After a week of teeth-pulling adjustment from being on the road for 11 weeks, we are grateful to be home working in Michigan again. This weekend’s gigs were exceptional: the artistry, the camaraderie, the venues, the quality of collaboration.
I played Friday at the Detroit Institute of Arts with Matt Ulery’s project, By a Little Light, a new double disc CD of his music released on Greenleaf Records. I thank Matt for writing for the alto flute and for the Grand Rapids musicians (Chris Lawrence, Chris Martin, Joel Schekman, Steve VanRavenswaay) who performed and supported the project with their time and skills.
It’s so cool to see how Matt’s music has steeped, brewed, and simmered (like a rich stew that cooks all day) for the past seven years. I enjoyed playing on this project most because I’ve seen the connection between what he does with his band Loom (the core which joined him in Detroit: Jon Deitemyer + Rob Clearfield) and with his other collaboration Eastern Blok-one of my favorite bands to follow.
On Saturday Andy and I performed in Kalamazoo at the Wellspring Theater with an Argentine friend we met this year named Oscar Acebrás. Besides the fact that Oscar is one of the most generous, nicest, kindest musicians we’ve met, we admire him for his skill and perseverance. As a 63 year old man he still spends four months of the year driving himself through Argentina playing gigs, sleeping in his car along the way. Oscar also amazes us by how he can play all the folk genres from Argentina with such grace and style.
Thanks to all the musicians and organizers who made these gigs happen!
