NOVEMBER WAS LOOMING nigh - time once again to take that California Trip to visit our daughter in San Francisco. One of the great things is thatour daughter is very musically oriented - she can play several instruments and sing very well in various styles, including regular folk, bluegrass and swing. So we are guaranteed a musically interesting visit and this one was no exception. Apart from Chazz Cats and other amazing gigs there was plenty of bluegrass both in clubs and in sessions, but two were outstanding.

First, Larry Carlin (NWBN CD reviewer) invited us along to his monthly jam session in Larkspur, in Marin, just north of SanFrancisco. Not the easiest venue to find, but what a great session! Although the venue was the usual café (and it could have been a restaurant, fire station or shop - but not a bar...) there was plenty of atmosphere - the place was very full. Butisn't it strange how pickers stand up in most US sessions while in the UK they mostly sit down? There were a lot of pickers, all of at least good standard, and the full range of instruments was represented with lots of singers. Larry played bass and sang as well as generally overseeing the session. Jean's singing was very well admired, though I'm not sure what they made of 'Lancastrian-Grass' singer me!

The most amazing thing happened when fiddler Steve Johnson (Write to Steve) came chatting. He was interested in the English accents and noted that although they are obvious when talking they tend to disappear a bit when singing (except for me...) Then the bombshell question: "Do you by any chance know Matt Ditchburn?" This completely floored me because I already had Matt's Wild Iris article You must click the link...

Anyhow, a great night, enhanced by a drive back across the Golden Gate Bridge, all lit up, with its' views of the city.

A pick in the Garage - left to right:
Jake Quisenberry, Bill Schneiderman, Dave Megram,
Rick Cornish, Jean Brandon, Pam Brandon

Another killer-diller was an afternoon-evening dinner-picking-party at Rick Cornish's house ('house' doesn't do it justice...) Rick is the author of The (never quite complete) Bluegrass Songbook (a heavyweight which comes with several CDs - soon to be reviewed here) and organiser of the La Honda Campout that I reportedon in September 1999. When he heard we were going to be in the area he immediately Write toed "You're coming? OK! I must organise a picking dinner party in your honor!" At first I thought he was joking, but it gradually dawned on me that he wasn't. Everything was fixed - the venue (his house near San José), the fires, the barbecues, the bars, places to pick and essentially a 'who's who' of the Bay Area pickers.

The three of us set off. The song might well ask Do You Know The Way To SanJosé? but it's much more important to know the way out. We eventually found Rick's (the only place you couldn't get near with a car) and went in to a great welcome. There was music here, music there, and everywhere. Out back, in the shade of the banana tree, was a covered seating area with raised iron firebowl - huge logs - and a jam. In the house,yard and garage there were jams. I didn't dare join in - the standard everywhere was so high. But that didn't stop Jean and our Pam from contributingtheir share, to a great reception!

Rick fiddles, Jean harmonises, Pam sings with her Santa Cruz

Lotsof beer on ice, wine, and more - and soft drinks too. A giant stand-alone barbecue with enormous whole turkey in it. Rick is master fiddle-player and a top multi-tasker - doing all this cooking, playing in sessions, playing host and burning CDs all at the same time! Being Guests of Honour for our NWBN work we distributed lots of copies of NWBN. They were well received and the President of the NCBS was very impressed! An outstanding night.

Derek Brandon, Chester.

Pam is guitarist/vocals in Belle Monroe and Her Brewglass Boys and singer in the Roadhouse Swing band The Chazz Catz

1st March 2000