Digging Deep

Hello my peoples. Hope everyone continues to stay safe and (somewhat) sane. I know for myself it’s been increasingly challenging to stay balanced. I’m really feeling the loss of not playing with folks in a live setting and feeding off that energy. I feed myself creatively in any way I can, but I’m really growing tired of staring at a computer screen. Never imagined playing on someones porch for 30 people could be so rewarding. We must work with what we have right now. Fortunately, I am getting to perform with some high caliber musicians, sans audience. Had a great show with Mads Tolling at the Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society - check out the archive here - https://bachddsoc.org/live/. Check out the PERFORMANCE page for more upcoming streams. I’ve also been working on recording some of my tunes that have been a long time in the making. The first one is almost done - a collaboration with the amazing Scheherazade Stone. It’s sounding great! More with her to come, as well as some other very talented folks. Can’t wait to share them with you.

In other news, our new business - The Sebastopol Cookie Company continues to thrive. I’m so thankful for all the hard work my wife Bronwen does, and her talents are on full display down there. Website coming soon. When in Sebastopol - please stop by for delicious baked goods and yummy beverages. I continue to cook up a storm at home - I’m making up for years of eating in my car on the way to a gig! Also been enjoying some quality camping. We had a great time on the Eel River near Laytonville, and just got back from an amazing trip with my daughter Isabella to the Trinity Alps Wilderness. Getting out there really helps me keep my head straight these days. Look forward to our next chat. In the meantime enjoy a few photos….

With Mads Tolling after a great streaming concert from Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society

Deszon Claiborne laying it down remotely for my new song. Killing it!

Hiking in the beautiful Trinity Alps Wilderness

With my lovely daughter Isabella in Trinity

My street Tacos. Damn…

BRAVE NEW WORLD

Hello friends. Hope you’re all navigating our Brave New World with patience, love and resolve. Could we be
living in crazier times? As if this virus wasn’t enough, we just can’t get a grasp on racial injustice. It’s time for the pot to boil over. Enough is enough. We are all responsible to make this right, and it’s gonna take work. Please do your part, I promise I will. On top of it all, our lunatic ‘president’ fans the flames of hate and division - this asshole must go! By whatever means.

Ok, had to get that out.

Life continues to evolve for me. I’m staying busy doing remote projects, writing, recording and playing at home. I help out at our new business - Sebastopol Cookie Company, as much as needed. Bronwen is crushing it there. Business has been very good. I am grateful for all she does. Go Cookies! I’ve been playing my Bi-Monthly porch concerts in Petaluma with pianist Steve Rupbart. Been a lot of fun. I’ll also be doing a remote concert at Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society with violinist extrordanaire Mads Tolling on July 19th. Ticket info to come soon. I’ve also begun the process of recording a group of my songs that have been dormant for too long. We had our first session this week and it went great, The song is a collaboration with Scheherezade Stone. Can’t wait to share it with you. Speaking of music - I’d like to share a couple recordings with you. Check em out below. Talk to you soon!

This lovely song ‘Fireflies’, written and performed by Elaine Lucia, features the debut of my string quartet arranging. I’m really pleased with how it turned out. The song features Elaine on vocals and nylon guitar, me on electric guitar, Cliff Hugo on bass, Alan Hall on drums and a string quartet featuring Kathy Marshall-violin, Candace Guirao -violin, Darcy Rindt -viola and Kelly Maulbetsch -cello. Elaine’s put together a great album. Should be available soon - check it out!

Here’s something kinda personal. Our lovely daughter Isabella just turned 18. Wow - all my children are now adults! She’s a wonderful young woman who makes us both proud. We celebrated her life by writing this song for her. My music, Bronwen’s words. I took a leap by adding my vocals - yikes! Family and friends contributed by shouting out at the end. Love ya Bella! Enjoy.

Sheltered Videos!

Here’s a couple videos of my musical life at home during these times. Enjoy!

During the first weeks of sheltering, this is a little meditation I kept coming back to - seems reflective of my mood these days. Playing more at home than I have in years, and loving it! Evidently the neighbors do too. The crackling/static in the background is the virus trying to get me. I’m winning. 😜 It’s actually my awesome Strymon Mobius pedal. Enjoy. More to come.

So here's a little Jam put together by Jake Wood - brilliant drummer/percussionist/musician from Hamilton. It's part of his Quarantine Jam series. It combines two of my favorite things - music and humor. The idea was to pass around an idea to the Hamilton musicians and see what happened. This one features Jake, myself and the incredible Dan Feiszli on bass. We were supposed to make videos of ourselves recording, but I forgot to hit record for my 'solo' pass. I redid the video, but I think I got a little off (Hee Hee). Maybe you should close your eyes and listen first, then watch it for a good chuckle. Thanks Jake and Dan - fun stuff. More to come. Enjoy!

Alone Together

Hey People!

I hope you’re enjoying the new site. Be sure to check out my first blog post to bring you up to speed. Once again, a mighty shout out to John Doing for making this look so good. I highly recommend him for your next web project.

Hope everyone is coping with our new world. I continue to seek out the positives. Slower pace of life, more time at home, remembering all the things I love about music, and cooking at home! See the pics below to find out where I’m putting some of my creative energy. Yum. I actually played a gig the other day. What?
It was a ‘porch concert’ in Petaluma with the wonderful pianist Steve Rubardt. Lovely, distanced crowd showing us much love. Felt so good. Plus I got to reconnect with one of my most revered professors from Sonoma State - Will Johnson. I learned so much from him, and it was a pleasure to see him as vibrant as ever. I continue to work with various folks remotely, and have had a great time doing it. We musicians may not return to our normal way of doing things for some time, so it’s important to stay connected. My latest project is to finally record one of the handful of worthy songs I’ve written over the last decade. These songs have been burning a hole in my soul and it’s time to start getting them out there. They’re a slight departure from my past jazz offerings, but the songs are an important part of what I need to say. Stay posted to find out what I’m talking about.

On a completely different note, I’m pleased to say my lovely wife Bronwen and I have purchased a bakery/cafe here in Sebastopol. The Sebastopol Cookie Company has been a fixture in our community for 25 years. As Bronwen needed to make a transition from public education back into food, this seemed like a great opportunity. Crazy time to start a new business, but things have actually been going very well. We’re a to'-go business, and people really need their cookies right now. Bronwen has lots of great new ideas for the business and will undoubtably crush it. It’s truly a family affair with our daughter Isabella working there as well as our niece Asha. I paint things, hook up printers, fix doors and go on supply runs. Maybe I can get a gig there someday! :)

Hang in there folks. I know these are challenging times, but there are good things that come come out of it. Dig deep, breathe, and say hi to your community. We can all become better people through this experience. Look forward to chatting more.

Cheers!

Home Cooking

Porch Concert with pianist Steve Rubardt