Stage 3 Annex at Winfield

It was not exactly the auspicious first performance I had envisioned giving at the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield.

It was better!

Because of the deluge that was raining down upon us (an act that preceded me on Stage 3 had the audience sitting on the stage behind them because it was dry!....which put me in mind of scenes from Pete Seeger's Hootenany black and white TV show)....I decided to do my first set of the day in the horse barn just south of Stage 3, which became dubbed "The Stage 3 Annex" by Seth Bates, the Emcee for the afternoon sets.

This let the audience be dry, it also let the sound people not be touching electrified equipment while the rain and mist blew through, around and upon their attempting-to-be-sheltered equipment.

The rain on the tin roof above provided some challenge over which I had to work to be heard, but the hardy folks who gathered to hear music had an experience that is not unlike rainy day porch pickin' all across this great nation of ours (and I'm quite certain, in several other great nations on the planet!)

The inclemency of the weather also provided an opportunity that I eagerly snapped up:

The chance to jam with some of my colleagues and friends, who are themselves prize-winner and very fine dulcimer players!

Nathaniel Samsel (from Georgia, a recent winner of the Colorado Dulcimer Festival's Mountain Dulcimer Contest) is in the middle; Jeff Hames (a National Mountain Dulcimer Champion from Mississippi is on the far right) and Irma Reeder (not pictured, but playing guitar on my right from New Mexico, also a Colorado Dulcimer Festival Mountain Dulcimer winner) joined me for a very fun impromtu jam session as a part of my afternoon set.
That's why it turned out even better than I had imagined.  Every day I get to share music with other folks, in ways that prompt us all to bring our best, focused attention and listening ears that help us hone our chops, is a GOOD DAY!

Thanks to Jeff Lilley for this photo to help keep this good memory fresh!

Playing the Special Dulcimers of Special People

Within the past year I've been blessed to have the opportunity to play some special dulcimers previously owned and played by famous people.

DULCIMER 1:

This weekend, Maria Hubler let me play the dulcimer made by Terry Hennessy (of New South Wales, Australia) for Mimi Fariña on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the organization she founded, Bread and Roses.

Headstock of Mimi's Terry Hennessy
25th Anniversary dulcimer

I had just completed a Bread and Roses gig for the North Bay Children's Center in Novato, California, when I stopped by offices of this amazing organization, whose tagline is "Hope and Healing through Music."

This instrument is gorgeous with a sensitive touch and rich responsiveness.

This hat trick completed a trifecta that I didn't even know I was trying for!

DULCIMER 2: 

While visiting Robert and Janet Force in their Port Townsend, WA home last summer, 

I was able to play an instrument that Albert d'Ossche had built, which had returned to Robert recently.  

He also pulled Al's touring instrument out from under the bed and I strummed it and he told great stories!    

Here we are jamming on Robert and Janet's  back porch in the Saturday sun after the Port Townsend Market Day!

DULCIMER 3:

2006 National Mountain Dulcimer Champion, Jeff Hames, graciously invited me to sit in with him for a couple of blues tunes in his mini-concert set at the Western Carolina University Mountain Dulcimer Week (July 2010)

In doing so, I was able to play the black mountain dulcimer that his teacher, the late David Schnaufer gave to him.

We always have great fun playing together, but this time was special because of the special instrument from a special mentor.

Musicians often joke about other people "putting tunes into instruments" when someone else plays it.  I love to join in that one, too, but in this case, I found inspiration to play in each instrument.  

And that IS special.