Where music is at

11.

"Nature provides

The bamboo for my flute

The snake for my sanxian

The silk for my strings

The wood for my guqin

I do not make instruments

The Tao does"

This man was playing an amazing instrument called a Hulusi and it sounded like a soft clarinet of sorts. He was playing at the Summer Palace with a group but I just love how the picture came out. You can almost see how into the music he was. I ended up buying 2 at a later time and they are beautiful.

The first one was quite the story. I found a man selling them outside a restaurant we were going into and my friend said something to the effect of "Don't pay more than 5". Well, he wanted 40. So I said five and he walked away. No problem since I knew he'd wait and try again after dinner. So after we ate he feigned interest until I started heading for the bus. I also feigned interest. This could be long so I'll make it short. We agreed on 10 and from his bag he proceed to pull out a Hulusi the size of a straw with a grape on top. "Uh...no...that one." And pointed to the size of one he was playing. He reluctantly gave it to me, yet I still managed to pay twice what Ms. Zheng suggested but in the end, the seller and I both won.

Sometimes, everyone wins.

Old and New

9.

"The mocking bird sings
The tree frogs call
Even the forest plays a song
This is the way"

After a 2 year hiatus almost to the day, I have been inspired to write yet another short entry and continue on with much thanks to the Modern Jedi Knight's blog. If you haven't been there yet you should. I have been practicing quite a bit with the sitar and have had a few performances for Yoga classes. The response to live music for Yoga has been tremendous and many practitioners said it really elevated their session.

And believe me this was the perfect setting to play in. Just perfect.

Tao of You

8.

"All cultures, all people, all beliefs

Music is one of the binding forces

No people are without

It is the way of nature

The Tao that speaks to all"

First off, thank you John, my one fan of this dribble. I wondered if anyone reads this lint collecting. Last night I had an absolutely fantastic night playing great music with some really good players. They are part of a family that enjoys playing Bluegrass and we had some fun jamming last year at a wedding. And what better place to run in to them here but at a wine store. I played piano, flute, and even a little Erhu which apparently was featured on a Bela Fleck album. The image of a man in a vintage suit fire pitting an old dried-up Christmas tree is forever burned quite literally into my brain as we played some good ole' chicken pickin'. A let me tell you pine trees can seriously flame high! And of course some whiskey and singing. That is where the music is at. Music for music's sake.

Tao and Padawan

"7.

The student who strives for decades

To play as well as the naturally gifted prodigy

Who is better?"

Well its been quite some time but I've been seriously busy, but I am still going to China. I hope its all I think it will be. We'll see but I can't wait to see some sights, eat some food, and most importantly hear some really unique and awesome music.

Tao Jones

6.

"Thieves cannot steal from the man who has nothing

The Guqin can be taken

Skill in playing it cannot

There is no cheating practicing"

I recently returned from New York City from a performance at the Knitting Factory. I must say that I don't think I'm a New York state of mind person. I mean the city, not the countryside, which is gorgeous. I was absolutely overwhelmed with the amount of people. I felt as though I was in a continuous AC/DC concert crowd. Only there was no "Hells Bells" and the mosh pit wore Prada and pearls. What I did like was the readily available cultures. I stumbled in to a huge Korean Culture parade. Amazing. I'm not much of a picture taker but I wish I had. I walked by a shop filled with Berber lamps. Amazing. New York doesn't sleep, but I sure do because I was tired when I got back. The city pushed my "patience with all" rule to the absolute maximum. San Fransisco is more my speed.

Music is my life. I love music and the way it talks to all of us. From Morocco to Reykjavík, from 45's to iPods, we all listen. Oh, the photo is from 1908. Can you hear it? I can.