From: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org (JMDL Digest) To: joni-digest@smoe.org Subject: JMDL Digest V2011 #245 Reply-To: joni@smoe.org Sender: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk Unsubscribe: mailto:joni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe Website: http://jmdl.com JMDL Digest Wednesday, August 24 2011 Volume 2011 : Number 245 ========== TOPICS and authors in this Digest: -------- Re: Dulcimer NJC ["Marian" ] Re: Glen Hansard at Joni's Jazz [Paul Castle ] LA JoniFEst 2011 [Marianne Rizzo ] Re: LA JoniFest 2011 [rosemjoy@aol.com] Random thoughts on Joni's Jazz [Steve Dulson ] dulcimer [ava rosenblum ] Joni's Jazz [Merk54@aol.com] Dulcimer NJC [Steve Dulson ] Re: Dulcimer NJC [shadows and light ] Our 1st JoniFest ["Richard Flynn" ] Re: Dulcimer NJC ["Randy Remote" ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2011 00:45:25 -0700 From: "Marian" Subject: Re: Dulcimer NJC Surfing is good! Nice to be outside in the sun and the water. It's good exercise and fun. Dulcimer is pretty easy, but you might tire of it rather quickly. Because of the fretting on a dulcimer, the range of keys and the scales is pretty limited. Some dulcimershave a few more frets that make it possible to play more half tones and more scales, but compared tothe guitar, its capabilities are very limited. Also,its sounds are not as beautiful as those that arepossible with an acoustic guitar, IMO. If renting a guitar is an option, you might want to dothat before you make a final decision, just to see if youlike it. You could try learning some of the guitar songs in the jonimitchell.com music archive. Even if you onlyever tried to learn Joni's songs, it would keep you busy for at least a few years. If you finally decide that you can learn the guitarand that you want one of your own, take some timeto decide which guitar you want to buy. Go to several music stores and try out all the guitars. Even between two guitars of the same make andmodel, there can be vast differences in the soundsthey produce and the sound of one can be far superior to the other. Once I went to a music store and tried out all theirclassical guitars. I had never done anything likethis before. Most of the guitars were in the pricerange of $200-$600, and some sounded betterthan others, but there was one without a price that had the most incredible sound. WhenI asked I was told that it cost $3000! I wasglad that I could tell that it was an amazing instrument, and sad that it was way way out ofmy price range. I'm just trying to say that youshould be able to hear the superiority of the soundof one instrument over another if you compare a lot of instruments. Good luck! Let us know what you decide. Marian Date: Mon, 22 Aug 2011 17:31:05 +0000 From: betsyblue82@gmail.com Subject: Dulcimer NJC Out of nowhere, I feel inspired to try something new. It will either be a sport or a new instrument. (Feel free to add your thoughts about surfing, if you want.) Is dulcimer easy enough to start learning as an adult with only piano experience? How much of an investment would it take? Should I stop being so obscure and just rent a guitar? NP Sweet Bird (1983) Betsy ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2011 09:03:49 +0100 From: Paul Castle Subject: Re: Glen Hansard at Joni's Jazz Just noticed that the link I posted for the Glen Hansard interview no longer works so I've posted it here - http://radio16a.posterous.com/66670697 best to all PaulC > Sometime ago I heard a great RTE Radio podcast interview > with Glen talking about how he came to make 'Once', how his > headmaster had helped him become a busker at 15, meeting > Dylan on Grafton Street in Dublin and being invited over to > open for him in London the next day, being "completely freaked > out" by Van Morrison at his birthday party when he asked Van to > play 'Hungry For Your Love' - and Bono's role in their Oscar for > 'Once'. > > A charming man living a charmed life! ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2011 07:52:02 -0400 From: Marianne Rizzo Subject: LA JoniFEst 2011 Dave, Thank you so much for those pictures and thank you to every one else who shared/ are still sharing pictures and stories . . They are beauttiful. . especially the people in the pictures. I look at the pictures of YOU ALL and say to you I love you! Beautiful Joni people. T H A N K Y O U I see your special smiles. { { { { h u g s to you all } } } } and to YOU too! XOXO love you, \ bye you too joni Marianne ps. Lieve, is that you? smile From: Dave Blackburn Subject: LA JoniFest 2011 For those not on Facebook here is the public link to my pics from LA JoniFest that should let you view them without being a FB signup. Let me know if it works. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2137092758229.2121307.1573419652&l= 20c712a155&type=1 Dave ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2011 09:27:05 -0400 (EDT) From: rosemjoy@aol.com Subject: Re: LA JoniFest 2011 Thanks Dave for the wonderful fotos. I hope to meet you & Robyn some day soon! I wish I could have been there; I miss so many of you terribly!! :0( Rick & Brad...your home is absolutely beautiful! Rosie in NJ NP: Bruce S. Live in Atlantic City - -----Original Message----- From: Dave Blackburn To: JMDL LIST Sent: Mon, Aug 22, 2011 3:37 pm Subject: LA JoniFest 2011 For those not on Facebook here is the public link to my pics from LA JoniFest hat should let you view them without being a FB signup. Let me know if it orks. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2137092758229.2121307.1573419652&l= 20c712a155&type=1 ave - -----Original Message----- From: Dave Blackburn To: JMDL LIST Sent: Mon, Aug 22, 2011 3:37 pm Subject: LA JoniFest 2011 For those not on Facebook here is the public link to my pics from LA JoniFest hat should let you view them without being a FB signup. Let me know if it orks. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2137092758229.2121307.1573419652&l= 20c712a155&type=1 ave ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2011 10:11:21 -0400 From: Steve Dulson Subject: Random thoughts on Joni's Jazz I thought I posted this a couple of days ago, but haven't seen it in a digest....forgive me if it's a duplicate... I'm not nearly as coherent or erudite as Mr Muller, but here are a few thoughts. 1. JMDLers are the best. I couldn't have spent the last four days with a nicer group of people. But you knew that! :) 2. Aimee Mann - I agree that she was a bit stiff, and VERY nervous. Her Scarlett, though, was very good, I thought. I was sorry she didn't choose to come out for the group bow at the end. 3. A DVD of the show - I can't see it happening, myself. There were several vocal and lyrical flubs - "slithers away on spit like mouth piece spit" - and Tom Scott came in a couple of beats early on one of the later songs and had to start over. Not sure the artists would want all these released. 4. Tom Scott - how great to see Tom, dismissed by some as "jazz lite" during his Joni days, respected by Hancock, Shorter et al. He and Mark Isham, as Bob said, were a killer horn section and played together really well. Tom also sang - unfortunately inaudibly - back-up on the Court & Spark songs. 5. Back-up singers - I missed some of the vocal parts that weren't there - "mark of Cain, mark of Cain" - but I think that it was a good choice not to have some singers on hand - they would probably have been used too much. The less-is-more arrangements worked really well. 6. The LA Times review - I loved the closing line, that, if this same group performed the Hejira album, the author's life would be complete, and his remark that Glen Hansard sang Coyote "as if his life depended on it." Amen! 7. It almost brought me to tears hearing Joni's music played by such terrific musicians, with such affection, respect and joy. The smile on Brian Blade's face throughout the show was worth the price of admission. More as I continue my recovery... *************************************************** Steve Dulson Costa Mesa CA FAR-West (Folk Alliance Region - West) tinkersown@ca.rr.com www.far-west.org ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2011 11:44:44 -0500 From: ava rosenblum Subject: dulcimer I am taking dulcimer lessons, and am finding it a real joy. I heartily recommend it. ava Reply to: Date: Mon, 22 Aug 2011 17:31:05 +0000 From: betsyblue82@gmail.com Subject: Dulcimer NJC Out of nowhere, I feel inspired to try something new. It will either be a sport or a new instrument. (Feel free to add your thoughts about surfing, if you want.) Is dulcimer easy enough to start learning as an adult with only piano experience? How much of an investment would it take? Should I stop being so obscure and just rent a guitar? NP Sweet Bird (1983) Betsy ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2011 14:26:13 -0400 (EDT) From: Merk54@aol.com Subject: Joni's Jazz First off, I want to thank everyone for making this such a great event. Unfortunately, we had a very close friend of the family pass away on Thursday so I ended up having to cut my trip short. As a result, I missed out on the two parties on Thursday and Friday night. I'm sure they were a great time for all involved. Here are my thoughts on the Tuesday and Wednesday events. It was great to see some of the folks I met at a Blue Moon Joni Fest and to meet several new people. I am painful shy around new people, so these events definitely take me out of my comfort zone, but the JMDL are such a warm bunch, that I was as comfortable as I could hope for in such a crowd. The music at the Far Bar was exceptional, but if I can nitpick, the background conversations of people reuniting often overwhelmed what was going on on stage. Especially during Robin and Dave's first set, people were still in "great to see you" mode, and the crowd noise was very distracting. This was my first time seeing Robin and Dave and I was a little disappointed people weren't more respectful of the musicians on stage. I understand the excitement of seeing everyone, but I just wish this could have been handled differently. This lack of consideration for the musicians was my only gripe about the entire time. Aside from the crowd noise, I thought the music at the Far Bar was great. Robin and Dave surpassed my expectations. What a treat it was to finally see them perform. It certainly whetted my appetite for the Mutts pre-show on Wednesday. The other performers were equally good, and it was great fun to watch various members of the audience pick up random percussion instruments and join in. I would have liked a few more sign alongs, but again, I'm nitpicking. The pre-show picnic on Wednesday was great. The spot we had was a nice wooded area right outside the bowl, and the weather was perfect. The Mutts put on a great show, despite minor technical difficulties (which seemed to annoy the Mutts more than it did the crowd). My favorite moment during the Mutts was a beautiful version of Edith, when Sherrelle (Sorry, I can't find how she spells her name) and company sang some of the background "oooows". From where I was sitting, it was so pretty and haunting. A definite goose bump moment. As for the main event, on the way in to the theater, there was a guy selling a seventh row center seat. It was $130 seat, and he was only $80 for it, but I initially passed it up. As I got closer to the entrance, I couldn't stop thinking about that seat, and decided to turn around and see if it was still available. While I would have enjoyed sitting with the rest of the JMDLers, I couldn't pass up this opportunity. I found the guy and bought the ticket. It was as great as he said it was. Seven rows from the stage, and just slightly off center. We had a private wait staff, and a little table shared by four of us. What a treat it was to be able to sit this close for this performance. I pretty much agree with everything everyone else has said. Amy Mann was very stiff, and unemotional, though I thought she did a nice job on Hissing. Her detached performance seemed appropriate for this song. I've never been a big Kurt Elling fan, and I did not care for his version of Black Crow at all (though the addition of Blackbird at the end was a very nice touch). To me, he over sings most of his songs - please, this isn't an audition for American Idol. In contrast, I thought his Dry Cleaner was spot on, probably because he's so Vegasy, that his presentation matched the song perfectly. When I saw he was going to do Edith, I cringed in anticipation, though I was pleasantly surprised that he restrained himself beautifully, and did a very admirable job on the song. I wasn't very familiar with Cassandra Wilson, and she was a very pleasant surprise for me. I thought she did very honest and emotionally compelling versions of everything she did. I also truly enjoyed Chaka's performances. I know some people thought she over sang some of the songs, but from where I was sitting, you could see the absolute joy she was experiencing singing these songs. I can't begrudge anyone who is enjoying themselves that much while singing a Joni song. Of course, as everyone mentioned, Glen stole the show. All three of his performances were riveting, especially Shadows and Light. I wish he had done a few more songs. As good as Elling's Edith was, I can't imagine how great Glen's version would have been. And finally, the band deserves major kudos for all they did that night. Herbie was great, if under used. Brian Blade was mesmerizing as always, and as someone else pointed out, beaming with joy for the whole show. Tom Scott was very cool to see perform. Everyone, really did an exceptional job. I can only imagine how great it would have been to see Joni perform in front of this line up. I wasn't really expecting her to show, so I wasn't disappointed, but it sure would have been special. All in all, a magic night. The after party in Paz's suite, was another great time. Lots of music playing, lots of sing alongs (thanks Dave!), and lots of merriment. I can't believe the hotel never busted this up, as we got pretty crazy well into the wee hours of the morning. A great nightcap to a very special day. Thursday I went to the Tim Burton show at the LACMA, which was very cool. Tim is one disturbed individual! I then got the phone call from home about our friend passing and began my plans to return home. I'm sorry I missed the remaining events, but had a great time while I was there. Thanks again to everyone who helped coordinate this (Julius, Paz, Kakki especially). Jack ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2011 20:23:45 -0400 From: Steve Dulson Subject: Dulcimer NJC Betsy wrote: >Is dulcimer easy enough to start learning as an adult with only piano >experience? How much of an investment would it take? Hi Betsy! Dulcimer is one of the easiest stringed instruments to play - why do you think **I** picked it up? :) Seriously, pick up a tuned dulcimer and in minutes you can be playing recognizable melodies - start off with Happy Birthday and Frere Jacques, and take it from there. Don't let folks tell you that the dulcimer is a "limited" instrument - I have friends who play jazz and classical music on it - you can take it as far as you want to go. You could probably find an OK used dulcimer for under $100 - just take an electronic tuner to check the fret placement. Many people build dulcimers from kits, and the frets can be way off. Les Irvin, Laura Stanley and I just had a great mandolin, guitar and dulcimer jam in Topanga. Please contact me off list if you have more questions. Happy to spread the dulcimer gospel! *************************************************** Steve Dulson Costa Mesa CA FAR-West (Folk Alliance Region - West) tinkersown@ca.rr.com www.far-west.org ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2011 19:02:30 -0700 From: shadows and light Subject: Re: Dulcimer NJC On Tue, Aug 23, 2011 at 5:23 PM, Steve Dulson wrote: > Betsy wrote: > > >Is dulcimer easy enough to start learning as an adult with only piano > >experience? How much of an investment would it take? > > they sure did a wicked jam, with michele singing! lesli > steve wrote: Les Irvin, Laura Stanley and I just had a great mandolin, > guitar and > dulcimer jam in Topanga. Please contact me off list if you have more > questions. Happy to spread the dulcimer gospel! > > *************************************************** > Steve Dulson Costa Mesa CA > FAR-West (Folk Alliance Region - West) > tinkersown@ca.rr.com www.far-west.org ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2011 23:04:28 -0400 From: "Richard Flynn" Subject: Our 1st JoniFest Of the folks in L.A. I had met in person only Ashara, Kate Bennett, Bob Muller (who also met Becky at his house), Dave, and Robin in the flesh, so it was especially gratifying to meet so many people I felt like I already knew but had never met in person. (Other than those folks I have met only Mags-when I was at a conference in Winnipeg-and (rest his sweet soul) Bob Murphy, the same summer that I lived in Boston when I also met Ashara. Becky is often regaled with tales from the jonilist; she described herself as a tag-along and not an obsessive Joni fan, but as she revealed to Les, her first music book was "The Music of Joni Mitchell" with the "Clouds" cover. And yes, she can play guitar and sing, even has done so in public. Alas, the guitar I bought for her awaits her return. And for a casual Joni fan, she know the lyrics and melodies to a whole lot of songs, I'd say. So-not really a tag-along. We had West Coast friends to see, so we had to absent ourselves from a few activities, but everything was so much fun-playing with and listening to all of you talented people was a gas and a half. The concert at the Hollywood Bowl was, as others have said, stunning-and some of the flaws, such as Aimee Mann's generally flat performance ultimately mattered less, given the context of the whole evening. (I am a fan of much of Mann's original work and even follow her on Twitter; she was terrified, but her absence at the curtain call was due to her having to get on her bus to travel to a gig, not shame, embarrassment, or pique.) Everybody has commented on how amazing Glen Hansard was and they do not exaggerate. I am a Hansard fan, but I was skeptical about this project. Was I ever wrong. Since I am a slide player, the great Greg Leisz was the highlight instrumentalist for me. (I am so not worthy!) Anyway, both of us were incredibly moved by the performances. HOSL is a record I love musically, but have had some problems with lyrically in the past-all misgivings melted away with this performance, parts of which transcended Joni's own performances to a significant degree: "Shadows and Light" being exhibits Alpha and Omega. My biggest regret is not getting to jam with the Les, Kay, Sue and others more. But Mr. Pazand Lesli and Pete's incredible set-up were irresistibly appealing to my inner rock-star. And I'm a sucker for a grand piano, too. Paz and Pete, I'll jam with you whenever we might meet again. Rick and Brad's party looked fabulous, but my dearest friend from grad school, Aldon and his wife Anna could not be neglected-as Anna said, we are more like family. And as it turned out, the West Coast reunion of the core of the Bad Tenors Blues Band, was a one-time event-perhaps not as significant as Joni's Jazz at the Hollywood Bowl, but equally gratifying: http://heatstrings.blogspot.com/2011/08/bad-tenors-back-to-school-west-coast .html All you JDMLers are fab! Richard (and Becky) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 Aug 2011 14:24:41 -0700 From: "Randy Remote" Subject: Re: Dulcimer NJC Go for it, Betsy. If you already play an instrument, you should be able to pick up dulcimer pretty fast. You should be able to find a nice instrument for well under $100. Of course guitar is a more versatile, less specialized instrument (with a higher learning curve) but then, everybody plays the guitar. Alternately, you could invent a new musical sport, like unicycle fiddle playing, and really go for it! RR > Out of nowhere, I feel inspired to try something new. It will either be a > sport or a new instrument. (Feel free to add your thoughts about surfing, > if you want.) > > Is dulcimer easy enough to start learning as an adult with only piano > experience? How much of an investment would it take? Should I stop being > so obscure and just rent a guitar? > NP Sweet Bird (1983) > Betsy ------------------------------ End of JMDL Digest V2011 #245 ***************************** ------- To post messages to the list, send to joni@smoe.org. Unsubscribe by clicking here: mailto:joni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe -------