DEPARTURES AND ASPIRATIONS

ARTISTIC DEPARTURE

  Jude Johnstone has been breaking hearts as she prepares her departure from Cambria to Nashville. She just wrapped her emotional "Farewell Concerts" on the central coast. 
  I've posted previously about this extraordinary woman whose songs have been recorded by Bonnie Raitt, Trisha Yearwood, Johnny Cash, Emmylou Harris, Bette Midler, Stevie Knicks and Laura Branigan. She's a powerful performer in her own right.

   Above, her youngest daughter Ra (Rachel) shares the spotlight. Jude has been a coffee shop and village friend and we remember when Ra would come with mom or elder sister Emma to Lily's coffee deck with a teddy bear in tow.
She's become a powerful singer and writer with huge potential.  Big sis Emma is in theatre in New York now. The family is a creative and talented dynamo and the matriarch will be missed.
     The West coast music profession tilts differently now and the lure of Nashville is right for a writer of such depth, intelligence and life. So long Jude, thanks for the rich legacy.  More about Jude including in her own words here.  A photo tribute to Aspirations can be seen below.

A CURIOUS DEPARTURE

     I can't tell you why exactly, but I feel sad for Rachel Dolezal, the now retired head of the Spokane Washington NAACP. I feel bad for the NAACP since their advocate and one who has filed discrimination complaints, is not who she has claimed to be. Dolezal is not an African American, though she has been posing as one.  Probably more than anything else I'm curious about why. Why indeed?  

     Discrimination exists and there is a need for advocates who work to establish fairness and harmony. While her intentions may have been noble, though we don't really know that, her credibility is damaged. I hope the people of Washington and Spokane specifically will not hold her indiscretions against the NAACP.

FURTHER ASPIRATION

   See you down the trail.

THE SPECIAL NIGHT-SEASONAL SCENES-THE CANDLE FROZE-A CUBAN THROWBACK

THE GLOW ON THE HILL

      We look forward to the chosen December night when fortunate Cambrians walk the hill out of east village up to the historic Santa Rosa Chapel for an evening of strings, music, Christmas reflection and magic.

      Frequent readers may recall previous posts, this time of year when it as though we step into a slip stream of timelessness. 

2011 Post

2012 Post
2013 Post

      Cheer and anticipation fill the 140 plus year old Chapel bathed in candle light and greens. This evening has become our single favorite of the Advent season on the Central California Coast. 
       The acoustics, artistry of the musicians and the lighting create a dreamy mood. Ra Duncan's soulful a cappella Ava Maria set the mood and another memorable evening flowed into Cambria history.
       Judith Larmore's meditation on the love in nostalgic moments were heart warming. Recalling her father's devotion to providing hand made Christmas toys invoked a kind of universal remembrance and in that she reminded us was a connection. In Christmas memory, loved ones are with us still. As Lana said as we departed, Judith should collect and publish her reflections.
      Jude Johnstone put together the music program. She asked her daughter Emma, an accomplished actor/director and home from New York to write a poem. Her reading was yet another and unexpected gift of this wonderful annual event. Jude and daughter Ra performed and then lead the audience in a uniquely cheerful and entertaining round of carols.

     Santa has already delivered our favorite gift. 

THE CANDLE FLAME FROZE

      My family occupied an old farm house during one of Indiana's coldest winters and I slept upstairs in an unheated room. We had just moved to the state capitol of Indianapolis and rented a large, drafty house while our new home was being built in one of the new suburban divisions.
      The place was massive. Two bedrooms, dining room, living room, parlor, long kitchen, sun porch and bath down stairs. Upstairs had only recently been "finished," meaning there were floors and walls. Heat "entered" the frigid domain by virtue of a hole that had been cut in the floor of the bedroom and the ceiling in the largely unused "parlor." In fact we kept the sliding door to the parlor closed as it was so difficult to heat and made the living room too drafty.
      Since I worked and had late hours and was the eldest of three boys, I got the private room, while my brothers shared a downstairs bed room. When I took a glass of water upstairs, it froze or if temperatures were more moderate it created an icy crust. I didn't mind.  As a high school sophomore I enjoyed the privacy. I'd wear a stocking cap, socks and pile under the blankets and slept very soundly.  Any nightly trip to the bathroom was a bear-icy cold floor and stairs, and then leaving the warmth of downstairs to climb back into ice land made those rare ventures, teen bladders being good equipment and all.
      Years later I told our daughters I slept in a room so cold the candle froze.  A stretch, but the water did.
      Our eldest is visiting from Naples Florida.  The central California coast winter can sometimes chill into over night 40's and warm "only" into the 60's.  As she is digging out the wool socks, sweaters, gloves, caps and all, I'll probably remind her of what real cold is. If that doesn't work I'll drag her along to a tennis match where one of my foursome, Jim, hails from War Road Minnesota, where to hear him tell it, you risked freezing to death all but 7 days a year!
      I still like to sleep in a cool room with fresh air, but for the next couple of weeks we may well heat the overnight.

SEASONAL AFFECTATIONS

VILLAGE STYLE

    Lana's centerpiece for an Instigators Art Salon luncheon 

    Cambria Historical Society 

   Victorian ranch house at Halter Ranch winery 

   West Village, Cambria 

A CUBAN THROWBACK

  As a tribute to improved relations with Cuba, a couple of On Assignment Cuba photos from the file.

     I'm excited about easier travel. Cuba is a marvelous island. The above scene is from Matanzas.

 Pictured here with Jon Christopher Hughes, photographer and journalism professor at the front door of Ernest Hemingway's Finca Vigia east of Havana. Jon is an old hand on Cuba. This was taken while at work on a documentary in 1996.

a "selfie" in the mirror of Hemingway's

bathroom

     Cubans are warm and wonderful people with an extraordinary culture and charm. Despite the decades long blockade and official sanctions, the people tend to understand Washington policy is one thing and the American

public is something else.

Previous Cuban Posts:

The Daiquiri and Hemingway-where it began

Rare look inside Hemingway's home

Cuba's St. Lazaro healing shrine

Cuban Street Scenes

A "model" for Old Man and The Sea

     See you down the trail.  

GIVING A DAMN COOL AGAIN & A MORNING GLOW

LIGHT ON THE TRAIL

     The acoustic and folk world is moving toward Toronto for the 25th Folk Alliance International, and Cambrians, Ranchers for Peace are among them.

Courtesy of Ranchers for Peace

       Charles and Ray Duncan say they are "doing what they can to make giving a damn cool again." 

       Father and daughter credibly empower that idea. They give a damn-their own lyrics and those of Woody Guthrie and others, are sung and played with a unique harmony, warmth and power. And the music is cool-poignant, moving and with an edge. The artists are also cool.

     Lana, Katherine and I were fortunate to be among about 15 people in a house concert last night, as they tune up for the frenetic pace of the Folk Alliance International gathering.

     Acoustic Music Scene details the scope of this summit of artists, agents, bookers, producers, record labels, djs, and musicians.  

     A guitar player and song writer who's been to the Folk Alliance said, at the break last night, the Ranchers have a unique sound.

Sample them for yourself

      It's a particular joy to see village neighbors display such talent.  Ray's mother Jude Johnstone is a favorite and her cd is in "heavy rotation" on our play list.  

Courtesy of Jude Johnstone

     A wonderful performer, her songs have been recorded by Bonnie Raitt, Emmylou Harris, Johnny Cash, Laura Branigan, Trisha Yearwood, Bette Midler, Stevie Nicks and others.

      Lana remembers seeing a young Rachel, with teddy bear, in tow with her sister talented actress Emma Duncan at Lilly's coffee deck just a few years ago. Now the young woman has charisma and a great attitude for the songs of social justice and hope.

      Charles is an accomplished player of guitar and harmonica and brings a seasoned mellow and gentleness to Ranchers. Their songs have a way of staying with you.

      Charles told of opening recently in Bakersfield for revered master player John McCutcheon who has released 34 albums. When Ranchers came off stage he said McCutcheon told them how much he liked their music.  McCutcheon said he noticed they too played the Woodie Guthrie classic "Deportee."  The song recounts a plane crash near Los Gatos. It had been bound for an emigration deportation station and carried 28 Mexican workers. Guthrie's lyrics make mention of how the dead were referred to only as "deportees."

        "...you wont have names when you ride the big airplane

                All they will call you will be "deportees"

         McCutcheon told of going to the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Fresno and seeing a stone covering a mass grave that said   "deportees."  It was there he met a young man named Carlos who had done the research, learned the names and is making sure they will be added to the stone. 

      As they did in Bakersfield with McCutcheon, Ranchers for Peace read the names of each of the "deportees" last night.  I think Woody Guthrie would like the edit to his song by a California father and daughter who are doing what  they can to make giving a damn cool again. 

      

MORNING GLOW

    See you down the trail.

AS GOOD AS IT GETS & A LITTLE COLOR

EXTRAORDINARY

     An exquisite evening- Strings in the Chapel with the voices of Jude and Ra Johnstone, the writing of Judith Larmore and the traditional "T'was the night..." from Bruce Black. This California village was at its creative best.

       A deep star field wrapped around the candle lit Chapel on the crest of the hill presiding over the east village. A garland of sparkling luminescence cloaked the shrub in front of the white wood and the walk way. The  shimmery glow on the top of the hill beckoned Cambrians who made the steep pilgrimage. A mellow spirit filled the fresh air, rich with pine and hints of the sea.

      143 years of community mingled with those in place on this night; extraordinary players-violins, cello, viola, harp, guitar and the villagers, anticipating the magic of a special night, unique in a settlement of talent, authenticity and eccentricities.

     And powerful the music was.  Young Ra Johnstone's a capella opening of Amazing Grace prompted tears and lumps in the throat which only intensified when her accomplished mom, Jude, joined in.  The mood was set.  Virtuoso string performances of classic, traditional,  contemporary music and carols--poetry and the vivid time shifting story and message from Judith as the bow on the gift of this special night. This little village tucked beneath Monterey Pines between the Pacific and the Santa Lucia Mountains is accustomed to the best from California players. The candle lit second Saturday in December, in the acoustically charmed chapel, is something even more.

     I wish everyone could have sipped of this extraordinary night of flickering light, strings, voices and memories on a Christmas watch where 143 Advent seasons have been greeted.

Photo Courtesy of Santa Rosa Chapel -Cambria Ca.

   

MATCHING COLORS

Photo by Lana Cochrun. Taken a few seasons ago on Sanibel Island Florida.

     Sorry, I was just struck by the similarity of color.

     See you down the trail.

AN EVENING AT THE PAINTED SKY

A CAMBRIA CULTURAL CENTER

It looks a bit time worn and ramshackle
but the building above is a part of Cambria History.
It's been several things, but most famously the Bucket of Blood Saloon, going back to when cowboys, miners and fishermen were patrons in this Central California coastal enclave. Local lore has it, the last stabbing in town was here.
But its more recent history has made it a cultural center.
For over a decade this has been the Painted Sky recording
studio. The famous and near famous have come here to
lay down track in the acoustic splendor of the old building
near a side street. For as good as it is as a recording studio,
what has enshrined it in the hearts of modern Cambria are
concert nights-an evening at the Painted Sky.

IT'S SHOW TIME

Owner Steve Crimmel and producers
have booked talent, some of whom are working on a disc,

into the intimate, "house concert" like setting of the
enchanted room. Blues, jazz, swing, blue grass, Celtic,
classical, country, cowboy, rock and vocal artists, including
big names and stars, have played here.  

In his low key, no hustle way, Steve
thanks people for supporting live music and
introduces the act. The studio is configured to seat
between 50 and 70 people with everyone having a
perfect seat.

The courtyard is transformed for intermission
cheer and community.

 On this night Ray Bonneville, a master of 
swampy blues and guitar opened.
Ray has played with BB King, Muddy Waters, Robert Cray
among others.

Extraordinary jazz and blues vocalist

Jude Johnstone and her superb band

headlined. Jude's songs have been recorded 
by Bonnie Raitt, Johnny Cash, Trish Yearwood and others.

I've seen live music in a multitude of venues-
from arenas to jazz caverns.  The Painted Sky
is among the all time tops.  The sound of the room is 
exceptional, the intimacy between artist and audience is
legendary, and it is an "only in Cambria" kind of mood
and presence.

From my first visit, before being a resident, when
I read the old Thurber quote in courtyard, and watched and 
listened as people in this village shared an evening with a 
legendary old blues man, I was sure this was indeed a 
cultural center of a unique west coast village
half way between LA and San Francisco.
Unique and beloved indeed.

Thanks to Steve for all the many great evenings.
It appears the building's landlords want to shut the studio
so they can use the building a storage space for 
antiques-left over inventory from a west Hollywood
business they are closing.  
What a shame for such a cultural center and 
historic building.
What a shame for the loss of those special
evenings a the Painted Sky.
Great memories indeed!
See you down the trail.