JULY 1, 2010

Hello friends!!     So...it looks like summer is officially here in the Colorado High Country.  I am back home after a flurry of travel that began in April with South Padre Island TX. Many thanks to all the friends and fellow wind worshippers who made the journey down there so very much fun. We had fun times on the water, some lovely jam sessions, and a couple of great gigs. A big hug to Joni at Paragraphs Books on the island for hosting the concert with myself, J. Micheal Laferty and Jerry Crow last May.  The Spring Dinner at Louie's was a real treat, playing with Jerry and George, along with special guest Mike Bauer, for all the windsurfers and kiteboarders on a beautiful balmy bayside evening!  After Padre, I made a quick swing through Georgia, then back west to Oregon for more music and windsurfing in the middle of June.

Performance dates for July and August are now posted on my schedule page.  I have decided to teach more, and to block out more travel time for family, so my Colorado performance schedule is a little bit lighter this summer. Teaching has become more and more a big part of my musical journey--there's a photo of me with my youngest student, down in Texas. He's named Caden, and he's already showing lots of promise. Also, you will note a shot of my favorite songwriting students from a recent intensive workshop--who have dubbed themselves the LunaChix, since they all play lovely Luna guitars. That's Cloud, Carol and Susan in the photo. And speaking of lovely women--I had to include a shot of three generations of wise charming women, who happen to be wonderful supportive friends of my creative efforts, and all three appropriately named...Sophia! (Greek translation--wisdom) .

Also, please note--If you are coming out to Colorado with a group, and there isn't a public performance scheduled for the dates you are here, consider checking on hosting a house concert for your group of friends or family members. I did several of these for visitors here last winter--and we had a blast. Email me direct, and we'll see what we can schedule.  One of the new pictures on this page is a very special group of friends from one of the house concerts this spring--actually this group followed me to the Blue Spruce after playing a very fun house concert for them! The fellow in blue with the knitted cap is Chad, a pilot home on leave from Iraq, and he's got his arms around his fiancée Rebecca. The house concert was put on by his friends and family to honor his service and celebrate his safe return. In the picture, Chad's sister is on my right, next to her sweetheart Scott, and the concert host is right behind me--a local pal and supporter of my music, Tom Freeze.

And how about those cowgirls? From a very fun book event at The Next Page in downtown Frisco--that's Angela and Lee, two very kind and enthusiastic friends who manage to rile things up all over the place, whether the scene is the Rocky Mountains or the tropical Texas coast...Magic Boots rule...

And yes, I am still playing with those wonderful wacky guys down in Texas--Jerry Crow (bass), Mike Bauer (harmonica), and George Woll (drums). This year--Mike's wife Kimberly sang with us onstage at Louie's Backyard on South Padre Island, and it was absolutely great. Hoping for an encore event next spring...

I am so grateful to all of you for continuing to be there at my gigs, in spite of economic challenges and hardships...I am glad you also feel that music has value for the heart and soul! Your messages of support and meaning that the music brings really make all of the logistical challenges worthwhile.  I am especially grateful to several venues--Barlow Plaza, Poppy's and Mama Rosa's in Estes Park, and the Town of Dillon for their continued support of live acoustic music.  And yes, I am returning to Barlow Plaza in Estes Park, just a little later this year--July 16 is my first date back there. Details for all those are now on the schedule page.

Again, I am blown away by the support you all have shown for my efforts as an artist. Thank you! 

And thanks to so many of you for taking my new CD home with you. For those of you I didn't get to see face to face... 

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