You Heard Me!

Elliott, there will never be another you...I want to imagine that you and Oscar are now jamming up a storm and that there's plenty of ice and Scotch whiskey there. Few people make a dent so large and deep in the lives of people as did Elliott Charnow. Those of us who knew him as music teacher and mentor are now reflecting on all of the significant contributions he made to us. Personally, I would not be at all who I am today, nor would my children without this wonderful man. It is not only through his musical influence and guidance that we were blessed, but his ability to convey humor and insight to all who knew him. His extraordinary wit and charm made learning and playing music a joyful experience, one that was exponentially gratifying. There was not one person under his tutelage who did not strive to perform to the best of their ability under his baton. He raised the bar for excellence and treated us, mere teenagers, as professionals. Expecting us to be on time, learn the mus...

In my next lifetime, I hope I get a set of pipes like this guy! The dramatics are wonderful as well.

It was a magical evening for me!  Getting the opportunity to play with legends in the music business. WE ROCKED IT! Funk, Latin, Jazz...Yoshi's was packed! OMG, pinch me! I was definitely playing with the Big Boys; band members from Tower of Power, War, Sly and the Family Stone, Malo, Jorge Santana, legendary percussionist Bobby  Escovedo and many, many more top notch musicians and singers! I was in heaven.                                    Yoshi's, San Francisco, October 15, 2010

And live concert....haunting isn't it?

North from Michael Lindemuth on Vimeo .

Lake Ballaton, Hungary (all photos by Karin Kascher) Lake Balaton is the largest freshwater lake in Central Europe and a prime holiday destination for many in and around Hungary. Located Southwest of Budapest, in the Transdanubian region of Hungary, it boasts of a 48 mile (80 km) shoreline. While visiting Budapest, my husband happened to glance at a map and found this enormous body of water about an hour's drive from our hotel. Neither of us had heard of it, so we quickly did a google search and decided that it was worth the journey. The next day our family headed down the motorway, which soon became clogged with fully packed cars of rather pale vacationers heading for the lake. This just had to be good. . My daughter couldn't get over the "banana hammocks", as she fondly referred to them, which were prominently displayed. I guess everyone in Hungary wants to go to Lake Balaton during the warm w...

I'm curious....what does this photo mean to you? I'll write my thoughts after a few of you comment.  Don't be afraid!

Breaking in the Summer Solstice !

Janiva Magness makes me want to be a sing-er! Band includes Benny Yee, keys, Gary Davenport, Bass, Matthew Stubbs, guitar, and Chris Rivelli on drums. Can't Stop Cryin'....more Janiva!!!

He who binds to himself a joy doth the winged life destroy. But he who kisses the joy as it flies lives in Eternity's sunrise.- William Blake Karin and Ericka, playing in our backyard ( San Francisco, 1956) Castro Valley, C a l i f o r n i a Nearly one year has elapsed since my younger sister passed away. This "I Love Lucy" clip was one of our favorites!

UPDATE: OCT 19,2010; from 60 Minutes.

Lizz Wright Band live in Basel, Switzerland November 2005. Lizz Wright with Marvin Sewell-g, Ede Wright-g, Massimo Biolcati-b, Rock Deadrick-d.

Photos by Karin Kascher Daffodils a poem by William Wordsworth (1804) I wandered lonely as a cloud That floats on high o'er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze. Continuous as the stars that shine And twinkle on the milky way, They stretched in never-ending line Along the margin of a bay: Ten thousand saw I at a glance, Tossing their heads in sprightly dance. The waves beside them danced, but they Out-did the sparkling leaves in glee; ...

Image from Dark Roasted Blend

To all of the foolish hearts out there. " 'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. " Alfred Lord Tennyson Few musicians are able to convey their depth of emotion as well as Bill Evans. Many years ago I had the priviledge of seeing Mr.Evans perform in a tiny, smoke-filled bar in San Francisco. His hands were plump from his apparent heroin addiction, however, that didn't inhibit his purity and artistry. Bill Evans August 16, 1929- September 15, 1980

                                                          Image from Dark Roasted Blend This new year finds me asking, "What you Gonna do?"   20/10 sounds like a oil additive for my car.  I'll have to check my dip-stick more often, I guess.  Each year I propose new goals and this year I've tried to simplify them to ensure a more reasonable chance of success.  Less is more; frown less, drink less, worry less, eat less and look up at the stars a bit more often.   The last year was oh-so sad for me.  My Aunt Mitzi died and then my mother passed away a month later.  Five months went by, when my younger sister suddenly died.   Thus, I'm looking over my shoulder a lot, hoping a wrecking ball doesn't accidentally snap my head off.   It seems that time is never distributed with any measurement of  equanimity , (Aristotle, wherefore art thou?) so, perhaps by making time a priority I will extract more juice from life. Procrastination is no longer an option. I see the wr...