Have you met Danny? What a goof. Who does he think he is? Big shot producer, wine snob, Scotch snob, wanna be tennis pro. Oh, and he thinks he can cook. What a goof.

Well, ok…maybe not such a goof. Great producer, generous friend, fantastic dinner companion, oblivious to weight gain in others (likewise changes in haircuts), all-round good fellow. Great dad and partner, from what I can see.

I love the guy. Happy Birthday Danny Greenspoon. I will toast you and your gang tonight.

Readers, forgive the specificity of this blog. But, it’s his birthday, after all.

This record was a joy to make. Jamie Robinson was the studio producer. When I speak of his work, I can’t praise him more highly. Great players:      Kim Dunn, Jamie Gatti, Kevin Breit, and Jamie R., too. Solid song choices.

The star of the show is Raylene’s voice, though. Mature, expressive, closer, more intimate. The whole thing feels natural, and the real character of         her voice in evident from the first notes.

This is a great CD. I’m proud to have been involved in it. Nice cover, too. Kelly Clark took the photo Jason (Evul) Otis did the design.

Hope you buy it. Hope you like it.

After Virden, we forged on to Pinawa, and then to Manitou. in Pinawa, we stayed in the comfortable, clean, welcoming Pinetree Lodge. Actually, it’s closer to Seven Sisters Falls, on Dorothy Lake. Pinawa lost its hotel to a fire last year.

Manitou has the great fortune of having a population that worked to save the old Opera House, and what a worthwhile venture. Beautiful.

We were blessed with good weather throughout our tour and even found a few good meals. I like those western provinces – very much.

Big thanks to James Logan for being such a boon companion to us. Good player, good man.

Back in two weeks, when I’ll post some photos. Stay healthy.

Sunday took us to Medicine Hat for a show at the Medalta Clayworks Museum. More on that later. For now, let me tell you that it was a very cool place and I encourage you to look it up. Medalta is a chunk of Canadian history. When I find the link (and am not typing on an iPad) I’ll send it along.

Next day we drove back to Calgary, flew to Winnipeg, rented a van and drove to Forget, Saskatchewan. Stopped in Brandon for a crazy meal, the highlight of which was ordering off of the senior menu (55 Plus Super Saver). We all ordered the pickerel, I paid $5.00 less for a slightly smaller portion. None of us could really eat it. So I threw away less on my meal than the others. Talk about being self satisfied in my meal dissatisfaction. I was pretty smug all the way to the van, I can tell you.

And then there was Forget. There is no place on earth as welcoming, no people as interesting and interested. There is nothing that compares. Shannon and Don Shakotko have created a world of art, food, music, books, bees, honey, good sleep….all earthly comfort for the body, intangibles for the soul. There is nothing -nothing- that causes a minute of discomfort. Hank and Gyda Nickels, Shannon’s folks, have the liveliest open hearts and minds I’ve encountered. The Inn of the Seven Sisters, The Happy Nun, St. Ambrose Apiaries – the heart of Forget. Go there. We were lucky in that we got to spend two nights there…well needed comfort in the middle of our tour.

Last night, Virden, Manitoba. Beautiful little theatre with a full house. Good sound, good audience….now if only I could shake the cold. Thank god Raylene and Cindy can sing.

Off to Pinawa at 11:00…five hour drive, but no show tonight. I see a nice long dinner in our future(s).

Thanks for checking in. By the way, our guitarist, James Logan, has been stellar.

The air here is so arid that the few bits of laundry i washed out yesterday dried during soundcheck..not kidding. Hung them up at 3:45, they were dry by 5:00. Crazy dry.

On the way to Medicine Hat….will check in tomorrow.

Oh, and if you’re looking for Raylene’s cd, I’ll have all the info on the website in a few weeks. It’s called “All The Diamonds”.

Back to Calgary tonight for the Bow Valley Folk Club show. Should be another beautiful drive.

Oh, I watched a great TED talk this morning. Gem of truth? Over-sharing is not to be mistaken for honesty.

Ain’t that the truth?

Oh, and James Logan, our guitarist…great job.

Sold out in Edmonton tonight, and Calgary tomorrow. Always good to know that going in.

Now I’m here in the Best Western having a cup of “coffee”. Don’t you love a good styrofoam cup?

Happy Birthday Boxing Day to dear friend Katherine Wheatley….50 and phab.

See ya.

My recent happy experience at the Sherbrooke Songwriter’s Camp was enough to get me through the summer with a sense of satisfaction and joy. Well needed.

My fellow “instructors” – facilitators, really – were James Keelaghan, David Francey, Clary Croft and Craig Werth. All great songwriters, all lovely men. Lovely in the complicated, interesting, funny, tender way that makes you fall in love with them, even if you are gay. I learned a lot from each of them.

We started every day with an hour long talk from one of the instructors.

Clary: the history of song, the folk tradition, folklore, pulling examples from the Helen Creighton Collection, interspersed with songs delivered in the most beautiful tenor I’ve ever heard. He’s a singer’s singer. Also, he’s a great songwriter.

James: performance. One of the best performers in the country (many countries, in fact). Great talk about the hows and how nots. Most memorable for me? The question ” what is the one word you should never say on stage? “. Lot’s of suggestions as to what it might be. Turns out it’s this: sorry. I need to be reminded of that from time to time. Also, he’s a great songwriter

David: time and place, and evoking them. Great example of how he took a trip, kept his eyes open, listened to the place, imagines and created. He’s a master at it. His talk was transporting. Also, he’s a great songwriter.

Craig: an open hearted, enlightened and enlightening talk becoming a songwriter, about being a songwriter, and retaining one’s humanity in the face of a difficult business that sometimes does as much to separate us as it does connect us. Seems to me he got to the very heart of what it is to be an artist. Also, he’s a great songwriter.

I talked about making a lyric sing. Nut and bolts to smooth it out and “use your words”….and I sang some songs. Also, I’m an ok songwriter.

But the vitality of this camp is what the participants bring. Not just the songs (of which there were many good ones this year) but the pure willingness to cast off ego, help each other, pass the salt and pepper, leave the last cookie on the plate for someone else.

Here’s to leaving the last cookie on the plate for someone else.

I saw a picture of myself with JP Cormier in which I look about 75 years old. I think JP (whose birthday is the same day) was squeezing me so hard that every bit of loose flesh was pushed into my head and neck. I assure you that I’m only 57.

I will not include the photo here. Or anywhere.

Thanks again.