Monday, July 11, 2005

Peter McCann at French QuarterFriday, May 14, 2004 4:27:03 PM

This was already a kinda different feeling night. Stephen Taylor was in town from Austin, so I booked a round for me, him, and David Llewellyn at French Quarter (Barbara Cloyd's show) ... we found out later that Joyce, Susan and Deanna Walker were playing the round after us, so I stayed and this guy Peter McCann played after them. He wrote "The Right Time of the Night" (jennifer Warnes sp?) and he spawned all these really cool song ideas as he talked to us - most notably "love and travel, travel and love are what I know" and I left all jazzed up about this guy inspiring a song about aging songwriters who had their hits 20-30 years ago.

I got in my car to leave, turned on XM radio (it was ALREADY on the 70's station, and the song that was playing was... THE RIGHT TIME OF THE NIGHT.

This same night, Mal Pope and Barbara Fleishhaker were in town and came out to hear me and David - David had known Mal 20 years ago in Wales and when I met Mal at Gum Tree he at first thought he didn't know David, but eventually realized that he did...and was planning to come to Nashville on Thurs, but came a night early to see David (and brought Barbara : )

The night before at Wilhagans, it was Kerrville night - I already knew that Stephen Taylor was going to be there, but David Lamotte was also in town...also in attendance, Kerrville-wise:
Joyce Woodson
David Llewellyn
Jim Stephens
Laurie McClain
Kevin Faherty

Saturday, July 02, 2005

Happy 4th of July weekend - AND girls, girls girls!

It has been a weekend of fabulously talented women...last night I was part of a benefit for the Magdalen House at the Bluesboro in Murfreesboro, TN. The Magdalen House offers refuge and rehabilitation to women who have resorted to prostitution and/or dependence on drugs as a lifestyle - those who are willing to change their lives are given that opportunity...housing, counseling, etc...just a great cause. The bill last night was Treva Blomquist, Annie Mosher, Cheley Tackett, Cathey Stamps, Lisa Durand and me...great fun! A huge, steaming pile of talent.

Tonight was a reminder of where it all comes from - old friends, Nancy and Mike Morris, were in town from CT with their two daughters, Mandy and Melodie...Jim and Toni Ferguson hosted a dinner party on their beautiful new screened porch (that Jim built) - I felt like I was back in France - one delicious course after another, plenty of wine, and joyous exuberance all around. The evening was capped off by performances by all the kids - we had a house FULL of professional musicians, but tonight the kids were the focus. Melodie Morris is a gifted cellist - her sister, Mandy, is a singer on par with Mom, Nancy. Laura and Larry Winslow's daughter, whose name escapes me (!sorry!) played an extraordinary piano piece that she had written, called "Flicker", fulll of flying-fingered arpeggios and whacky dissonant chords - she's 10 years old and is already writing songs that could easily be orchestrated and arranged for...I dunno, string quartets, or any ensemble, really. Lily Ferguson is a virtuoso violinist, and joined all of the above, along with her Mom and one young woman I didn't meet, on a string arrangement of "Benjamin", a James Taylor song that sounded only vaguely familiar, but incredibly beautiful. GO GIRLS! It was just lovely to see this roomful of young women (10-15 years old) playing their hearts out and getting support, not only from their elders, but from each other. I wish I had my camera. Instead, here's a picture of a sweet group of young girls that I wrote songs with last year in Colorado...

We are continuing to see VERY encouraging support from Folk radio on "Moments of Wonder" - DJs, please keep playing it, and listeners, please request songs from the album on your local folk show!

love, kathy