Well what are the odds of your friend bringing Steven Stills over to your house?? I still can't believe it happened. I had just laid down in bed and set the alarm for 4am so I could get up and watch the meteor shower when the phone rang. It was Jack asking if it was ok if he and Steven dropped by to catch the meteor show (as the it was too bright downtown). I got up and went outside to wait for them and thank God I did cause I would have missed most of the show. It was quite beautiful here and the sky was clear and I saw quite a few. Then my wife came out and joined me and about that time, the limo pulled around the corner and I was saying hello to someone who changed my life, brought there by someone else who changed my life by introducing me to acoustic music over 30 years ago. We all talked awhile and did the "ooo ahhh" thing at the sky for awhile. Steven went inside to the rest room and caught an eye full of my studio (filled with keyboards and guitars and such). He commented that if the light show didn't get any better we should have a play. Well about a quarter to four the fog rolled in big time. Steven asked if he could play my new keyboard and show us a song he is working on. I programmed a drum beat into the loop machine and we were off. The groove wasn't just right so I turned off the machine and played an instrument I have called the Cajon (from Peru). Jack sang harmonies and we were treated to a sneak peak of new Steven to come. He picked a rhodes sound and it is sort of shuffle with a 6/8 feel. It was really surreal to be in my own studio with my best friend jamming with Stills. Sadly, Jack had to pick up another fare and started to make preperations to leave elsewise we might STILL be there playing. For a long time I have been friends with Steven's brother (Butch) who lives here in New Orleans and thought that maybe one day I would be lucky enough to be able to meet Steven with him, but in the long run I guess our paths were meant to cross all on their own. We talked about the new forthcoming CSNY tour and bass players and drummers, the old days when he use to live in Louisiana, we spoke in Spanish (which he has a powerful command of) and had a very pleasant visit. I started to post last night after they zoomed off, but I was so excited I just wanted to savour the moments. I feel a little wierd posting about this, but I think I would feel more wierd if I didn't. This community has provided me stories for so long about meetings and concerts and such that I thought I should return the favour.
Peace Michael post from last night: >On this night for gazing at the stars on my way home from a gig, my pal Jack (a >limo driver/singer-songwriter) called me to tell me he was picking up Stills at >the airport. I drove out to meet him on my way home just in time to see him >picking up Steven. Apparently he was invited by the owner of the Colts to come >in for the football game tomorrow. Jack was elated to be picking up one of our >heros. We are in the process of working on his album which should be out early >next year. I hope he played some of the demos for him. He is a very talented >songwriter and one of my oldest friends and inspirations. I just came in from >outside watching the star show and had to share with you guys. Hope everyone >has a good night and gets to see the show.
