[Harp-L] SPAH numbers part 2

[Mick Zaklan <mzaklan@xxxxxxxxx>]

   First off, sorry about the duplicate post.  When I post something and it
doesn't show up for a half hour on the list, I assume it's lost.
Apparently not.
   Glad to see that the numbers weren't off.  We all want SPAH to at least
break even on these things.  The fact that next year's fest is the 50th
anniversary of the organization should translate into very good numbers.  I
hope the entertainment roster reflects this special occasion.
   I had a wonderful time.  I've been to 19 harmonica fests and 18 of them
were SPAH conventions.  This was the best room I ever had at a
convention.  But I will also mention that the Dallas Westin will probably
be referred to by reminiscing conventioneers  as "the hotel with the slow
elevators".  But it helps to have a historical perspective here;
the Memphis convention in the early 90's featured elevators that
were knocked out for considerable periods.  SPAH members were mostly using
the stairs.  With good reason, they were afraid of the elevators.  And one
of the elevators had been puked in.  They never got the smell out, at least
for the duration of the fest.  In comparison, Dallas wasn't bad.
   My only beef.  I suspected something wasn't right when Jimi Lee's name
was missing from the schedule.  I'm a huge fan of his afternoon hallway
jams.  I use them as a tune up for the evening blues jams----though Jimi
puts his jammers through a wider variety of tunes and grooves.  When I
arrived, Jimi told me the afternoon jams were cancelled because they
couldn't figure out where to put him without disturbing a vendor, a
seminar, or the open stage.  Instead, I had to stumble upon them being held
in the wee hours of morning at various unannounced places around the
hotel.  Like a floating crap game.  I hope this gets straightened out by
next convention.  Jimi shouldn't be competing with the evening jams.
Though I will say that maybe my personal highlight of the convention
happened after I left the Filisko jam and found Jimi running an after hours
session in the library room.  I dropped in long enough to chip in a solo on
"There Will Never Be Another You" and left.  It was 3:00am, the long
hallway back to the elevators was empty and quiet.  Somebody from the jam
was chasing after me.  It was Will Scarlet, I had seen him at several
jams.  He wanted to tell me how much he had enjoyed my playing over the
last couple of days.  The fact that he took the time to do that and the
words he chose almost broke me up.
   Highlights for me were Rupert Oysler's set (which I thought was
brilliant), jamming with Eric Noden on his Latin-tinged version of Howlin'
Wolf's "Who's Been Talkin'", Mitch Kashmar's swinging and inventive harp
work, the Filisko teach-ins, Tom Ball's set and seminar, getting to hear
Michael Rubin's band, and being able to visit with Elizabeth, P.T., Buzz,
Fred, Harvey, and Smo-Joe from harp-l.
   I want to thank Winslow, the host club, and everybody who had a hand in
putting this together.  It's a joy to be able to attend these things.

Mick Zaklan