Ahh, where to begin?
On Wed., Cass & I pulled out of SW Fla for the 13 hr (time zone change) trip. We brought along slidemeister Ron Burton whose car was sick.
Thursday started out with a bang at 11 am and they went right into the entertainment. Fri, they started the same thing at 9 am. Same thing Sat. It seemed like there was continuous entertainment from the get-go with seminars weaved and interspersed in between and also running concurrent.
Didn't get to hear Buddy Green but I have heard him before. Otherwise, I was stunned by the expertise exhibited. My first time hearing Wailin Wood and I even got a chance to overhear him giving impromptu lessons to people in the hall and a youngster out in the 'smoker's patio'. This guy is obviously a very good teacher, and without peer when it comes to entertaining a crowd. Some of the stuff he did was impossible?
Jimi Lee. WOW, what a dynamo. He has an illegal amount of energy and has no right to be that vivacious. He went non stop like the energizer bunny and kept EVERYONE interested in the fest with a solid 72 hours of jamming, in ADDITION to his several power packed shows. Jimi plays better racked than most people using hands. PLUS, his guitar ain't shabby neither. Meanwhile I have trouble smoking a cigarette and drinking coffee at the same time. I wasn't surprised as I had seen him in Dallas.
Joe Filisko. Oh what can I say. I have been told many times that for a man to call another man a 'sweet guy' is a non-sequeter. Still, in all, in the 14 years I have known him, he stands alone when it comes to selflessness. Along with being one of the most sought after personalities at harmonica functions worldwide, he can make em talk, cry, sing, hum. During his teach in he walked around serving glasses of water. I thought I would help and so picked up a pitcher and some glasses. He jokingly told me I was creating a labor dispute because I was depriving him of work. That's Joe, always the card.
Tommy Bounds, A more local talent, I had never heard him. What a treat. I have his CD and will be doing some of his stuff this Sunday at the Unitarian church in Ft. Myers.
Musique de la Maison. This Cajun group brought back memories of when I lived in Nola, down on Costello st by the industrial canal, and worked at the Dravo Corp. yards. I remembered Cajun Pete's radio program, and all the great Arcadian tunes. Even got a few tips on my Diatonic squeeze box.
P.T. Gazell. Phil is FAST becoming one of my very favorites. He joins Allen Holmes at the top of my list. I had known about his method of harp work as I got it from Ron Kalina 12 yrs ago, but Phil made it all make sense. His tuning is tricky to master (like the XB-40) because it's easy to 'over-shoot'. A man who never uses too many (nor too few) notes. Everything fits.
John Gindick. Another dynamo. I don't know where these guys get the energy. It's like they have an 'in' with Nicolai Tesla or something. Thoroughly enjoyed John and can understand the success of his jam camps. It's like he wears an unwritten sign across his chest saying 'you gotta like me'. What a bubbly character
I already mentioned Madcat. words don't do him justice, so I won't even try. Definitely a space alien.
Charley McCoy. He's the reason I play harp, so that says it all. For several years, we have been 'just missing' each other. First it was at the Ryman in 76, and lately it's Ft Myers (where he has a winter residence). Well, we FINALLY met. Cool. He is currently rotating on my screen saver.
Society Boys. Shelly Lulov, Tom Scerbo, Phil Caltebellotta. These guys are friends and so I don't want it to seem like I'm giving them undue accolades, so I will settle for FANTASTIC. Some really difficult arrangements of some tricky tunes and everything worked just peachey. I would have had a stroke attempting this stuff.
Harmonica Masters. Same as above. I have played several times with Buddy Bobolink and MANY times with Frank Warner. Twice played with Chris Bauer at after hours jass jams at spah & Buckeye. Chris and company were nothing short of FABULOUS. One of the two highlights of my trip was when I was invited up by Chris Bauer & Phil Caltebellotta to take part in their seminar on jass chromatic. We did a couple numbers. I was very appreciative.
The other highlight was when we sat at the dinner with Addison Hitchcock's entire family. There we were sitting with the 'Big Kahuna' himself. On top of that, John Meehan (who was the Kahuna in 89) was also there with his wife. Addison is a big man with an even bigger heart. A true southern gentleman of the highest order. Highlight number three 'would' have been when Addison tried to get me 'snuck' into the Sat dinner show...but I declined. I didn't want to ruin what was already a great show. Truth be told, I was too intimidated. For some reason Addison was placing me in a much higher category that I actually inhabit. God bless him and thank him for THAT.
Other people Cass & I enjoyed seeing: Frank Jameson, senior master chief super hero whom I spent time with at the Suncoast Dixieland Fest in Nov 05. Dr. Jim Gover, whose dixieland band I sat in with at the same Suncoast Fest. George Liaocopolis, whom participated in the very same Suncoast Fest. Jack Ely, Danny Gajovski, Elmer Matilla, Ken Kwok, Linette Young, Rudy & Dorrie Michelin, Gene Hansen, his honor Gary Cohen, captain Tom Troestler, Marv Monroe, Roger Monroe, Carl Hall, Pat Queen, Bill & Arlene Lackner, Judy & Al Smith, Valerie Redler. Jeez, I hope I didn't forget anyone. If I did, forgive me and remind me, as I am STILL high over this whole thing.
In conclusion, Addison singled me out to thank for the support. Wow I don't deserve it. All I did was send a bunch of e-mails. I had already decided I was going a year ago, and I wasn't going to miss this one. I'm SO glad I didn't. Not meaning to slight anyone but you couldn't beat this fest for hospitality, AND the hotel staff was INVISIBLE..with none of the possible hassles.
God bless all the * S T A R S * that 'fell' onto Alabama. smokey-joe
http://www.slidemeister.com Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SlideMeister/
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: SlideMeister-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/