when this picture was taken.  Donnie had called me when I was in Hawaii in January for the Fur Peace “On the Road” work-shops to tell me that a cyst that he had removed had come back cancerous.  When we got together to watch the big game he was feeling strong and ready for the fight and Dad and I were cheer-leading his positive attitude.  God knows…..a positive attitude carries a lot of strength.

Donnie went in for surgery in late February.  What was to be a 9 hour operation turned into 16 hours and the cancer that they had seen in the neck turned out to be much more aggressive and spread out. The best surgeons were involved and the James Cancer Hospital at Ohio State did a commendable job. Don appreciated their efforts and they were really on top of this situation. Following the surgery Don underwent 9 weeks of radiation and chemo treatment.  I’ve heard this from other friends who have fought the same fight…… the treatment alone is enough to kill you.  He never gave up and with the ever present help of his long time partner and wife…..Lelia….he went to battle and fought this disease with everything he had.  The treatment really beat him down and on one occasion when we were visiting he acknowledged that the treatment was really hard on him but that LIFE is what made it all worthwhile.  During this past year I would go and visit Donnie on Tuesdays, which is my day off, and on many occasions I’d bring Dad as well……they always got along real well.  Several weeks ago I visited with my friend to celebrate his 72nd birthday.  He was looking good on this particular afternoon and I commented to him that he really looked to be “on the mend”.  He said he was feeling good and he hoped he was on the mend, but he finished the sentence with a comment that hit me when I got the call that he had relapsed and was back at the hospital….. “if things don’t turn out the way we hope, I’m OK with that….I’m 72 and have lived a very blessed life. ”

Cancer is a tough road to walk and I’ve had several friends and family that have had to make the trip down that road.  It makes me mad to think that after all the time and money spent on this disease….Donnie still could not be saved.  Just a week after my last visit,  Donnie was feeling weak and tired and felt something wasn’t right.  His doctor told him to check back into the hospital and they would run some tests and find out what was going on.  Well, he never really got to hear the results of those tests because on his second day in the hospital he went into cardiac arrest.  He survived the code blue night at the hospital but never came back……resting his last couple of days in a coma state.  When he went, it was by the grace of God…….he had already suffered so much.  He never got to hear the final results that the cancer had spread into his lungs, liver and spinal column.  I’m glad he didn’t have to hear that report.  It all happens so fast and even though I knew conditions were dire we had hoped that he might be able to get back home.  The Lord took him direct… on the fast train to Zion…..to the everlasting home.  As it turned out…….the service would happen pretty quickly as is the Jewish custom.  Lelia asked if I would speak at the service and of course I told her I would.  However, when she told me when the service was I found out I would not be able to be there, as I would be at a Memorial Mass for my Mom who died exactly one year before.  Lelia understood, but I asked her if I could write it out and have Vanessa read it as I knew she would be going to the service.  YES…..this was fine with Lelia and the Rabbi.  So…..on the Saturday before the services,  I spent the day in the yard writing, thinking and doing some work around the yard when I needed a divergence.  At about 6 o’clock PM I called up V and told her to come on over……I had finished my eulogy.  Sometimes people will say that what they wrote took years…..but what I wrote took tears.  I read it to V and Izzie and then discussed with Vanessa my ideas for the reading….it was all set.

On the day of the service Vanessa called, as did a couple other friends, to tell me how well the reading went over.  Later in the day the whole family and my cousin went up to Donnie’s Shiva.  We only stayed for a little while but it was good to be there.  Donnie’s brother, Billy, and others were all very pleased and complimentary of the words I had written and that made me feel good.  I’m still adjusting to my friend’s departure and I must admit that there are times I forget that he is gone in the physical sense.  I think about calling him up ……  only to remember…….he’s gone.  Give thanks for the blessing of a great friend …..  the many great memories and great times will sustain our friendship forever !!!

I want to thank Vanessa for being such a good reader ….. and for my friend, Wally, who stood up with V during the reading….. you both are a mitzvah……for Donnie and me!

Here is the eulogy:

A TRIBUTE TO DONNIE RUBEN

I’M SORRY THAT I CANNOT BE HERE TODAY – IN PERSON  – TO PAY TRIBUTE TO MY FRIEND AND SOUL BROTHER…..DONNIE RUBEN.  I THANK MY FRIENDS FOR READING MY TRIBUTE AND SEND SPIRIT. CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY…….LELIA.   I AM AT A MEMORIAL MASS FOR MY MOM, WHO PASSED AWAY ONE YEAR AGO……TODAY.  DONNIE WOULD UNDERSTAND AND I HOPE YOU WILL TOO.  STILL ….I’M SAD ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO BE HERE……..DONNIE GAVE ME SUCH STRENGTH, SUPPORT AND INSIGHT DURING MY MOM’S LAST DAYS.  I REMEMBER LILIA AND HIM SITTING WITH ME AFTER THE SERVICE OFFERING COMFORT…..HE WAS IMPECCABLY DRESSED WEARING A SHARP LOOKING FEDORA.  HE LOOKED LIKE A SAINT FROM A BOB DYLAN SONG.  I WOULD HAVE NEVER BELIEVED THAT A YEAR LATER  MY FRIEND WOULD JOURNEY TO GOD’S HEAVENLY HOME. WHAT A BLESSING IT WAS TO KNOW SUCH A RIGHTEOUS, GOOD MAN, AND TO COUNT HIM AMONG YOUR BEST FRIENDS…….. (breathe)

IT IS SAID WHEN A PERSON LEAVES THIS WORLD HIS GOOD DEEDS SAY…..”BEFORE YOU COME FOR JUDGMENT, WE SHALL BE THERE AHEAD OF  YOU”. AS REFERENCED TO IN ISAIAH 58:8…..”YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS SHALL GO BEFORE YOU, THE GLORY OF THE LORD, SHALL BE YOUR REWARD.”

DONNIE WAS A RIGHTEOUS MAN & HIS GOOD DEEDS MANY. I FIRST KNEW OF DONNIE THROUGH FRIENDS WHO HAD BEEN CLIENTS OF HIS….HE WAS A TOP SHELF LAWYER & HE USED HIS EXPERTISE TO HELP FOLKS ACROSS A BROAD SPECTRUM OF HUMANITY. HE WAS PROUD OF HIS HERITAGE AND FAITH AND WORKED FOR JEWISH CAUSES.  WOMEN’S RIGHTS…..WORKER’S RIGHTS……CIVIL RIGHTS….HUMAN RIGHTS….. 1ST AMENDMENT RIGHTS AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS WERE ALL CHAMPIONED BY HIM….AND HELD IN THE HIGHEST RESPECT AND REGARD!!!

BEFORE I REALLY GOT  TO KNOW DON…..I KNEW OF HIM & HE WAS KIND OF A MYTHICAL, MYSTICAL LEGEND. HIS COLORFUL PERSONA WAS THAT OF ONE COOL CAT. THROUGH MUTUAL FRIENDS WE FINALLY FORMALLY MET & STARTED TO HANG OUT.  WE BOTH SHARED A REAL LOVE FOR MUSIC. OUR FIRST CONCERT TOGETHER…..LILIA AND DON….WAS NICK CAVE AT THE ALROSA IN 1986…..25 YEARS AGO. FROM THAT POINT ON OUR FRIENDSHIP GREW….STRONGER & DEEPER….LOOKING BACK WE HAD VERY SIMILAR LIKES…..MUSIC….SPORTS, ESPECIALLY THE TRIBE AND LAKERS…..FOOD….POLITICS…..GOOD COFFEE….OUR MOMS. DON EMBODIED ALL THE QUALITIES OF A GOOD FRIEND….LOYALTY, TRUST, RESPECT… YOU COULD GO TO HIM FOR ADVICE AND HE WAS FUN TO  BE WITH!  HE WAS A TEACHER – AND HE INSPIRED YOU BY HIS LIFE, HIS WORDS AND HIS ACTIONS. HE WAS A SAGE OF ENDLESS WISDOM……REMINDING YOU THAT ….” YOU CAN’T LOOK AT LIFE THROUGH A REAR-VIEW MIRROR” AND “THAT THERE WAS NEVER A WRONG TIME TO BE RIGHT.”……..(BREATHE…..YOU’RE DOING GOOD)

OVER THE YEARS WE TOOK SOME GREAT ROADTRIPS….DRIVING HIS DAD’S OLD WHITE IMPALA UP TO CLEVELAND TO SEE THE TRIBE AND BOBBY D…….SEVERAL TIMES.  I TOOK HIM TO HIS FIRST DEAD SHOW IN PITTSBURGH….BOY, WHAT A TIME THAT WAS.  ALTHOUGH DON WAS QUITE A BIT OLDER, HE WASN’T AN OLDIE AND WE WENT TO SEE METALLICA & THE FIRST LALAPALOOZA TOO!  HE LOVED ALL KINDS OF MUSIC AND ALTHOUGH HE WAS THE OLDEST AMONG MY FRIENDS – HE HAD AN OPEN MIND WHEN IT CAME TO NEW SOUNDS.  THIS WAS A QUALITY THAT CROSSED OVER TO MORE THEN MUSIC.  HE WAS A YOUNG THINKER.

AS MUCH FUN AS IT WAS TO BE OUT KICKIN’ IT WITH HIM….SOME OF THE BEST TIMES WERE ONE ON ONE WITH DON….SITTING ON THE BALCONY AND DISCUSSING THE STATE OF AFFAIRS AND POLITICS OF THE TIMES. HE WAS NOT ONLY A THINKER  -  BUT A GOOD REASONER TOO.  DONNIE HAD MANY SPECIAL QUALITIES & STORIES…..AND THE MORE YOU KNEW HIM……MORE WERE REVEALED.  DID YOU KNOW HE WAS A GREAT COOK? MANY A TIME WE GOT TO BREAK BREAD & SHARE A MEAL. I’LL NEVER FORGET LUNCH AT RAY’S ….EATING CURBSIDE.  IT WAS MY OLD JEWISH FRIEND THAT SHOWED HIS ITALIAN FRIEND HOW TO MAKE AN “ITALIAN SUMMER SAUCE”…..I USE IT ALL THE TIME…..I MAY RENAME IT DON’S SAUCE IN HIS HONOR.

DONNIE IN HIS DAY WAS THE GREATEST LAWYER.  EVEN WHILE RETIRED HE CONTINUED TO OFFER HIS HELP TO THOSE WHO SOUGHT HIM OUT.  HE WAS A CHAMPION TO THE UNDERDOGS AND DOWNTRODDEN AND OFFERED HIS HELP OFTEN WITHOUT MONETARY COMPENSATION.  FOR ME….AND I’M SURE FOR OTHERS HERE…..HE WAS A VOICE OF REASON.  DURING LIFE’S TRIALS I COULD GO TO DON FOR ADVICE….HE WAS NEVER AFRAID TO GIVE YOU HIS HONEST OPINION….HE WAS A GOOD LISTENER TOO…..AND SOMETIMES THATS ALL IT TOOK….HE WOULD LISTEN TO YOU & SAY….”i THINK YOU’RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK” AND THAT ALONE WOULD INSTILL YOU WITH CONFIDENCE!  AS HE WAS THERE FOR ME, HE WAS THERE FOR OTHERS, SERVING IN THE SAME CAPACITY – GOOD, SOLID CONSUL….I CAN ONLY HOPE AND PRAY THAT HE WILL CONTINUE TO WHISPER TO US.

LILIA….YOU ARE A MITZVAH!!! YOU SHARED SO MANY GREAT TIMES & YEARS WITH DON….YOU DEDICATED YOURSELF TO HIM DURING THE TRIALS OF THESE LAST 9 MONTHS.  HE WOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO WAGE HIS FIGHT WITHOUT YOU….HIS CLOSEST ALLY & LOVE OF HIS LIFE.  HE WAS SO PROUD OF YOU & THANKFUL FOR YOU…….AS ARE WE ALL!

IN PSALM 15 DAVID SAYS:  ” GOD….WHO HAS THE RIGHT TO ENTER YOUR TENT, OR TO LIVE ON YOUR HOLY MOUNTAIN? THE MAN WHOSE LIFE IS RIGHTEOUS…..WHO SPEAKS THE TRUTH FROM HIS HEART”. DONNIE IS HIGH ON THE MOUNTAIN TOP….  LET US ALWAYS REMEMBER HIM & BE INSPIRED BY HIS LIFE WELL LIVED!

Vanessa followed this with another reading…..this time from Jorma’s blog……..it ended with ….. ” He was good man.  Fair winds and following seas, my brother.  Yes, my brother…..you were truly a very good man and I’ll always remember you and find inspiration in the life you lived!!!  BLESS UP !

HERE IS DON’S OBITUARY…………..

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It was just a week ago that Jorma was dropping me off in my driveway, just around 3:00 AM…..he had informed me… “We’ve been traveling now for over 24 hours” just about the time we made the turn into my yard. It was the last stop on a two-week trip that had started in that same driveway……headed to The Full Moon Resort in the Catskills…..dropped down to the Great South Bay Music Festival in Patchogue on Long Island……..before flying out of JFK for Milan, Italy and a week of Electric Hot Tuna shows.

Sunday morning ….24th of July…..we meet down in the lobby at 6:00 am and load up for our trip to the airport. The kind folks at the Hotel Touring set us up with several bags of some great Italian coffee and some espresso on the spot. The trip is smooth to Milan Malpensa and we arrive with time to spare before boarding our flight back to JFK in New York. Our arrival is smooth and before long we’ve got our bags and a driver too and we’re heading off to New Jersey to drop off Abram “Abe” Fogel…..Hot Tuna’s drummer on this recent run. Mon, oh, mon……what a drummer he is…… more on that coming up. After saying a farewell to Abe and one more bless up, we’re onto Scotch Plains and the home of Barry Mitterhoff…….who just tour it up in Italia……..and even though Barry isn’t home……we have the key and Jorma’s jeep is still in his driveway. So……we fresh up and pack it all in and about 5:30 pm start the trip west for the great state of Ohio. Jorma and Myron do a great job of driving…..in fact, I felt so comfortable in the back seat, I fell off and got in a great nap.

The Italian tour was short but mighty and it was the first time ELECTRIC Tuna had made its presence in the country. As we departed the US for Italy I was remembering my first trip to Italy….with Jorma, Vanessa and Michael Falzarano…..twenty years almost to the day ago. It was one of those where does the time go moments followed by lots of giving thanks and praises. I’ve had the pleasure of making several trips to Italy over the years….. with Jorma and a glorious trip with Mom and Dad once as well. It is a beautiful country and I’d have to put it right between the USA and Jamaica in my top three places I love report.

So……we leave JFK at night and land in Milan in the morning. After clearing customs we meet up with the Italian tour promoters…..the fine folks from Blue Sky Promotion …..Jorma has worked with these folks for so long now…..it is like visiting with family……and it is good to be back in Italy and their company. The two tour managers we worked with on this run …..Vania and Alberto…

..have become old friends and they do such a great job of facilitating every little thing……it makes the travel fun and easy. I really enjoy both of them very much and they both are great at teaching me the finer points about Italy and forever helping me with my attempts at speaking Italian. Yeah, I get the feeling that my attempts are providing Vania with a lot of amusement. I told Vania, on one of the last nights, that Alberto is the King and you are the Queen……and Sergio… the Field Marshall General……..is the King of the kingdom! Just great people to work with and a joy to travel with through the remarkable regions of their homeland…..Italy!



We leave the airport and a few hours later we are in Genova and we have the afternoon to relax and dinner at 8:30. We all meet up and walk to a nice tratoria not far from the hotel and commence to have our first of many killer meals that would mark the splendor of the day and the Italian way of cooking. We…..the Tuna gang……were joined by Bruce Cockburn and his manager, John, for a night of great eating. This area ……Liguria…..is known for it’s PESTO and the opening dish of pesto pasta was just exceptional as was my calamari friti that followed. All in all a great start….and a great meal… and the owner took it over the top when he pulled out of his personal stock of a rare Italian aperitif….Genepi…and poured a drink for those whose pleasure it was.



Monday, 18th of July and the first show. The show is right down on the port and Genova is a big port city. Indeed …..while setting up and during the show …big boats were pulling in and some were going out. These cruise ships are gigantic and the boat captains handle them as if they were pulling a car into a parking space…..maybe better…..they pull in then back them out with amazing precision…..which I guess is important when commandeering such a huge transport. Bruce Cockburn plays a well received opening set ….solo …..to start the night off. He sounds good from out in the house where I’m positioned by the merch table and his voice and guitar are powerful as are his lyrics. Electric Hot Tuna is ready to go and there is excitement in the air when they take the stage. The mix is good and Jack’s bass lines trail over the propulsive drums of Abe’s …..Jorma is singing better then ever and Barry and JK are putting plenty of great leads into the right places. At the end of the night……it’s all va benne……and everyone is feeling good……the people who came to hear and the people that came to play. You never know how these kinds of things will go……foreign place and using someone else’s equipment……so this is a great way to start things off. Jorma has posted pictures and set lists from all the Italian shows on his blog …….so check in with CRACKS IN THE FINISH!



Tuesday, 19th of July……After a nice breakfast at the hotel, we’re all in route back to Milan to catch a flight to Palermo, Sicily. At the airport we have the Blue Sky team of Vania and Alberto to help us get everything through gate check and onto the plane. After a full day of traveling …… I can see it……it is the welcoming coastline of Sicily glistening in the distance. The local promoters are on hand to pick us up and bring us to the Hotel Casena Dei Colli….and after checking in, we all have a little time to relax before we plan to meet for a nice dinner at the hotel’s fine restaurant. Being on the road with the gang gives me insight to the finer points of touring and the life of a musician on the road…..by the time we had touchdown in Palermo it had been a full day of traveling and as Jorma so appropriately put it….”Glad we had a day off.” We were all rewarded with a bountiful feast at dinner…..and everything from the home made Minestrone ….right through dinner …..to the home-made strawberry cream cake were tutu benne!!!!



Wednesday, 20th of July…..Myron and I go out for a morning walk. We first head literally right next door to the Teatro di Verdura where tonight’s show is going to take place. This show is part of the WOMAD festival that is taking place in Sicily over the next few days. Tuna is on the bill along with the Buena Vista Social Club. Everyone is hard at work setting the stage and after sussing things out …..Myron and I take a nice walk into town to check out the local flavor. In the afternoon we head on over to set things up and then come back to the hotel for another great dinner. Then it is back to the theatre and the show. I’m doing merchandise on this run as one of my duties and the head of security at the show is messing with me……they move me four different times before I end up at the front gate. At the end of the Tuna set…..which I could hear perfectly…I am joined at the merch table by Myron and Alberto and we have us a heck of a good time. Alberto is telling the concert-goers in Italian to buy a CD or we won’t be able to get back home. We’re cracking the people up and they’re buying the new CD too. Every night Tuna plays is bombastic and the Electric Tuna is fully charged. Jorma and Hot Tuna have a big following in Italy and some of the comments I catch from folks at the show illustrate this…..one guy….”I’ve waited 40 years to see Electric Hot Tuna”…..another….”Jorma is the greatest rock guitarist”. Yes, indeed…….longevity and greatness!!!! The Buena Vista Social Club puts on a great show and it is a thrill to get to hear them live. Big group…..I think I counted 13 members…..and the sound was even bigger…..Respect!



Thursday, 21st of July……We have a somewhat leisure morning and we’re all taking advantage of the nice breakfasts that they put out in the Italian hotels. We all head back to the Palermo Airport and before long we are on our way to Rome. We land in Rome and pick up all the bags and guitars and head for the hotel…traffic is already crazy, so after just a short stop Myron, Alberto and I head to the venue, which is a nice outside park stage. We get everything all worked out and are ready for sound-check by the time the band pulls in. After the sound-check, it is a short walk to another great place and another great meal. Everything was just fantastic! We all ate well and we all were very satisfied and maybe because we ate so well…when the server came over to ask us if we were ready for dessert….there was a unanimous NO…..we all were filled to the top. But he prodded us that we must have dessert and in Italian he told Alberto….that it was something special not to be missed…..so alright, he talks us into it and despite the fact that not one of us felt we could eat another thing….the fantastic …delicate… philo-dough pastry with cream and berries disappeared before you could say…….caffe dopio. Now it wasn’t all about eating and the music sustained me as much as the food. As I mentioned earlier……every….and I do mean EVERY show was primo….but my favorite of this run had to be Rome…..it just seemed like hotter then fire. It was a nice full audience……a fine outdoor setting ……great sound….and a great set! A highlight for me was getting to hear my song, A LITTLE FASTER, (from the NEW Steady as She Goes CD) LIVE for the first time and it was ……words fail……but, a dynamic version accompanied by wondrous solos and it just totally kicked or hurled butt!!!! We beat it out of the Rome traffic and I do mean traffic and made our way back to the hotel and I was amazed at the energy of the day……..and how much energy Tuna put out ……even after a full day of traveling. Buona Serra Roma!



Friday, 22nd of July……We leave Rome and start on our 5 hour drive, heading east into the countryside. This tour is a busy one and when I mention to a friend about going to Italy…..they always ask if you got to do some sight-seeing? Unfortunately, the answer is no…..we’re working here…..5 shows in 6 days. However, on a nice 5 hour drive there is lots of beautiful scenery to view as you drive by……hey look at that neat castle up on that hill……look at those fields of sunflowers…..yes, it would be nice to drive up that hill and explore that castle…..but just seeing it is going to be as good as it gets today…..and that’s cool too. We get into Faenza and check into the hotel and then it is off to the Piazza Nenni for the show. The stage is set up right in the plaza and it is packed and the band feels the vibe and puts on a super-charged show. The promoter takes us to a great restaurant for dinner. This is once again an old place and the walls and decorations on them all eek with antiquity. The place has a wood cooking grill and the foods cooking smell great. It has been a real treat for me to be on this Italy run. So many wonderful things and I’m getting to hear my favorite band every night and they are truly sounding better then ever. I’ve got to give a BIG UP to the drummer, Abe…..This is our first time meeting and Abe is am impressive cat. He sure has a nice way about him and it’s easy to enjoy his company……but, whooaa……is he ever one heck of a drummer. Abe is filling in for Skoota and that could be a hard task, but he is right there and if I didn’t know better…..I’d swear he’s been playing with them for years. He’s right on the one…..and even when we get to hear him play “I know you Rider” for the first time…..he picks it right up and is quick to learn the ending that JK and JC school him on. Each night towards the end of the set Abe gets a drum solo and each one …..although varied they were……is a mass set of explosions and he’s got each drum talking…..keeping the pedal on the bass drum while intermingling snare drum snaps. I can’t say enough about how great each drum solo was……but I can tell you he really stirred the crowd…..and he was on the tip of many tongues when after the show people came by to express their love for the band and the music. At the Rome show JC came in on the end of the drum solo and did some real ambient mind blowing bass stuff and the two of them worked real nice together!



Saturday, 23rd of July…….
We’re off again……last show of this run is tonight, but first we must make the almost 300 km trip to Chiari….near Brescia. We are staying at the Hotel Touring and it is a nice spot. A short drive over to a bandstand where Tuna will once again play to full house of enthusiastic fans. There’s not a seat in the house that isn’t filled and everyone is treated to another great night of music. Remember to check JORMA’S BLOG for set lists and his comments about each show…….



TWO WEEKS BEFORE…….Sunday, July 10th……Well, Jorma said he was going to pick me up at 8:00 AM and here he comes ……rolling into Hurl’s Hideaway.. We’re heading off to upstate NY and the Fur Peace Ranch “On the Road” at the Full Moon Resort. We meet up with Vanessa, Izze and Lucy, who is one of Izze’s best friends, and Lucy is joining the Kaukonens for this trip to the Catskills. We’re convoying as Vanessa has the kids and we have the bags, guitars and other miscellanea. It’s a long day of travelling…..about 11 hours later when we pull into Kingston……but a great day of travelling. I really enjoy a ride with the Cap…..we’re so busy anymore and a car ride serves as a great way to visit and shoot the breeze. It also makes the time just fly by. We get up Monday morning and make a stop in Woodstock for some coffee before heading on over to Big Indian and the Full Moon. It’s nice to be back, as this is the third year we have done an off-site workshop here in the Catskills. All the same wonderful people are still on board at the Resort and it’s great to see everyone. Later in the day, our people start to show up and it’s looking like it is going to be a great group of people to spend a week with. David Bromberg is here to teach along with Jorma…..and it’s great to see him as well. After dinner the students head right to their respective classrooms and the teachings begin. Jorma’s teaching in the Barn building and they have given it a nice renovation since our last visit…..very nice! All of our days begin to fall into a pattern that would be the rule of the day. You wake up to a beautiful and somewhat cooler then hot and humid Ohio morning……take a stroll on down to the Café in the Valley View House for breakfast…..greet the people and enjoy a nice morning meal. All the meals are exceptional at the Full Moon and that sure makes all the campers happy. We have a high bar of what we expect in the way of food and service……we’ve been spoiled by all the years at Fur Peace…..and the Full Moon is doing it right! After breakfast we ……Vanessa, Izze, Lucy and Me…..take a ride into Woodstock. On a couple of the days we are joined by Judy, Julia and Stacy…..wives of FPR students…..and they all enjoy the Woodstock vibe……cause it’s still there! The week goes by faster then Michael C. can drop into a D – tuning and we are blessed with one nice day after another. The student makeup is a mix of repeat offenders and some people on their first Fur Peace experience. The music is a great common denominator and the sounds of guitars ring in the mountain air. On the last night of this session…..Jorma and David have planned to do a private show for the FPR students and guests. We set up the barn building for the show and the Full Moon owners…..Michael and Henry and some of their friends are all here to hear a totally unplugged set of some fine music. Oh yeah, ….. we had a special guest join the guys for the really big show….Woodstock’s own……Happy Traum……has come to do some playing as well. It’s a great night of music and the three kings are set up left to right…..David, Jorma and Happy. Happy starts things off with “I am a Pilgrim”….this is a personal favorite and I’m glad …..very glad…..to hear Happy kick it off. As was the case in most all of the songs…..one guy picked the tune and the others joined in…and joined in they did putting their own touch into the music. Next JK followed with “Let’s Us Get Together, Right Down Here” and David followed that with “Wayfaring Stranger”…..you can see there was a pattern being established here. So we have a real special ……hopefully not once in a lifetime experience…..to end this great day at the Full Moon. As I headed on up to my cabin, I looked at the painted Full Moon marquee sign that hangs by the entrance and dang if there wasn’t an actual full moon hanging high in the heavens right over the sign. As the Cap likes to say……You can’t make this stuff up.



On the last day of classes……Jorma starts his recap early…..Jorma and I are looking to be on the road to the Great South Bay Music Festival by 10:30 am. We bid everyone a fine farewell and give thanks for another great session at the Full Moon. We’ve left at just the right time and we are able to make it through all the weekend traffic and out to Long Island before it gets too crazy. We get over to the concert sight for the festival and it is right on the water in a nice setting. It’s a great day of music and we get to hear David Bromberg with his quartet play a great set before Electric Hot Tuna takes the stage. This is Tuna Country…. people… and the place is packed and Hot Tuna delivers a blistering electric performance and from what I could see……this was a super charged audience getting a turbo charged booster from Electric Hot Tuna putting it out with no energy shortage in sight. Tomorrow we’re heading for Italy……..

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As some of you may know, our friend, Pete Huttlinger has been having some serious health issues. The gravity of these issues came to light for us at the beginning of this year’s Fur Peace Ranch camp season. Pete was suppose to be here on that weekend teaching and a few days before he would have arrived we heard from Erin, Pete’s wife, that he was back in the hospital and that it was unlikely he would be out of the hospital or able to teach on that opening weekend. We were able……with the help of Pete, Erin and Kim……to find a great substitute teacher for that class….and Tim Thompson did a great job of filling in for Professor Pete.

Since that time we have fielded many calls from folks concerned about Pete’s health. We have also received calls from some of our most respected Fur Peace alumni suggesting that we help organize “Donations for Pete” through the Ranch. Over this past weekend we thought about how we could do this and we also reached out to Erin to see how she felt about this. We have been given the “Go Ahead” from Erin and will start to collect monetary donations for Pete. If you feel inclined and are able to help in this regard……PLEASE send your check to the Fur Peace Ranch and note on the check that it is to be used for the “Donations for Pete” fund. We will then forward one big check (each month) to the Huttlingers. Our address is — Fur Peace Ranch, 39495 St. Clair Rd., Pomeroy, OH 45769.

I got a note from Erin today. I’ve asked her if it would be OK to post it on my blog and she has responded with an OK. Here is the letter………..

Hi John;

Thank you for all the wonderful support we feel from everyone individually at Fur Peace and from Fur Peace collectively.

Here are some things you can share with those asking.

1. To follow Pete’s progress, I will be posting at CaringBridge www.caringbridge.org/visit/petehuttlinger

2. I know that people are wanting to offer financial support. I can’t tell you how much we both appreciate that. I am opening a special account for this. People can either send checks directly to me, or via Fur Peace. The check(s) should probably be made out to me (Erin Huttlinger) so I don’t have to worry about whether Pete is up to endorsing them or not. They can be mailed to: P.O. Box 58283, Nashville, TN, 37205.

Thanks so much for all your help.

YES ERIN…….we are glad to be of help and we offer our prayers, a most powerful helper, as well! I checked out the Caring Bridge site and it is very good way to keep up on Pete’s progress. There is a sign-in requirement to get on the site, but even I could do it…….so you shouldn’t have any problems.

Thanks and Respect to all our wonderful Fur Peace Ranchers who have called to inquire about Pete…..please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

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Hurl: Good Morning Captain…….Good morning to you sir!…..Hey Jorma, Thanks for taking the time to answer a few questions regarding the fantastic new Hot Tuna release, “Steady As She Goes”. I know you’ll be taking off on the bus soon, so let’s get started. FIRST OFF……Big congratulations on the new record……You know I’ve been a fan of yours and Hot Tuna’s music since I was in high-school and some how all these years later you are still able to create such a wonderful work of art and a masterpiece that hangs nicely with all of the other great Hot Tuna records in the group’s 40 year span. How have you been able to sustain your inspiration for Hot Tuna for so long??????

JK: Simple… It’s not only what I do… It’s what I love to do! I have been blessed to have a career that is inspired by the music. Hot Tuna’s been an active band since 1970. Jack and I are each others oldest friends………..I cannot think of another person on this planet that I have been able to explore my songs with. Jack lets me be me.

HURL: I really love the format of the new record as I like the mix of acoustic and electric …..ballads and blues…you have a nice variety of musical styling’s on “Steady As She Goes”. In some ways it reminds me of my favorites…..”Burgers”…..and “Phosphorescent Rat”. Is it a challenge for you and the band to mix things up in this regard as compared to an all acoustic project or the powerhouse electric records you made in the late 70′s.??????

JK: Nope… once again, this was simple for us. The songs themselves told us how they wanted to be treated. I’m not really sure why that is…..because there were a lot of years that I personally struggled to write. I don’t question it………..

Hurl: “Second Chances” is one of the best songs you’ve ever written Jorma and I know it is a recent composition. What can you tell us about this song….. the creative process of “Songwriting” …. and how you were motivated and inspired to write some of the new songs on “Steady As She Goes”????

JK: For me, songwriting is seeing that rabbit in the field, following him and when he goes down a hole, I’m right behind him. Second Chances was one of those songs that was already a part of me…my life. I just followed it until it revealed itself to me. Barry helped me out with the music one night when I was staying at his house. So I guess you could say that it revealed itself to him too. We are lucky to have second chances in this life.

Hurl: Were there a lot of songs in your head when you went into the studio to record or did you go into the studio with all the material pretty much all worked out?

JK: Some of the songs were in a finished state, and some sprouted as the project advanced. For instance, Jack had been living with the music to Smokerise Journey for a very long time apparently. He came to me with the music at Levon’s and said, I need lyrics. The next morning, those lyrics rose from the smoke of a memory I had. Larry forged the chords and my lyrics into a chart for a great song. It turns out that it was exactly what Jack was feeling. That doesn’t happen often…..it was meant to be written I guess:

Hurl: “Smokerise Journey” is a sweet song and it marks the first time that Jack and You have collaborated in the art of songwriting……very nice….. I love the way “Easy Now Revisited” turned out….One of your great songs from back in the day gets a fresh visit with some new lyrics to boot…..Why did you choose to revisit “Easy Now”?

JK: Easy Now was a song back ‘in the day’ about a motorcycle trip I wanted to take but never did. Easy Now Revisited is about a motorcycle trip I did take last year.

Hurl: The addition of a female vocalist is a real nice touch and Teresa Williams does a fine job in that roll…..However, it is different for Hot Tuna……How was it having Teresa singing with you and how did that come about?

JK: Over the last couple of years I’ve been blessed by being able to do lots of projects with Larry and Teresa. If Teresa weren’t so busy, I’d love to have her with me everywhere I go. She always makes me sound good.

Hurl: Larry Campbell has been making quite a name for himself as a producer and he does a great job as the producer on “Steady As She Goes”…..What do you feel makes a great producer and how was it working with Larry???

JK: Larry’s musical sensibilities are impeccable. His talent to understand his artists and to totally become a member of the team makes him invaluable as a producer. The fact that he is one of the greatest musicians I know…..didn’t hurt.

Hurl: As a producer did Larry get Jack and you to do some things that you might have not thought to do….say if you were producing this project by yourself????

JK: I would never want to produce one of my own projects. How boring. Larry shines the light, we notice it and follow. At this point I cannot imagine using anyone else to produce our music. I was lucky enough to have Larry produce River of Time and I really believe that River of Time and the spirit that went in to that project inspired all of us to make Steady As She Goes…Larry included.

Hurl: Barry and Skoota are such fine musicians and they sure add a potent contribution to the recording…..What say you about working with these two newer members of the Hot Tuna family?

JK: A perfect fit no matter how you look at it. Barry and Skoota were definitely ordained to be part of our group. Good stuff!

Hurl: Everyone I’ve talked to about the new record has been pretty stoked and elated with the fact that first off there is a NEW record and secondly that it sounds so great! I’ve had more then a few folks say that there are a number of songs on the new record that go back even further then CLASSIC HOT TUNA……they hear a Jefferson Airplane sound and feel…….Did you feel that as well?

JK: Absolutely. Working on this project opened many doors and freed me in a profound way!

Hurl: Having an instrumental tune on a Hot Tuna record has become a welcomed expectation and on “Steady As She Goes” this is once again the case with the CD closer, “Vicksburg Stomp”. Would you comment on that and tell us about how that recording came together???

JK: Barry brought this great tune into my life and I encouraged him to let us record it for Steady As She Goes. Vicksburg Stomp is very much like a lot of the instrumentals I have done and written over the years…..it was a fit that I just couldn’t let go away.

Hurl: I really dig your guitar sound on “Children of Zion”……how did you achieve that sound and how long have you been familiar with this Rev. Gary Davis composition????

JK: Well, you know how much I love the Rev. I’ve known about Children of Zion for a long time. I just finally got the insights to make it happen. The guitar sound is a Gibson SST Chet Atkins through a Oahu steel guitar amp from the thirties.

Hurl: Jorma……..You’ve had a long and blessed career……What is similar and what is remarkably different in the recording process from back then and now????

JK: The creative process is no longer a haphazard mystery. There is always room for magic to happen, but I am now able to at least give it a little direction.

Hurl: Well, I could keep on going……but I know you’ve got to go……What can you say in closing as to how satisfied you are with the sound you achieved on “Steady As She Goes” and the joy of a new studio recording for Hot Tuna????

JK: I couldn’t be happier with this project. Now I’m starting to think about the next, but first… our show at the Avalon in Eastern MD with Larry and Teresa! Oh…..wait….you forgot to ask about “A Little Faster”. I have to thank you and Vanessa for that song. As a manager bringing a song to a band is always a delicate task. But Vanessa brought me a real winner. And You, John…..wrote that beauty. It gives me such joy to be able to do one of your songs. Jack and Skoota really play off of each other in the middle of A Little Faster. If I didn’t know better, I’d think it was an old Tuna classic! Thanks!

Hurl: Thanks Jorma, it is truly quite an honor to have one of my own songs recorded by one of my heros. Thanks for your time have a great tour. Bless Up! and rock steady!

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A recent email from my friend, Rob, who is a long-time Fur Peace Rancher and a music lover, gently prodded me to inform readers of “Checking the Levels” what music I’ve been listening to as of late. Thanks Rob……here you go. The last time I blogged on What I’m Listening To….I was heavy into the Afro-Beat sounds. There is so much good music out there and we are living in a golden age as far as availability of obscure music……You don’t have to me a Lomax with a field recorder anymore. I listen to all kinds of music….sure Jorma and Hot Tuna are my faves…..but there is so much music……it’s like a sonic buffet…..try something new……there’s lots to choose from.

Well, after getting back from Hawaii I was swooped up in the sounds of the island. I had some Hawaiian music on LP…..Ry Cooder was responsible for that. I was always a big fan of his music and as his JAZZ record was responsible for turning me onto some different Jazz sounds….CHICKEN SKIN MUSIC utilized some Hawaiian Slack Key players and was what made me search out Sol Hoopi records…..he was the King of Hawaiian Steel Guitar players. After experiencing such a great time in Hawaii and with the musical sounds fresh in my ears I jumped big time into some great Hawaiian Music CDs and I recommend each one of these. Some of these might be a tad hard to find…..I always check first with independent CD stores when ordering…….Amazon is a good second choice.

Gabby Pahinui is one of the Kings of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar and I really am enjoying a CD simply titled, “Gabby”. This is known as the “Brown Album” and it was first released in 1972. On this recording the slack-key master is joined by his sons for the first time on record. It is a beautiful album with great old style Hawaiian singing and playing. Another great Hawaiian Slack Key Guitarist, Keola Beamer, has some wonderful music available…..I’m particularly enjoying his solo instrumental CD, “Soliloquy” on Dancing Cat Records……..and…..Speaking of Dancing Cat Records…..they have two fantastic compilations of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Masters. I’ve been really digging Volume 1…..the Instrumental Collection. Another great collection on Palm Records is “Slack Key Guitar Vol. 2″. This collection has a nice variety of traditional and contemporary styles. “Hawaiian Touch” features Barney Isaacs and George Kuo in duet performances on acoustic steel guitar and slack key guitar. This all instrumental record I bought on a feeling and it is a real pleasure to listen to……highly recommended. The two other Hawaiian CDs I have recently purchased and recommend big time both feature female vocalist and they both are traditional. Raiatea has won numerous Hawaiian Music Awards, including 2002 Female Vocalist of the Year. Her CD, “Sweet & Lovely”, features her incredible falsetto voice as she sings traditional Hawaiian tunes with a deep respect of their heritage. The other CD with beautiful female singing is Lei’ ohu Ryder‘s “Lady of the Mountain”. I heard this CD when in the ranger station / gift store at the top of Haliakila and was really captured by her voice. The liner notes say it is “contemporary Hawaiian music from a very ancient source” and that’s the feeling I come away with. These last two recommendations, with just out of this world singing, are in heavy rotation in Hurlworld.

Thievery Corporation is my favorite group of the last 10 years. I first heard them when in a card shop in San Francisco and it was exciting. I asked the lady at the counter what was playing and when she told me I thought……I’ve never heard of them. Well, I walked down Columbus to the now, long gone, Tower Records’ store and picked up “Richest Man in Babylon” their newest release and was just blown away. It was like a discovery and the excitement and energy that comes with it. I’ve bought everything I can find on this group and have never been disappointed. Last year they released a best-of compilation, “It Takes a Thief”, and I most definitely would recommend it. Even though I had all of the material from other Thievery CDs, aside from the one unreleased track on this comp, I still picked it up and it is a great introduction to TC. Their music is classified as world, electronica and chill……it is also known as “outernational”. It is really a perfect mix of all kinds of music with the common denominator being cosmically good music.

Bob Marley is the reigning KING of Reggae. I was lucky enough to see him twice and the experience was life changing. I had tickets to see him on September 25, 1980 in Columbus, Ohio. Unfortunately, he collapsed after the Pittsburg show two days earlier and the show was cancelled. The Pittsburg show was to be the last time Bob Marley and the Wailers took the stage. The concert from Pittsburg has now been released on Island Records as “Live Forever”. It is a super IRIE show for Bob and the quality of the performance and recording lay no hint of the health struggles Bob was waging. It’s a great concert and it captures Bob and the band in top form. I opted for the deluxe package which gives you 3 LPs and 2 CDs of the concert along with great packaging and liner notes. It is also available as a 2 CD set at a much more tamer price. Speaking of REGGAE……I’ve really been playing Agustus Pablo a lot recently. I have some of his recordings on vinyl, in fact they are Jamaican pressings……the kind that would drive an audiophilist crazy. Two, in particular, I recommend BIG TIME……they are “King Tubbys Meets Rockers Uptown” and “East of the River Nile.” In each case make sure to go for the Deluxe Edition CDs……..they are killer! Pablo has been acknowledged as the founder of dub music, he was also a mystic producer and artist and he is an obscure Reggae legend. Let me finish off my Reggae sounds with Bob Marley’s “Survival”. This is one of the best of his best and it has been remastered with bonus track…….I’ve been listening to this one a great deal lately for some reason known only to Jah!

Sometimes a friend will ask…….”Don’t you listen to Blues anymore?”…..Well, of course I do. Again for some funny reason……that can’t be explained……I’ve been listening to Johnny Winter mucho lately. Some of it is NEW as far as in relation to release date. There is a great “Bootleg” series of CDs that Johnny’s people have been releasing and all of the ones I’ve heard are very credible. I’m really jazzed by the recently released Vol. 7 in this series. Also, a recent release of an old show is pretty fantastic…..”Johnny Winter And: Live at the Fillmore East 10/3/70″. This is a fiery LIVE record from his hay day. Two others that I recommend are….The Legacy Edition of “Second Winter”. The original release came out in 1969 and 40 plus years later it still sounds soooo good!!!! The nice thing about this Legacy Edition is that you get the original LP…..remastered to sound spectacular…..along with a Live concert from the Royal Albert Hall in April 1970 which captures Mr. Winter with his band of Tommy Shannon, John “Papa” Turner and Johnny’s brother, Edgar. Indeed, this CD features Edgar’s earliest presentation of a song that would become a big hit for him, “Frankenstein.” ALSO…..the Johnny Winter “Woodstock” CD is very cool. This is a two – CD set that features his self-titled first record for Columbia paired very nicely with his Woodstock performance from the same year. Most of his Woodstock performance has been unreleased and it great to hear it in it’s entirety.

Another great Blues CD I’ve been listening to is Michael Bloomfield “Live at Bill Grahams Fillmore West 1969.” Michael is one of my favorite electric guitar players and this set captures him at the top of his guitar prowess. This CD is an import, so it may be a little difficult to find……but well worth the effort. Of course, we stock it at the Fur Peace Ranch Co. Store. I reviewed this CD for the local Athens News some time ago and you can read the review by clicking here….if you like.

I love Indian music and have a couple things that I would recommend as I have been thoroughly enjoying these. One is “IF, Magical Sounds of Sitar” by Niladri Kumar. He is a fifth generation Sitarists and his forefathers trained him well……learning Sitar at the young age of 4. I heard this CD while in the Self-Realization Fellowship Store in Encinitas and it was once again one of those experiences of ….who is this and where can I find it. Fortunately, they sold it at their company store / gift shop. I really like the sound of this CD. He mixes Indian Raga and Indian Classical traditions with modern and progressive styles. Some times it sounds like Ravi Shankar meets Joe Satriani…….and speaking of Ravi Shankar…I most strongly recommend a beautiful box set recently released. “Collaborations” is a limited edition box set that features 3 CDs and a DVD of music that Ravi Shankar and George Harrison worked on together. The box set’s presentation is just glorious……aside from the CDs that are presented in mini-LP sleeves, about the size of a 78 cover, the DVD which captures Ravi and a great group of Indian musicians in concert…..you also get a small hardcover book with nice text and wonderful color photographs of the master, Ravi, and his student, George. I can’t say enough about how nice this box is……check it out!

Now before I go…….As for a recent release……check out “Black Dub.” This is the new release from Daniel Lanois and it has an edge to it and it has been cutting into my musical pallet with each listen. ALSO….we just had a fantastic opening weekend here at the Ranch and I plan to write about that soon. Tim Reynolds was here and he did a great solo show on the Saturday night up at the Fur Peace Station. Tim has a new release, “The Limbic System”, and I’m enjoying this wonderful set as well. It’s a 2 – CD set and you get to hear the instrumental TR as well as a CD with vocals. Tim has his own style and it is on full display on this CD. I’m still digesting it and there is a lot here…..but I’m liking everything I’ve heard. I’m particularly fond of the song “The Truth” which I’ve heard him play before and am now happy to have on CD.

As for the newest CD in my play stack…….well, heck, …..it just came out. Yes, it’s been 20 years in the making and it so darn good……I mean great……that you’d think they were in the studio for that whole time. Just released on Redhouse Records, I’m talking about the NEW HOT TUNA ……It’s called “Steady as She Goes” and it finds Hot Tuna at the pinnacle of their career, ….so far. More on this later, but to me…..this CD (and a vinyl limited-edition that comes in May) fits into the Hot Tuna discography really nicely……right next to “Burgers” and “Phosphorescent Rat” ……this is Hot Tuna doing what they are known for better then ever…..with a new sound that is so crisp, you can tell it’s not farm raised……..but the tastiest tuna and the freshest catch. ENJOY!!!!

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We sure had a great workshop week at the Royal Lahaina Resort at the beginning of this year. While we had done three “On The Road” workshops in Desert Hot Springs during past winters, this year we decided to go for it and make the dream of a winter workshop in Hawaii a reality. We had been talking and dreaming about it for a couple of years and when it finally happened….. the reality was as nice as the dream. The place, The Royal Lahaina Resort, was just stellar and the food, service and accommodations were all perfect…..just the way we like it. Jorma and Marjorie, once again did a fine job of teaching and they also had a fine group of students. We all had a wonderful time. January is a nice time of the year to be staying on the beach in Maui. The whales start to come in and it is a real possibility that you’ll be seeing whales flipping their tales and blowing their spouts as you walk along the sandy beach.

Well, we had such a good time that we made a decision right there and then before we could make it back to the mainland that we should do it again. So, we are planning on returning to the Royal Lahaina and Maui in January of 2012. For next year we have reserved TWO weeks at the Resort. The first session will run from January 16th through the 20th…..and for this session the august teaching team of Jorma and Marjorie Thompson will once again reunite for a level 2 / 3 workshop session. Just as a side note…..if you feel you are more of a level 3 player…..do not be turned off by the grouping of these two levels…..Jorma and Marjorie have this teaching thing so down and they are also good at giving personal attention where needed.

Our second week of workshops will start on January 23rd and will run till January 27th. For this second session, Jorma will be teaching his first ever SONGWRITING workshop and he will be joined by Chris Smither who will be conducting a workshop that explores the music of Lightnin Hopkins and Mississippi John Hurt and how Chris has used aspects of their music to form his own style. Both of these classes will have a very limited enrollment of 10 students per teacher and both will offer a unique learning experience!

After this past January’s workshop I stayed on in Hawaii for an additional couple of weeks for some R & R …. that was a lot of fun too. Maui is a beautiful place and the vibe is real nice as well. On my last night on the island I went out to dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Lee and my Dad, who had flown in to join me for the last few days. The Lee’s had suggested a place named the Mala Ocean Tavern and it was a super spot….right at the water’s edge…….our outside deck table was just a few feet from the lapping surf…..and mon, oh, mon…. it was a nice spot. The food was real special as well. But what I really enjoyed and took away from the restaurant……because there sure weren’t any leftovers…..was these cool little stickers they handed out. It simply stated in red capital letters against a black background….. PRACTICE ALOHA.

Now Aloha is one of these words that has multiple meanings and is most likely the most used word in Hawaii. It means hello…..it means goodbye…..it means love and affection and is an adjective for describing good things. It’s literal meaning is “presence of breath” or “the breath of life”. Aloha is a way of living and treating each other with love and respect. Aloha is sending and receiving positive energy……Aloha is living in harmony. So…..YES, Aloha does have many connotations…..and I’ve got to say …..I love every one of them! As I was looking into this I found a great quote from Queen Lili’uokalani….”Aloha means to hear and learn what is not said, to see what cannot be seen and to know the unknowable.” Another Queen…..Queen Debbie…..who has reigned over the Fur Peace Kitchen since we opened likes to say…..”Love is anticipating the needs of others”…..now that sounds like the Aloha spirit as well. So……with all of this in mind……I wish you all ALOHA!!!!!!

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I wanted to make sure EVERYONE knew that Itunes has posted the Friday night show from the Beacon Theatre that Hot Tuna played on December 3rd, 2010. I was there for this one and it was hotter then Hot……catch a fire! I’m looking forward to hearing it again and I’m sure for those that were not able to make it that night……you will be thrilled to hear this fantastic and special night of music! My good friend, Jason Greenberg, who has been administering the LIVE Hot Tuna recordings and is a long-time Hot Tuna archivist dropped me a note about the new additions to Hot Tuna’s Itunes and I post his note to update you on NEW Hot Tuna Live Music on the site………..ENJOY!!!!!

Hey There Johnny Hurl,

Congrats again on “A Little Faster” – always been a favorite of mine, glad to see it grace the new Tuna CD. Looking forward to the guys doing it live, I’m hoping they’re adding it to the set.

Well iTuna & iJorma has had some new releases:

On the iJorma front:
1981-12-27 The Ritz, New York City, NY
It’s a great show, lots of great tunes that haven’t been in the set in years, some decades. The download opens with “Too Long Out/Too Long In”, has “It’s Alright With Me”, “Hamar Promenade”, “Whinin’ Boy Blues” just to name a few.

2010-02-19 McCabe’s Guitar Shop, Santa Monica, CA.
This is the opening night of the short Jorma/G.E. Smith run, so there’s many classic JK tunes as well as some ones he was playing just on this mini-tour.

In the iTuna realm we have a some new ones added as well:

2009-08-30 Plaza Theatre, Orlando, FL Electric Hot Tuna
This was the first tour with Skoota Warner playing drums. Patrick Sweany joins Tuna for the encore, singing and playing guitar on a rockin’ “Hide and Seek”. Tuna plays a great set with a nice Good Shepherd and Bowlegged Woman to name just two of the tunes.

2004-02-02 Ventura, California, Ventura Theatre The Original Acoustic Hot Tuna, just Jack and Jorma.
Playing fantastic versions of “New Song For The Morning”, “Been So Long”, and the rarely seen in the set these days “Watch The North Wind Rise”.

Another iTuna recent addition is a double show download
the first show is:
1998-07-21 from Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, NV Electric Hot Tuna
Featuring Jack, Jorma, Michael Falzarano, Pete Sears, & Harvey Sorgen. This is the classic 90′s Electric Tuna. Some rippin good tunes. “Fools Blues” to open, “Funky #7″ to close.
The other show that buddies with it to make a nice two disc set is:
2005-Fall East Coast, a nice Acoustic Hot Tuna Trio set with Barry Mitterhoff.
This show has a great “Tom Cat Blues” and the always fun “Parchman Farm” > “Keep Your Lamps”.

Coming March 29th or thereabouts:
2004-01-09 The Fox Theatre, Boulder, CO. Acoustic Hot Tuna Trio
This was the opening show of the Acoustic Hot Tuna Trio (Jack, Jorma, Barry). Opener is “True Religion”, there’s a great “Serpent Of Dreams”, with a “Hesitation Blues” encore.

Now the surprise release of the month:

Electric Hot Tuna
2010-12-03 The Beacon Theatre, New York City, NY
Jorma’s 70th Birthday Celebration!!!
This show has it all! Classic Tuna as well as special guests: Happy Traum, Larry Campbell, Bill Kirchen, Warren Haynes, Byron House, Chris Smither. “Come Back Baby” has Warren, Larry, & Bill, “Water Song” & “99 Year” both feature double bassists with Jack and Byron. Here’s the setlist for this download:

First Set:
1. I See The Light
2. Corners Without Exits
3. Talkin’ Bout You
4. Can’t Get Satisfied
5. Introduction of Happy Traum
6. Sportin’ Life Blues with Happy Traum
7. Ode To Billy Dean
8. Living Just For You
9. Introduction of John Hammond
10. I Can Tell with John Hammond
11. Jorma and John Banter
12. You Know It’s Cold with John Hammond
13. Introduction Of Bill Kirchen and Larry Campbell
14. Are You Talkin’ Bout Love Or Are You Talkin’ Bout Chicken with Bill Kirchen and Larry Campbell
15. Introduction Of Warren Haynes
16 .Come Back Baby with Kirchen and Warren Haynes and Larry Campbell

Second Set:
17. Introduction Of Byron House
18. Water Song with Jack & Byron House
19. Tuning
20. 99 Year Blues with Jack and Byron
21. Tuning & The Return Of Larry Campbell
22. Genesis with Larry Campbell
23. Bowlegged Woman with Warren Haynes & Larry Campbell
24. I This I Love I Want My Money Back
25. Introduction Of Chris Smither
26. Step It Up And Go with Chris Smither
27. Rock Me Baby with Larry Campbell, Warren Haynes, and Bill Kirchen
28. Introdutions
29. Encore: Hit Single #1

Sorry for the long winded email, just wanted to let you know what’s been go on.

See you on the East Coast in April, if not before.

All the best
Jason

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I was checking out JORMA’s BLOG and found Jorma’s comments regarding OBSERVATIONS FROM THE ROAD interesting and thought I would throw in some of my own observation along with a very nice letter I just received. First off…..no need to defend the old Cap……he is quite articulate and straightforward and from the amount of comments coming in ……it looks like he has plenty of people who support his position. I did get a chance to read the entire letter from a fan…..who was a long time fan….who is now not a fan…..ah, that’s funny how that goes. But, anyhey……I found myself gasping at several points during the reading of said letter and in a state of disbelief that someone would even write a letter of this sort. Having spent some time out on the road with Jorma, I am very sensitive to his points as I have seen him come off stage….after just giving it everything he’s got and then a little bit more……and then be besieged by fans before he has even had time to wipe the sweat from his brow. Now I’ll tell you that Jorma is always so thankful for his fans and he doesn’t take them for granted. He is old school and he appreciates those who have made it possible for him to live the dream, and boy, he’s been living it for a long time now.

Sometimes people might not realize how hard the guys work when they’re out there on the road. While we were in Hawaii for the Fur Peace Ranch “On the Road” workshop at the ROYAL LAHAINA RESORT I had the pleasure of giving Jorma a nice intro before a private mini concert he did in the Molokai Room for the Ranchers, wives and a couple friends. Since this was not recorded and I work without notes, I have to go deep into the memory to remember what I exactly said……and it goes something like this…….”Our next guest this evening is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame……he’s Izzy’s Dad and the pineapple of Vanessa’s eye……and since James Brown is gone, he now holds the title of the hardest working man in show biz. Just to let you know how hard the Captain’s been working I want to run this down for you. We broke camp at the Fur Peace on November 15th and after the last student had left, Jorma said….”I’ve got to go and get the rental truck and pack up the equipment to head on up to LEVON’s in Woodstock”….I asked him if he was leaving in the morning and he says, “No, we’re heading out this afternoon.” They were heading to Woodstock to work on the new HOT TUNA CD…”Steady As She Goes”. Well, work they did …..for about two weeks straight….taking a short break to fly back to Ohio for Thanksgiving and then right back to the studio. The next break came when the bus delivered the Tuna posse down to New York City for the fabulous Beacon shows. Two sold-out nights of music at the Beacon and then early the next day, the bus rolls back up state to Woodstock to complete the recording project. After this Jorma starts a 7 day, 6 show run on the eastcoast. This is then followed by a 12 hour flight to Tel Aviv for Hot Tuna’s first ever show in Israel. Jorma made it back to the U.S. in a hellacious winter storm, that forced flight cancellations for days, just after Christmas, so…..he rented a car and took a couple days to drive on back to the Buck. It seems like he got to take a whole week off and then it was onto California for a playing date and now here we are in beautiful Hawaii……You see what I’m talking about?

Another story I want to relate reflects on Jorma’s grace and giving spirit. We were on a tour in Italy several years ago…Jorma has found a warm spot in the heart of Italy and he has many fans there. As was the case most nights of the tour many people waited to catch Jorma on the way out after the gig to get an autograph, a picture or just to get in some words that expressed their love, gratitude and admiration for him. On one particular night …..Jorma and Barry had played a beautiful show in front of a 14th century church on a piazza in Tolentino.. As we got ready to leave, I peeked out the door to make sure the coast was clear and there is a mob of fans. I duck back in and tell Jorma, “You won’t believe how many people are waiting for you tonight.” So……what we did was we had everyone line up ….and everyone was real good about it…..and they would then proceed past the back stage door to say hi to Jorma and get an autograph or picture if they liked. This went on for over a good hour…..I made a count of around 250 people…….and Jorma greeted and shook hands with every one of them. It was so cool and beautiful. The Italians have such a love and respect for the arts……but that’s another story. This story stands out in my mind, however, it was not an isolated one time experience. I have seen Jorma repeatedly express his gratitude in like manner ……in many, many places…….for those “God Bless Them” fans of his.

Having worked with Jorma for a long time now, I have been privileged to witness these kinds of occurrences repeatedly and Jorma’s generosity of time and spirit never ceases to amaze me. So……….here is this letter I wanted to share with you. We get alot of letters like this addressed to Jorma and Jack and sent to us at the Ranch. It really makes me think that for the most part……99% of the fans appreciate and respect them and the music.

Dear Jorma and Jack,

My wife and I had the extreme pleasure to see and your band perform at McCarter Theater in Princeton on feb 7th. Thank you so much for keeping music alive. Both of you and your band mates sounded so good, so tight and you made two people smile and dance. Your performance was tight and alive. Your new music and old made us feel alive.

You guys have been the sound track to our lives. Many hours have been enjoyed with love and your music. I did not know how else to contact you but through this address.

When you play I feel that you enjoy the music as much as we do.

Thank you for the moments and love you have given to my wife and I. We have been together for 38 years and throughout our entire relationship (three kids, 5 dogs and many cats) you have brought joy to our lives through your music. I just want to say thank you.

And you are right, Jack only needs three strings. It is the man not the machine.

Again, thank you for coming to my town. I tried to get Sellersville (we have seen Paul there a couple of times, great little theater) but they are sold out for the 15th.

Anyway Thank you for a lifetime of good music and good memories.

Love you guys for always.
Wayne and Cindy.

………….and there you have it…….”Thanks for a lifetime of good music and good memories.”……..and that’s what it’s all about !!!!!!

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