I park the car and head to the church (not to play Bingo) and wander in. The very SECOND (I swear!) I walk in the door, who should come up and greet me by name but the talented and beautiful Mr. Bob Muller from SC. (How the hell does he know who I am, I wonder, he's never met me! Oh yeah, we had to send in pictures when we registered for the fest but even so...) Person after person comes up and introduces themself to me and most of them (again) know who I am. Funny thing is, I know who some of them are. OK, I've seen pictures of them before, so I have an advantage there, but still... People are telling me they were worrying about me (imagine that!) because I was late. Someone is singing up on stage and I'm sorry, but I didn't catch the name, but after that, talented person after talented person gets up there and sings, plays guitar or keyboards, or congas, or mandolin, or bass, or, well you name it. I'm really afraid I'm going to leave someone out - everyone was just SO good. If I don't mention you, or I mention what you sang, but I can't remember your name, I am SO sorry, but I'd like to quote Bob Muller here, or paraphrase him, for something he said so well, "Just when you think, "Wow - that's the best so far!" someone else comes along, and again you think, "THAT'S the best so far!" Just a few mentions... Leslie Mixon's version (and her husband Steve's accompaniment) on "The Dawntreader". Leslie's (and friends') Delta-blues version of "Big Yellow Taxi" really smoked! I completely forgot how done-too-often that song is, because you made it new again! Ashara's sweet, sweet song dedicated to her husband. Yael (That's Yah-El, people, not Yale like the university or the lock), who *exuded confidence") in her debut performance. ;) The incredibly beautiful voices of Claudia, Alison, Anne and (I can't remember your names - Alison and one of you sang Sandy Denny's "The Sea"!) Why aren't you people FAMOUS by now? The bluesy voice of our list's own Kate Bennett - Kate, I never got a chance to talk to you but, if I did, I have your CD and, good as it is, hearing you live was so much better! You put me in mind of someone like Maria Muldaur or Bonnie Raitt (I hope you like those two). And your wonderful husband, Jeff (?) who looks and sounds kind of like Kenny Rogers (but better). Bob Muller - not only are you handsome and charming and funny, you can sing! And thank you for singing, one of my FAVOURITE Joni songs, "Blue Hotel Room", boom boom pachyderm and all - I agree with you, this one needs to be sung more often. and who can forget the lovely and talented birthday fairy himself, Mr. Wally K (what a sweetie!) with his own unique brand of singing, and, like so many talented jmdlers, with a couple of hiw own originals thrown in - Wally, I loved the one with the lion - it reminded me of Jobim's "Waters of March." Les from England - someone has already said, when you sang the sad Joni songs, "Not to blame" and "Magdalene Laundries", in your quiet and compelling way, you could (literally) have heard a pin drop - everyone was so focussed on listening to you..(Thanks also for your help in getting us to Ashara's later - we never would have made it without you!) If I've left anyone out (I should have taken notes, but that's so anal!), I apologize - maybe it will come back to me later - but I was just so overwhelmed by the extraordinary talent at this place. I just want to mention the zealous Monsieur L'Hommedieu and his picture-taking - I don't think this guy stopped to take a break ONCE during the whole thing. But, for God's sake, what's up with the ladder-climbing? Even watching someone go up a ladder (past the second step anyway) scares the daylights out of me). Going to end here, in case I run out of steam (probably not), but to give people a bit of a break, and to keep the post long-but-not-too-long... More to come.... Get your free @yahoo.ca address at http://mail.yahoo.ca
