Turnout ain't everything, it's true. Went to a music party last night. Only 8 of us, but what a party--what music. Theoretically C & W, but we sure didn't stay there.   A really talented guy playing all sorts of Hawaiian music--and a song he wrote while in Istanbul for a family wedding--a song which sounded to me like it had strong Hawaiian influence. Just delightful. And a duo who did all sorts of stuff I'd never heard--something by a rival of Bob Wills--not Milton Brown-- guy I'd never heard of. And something by a guy with some sort of tie to Fats Waller's manager. Just magnificent--I wished I had the whole party on CD.

I hardly sang or played much at all---threw in a few viola harmonies and sang on a few choruses of country songs--"I'll Be Your San Anton Rose". And Jan and I did "A Dear John Letter"--which we barely got through.

So the music was carried by mainly 4 people--the rest of us mostly listened--and I had a just wonderful time---like having a fantastic seat at one of the best concerts I've been to in ages.

And some of our other friends were also supposed to show up--but didn't. The hostess was not happy about that--but I thought the party was just great.

And our hostess also plays Scott Joplin--and even has a pump organ---neither of which were even touched last night.

Such richness.


Then when I woke up this morning I had two songs in my head--"I'll Be Your San Anton Rose" and "Wonderful World"--the Garfunkel version---I really love the verse not (in the Sam Cooke original)---"Don't know nothin' 'bout the Middle Ages/ Looked at the pictures and I turned the pages/ Don't know nothin' 'bout no rise and fall/ Don't know nothin' 'bout nothin' at all." Course I love Sam Cooke too--who doesn't?

Then this afternoon I have a practice of Missa Criolla (Ramirez)--really lively piece--great fun.

Yesterday was the Folklore Society's Minifest--one day festival. There are ALWAYS wonderfully talented people who I've never heard of.

Met a really good fiddler who liked doing double-fiddle stuff--we did Faded Love and a few others--I intend to invite him to my next party

And even some good lines by performers. Minifest took place in a a school. Performer said "This reminds of me of a house concert--with really bad lighting".


We are so lucky--anybody who can make music--or even has good friends who do.

(All I have to do is just forget about getting embroiled in absurd never-ending political debates--you never get anywhere anyway. Maybe I'll learn eventually.)

As Jan keeps saying--we only go around once.