45--these are the days

46--Wine and Women

Human generosity can be astounding sometimes.

I sat in the sunshine this afternoon at Methven Family Vineyards, at table with 9 beautiful women sipping wine and talking. They did the sipping and the talking. I was, simply, captivated.

They're not here for the wine. They're here to combine talent, skillset, network, resource in support of Jonah Wood Weishaar. Melanie makes amazing cakes, Rebecca is a retail goddess, Ila and Kelly and Carol and Melissa, and April and Janet and Rita.

This place is amazing. The worked glass in the doors, the mirrored concrete floors, the exquisite wood counters. I owe you pictures.

Can we make this a new rule? To preserve life, one must immerse in beauty.

I like it. Write that down!

46--3000 Bosses

I love my bosses! Can you say that? I do. I've been blessed that way. Always had great bosses.

I was in Los Angeles, gone from Oregon for 4 years. When I returned to Oregon on December 18, 2009, my bosses were so amazingly gracious as to offer my old job on December 21!

Trust me, I know how precious it is to have such wonderful employers that I can go to work within 3 days in this economic climate where some folks have been job-hunting 18 months without success.

I made a commitment to my bosses that I would stay with the company for one year, the duration of 2010. This is the year of transition. I came back to Sheridan to build a life with the people I call home.

On September 14, we launch a project called "3000 Bosses."

Every concert, every recording, every video posted online, every conversation over tea, every chance encounter at the grocery store, is an interview, a job interview. I am applying to become your personal musician for a year.

You see, I think of each listener in my audience as my boss. I work for you. I think and study music for you. I develop skills and practice scales for you. Skills and Scales. But more importantly, I tell your Stories. I represent your issues, I retell your pain and victory, your hope and triumph. On my better days, I entertain and inform, and maybe sometimes, amuse you.

I'm hoping that you will choose to hire me as your personal artist for a year, at the cost of $1 a month. The new website will feature a password-protected "members" section. For $12 a year, here's what my 3000 bosses will get.

1. Members are entitled to 4 free digital song downloads, any songs you choose, within the duration of your one-year membership.

2. Access to the 2011 Covers project in which I have committed to post videos of me covering 4 songs per year of tunes assigned by my fans. Selected fans will be given the opportunity to assign me a song, any song they choose (limit the profanity out, please), and I have to cover it and post the video online to the "members" section of the site.

3. Members aka Bosses receive a 20% discount on LennoxMusic event admissions and merchandise.

4. My new blog, www.3000bosses.blogspot.com goes live on September 14, my 40th birthday. I'll document in writing, photography and video, the stories that emerge from the journey of the ensuing year. I look forward to the stories.

I'm already so engrossed in the story of Jonah, a 2-year old boy dying of a rare genetic disorder. I'm enthralled with the story of a mom who took on this fight for life with such passion as to mobilize large communities across America. As I interact with more and more of you, as your stories intertwine with my own, the journal of these conversations will be accessible to my 3000 bosses.

5. Concert footage from various touring locations, photography and video.

I'm open to more ideas of services I can offer you in trade for your investment in this art. Keep in mind it needs to be something I can do once and post for all 3000 of you at a time.

Stay tuned; the new site goes live in 46 days!

47--pace

the pace has quickened. So much happening in a single 24-hour span.

I'm just back from Mac, meeting with my agent Kevin May and his son, Jaime, half of the duo Jokers & Jacks. They're experiencing some wonderful and well-earned success in their music.

Off to my next meeting, and wanted to jot this down before I forget. Something Jaime said as we sat at Cornerstone,

"Nothing HAS to take a long time..."

47--Off to a good start

Jonathan and I usually have breakfast on Thursday mornings. Lately though, since he got the new job, we haven't been able to meet because of the schedule change. This morning we met 15 minutes for super quick catch-up and prayer. You know what? It was only 15 minutes, but a great start to my day.

Then tea with Jeff Ashlock at Slow Train (Nick Walton's place). Jeff pours so much love and energy into our little town. I am looking forward to more conversation with that guy. Our Annual Mud Drags? He's the coordinator. Director of the local Boy Scouts. Runs a successful business here in town. Husband. Father. Yeah, I'm all over spending more time with that guy. Great start to my day.

Now off to spend an hour with another brilliant Sheridan creative.

Air temperature in the 70's, sunshine all around.

We're off to a great start...

Good morning, Beautiful

Good morning, Strender, and thank you

48--Burn The Ships

48--Burn The Ships

I'm closing this blog in 48 days to begin a new one. That's why the numbers are counting down to zero.
I just discovered a blog because I was looking to name mine by this name already taken: Burn The Ships. Someone's already got that name, and he's using that blog to say exactly what I wanted to say. "Don't turn back, you can only go forward."
When Hernan Cortes arrived in the new world, he burned his ships so his soldiers would be motivated to complete their mission, with the option of mutiny and retreat so conspicously removed.
There is no plan B.
I'll have to choose a different name for the new blog.

48--Saboteur

I've been watching So You Think You Can Dance. There's a guy on there, Jose, who's not that great a dancer, but has such a magnificent heart and such a beautiful soul that people want to watch him dance, technique be damned. I often think that's why people watch me play. They see the passion I feel and overlook the fact I'm not a great singer or musician. I do feel like I'm a good songwriter, though.

Woke up scared. Now I have to learn 7 songs that are not mine and I have 30 days to do it. Carrying a lot of tension in my shoulders.

On the one hand, I know the Lord will see me through like every time before. But on the other hand, this time it's for real. We're trying to save a kid's life. I feel some pressure with that. Feeling self-destructive. Want to stay up late and overwork so I can legitimately break down and excuse myself from having to win.

Self-sabotage. Should I admit what I'm feeling right now? Never seen my fear of success so clearly as right now in the light of this concert. I can find a few good ways to snivel out of this, but I don't think so.

I'm gonna get up and go to work and when I get back, I'll work on the music some more and 30 days from now, we're going to put on a great concert. Tammy is singing with me. I don't know yet if Charity will or not. She wants me to sing on the day after this concert at another fundraiser for Rwanda. Sounds like fair trade dictates she should sing this one with me, right?

I had a beer last night. Didn't even like it. Honestly, I think it's cause I was scared.

I've wrestled this dilemma for years: Do I express how I feel or simply restate what I know and what I'm choosing? In my own self-talk, I'm positive because I find if I hear myself say "Len, you're going to win," then I do what is necessary to build that reality.

But I'm questioning my approach for two reasons. I've noticed sometimes people don't think I'm being real. How can I be positive about everything? Do I just have that much faith? Not in me, I don't. But I do trust my Father.

The other reason I'm questioning is because now the situation's getting real, life or death real. I'm about to leave my job and go fulltime into something where my livelihood will depend on whether or not people like and enjoy and respect what I do as an artist, as a coach, as a writer, as a man.

Time to get up and go to work.

I'm doing this. I'm scared, but I am doing this. I was made for doing this.

Get up, Beautiful

Get up, Strender

49--NY Daily Times Article

The NY Daily Times just ran a story on Jonah's situation, and Good Morning America is gonna have his mom on the show. People are starting to move to help him. Check it out and pass it on, please.

NY Daily Times article

I think I've stressed about music enough for tonight. Back to it tomorrow.

Goodnight, Beautiful

Goodnight, Strender

50--Selfish

Wonderful conversation with Nidia and Katie.

They both said wise things that express profound truth, and one in particular stirs me to write this entry.

Nidia said, "My children have taught me so much about love, and I think it's because you learn to love by serving. You learn to love whomever you serve..."

I don't want kids. I used to. In my early 20's I definitely didn't want children, then by my early 30's I definitely did. And I think about what changed and what changed back.

It's a massive commitment to welcome someone into your life, to whom you are bound for an indefinite duration, to whom you promise service at any and all times needed, whether or not convenient to your goals and schedule.

Lots of children call me Uncle. No one calls me Father. Because I'll be there when I can be. I'm there when I'm there. When I'm not, I'm off somewhere else being...there. I make music and I travel and I visit this family and that family and I give and receive love in so many places from so many people, but Fatherhood is about greater stability and permanence than this. Father stays.

On Father's day this year I felt left out. That's been happening more in recent years, but not quite as acutely as this year. I felt like there was something I was missing out on. I thought about the fact I don't want kids and it comes down to this: Kids would get in the way of the goals I want to accomplish. They would make it significantly more challenging to reach the levels I intend. Would it be impossible to build what I envision with kids along for the ride? Not impossible, just way harder.

And the realization that came to me on Father's day was this. I never wanted kids, then when I met a woman to whom I gave unlimited heart access, I wanted kids; I lost her and now I don't want kids anymore. Doing the arithmetic on that, it appears to me it was not just that I wanted kids--it was that I wanted her kids. And if I can't have her kids, then I'm not willing to change my life as much as it would take to have kids.

There are so many children in the world who need to be loved. May I serve in different ways? There's a kid named Jonah who lives in New York. I'm going to be thinking about him a lot in the next 30 days.

"Jonah is two years old. He loves Elmo, throwing his ball in the park, patting dogs and stacking blocks. And he is slowly dying..."

I'm getting ready to perform on August 27th at a fundraiser auction wine-tasting, organized to raise money and awareness about a rare genetic disorder called Sanfilippo Syndrome.

It occurs to me that music is a lifted voice. It's meant to be heard. And it should have something to say. May I devote some of my time and talent and energy to requesting that we support this family if we can and see how we can help them search for Jonah's healing?

Please stop by www.Jonahsjustbegun.org and see what you can do to help.

I just played a bus driver named Jonah in Dawn's movie. Why is this name coming to me again right now? Probably coincidence, God's way of remaining anonymous.

Goodnight, Beautiful

Goodnight, Strender

50--in the meantime...

Just off the phone with Janet Wood. I'm getting information about music for a fundraiser wine-tasting, auction event we're planning a month from now. I'll tell you more about that as we go. The coming Friday at 3:30 pm we'll visit the winery that's hosting the event, Methven Vineyards.

Sitting at Open Door right now, waiting to meet with Nidia, community resident. No idea what this conversation will be and where it will go, but that's the beauty and surprise of conversation. I've got great teas with me, so I consider myself prepared.

Boy scouts buzzing past, joking. I'm struck at the politeness in one of the exchanges I overhear. They're being jovial, but respectful. It's refreshing.

51--Kwassa Kwassa

Ok, I got the video posted for Brian and Brianne and now I can go to sleep.

Here's a cover of Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa, originally done by Vampire Weekend. This video is the second instalment in my 2010 Covers project.

I'll be doing more covers in 2011, part of my "3000 Bosses" project. I'll tell you more about that soon.

Meantime, here's a tune I promised Brian a few months ago. Sorry it took me so long, bro. Thanks for the opportunity. I had fun doing it.

Two more covers in 2010. Next one is a hymn for Cecilia, and it happens also to be my mom's favorite. Perfect!

Then after that it's Zoe and Dulce's choice.

Goodnight, Beautiful

Goodnight, Strender

51--Cave Time

Matt's gonna stop by on his way to the coast. I planned to tag along with him, because we haven't connected face to face in 3 months. I would love it if we could spend time together once a month or more, so I jumped on the invitation to the coast.

When I got here, though, and fell into my couch, a wave of exhaustion hit me so hard, my eyes blurred for a moment. I sat and stared and felt sad. I don't think I'm actually sad, it's just that this feeling of exhaustion is similar to the way I feel when that emotion hangs about my house.

Preached this morning, and played bass on the worship team. I usually don't do both on the same day, because each leaves me feeling empty. Not empty like it was a futile practice, but empty like I've poured out all that was in me and now there's nothing left, or just barely enough to limp home and close the door behind me.

There are two possibilities as I see it. Either the road and touring is going to wear me down to nothing, or I'm gonna have to be stronger. I vote in favor of the latter. I'm also going to have to be proactive and plan ahead for recuperation times following the pour-out, the flow-through.

Just sent Matt a text saying, I'm over-run with exhaustion. Would it be ok if we visit a while as you're on the way to the coast, then you go on without me? That way I get to spend time with my brother, but I also get to retreat to my cave.

Now I'm having an argument with my legs about standing up so I can get the pooch some water. Next time I'm up I think it's time this dog learned how to use a faucet.

When I'm tired like this, all kinds of questions come through my mind. How many people did I offend by what I said this morning? What did I say this morning? Sometimes I get to the end of speaking, and realize that some of the things I said were inserted on the "teleprompter" while I was in midspeech. Sometimes I don't realize until I hear the recording what exactly came through my mouth.

Christine, thank you so much for the picture of wings. That meant a lot to me. And also while we were in the prayer room, right after Clayton finished praying, I looked up looked directly at Christine's painting, "Refiner's Fire."

Dar, thanks for the photos. They're awesome.

There have been some good surprises already today. No more, please. Don't have the strength. Can I just curl up in my comfort zone for a minute, please? I know I'll have to come out again, but please not right now.

53--Promises

I have failed miserably at keeping many of the promises I've made. Earlier in life I didn't really understand the weight of a promise and then by the time I began to understand it, I felt such shame about the litter of broken promises that I have strewn about, that it seemed irretrievable, so why bother trying?

I mean, I'm not a promise-keeper, so why bother? I might as well accept it and just let go. People have come to expect this from me, so I can just let it be said as it has been, "Lennox is flaky, we know, but we love him."

Or I can make changes, small and grueling and seemingly insignificant, but for each promise kept or repaired, a reassurance that sometimes I can be trusted.

Today I'm keeping a promise late. I promised Brian Lauritzen this cover months ago, and I'm 4 tracks deep into it, but this weekend I'm going to finish it, and get it online.

I promised I'd have a recording of In The City online by July 31st. Not going to happen. My producer, Isaac, is out of the country and the next available date to move forward on that is August 7th. I played electric guitar on this track. First time recording an electric. Isaac's sisters, Libby and Katie, are going to sing backup on this and they are truly amazing singers. I can't wait to hear what they do.

I had my water turned off this week because I didn't keep a promise. It's back now, but it cost something extra, a reconnection fee. Even when you repair a promise, or deliver it late, there's a surcharge. Broken trust can be mended, but it'll walk with a limp.

I find the more I learn about promises, the fewer I make. It could easily take the rest of my life just to keep the ones I've made and broken.

All of this is running on a separate track in my mind as I launched this week into Spurgeon's sermon on the prayer of Jabez. I would like my territory increased so I can stop causing pain. I don't want to break any more promises.

Brian & Brianne, here comes your cover. I hope you enjoy it. I've had fun making it for you.

55--the hum approacheth...

Friday was a blast, acting in Pullstop. I kept reviewing and analyzing the performance. If I could do that again, I would speak more slowly. I'd want to spend more time talking to Lacie off-camera before shooting began. I'd want to have rehearsed the lines into my video camera so I could review delivery and see what works for me and what could/should be adjusted.

Staggered to the next stop of the day, a concert at Coffee Cottage in Newberg. It was fun and I felt I was able to deliver the music, but lacked the energy to relate to my audience as I have come to love doing. There was little or none of the playful banter, a.k.a. inane rambling, that either endears me to my audience or confirms among them the widespread suspicion that I am crazy beyond repair.

Saturday we helped a friend with a project that got physical and I didn't rest as I tend often to do on Sabbath. So by the time I arrive at the Pullstop wrap party on Saturday night, I'm too exhausted to even remember being tired. Dawn, you amazing coach, you!!

Earlier in the day, she texted me, "bring your guitar to the wrap party."

Hmmm, why would I need a guitar at a wrap party? Well, it's because her friend Joel owns the place. Fabulous Portland joint called The Great Hall. Open mic on Saturday nights hosted by Eric and Deanna of TwoRivers Music.

I played a song, then another, then a third. The audience was just amazing. You guys rocked, thank you.

But my favorite moment of all is when the guest starring band of the evening handed out kazoos to the audience so we could play along with what they were doing. I turned just about blue in the face blowing into that thing. How unlucky do you have to be to reach into a basket full of kazoos and pick the single defective?

Meanwhile, Darlene's dying of laughter watching me blow into a kazoo.

I realize you already know this, but I didn't: You don't blow into a kazoo; you hum.

I love this thing. Y'all just don't know. I'm gonna have to rock this at a concert soon!

I'm not selling my guitar just yet. I'm just saying, brace yourself for the Kazoo, because it is coming, my friend. It is coming.

55--WHEN you move back

Yester-morning I'd been at work about an hour when Teresa said to me, "...so, next year when you're back in LA, will you get me Johnny Depp's autograph?"

"Sure thing, I'll just call up my buddy John and say hey, I'm back in town and can you sign an 8x10 for my friend?"

"Excuse me, WHEN I move back to LA? Do you know something I don't know?"

"O, yes, I've figured you out Lennox, and you're not staying here. You're going back to LA."

By this time I'm thoroughly enjoying the exchange.

"I was thinking, you're way better than I am at knowing what I'll do next. Can I just call you when I'm confused about things and you can tell me what I'm about to do?"

So we're making arrangements for that to happen. She's setting up a hotline for those situational emergencies and crises of conscience when I am completely lost.

Sometimes peace of mind is as easily accessed as a conversation with a co-worker.

56--stop talking

It occurs how useless it is to talk someone into a covenant. Given time and freedom, whatever a person is talked into, they can think their way out of.

Sometimes you have to simply stop talking and let the water flow where it will.

Good morning Beautiful

Have a great day, Strender

60--...Pullstop

What's wrong with this picture? Other than being upside down because I bent down to take a picture of my ankles? Well, the problem is that there's a black sock on the left AND there's a black sock on the right. Matching socks?!!? I haven't worn matching socks in years! What the heck is going on around here?

Today I tried acting for the first time. It's the final day of filming for PullStop, a full-length independent feature film shot in Portland and McMinnville over the last two weeks. I've thoroughly enjoyed the day so far. Director Dean and Producer Dawn have done a magnificent job assembling a capable and cordial crew. I felt at home instantly.

Really connected with Tom and Jake and Travis and Sean, and...who am I kidding? I liked them all. Leading lady Lacie Mallander was super easy to work with and she's so good at this. Eric, the dude that played George, wow! Great actor. Made me cry.

Here's my disclaimer. My character, Jonah, is a bus driver. Bus drivers wear matching socks. So that wasn't me wearing those--that was Jonah. And with that technicality, the unmatched streak continues, thank you very much.

Now that's done, turning my attention to the vocal loop for this evening's concert. I want to run through it at least a couple times before the gig, so I've got about 2 hours to build a concept.

Dawn, thanks for talking me into that. It was a wonderful experience.

65--what lies ahead

I love the feeling I get when I look down the tracks. These tracks, 50 yards from where I sleep, are physically connected to tracks that run the length and breadth of this country. They can take me anywhere and who knows where they will take me?

I met Anna Fermin in Las Vegas at Music Strategies 2010. She's an amazing musician. I love her style and storytelling. She hosts a house-concert series in Chicago and I'm invited there as featured performer March of 2011. We could have booked a sooner time, but Chicago's not exactly a day-trip from where I am.

I got to thinking, if I go out there, I might as well do some other nearby cities while I'm there to justify the trip. But right now, with the promise I made to Jeff, I have to be back for work on Monday morning. So if i wait until next year, after I have fulfilled that commitment, I can stay longer than 4 days and put together a little tour that actually connects a string of venues in neighboring cities.

There's something there about the importance of commitment. Don't give your word lightly. It's not cheap, or at least it shouldn't be.

I thought I'd fly into Chicago and then rent a car and drive from city to city, but then I thought how expensive that might get, how grueling the road-tripping in between performances, how few the opportunities for rest. So then I thought, how about I fly into Chicago, and then take trains from there to wherever? And then I thought, why not just take the train all the way out from here?

Started checking train routes and now I'm planning to just tour along the route. Where the train stops, there I am playing. So I'm gonna start putting out a list of cities soon and if you know someone there and you can think of a venue that would fit my Man With Guitar stylings, I sure could use your help.

Leslie told me about this community of couch-surfers that you can join and work out places to crash along your journey.

I'm not heading out to find myself; I'm heading out because I have. My soul is bound to this music and I follow on a journey that may just come near you. I hope it does. I hope to shake your hand and touch your spirit. I hope we will be friends.

Last time I followed the tracks on foot, I arrived at a field of grass and flowers. Here's what I saw when I looked down...

Here's what I saw when I looked up...

I'll ride the rail, soon. I wonder where it will take me.

65--Tomato Soup

I did a show in Silverton a couple weeks ago. My audience in Silverton is growing and it's always great spending time with them. I thought I'd like to spend a little time in community with my listeners so I invited 10 selected guests to meet me for dinner before the show.

I make a pretty good Tomato soup; maybe I'll share it with you someday. Years ago when I was shooting my very first music video, the director's mom made us this recipe and I loved it so much, I asked her to show me how. I'm pretty sure more people have tried the soup at my hands than have witnessed that video for Without Love.

The soup takes a bit of preparation, so although dinner was served at 5, I had to start cooking at 3 to be ready in time. Oak street church has a fabulous kitchen so that really helped. In a less-equipped or less functional space, it would have taken even longer.

I set out from Sheridan 90 minutes ahead of cooking time. Olive oil...check, Pepper...check, Live Basil...check. How wonderful that I can buy live basil and pick it right at the moment of use. Bread, La Brea Bakery Roasted Garlic Loaf...check. Pots and pans, stirring spoons and ladles...check. Sorrel--caribbean beverage that I pre-brewed and bottled earlier in the day...check.

I'm ready for whatever. I've got all my stuff, all the necessary spices, all the necesary tools.

These are NOT the tomatoes I served to my dinner guests.

These are the tomatoes that were waiting for me on my kitchen counter when I returned home from a wonderful dinner and concert with my friends in Silverton.

In my careful attention to not forget any of the supplies, I had brought with me absolutely everything I would need, except for the tomatoes.

Thankfully, I remembered on the way and stopped at Roth's in West Salem to grab ten pounds of vine-ripened...

Love you, Beautiful.

Don't forget the main thing, Strender.

Keep the main thing, the main thing

69--All You Need

This blog is winding down. I'll make my final entry on my 40th birthday. Starting a new blog that day. I made some decisions and effected transitions toward accomplishing deep-seated goals, intentions that live with me on a cellular level.

Some of my idiosyncrasies and failings are now established without apology, others laid bare for repentance or forgiveness.

I set goals for who I'd be and what I'd accomplish by the time I turned 40. Some of them were unrealistic. Some I achieved; others I didn't even get close to.

Last week I told my employer that I will fulfill my promise to work at his company for the entirety of 2010. At our hiring conversation, I was asked what length of commitment I could make, seeing as my stated aspiration is a full-time pursuit of music. I promised a year. We are just past the halfway mark.

There is so much, so very very much to accomplish in the next 6 months. I have had roughly 32 years to contemplate the scope of this mission and I've realized that for me it is utterly impossible. Which is why I know it must be assigned from a higher place.

I was saying to Truth a month ago, "this is so big, I'll definitely need your help."

She replied, "all you need is Him."

Thank you to my readers on this blog. There will be a new blog launched on my birthday. I hope you will transition with me. It will be the chronicle of a leap from a cliff. I am going to jump. I may fall or I may fly, but what is sure is that I can no longer stand on this cliff.

I love you.

Good morning, Beautiful

Great day in the morning, Strender

71--Call Log

...just off the phone, 48 minute call with Kevin May, my agent. Back in 2003, Suzanne made a list of possible venues for me to approach to play music and build my audience. All these years later, I have those lists and just gave them to Kevin to engage his significant abilities as a Business Development professional.

He's having tremendous success with another of the bands he represents, Jokers and Jacks, comprised of his sons Jaime and Morgan. They are opening for Leon Russell at two venues and there's a possible third in the works!!! That's huge!!

I don't remember where I heard it, but I was told that a great way to assess what is valuable to you is to look in two places: your bank statements and your cell phone call log. Value indicators emerge from the spending records of money and conversation.

48 minutes on the phone with Kevin. Now I'm firing up my studio to work on a cover for Brian.

What's on your call log?

74--Coffee Cottage

7:40pm, at Coffee Cottage to hear Charity Brophy play. She is such an incredible voice. Her songs are so wonderful and her voice simply does magic things to me. Kind of like Stephanie Schneiderman's voice last night. There is so much beauty in the world! I just feel lucky to be alive and to have experienced more beauty than my fair share. But what's fair got to do with it?

Meet artist Autumn Stevens. Her work is on display at the Cottage this month. I've seen some of her sketches. Never seen her paintings before. Love, love, love the colors in this piece called Mothering Nature.

74--Jimmy Mak's

Babaganoush. Tasty word. Tasty Eggplant goodness. At Jimmy Mak's. Tonight.

Just home from Portland. Great food, world-famous Jazz. We got there in time to catch the second half of Stephanie Schneiderman's set. Guitar/Vocal with keys and drums. Sweet, O so very.

Mel Brown's B3 Organ group came on at 8:30 and they were magnificent! You find yourself in Portland on a Thursday night, you gotta catch this.

There were 8 of us, Open Door worship community. Musicians in awe of Masters. And masters they were: Dan Balmer on guitar, King Louis on B3, Curtis Craft on Percussion, Renato Caranto (holy smokes) on saxophone, and the Gentleman of Jazz, Mel Brown on drums.

Dawna's observation was that Mr. Brown has the obvious skill to play all over the music, but he instead provides opportunities for the other musicians to shine, creating space for the rest of the band, unmistakably the leader, hardly ever out front.

Thanks for driving, Jonathan