Cloud Swirl

Hi,

I shot this photograph which describes the type of clouds I like to paint. I'm hoping I can start on this one this weekend. I really want to expand the focus of this blog to my music, painting and knitting ...

I have a couple of exciting developments as far as music goes. I will be attending a Joni Mitchell Tribute event on April 28 featuring jazz musicians who will play Joni songs, and a talk by Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers, the editor of Acoustic Guitar Magazine. He wrote the definitive article on Joni's masterful guitar style in a cover story for Acoustic Guitar Magazine, August 1996. You can read the article here: Joni Mitchell article database.

Recently I also joined a band called LAVA ROCK. I'm rhythm guitar and background vocals. We are just in the practicing stage right now but I'll let you know if we start gigging! I need to start looking for an acoustic with a pickup or adding a pickup to my acoustic. It's time to go electric.

take care, sue

JoniFest 2007

Sorry it's been so long since I posted. There is some knitting content to this report but not much. It's all about a bunch of Joni Mitchell fans getting together at an alternative resort near Woodstock for 4 days to eat, drink and be merry and also sing Joni Mitchell songs. I went to Jonifest in 2002 and had a blast. This year I went for the whole weekend and met old friends, new friends and sang my little heart out. We are all members of the Joni Mitchell Discussion list and I usually have a little name power with the crowd because I created the Joni Mitchell Guitar Database which assists people learn the complications of Joni's over 80 alternate tunings.

When I got there on Friday night, my beautiful hostess, Ashara, asked if I could play my set at 9:00! That gave me about 1 hour to prepare but all went well. I played Michael from Mountains, Otis and Marlena, and Silky Veils of Ardor. Here is a pic of me playing (and also wearing my blue Sonnet sweater):



Every night at around midnight after all the players have finished their sets, we had a song circle that lasted till about 3:00-4:00 in the morning. I was shocked I stayed up to the bitter end every night but there was always those luxurious naps in my room between lunch and dinner to keep me going. Here is a shot of me at the song circle Friday night. I think we played every song off of Court & Spark (i think i'm playing Just Like This Train here) Next to me are Les and Mike, good friends I met on this trip. Les is from Scotland and Mike is from Barcelona. Jonifest is an international event!!!



My favorite part of the event was meeting Monika and Nikki, two young women who just jumped in their car in Ohio and drove to Jonifest. Nikki didn't even know who Joni Mitchell was but Monika was the fan and Nikki came along for the ride. Nikki liked to sing Cyndi Lauper songs so I told her I'd back her up. She sang 3 songs: True Colors a cappela, Time After Time w/me playing guitar and Patrick (my good buddy) singing back up, and then everybody came on stage to play Big Yellow Taxi. What a trip!! I also backed Patrick up while he sang Night Ride Home (joni song) and the theme song for the weekend (there was a full moon every night!!) Here are some more pics:


Me playing back up for Time After Time

Me in my favorite poncho talking to Jeff

All of Us singing Big Yellow Taxi

Another Song Circle

Thanks for the memories!! And a hey to Barb, my roomie, who said "YOU BROUGHT YOUR KNITTING?"

Sue