Another senseless sitar-related accident...not gourd--er, good.

I can’t take credit for that title. That’s what my friend Steve said when I told him I hurt my foot playing sitar. We’ll, I wasn’t really playing the sitar when it happened, but that sounds better that the utter stupidity of what actually occurred.

Tom Dennehy was visiting, and I was showing him the sitar I picked up last year. After dabbling with that in a pseudo sitar-playing position, I remained on the cold basement floor while we talked about the characteristics of Indian instruments and the pros and cons of being an artist in today’s commercial market.

Perhaps 30 minutes passed when I realized I couldn’t feel my left leg. It wasn’t asleep and tingly - it just wasn’t there. The combination of the cold and the pretzel I had placed myself into combined to cut off all circulation.

Somewhat panicked, I stood up on my right leg to see if I could shake out my left leg to get the feeling back. It wasn’t coming too very quickly, so I thought if I hopped over to the stairs and tried to walk up, it might help. Yeah, bad idea.

I hobbled to the staircase. As I placed my left foot down (thinking it was flat), and placed my weight on it, I heard a snap. Instead of being flat, my foot had been curled under and back. Of course, I didn’t know that because I couldn’t sense the position of my leg, let alone the foot.

Soon I began to retrieve my sensation. As the numbness retracted, the pain began. Over the next hour or so the foot began to swell.

From a similar experience that Audra had only a few weeks ago (dropping a chair on her foot), I knew it was not likely my foot was broken. I decided to wait until the next day to get an Xray. Luckily, the foot was not broken, but I was told the torn muscle could take a couple weeks to heal. For now I am trying to keep the foot elevated and avoid walking if possible. I’ve got a nice purple bruise to compare with Audra’s. So if you see my hobbling about, you’ll know why. Just another senseless sitar-related accident.

Audra's Tandoori Experiment (a success!)

As for the recipe... we used a very good tandoori sauce from an Indian grocery in Jackson Heights, NY acquired on a recent visit with Mushtaq after a BIPA performance.

Sitars

I recently purchased a used student-level sitar, more or less on a whim. Though I love Indian music, the sitar is largely a curiosity and I really don't know what will come of it. It certainly isn't a goal of mine to play it with any virtuosity. For that, I would have needed to start 30 years ago! At best it will provide a tool for experimentation, sampling and amusement (maybe a few painful lashes as well restringing).

For those unfamiliar with the sitar, it is extremely unwieldy and fragile, being made of a cured gourd - usually pumpkin. It can have 20 or more strings. While the guitar has seen numerous refinements in less than 200 year, unfortunately, in thousands of years, the sitar hasn't seen half of the refinements necessary to make it a practical instrument for the masses. That's part of its charm, and makes the maestros that much more amazing. But frankly, it is so much trouble that unless you are devoted to it in every way - it simply isn't worth it.

Let's just say there won't be any Bulu and Jeremy tabla/sitar records any time soon.

Lucas in my pocket (again)

Well, I finally broke down and got a DVD version of the original trilogy. I have a VHS version (not sure which "cut") but I figure that one day VHS will be such a dinosaur that I will not have the pleasure of watching them. I decided to go with the limited edition that recently came out (2 discs for each movie, includes theatrical original). Wide screen of course.

I had a Borders discount coupon, and two gift cards, so I think I made out pretty well on the price. For some reason Empire was on sale, but the other two were not.

Anyway, Lucas has my share for these films. Now I'm wondering about I-III and which versions of those are available. Though Phantom is barely worth owning, it is part of the overall story. I guess the good news is that there is really only one version, right?

Next I want to upgrade my LOTR movies, as I only got the original full screen versions when they first came out. Mr. Jackson... you're nasty.

PS: You COULD go see Eragon - or, you can put SW, LOTR and Harry Potter on shuffle and experience the same thing. It would actually make a pretty good drinking game - whenever an Eragon character does something that is drawn from those other franchises/universes, you would have a drink. But don't plan on driving anywhere. The problem is, you wouldn't be able to walk afterward and you'd probably have brain damage.

OK, so the kid was 17 when he wrote it, but damn it's derivative! Nothin new under the sun I guess. Perhaps that is why there is now a movie called: Epic Movie - watch for previews.

Starting off the new year, busy as usual

As 2006 wound down, my Autumn recording spurt ended with 12 new songs. That collection is pretty much finished and will become a Spring 2007 release, complete with full artwork. (There's also a few gems for a future collection of a different sort, perhaps for the Fall or for 2008.) After the Spring release, I will turn my attention to expansion of my website and the possible launch of an additional site to balance and reorganize my writing vs. musical pursuits.
2006 had many highlights. Two plays, one album, some shows, and our first year anniversary as home owners. We had some of our best traveling, got to see lots of friends and everyone, for the most part, remained healthy and productive throughout.

Now a bit less bloated and groggy from the holiday festivities I look ahead to what promises to be a busy 2007. BABA recently received a grant from the Columbia-Montour Tourism Board for an additional event (besides Noboborsho, our Spring event). More details on that soon. Before we know it, Summer will be here and the BU Alumni will be doing another show. That usually means two things: #1 living in Carver Hall, #2 our house gets flooded with actors who take over the house and our only bathroom! At least now we have a new toilet, and we actually have a bathroom ceiling (thanks again Paul!).

Possibilities for travel include Chicago, a trip further west or perhaps a small tour to support the new CD. A lot depends on how our local events pan out on the schedule. (And some people *still* call this a hobby... when will they figure out it is not?!)

Jonah Walters, a young songwriter from Lewisburg, has been working with me in the studio to learn about the recording process as part of his final student project for Greenwood Friends School. We may be posting some of his work in the Spring as well.

There was also lots of good music and reading to be had this year...

*** Two new albums you should buy (and they aren't even mine!) ***

1. Yusuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens) released his first "secular" album in over 25 years - An Other Cup. It is a beautiful example of quality music in every sense. The emotion, sentiment and production are all impressive. I'd encourage anyone who was a fan, but may have been confused by his spiritual journey to reconsider and pick up this album. In many ways, it is as if he is picking up where he left off, but even wiser and with more intensity.
http://www.yusufislam.com/

2. Tom Waits - Orphans - This 3-disc set is a bit pricey for the non-enthusiast, but this is a very broad selection of pieces, mostly new, that show his depth of genius. Not since Ian Anderson and Jethro Tull have I been this absorbed - some may say obsessed - with an artist. And in so many ways, these influences couldn't be more different. Tull (the band) and Anderson (the primary driving force) always seemed to strive for something a bit more "pretty", even in the heavier stuff they do. Waits, on the other hand, through a lot of noises, bumps and growls, seems to achieve his own prettiness in a roundabout, often dark, way. It's a refreshing contrast if you are patient enough to let it grow on you. If you are turned *off* by his voice, well, then you probably just won't get it.