A musicians' collective dedicated to enabling people with other jobs (in my 'other life' I'm an attorney) like myself to pursue music again, play in jam sessions and on stage, and connect with other musicians who were not playing music full-time. Thru this group I met several unique and talented musicians, including, most importantly, my chief collaborator in live and studio endeavors, harmonica/guitar player Ken Ficara.
During their 'arts week' in July every year for the past 6 or 7 years, Jimmie Dale Gilmore runs a freewheelin week-long songwriting seminar. Jimmie is a Texas-based singer songwriter, member of the great band the Flatlanders, and an all around great 'zen cowboy' spirit. In the first year I attended his program at Omega, I met several incredible people including Claudia Marshall, who is now the morning DJ for WFUV and an Ohio bluegrass multi-instrumentalist and wild spirit (in the earthly form of a dentist, of all things!) named Paul Brown.
Another songwriting seminar I attended, run a few times a year by Penny Nichols and a group of dedicated songwriters and teachers (including Sloan Wainwright, brother of Loudon and aunt of Rufus. I attended during a week in the hot pre-9/11 summer of 2001, and met more great people.
A site devoted to Bob Dylan, and focusing on what he will play any given
night in concert.. though the message board is a clearinghouse for all
sorts of things both dylan and beyond.
Richard Thompson is one of those musical artists who should be a lot more
popular than he is. There's his official site, but this is an unofficial one
which usually has some wonderful content, as well as links to his official
site, etc.
The official site for the Grateful Dead, who though not active as such after
Garcia's death, still manage to release from the vault several tons of live
material, some of it wonderful, year after year... also some of the members
are still touring after all these years... long strange trip indeed.
The official site of one of my favorite singer/songwriters of all time,
Loudon Wainwright III. He's been at it for 35 years, writing brave, funny,
and sometimes dead serious (but usually funny as hell) songs taken from the
private places in the human brain that few people admit to, much less spend
time there. He's just getting better and better as a songwriter too, which
you can't say for many people.
And here's the official website for his extremely talented son, Rufus
Wainwright. Hs 2003 album "Want One" was one of the best of the year, I
think... and his music blends influences from all over the map, yet is unique
and vibrant.
Here's one of many Elvis Costello websites- this guy has like a billion
albums out, and is still going strong. I think "North' which came out in
2003, is an undiscovered gem.
There's no one quite like Dan Bern, unless you mix equal parts early Bob
Dylan,and add buckets of emotions like angry, wacky,funny, off the wall,
surreal and poignant, and mix with a dose of out there-Jewish spirituality.
Check him out.
A great resource for trtacking down that elusive Miles Davis session.. Miles
was my introduction to jazz, and though one of many greats, always one of the
most riveting.
The official home page of Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, sublime country
folk artists ... I'm guessing that most of you who are reading this page
have heard them, but if not, run, don't walk...
Chronicling the music of the late legendary (and archtypical Greenwich Villege resident) singer and guitarist- a huge influence on Bob Dylan and many more.
Here's another site of an interesting roots musician, JP Beausoleil,ÊÊdescribedÊby the webmaster as "The Official Stompin' Ground of JP Beausoleil, the "Bohemian Songster", with music samples, bio, press kit and more!"
The great Ken Ficara, my partner in crime these days, musically speaking. He's a harmonica player, songwriter, and the developer of this web site. His site has downloads of his original songs, his writing, and The Quote Server.
Mike Ford is one fourth of the great Canadian band Moxy Fruvous. While they
are taking a long hiatus (which may unfortunately be permanent) here's his
website with information about his latest Canadian project, a song cycle
about that great city, Toronto.
Peter is a Philadelphia-based journalist, singer and songwriter with an
intense and unique style. We have done a few gigs as a double bill here in
New York City.
These guys are a total trip!. So hip that they are square and then hip
again.. you havent lived till you heard their lounge version medley of the
Who's "Tommy" and Hava Nagila! They play sometimes here in NYC, and have
plenty of product (from cds to keychains to whatever) available as well.
Seeds of Sun are an Israeli jazz and world music band led by an incredible
flute player, Mattan Klein. Based here in New York City, they play all over
the world. Mattan also has his own site.
Death by Banjo is a new bluegrass band of Ohio bluegrass all-stars,
including a good friend of mine, Dr. Paul Brown, who plays extrodinary
banjo, fiddle, and dobro. He's played on a few of my recordings, and
plays with his new band, primarily in Ohio and the Midwest USA. They
have neat versions of such rock songs as the doors' "Roadhouse Blues"
done bluegrass style, and more, some available at their site.