I have been away from the keypad, taking in the spring - seems like summer now. A shifting of gears, a pause in the action as the focus changes.  The garden is flourishing and as usual, I find great nourishment from what many look upon as "weeds". The earth is an amazing place to live, in every season, but especially hard to ignore it in spring... the more so now, when the balance of things is so tragically threatened by our mindless activities.

My "school year" was really wonderful. This year's Afropop Ensemble, as in '09, taught me so much. I would challenge my students as to who learned more from the experience. Someday, when I really know how to teach, they will learn as much as I do! It was a great bunch, a joy to work with, and they performed very well indeed. Some very talented, and all were enthusiastic and engaged. I was a student as well, taking Bill Douglas' Musicianship class, last time he will teach it as such. Lucky me! It was fun, challenging and inspiring and I learned ways of looking at (listening to) things that will be valuable for life. Friends have told me for years how much they gained studying with Bill - no exaggeration. I count myself as very fortunate.

Another move into the world of new music! Having upgraded my cyber-situation, when my dear and very creative friend, Scot Ray, invited me to collaborate on a long-distance recording project I was able to accept. As a result, I am on two tracks of his newest endeavour, Earth Circuit (clarinet on Human Tide and Earth as a Bridge.) The album is not being manufactured physically, but is available for download from iTunes and other outlets. You can listen to excerpts at: http://www.myspace.com/scotray/ I encourage you to discover Scot's abstract/lyrical and surprising musical world and welcome your support of this project!

In keeping with breaking new ground, I am repeating my pilgrimage of last summer to EEFC Balkan Music Camp outside Mendocino CA. What's new, you ask? Well, this year I am going first to San Francisco for a couple of low-key engagements with new friends. I will be playing with guitarist David Saxton in Berkeley and Sausalito on June 23 and 24 respectively. Please let your Bay Area friends know - invite them all to come and get acquainted!