Jellyman Kelly

James Taylor on Sesame Street with a great
tuba player.

Gabriela y Rodrigo

Not totally flamenco, not heavy metal, simply beautiful and unbelieveable.

"Strum What You Brung Folk Jam" on Local TV station Fox 28

That's right, that's yours truly on Bongo Cajon in the Ludwig Drums T-Shirt.

White Rabbit, "Percussion Gun"

No Snares, no hi-hat, no kick drum, just 2 guys whaling on floor toms. Awesome effect, very tribal.

White Rabbits "Percussion Gun" Music Video from White Rabbits on Vimeo.

C.G. Ryche and the Samba Pimps

Strum What You Brung Folk Jam

Marxist Poodles Are Scary...

(Pearls Before Swine Rocks!)

Luis Conte

luis conte solo
by Elrond

A Cavalcade of Fortune Cookie Commentaries.

I've been a little slack in my fortune cookie commentaries as of late. Here's a bunch at once. Thanks to Princess Moe for the handful of fortunes and insomnia for the motivation.




I sometimes find myself wondering, is there a nice Asian person in the back of bakery writing these? Do they go home at night and after dinner say to their kids, "Today children, I dispensed the deep wisdom of our ancient culture to many of the American people, hoping that they will turn towards the lessons we have to offer."

Then the family will all smile, and and nod in solemn agreement, until the patriarch's moment of glory is ruined when his grandmother starts laughing and pointing at him. Finally she gains composure, and says, "You know those little slips of paper just get left on the plates, stained with General Tso's sauce! If you want to really share wisdom, get on the internet or Reality TV, that's where its at!"



I find myself wavering back and forth on fortune cookies. Is there deep wisdom I just don't get, or is there someone who is not a native English speaker trying to write beatnik poetry? Either that, or this writer used to work in the old VCR factory writing owner's manuals.



The coffee will be fine thank you very much. Keep your joyful energy to yourself until about 11 am, then we can talk...



Ok, this could be the impetus I have been waiting for to go out and do something incredibly stupid-look out world, here I come!



Come on! You aren't even trying! Maybe you can get on Maury with psychic ability like that!

Daddy Song

Song written and performed by my niece Jessica.

Videos and Music from the "Strum What You Brung" Folk Jam in downtown Elkhart.

"Strum What You Brung Folk Jam - May 2009"

I'm the one in the loud Hawaiian shirt and cargo shorts. I guess I need to be schooled in proper Folk Music Attire.



"Roll on Elkhart" by Earl Bowe

Assorted drum and jazz videos

Strum What You Brung Folk Jam

You ever have things that you never thought you would be a part of, or food you never thought you would like, but when you do finally give them a try, you are pleasantly surprised? Thats what this video below is. Jessica and I went to a folk jam and found ourselves having a really good time. I played my cajon drum and she played her guitar. I don't show up in the video until about 3 minutes in. But we had a great time playing folk, gospel, and bluegrass songs with a really nice group of people who were very welcoming. This does not mean I am throwing out my Dave Brubeck or U2 CD's, it just means I may buy another Chet Atkins CD, or even buy an Earl Scruggs CD someday.

"What this is really talking about is how many times it takes me to set the table before my wife determines I did it correctly..."

"Are those what the voices in my head are? Thats a relief!"

Fortune Cookies

Oh, fortune cookie, where would my fragile self-esteem be without you?

Fortune Cookies

There is no promotion of unconditional love in the fortune cookie, just the same production paradigm that runs the rest of society...

Fortune Cookies

My Mom was right!!



This actually happened-could have just been the coffee though...


But what will I do with all the excess cynicism and apathy?

"Midriff"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Put your iPod or other music player on shuffle.

2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.

3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!

4. Tag 10 friends who might enjoy doing this as well as the person you got this from.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?

“Secret World” – Peter Gabriel

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?

“The ‘In’ Crowd” – Ramsey Lewis

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?

“Take My Hand” – Russ Taff

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?

“Take the ‘A’ Train” – Duke Ellington

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?

“The River Unbroken” – Russ Taff

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?

“Faded Love” – Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?

“Outra Vez” – Vince Guaraldi

WHAT IS 2+2?

“Take it Back” – Bare Naked Ladies

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?

“Running on Empty”- Jackson Browne

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?

“Once in a Lifetime”-Talking Heads

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?

“ ‘Round Midnight” – Miles Davis

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?

“Invisible Sun” – The Police

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?

“You Can Still Change Your Mind.” – Tom Petty and the Heart Breakers

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?

“Dance Sister Dance” - Santana

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?

“Twinkle” – Earl Klugh

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?

“Christmas Time is Here.” – Vince Guaraldi

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?

“Big Weekend” – Tom Petty

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?

“High 5 (Rock the Catskills)” - Beck

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS

“Ridin’ High” – Ella Fitzgerald

WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?

“Don’t Blame Me.” – Charlie Parker

HOW WILL YOU DIE?

“Lookout for Hope” – The Bill Frisell Band

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?

“Hocus Pocus” – Lee Morgan

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?

“Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” – Bobby McFerrin

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?

“Baba O’Reily” – The Who

WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?

“The Twelve Days of Christmas” – Bing Crosby

WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?

“Come Back Baby” – Joe Williams

DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?

“On a Slow Boat to China”-Benny Goodman

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?

“Fragile” - Sting

WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?

“The Goodbye Look” – Donald Fagen

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?

“Midriff” – Duke Ellington

Why the Printer Won't Work

I hate to admit to liking cute things. I hate Smurfs, my Little Pony, Strawberry Shortcake, Cabbage Patch Dolls, Hello Kitty, Bratz, Power-Puff Girls (ok, just a little-in an ironic way), and I hate most big-eyed anime cartoons with plucky teenagers that save the day.

The point is, if you think its cute and darling, I probably don't like it on some misguided principle I have yet to be able to face, but don't really think I need to face.

I do however, admit to liking cats, and videos of cats. I like this one alot. It has just enough of an un-cute ending to make me grin.

10 Things About Life Learning Spanish Taught Me.

Besides learning how to endlessly conjugate verbs, describe things backwards and becoming more touchy feely than I had been raised to be, learning Spanish taught me some things about life.


1. Before you can be impressive, you have to be willing to look and sound like an idiot.
2. There will always be someone who does things better than you.
3. Most communication is non-verbal. Talk with your hands, smile and laugh alot and you will fit in where ever you go.
4. There are more genuinely good people than bad.
5. Making small talk is not a small thing.
6. Time spent trying to put yourself inside someone else's head is never wasted time.
7. No matter what the language, very few people ever say what they truly mean.
8. Learning how to connect with others and understand their hearts, souls and spirits is what real communication means.
9. There are not as many universal truths as I thought there were when I was younger.
10. Always give people an opportunity to save face and you will have few enemies and many friends.

The Elkhart Jazz Festival

I have lived in the city of Elkhart, Indiana for almost 20 years. Some of my friends joke that Elkhart is a pretty boring place and that the sidewalks roll up at 9pm. As far as downtown, that's really fairly accurate, with a few exceptions-the most notable being the Elkhart Jazz Festival.



Once a year in the Summer, the main street is blocked off and a large stage put up in the plaza. Big tents are erected with similar tents throughout the city with similar stages. The Elco theatre, a church auditorium and the Knights of Columbus Lodge all become stages for all types of jazz artists. The city plaza is filled with people listening to jazz, dancing and eating all kinds of carnival food from noon til after midnight for a very long weekend.



Because Elkhart is not a large city, there is a very different feel to the Jazz Festival. It's not stuffy, or high class, its very accessible-very populous. There is a large space in front of the stage where people can dance if they want. Sometimes little kids come and dance by themselves or chase each other and play while the music plays. There is an older couple from Chicago that comes every year in these incredible outfits and dances. She wears these beautiful pastel colored flowing evening gowns and he wears zoot-suits so sharp, that pimps stop and stare open mouthed in admiration. This year, he had two-tone, white and turquoise shoes and a turquoise hat with a feather. They dance like they are floating on air, and they are as popular as the jazz.

One of my favorite artists is Tim Cunningham.


Tim plays the Alto and Soprano saxophone. He plays both straight ahead and smooth and funky urban jazz. His band is top notch, especially his bassist. What's great about Tim is, you really get the feeling he enjoys playing for you and that he appreciates his audience.



Tim is playing in the middle of the picture. He had come off the stage and was playing with a wireless microphone. When he came off the stage, he played in front of the stage as the little kids came up and danced around him. At one point, a little girl reached out and touched his saxophone. He began to slowly follow her as he played, pretending to chase her and she ran in circles making that lovely squealing noise that kids make when they are really happy. He finally ended the strolling solo by playing an incredible version of "God Bless America", leading to a standing ovation. It was the sort of show that could make a Jazz Cat out of anyone. As good as Breyers Vanilla Ice Cream on a 100 degree day.

This year, I was able to score Jazz Passes-that mean I got to go to any concert, any time, any where. I answered a trivia question on our local TV station to win the tickets. To say I was happy would have been an understatement.



My wife complains I tend to not be able to smile on camera easily-but I was smiling the whole weekend. Besides seeing two Tim Cunningham sets, I got to see a very intimate concert of world famous trombonist, Jiggs Whigham.



Then I actually got to meet world famous drummer Butch Miles. Shook his hand and everything. His style is as good as Max Roach or Art Blakey.



One of the big highlights of the weekend was that I actually got to play with one of the bands for one song. I have been learning how to play hand drums for about six months. I own a pair of Conga drums and a pair of Bongos and play any chance I get. One of the groups that plays at the Jazz Festival is called Vibenation. It is made up of people that work in the musical instrument industry here in Elkhart. Since I work with the leader of the band, I got invited to play a conga drum, along with two other people from work who played bongos and djembe drums for the last number, a jazz arrangement of the rock classic "Oye Como Va" by Carlos Santana (it was originally written by Tito Puente, though).



Here's a picture of me playing,(I'm in the orange behind the Marimbas-next to the drums). I don't know how good I sounded, I tried not to go nuts, but it was a lot of fun.

People ask me if I like living in Indiana. I've lived here longer than anywhere else. I still miss the scenery where I grew up in Oregon. But Indiana has its own beauty, and I'm at home now. You can't go home again, you have to make a place your home or be miserable looking for a place that never exists.

Elkhart does not have soaring mountain ranges, or land to get lost in, but its got its own beauty and uniqueness. The Jazz Festival is one of those things that makes this town special to me.

-Juanito.

Donald Duck Cartoon

Moby - "Why Does My Heart Feel so Bad"

B-52's - "Roam"

L.L. Cool J - "Mama Said Knock You Out."

Devo - "Its a Beautiful World"

Aaron Copland

"Rodeo - Hoedown"


"Appalachian Spring - Simple Gifts"

Chris Isaak

"Blue Hotel"

Peter Gabriel

"In Your Eyes"


"Big Time"