Well, the Latin Grammy Awards were on November 5, but my nominated collaboration with Omar Sosa Across the Divide didn’t win. Of course, it having never occurred to me that there would be any reason for me to be nominated for a Latin Grammy, it felt a bit like not winning the Algerian Chess Finals.
I did, however, have some fantastic barbecue some days earlier at Everett and Jones in Berkeley, CA – a favorite spot of mine. This time I had the brisket, largely because I’d had ribs for breakfast at another place a few hours earlier. In case you’re wondering, it was actually a bit much. I could barely look at food until midnight waffles at the Santa Cruz Diner.
THANKS FOR COMING TO THE SHOWS.
It’s been a good month of gigs, and it was great to see everyone who came out. Thanks! I could write at length about each of them. The West Coast was as westy as ever. I played the SF Jazz Festival with Omar Sosa, saw some friends, taught a singing school and even spent some time with a pelican. Minneapolis was wonderful and heavy. It’s been too long since I’ve spent any time there, and I saw so many dear friends in such a short period of time that it was about as much as I could handle. That was followed by three longish days of solo driving- first to Cedar Rapids Iowa to play with Beausoleil, then to La Crosse almost via Dubuque (d’oh! still, I managed to get there a whole five minutes before I was supposed to go on, so gimme a break) and finally on to Chicago where, yes, I did have the ribs, but only because I hadn’t eaten anything but an apple all day.
Most recently I even got to play within an hour of home for the great benefit series Music for a Change in Hartford. It was nice to meet a bunch of you there, and to see my old friend Kristen who played trumpet with the Lobstermen which eventually turned into Cordelia’s Dad. (If you’re wondering what on earth that previous link is about, it’s a photo of the band’s lead singer Colin taken by Diane Arbus. At the time all of us in the band were about 19 except Colin who was like 30, a condition so inconceivable as to make him seem like a martian or a spider monkey or something. Good singer though.)
FINALLY, SOME REALLY GOOD NEWS!
I got word from Evan Chambers the The Old Burying Ground is set to be released this summer. I can’t wait! I’m really excited about this incredible piece of music, and hope I get to sing it again. Who knows, maybe it will even not win a classical Grammy.
With Beasoleil in Iowa? An occasional gig or anything more? Did you play (or sing:) cajun?
I’m really glad you made it back to Minneapolis at last. Wish you could have stayed longer. Come back, please? You are missed very much here.
Beausoleil went on to play Prairie Home Companion in Cedar Rapids next day. I’m sorry you didn’t also get to be on the show. Maybe someday again?
Only an apple all day on the way to Chicago? I fell down on the job. Will pack a greater quantity of road food next time.
I hope you will have a happy Thanksgiving. Please say hello to your dad and family for me.