Daydreaming across the south...

How quickly the holiday season is arrived. I’m grateful to be home and am looking forward to the huge Thanksgiving Day dinner with the same group of friends. It has become a nice tradition. We eat about 2:00 then go for walk along the Rio Grande walking path, then go back for coffee and home-made apple pie. My own past thanksgivings have been not always too peaceful so I value these memories. There are about six poets, 5 musicians, 2 book publishers, 2 artists, 3 self-entertaining kids, about 20 people in all…and a partridge in a pear tree. Not really, but it seemed to fit. I’m back from my most recent travels to Florida. I played at the Native Rhythms Festival in Melbourne. This was their inaugural festival and I wish them complete success. What I like about it was how friendly the people were. The organizers, volunteers and the general public who came out stopped and took a moment with you. Hey when you tour like I do half the year or more you learn to appreciate very much friendliness. The festival didn’t feel as commercial as many festivals have become. Sometimes, just in my opinion, the drive to move product, sell flutes, be the headliner can make things feel aggressive. I think Native Rhythms is on the right track and I could see them already thinking on how to make a more integrated festival experience, i.e., vendors, entertainers etc. in a more communal space. That is something I think really helps for a better festival experience. Most festivals have the vendor’s tent backs facing the stage and usually a couple of hundred yards away. See photos at http://nativerhythmsfestival.com/2009_photos.htm


Here’s the thing. When the public is there talking to you at your booth, or sitting in the audiences or simply asking you where something is—you ARE their festival experience. They way they are treated reflects exactly what they will take away and report to others. For example: A woman stopped at my booth. She had heard me play and wanted to maybe buy a CD. She said she had flown from Pennsylvania to come to this festival. I asked if she knew anyone here. She said no but she had seen it advertised or posted on line somewhere. I asked if she was enjoying it. She smiled and said, “Oh yes.” She recounted how she had flown out to a flute festival (I’m not saying which one) and that it was good but that she didn’t feel very welcome. I asked if she wouldn’t mind elaborating. She said she didn’t know anyone there either and that while people were friendly enough, she kept feeling like she was bothering them (the vendors and musicians) when she tried to talk and that it seemed cliquish so she left early. Wow. I felt so sad when she said that I invited her to sit down and we talked for an hour about flutes, music, traveling etc, in fact I missed out on the final jam session because I thought it more important to make a connection and help build our community. She bought four CD’s; I gave a discount as well and put her on my mailing list.

The point here is not to say I’m great or anything. The point is what I’ve learned my many years as a professional musician. It is about human connection. It isn’t about your $1300 flute with Abalone Inlay and dinosaur totem or your press, reviews, awards, reputation, groupies you pepper in the audience or even your skill at some level. It is about sharing your passion, and your person, with others in a real and authentic way. I owe my success to making one fan at a time and selling one CD or download at a time. Believe me, when I’ve heard for the 179th time in a day (no exaggeration) if I make my own flutes and what a Hang is my eyes can glaze over but I remind myself to treat them as I would like to treated by performers. Michael Allen and I were playing on stage during his set. A woman walks up to the edge of the stage and says, “Could he tell everyone what that thing he is playing is?” I looked at Michael and he says go for it. Next day, he notices a woman in the audience (this was an afternoon set) who is looking confused and puzzled. He says I think we have some people wondering what that is Mr. Granger. So he says the Hang spiel and she yells, “But what is it?” The Hang is something so outside of people’s frame of reference that even if you tell them and explain what it is they just are not going to get it. Anyone who knows Michael Allen knows he is without ego and more laid back than a surfer. Still, when you are playing on someone’s set you are there to support. I was glad he tried to explain about the Hang. When I’m on stage I just ask people to go to my website… haha. Visiting with Doc Greene, Mark Holland, N. Scott Robinson and Jonny Lipford (a friend for several years) and Clint and Vera Goss was awesome. I love getting to know other musicians on a personal level and talking shop as it were. I spent a lot of time hanging out with Bruce the sound guy as I share a love of live sound and engineering.

I had a wonderful time. I am so fortunate that I am easily entertained. One of my pleasures is to think about something and follow that thought all the way through. One thing I think about is how the distance between electrons in an Atom compared to the universe, or how thoughts have weight, mass and velocity or how time is cyclical, dimensional and changes with gravity. I spend several hours driving just on these thoughts and it is such a treat for me. They used to call it “Daydreaming” but I just call it wondering. I got to see my cousin Toni who lives near Tampa. I hadn’t seen here since she was in training shorts and wore really high pig-tails. We don’t know much about each other but we knew we’d find something in common. It was great. She was showing me the ritzy homes along the water in Tampa. She is a professional in the TV industry. She asks me, “So cousin, what are your favorite top five movies or films?” I say, “Well probably, Humoresque, How Green Was My Valley, Bring it On…..” She says, “Wait wait wait…Bring it On as in Brrr it’s cold in here…?” I said yes that’s the one. She laughs so hard I think we’ll drive off the road. I said I have the dialogue memorized and recite it sometime when I’m driving. So much for her intellectual, artsy cousin image. While at Native Rhythms I got to say hi to Marsha the flute stand lady who is as crazy as they come—a kindred soul for sure, Dennis Fredrickson and hang out with new friends like Ed Doughtery and Jon Norris. These guys are like hanging out with cousins. We went out to eat Grouper on the intercoastal waters where a duo played Rolling Stone covers, then went back to the hotel—and not being one to ever pass up a stairwell—we played our rim-blown flutes unbeknownst to us waking up guests. One bleary-eyed guy opens the door and says hey guys it’s 1AM here in this hotel can you guys cool it? We’re thinking “in this hotel?” I pointed out it was only 11PM in New Mexico. We apologized profusely and promised to stop. Ed and Jon seemed embarrassed a bit but I assured them it happens to me all the time and most hotels put my room next to the stairwell anyway. Cirque de Solei’s cast was staying there as well and they were always outside the door smoking and stumbling drunk when not running up and down the hallways with not much clothing. So we didn’t feel so badly. There was sequence and glitter all over that hallway.

I know the crowds will only grow for Native Rhythms. All the factors are there and the organizers are smart, perceptive and flexible it seems. If I’m invited back I will definitely make the journey with gigs along the way as I usually do. I love Florida. How nice it is to feel part of a community who shares the love of the Native American flute and its peaceful effect on people. I hope the vendors made enough money to meet expenses. Don’t forget that while we all love what we do in the end we need to justify it to our bank accounts, wives, husbands, partners, children etc. I’m happy to say I’ve never lost money promoting or performing at a show. It has taken tons and tons of work, personal invitations, building an audience and a willingness to spend just as much time with someone considering buying a CD as it takes. I made double my expenses at Native Rhythms thankfully. I don’t say this to boast, but I am not at all squeamish talking about the business side of the music business. It is an exchange and when you feel what you do is valuable others will too.

I am thankful for so much every single day. I do a mental inventory before I even get out of bed. I have lived the worst and best of life and am glad that presently, it is mostly good. I read biographies and memoirs of successful people and one thing they always have in common is their passion. My passion is music and anything creative. I take pleasure in the lady bug who hitched a ride in my car over 600 miles until I finally put her on a rose bush. Likewise in helping giving someone directions. What I’ve learned from Dogs is that each moment is exactly what it is. And so it is. Happy Thanksgiving friends.

Randy

Here is an improve I did with Michael Allen on Mike Knight’s Zumba Tubes….Enjoy

From the West to the Atlantic

Having left my town of Las Cruces early on Sunday morning the first order was to get two large coffees and a breakfast burrito at our local Pic Quick. That could fuel me for several hundred miles. Good thing because the 9-1/2 drive to San Antonio is bleak I tells ya, bleak. Save for the wind turbines on the mesas, the prolific road-kill and constant Buzzards you see mostly the trucks in front of you. What I can never grasp is the huge amounts of dead animals on Texas and Oklahoma roads. In New Mexico we just don’t have that. The NMDOT is good about that. I do notice that none of the Deer have their heads in Texas. I understand the whole cut off the head take the antlers thing but if they are Does? It becomes unsettling after a while. I’m wondering if it isn’t the state meat of Texas.

I made my way into San Antonio. My brother is a Pediatrician and Capitan in the military and was based in SA for a while, but recently moved to Japan otherwise it would have been nice to visit. It was wet and raining but I went to the river walk and had dinner at Casa Rio which is the restaurant who takes credit for starting the idea of bringing diners on boats. It was nice to hear so many languages walking by and see the boats. Only thing it is really dark in so many of the cities I visit and after a rain especially so. I went and took some shots of downtown and had a conversation with a homeless guy with no legs. He went on and on about Texans. Turns out he is from Nebraska. I gave him a buck for his story and turned in. I have had trouble sleeping since I was a boy and still do. Sometimes I sleep and sometimes not when I’m on the road. When I was a boy I would hear loud music before the heater started. It was a combo of tambourine, drums and guitar. On top of that I saw creatures coming in and out of the walls and the occasional shadow walking the hallways. I was tortured by nightmares where I was being held down on a metal table as creatures around me cut pieces of flesh from me. You can imagine what my reaction was when I saw The Sixth Sense.

The next day I made it to New Orleans. Hurricane Ida was just ahead of me and made land that night. It was raining and windy but not much more. I walked to the Mississippi river front area near Café Du Monde. It was really dead because of Ida the bartender said. When I’m traveling alone I often eat at the bar and probe the staff for places to see or hear music etc. There was a great Jazz guitarist playing in the corner not looking very happy. I thought of how many “out of this world musicians” there are in NO all doing this kind of gig for tips. Meeting hotel and B&B owners they eventually ask about my music and instruments. So I take the time to explain about the Native Flute and Hang and have practice answering really uninformed but sincere questions about Native peoples. I see it as real opportunities to maybe inform and open dialogue, and of course talk them into buying my CD’s! I made my way over to the Mississippi and played my version of “Hallelujah” on the banks. It is a Leonard Cohen song but Jeff Buckley probably has the best know version. He drowned in the river while on tour sadly.

I stopped in Palm City Beach to break up the 10-1/2 hour drive to Tampa where my cousin lives. This was a great stop. The waves were really high and cresting white right outside my balcony. I’ve learned that states visitors center’s have free maps and books of coupons for hotels, restaurants and more so I found a place called Flamingos for a good price. It wasn’t pink however, yellow. Across the street was a place called Shuckem’s, bar-type place with local beer and lots of fried things. How can you go wrong? It is a place I had seen on the Food Network, but forgot until I saw the thousands of $1 bills covering every inch of the walls and ceilings. The story goes that he was about to go out of business and the people at the hotel across the road staples one’s and said when he needs rent money to take the bills down. My British waitress explained it all to me. I drew on the bill and stapled it to the ceiling next to the surfboard. If you go there take a pic for me please.

My cousin lives near Tampa with her partner. They are both in the TV news business and I hadn’t seen her in about 8 years. They invited me to stay with them before I went on to the festival in Melbourne. They took me down to Ybor City a cool area of Tampa. Kind of retro-hip/bohemian with a touch of Cuba. It was great and we ate at a Spanish placed called The Columbia. I wasn’t sure if that meant the Drug Cartel or the Coffee. Neither as it turned out. The tapas and salad were delicious and we laughed often. Their dog, Godiva, is a real sweetie and reminded me how much I miss my dogs. It was interesting for both of us I think, catching up and remembering what we never knew. We come from some pretty disastrous homes yet we both are pursuing happiness as well we can and don’t dwell on the past or blame anyone for our current state. It helps being wry and open about things and we are. I told her stories about our ancestors she hadn’t heard and about all the ghost stories which she was suitably skeptical about being a producer and all… I’ve included my uncle, her dad, in a song or two that I’m recording soon. He was a help when I was younger and very lost. I gave her a jar of salsa I made and carried across six states and three time-zones…

The skies have been gray and low with lots of moisture but overall not too bad. It is surprisingly cold here with a promise of blue skies and mild temps. I’m playing in the evening mostly so I hope it keeps warm for the audience. I will be playing solo and with the flutist Coyote Oldman, aka Michael Graham Allen. That alone is always worth the drive. He is a musician and flute maker I have so much respect for and happy to also call him a friend. In 2003 when I was first thinking about playing the Native American Flute I wrote Stephen Hill, Hearts of Space founder, and asked about spacey Native Flute Music and he turned me on to Coyote Oldman. Late 2004 I got my first flute from him and was moved to tears at the beauty and craftsmanship of his flutes and the sound was cooing. Five years later to be sharing the stage with him is humbling and deeply meaningful. http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20091113/LIFE/911130309/Rhythms+festival+honors+native+pride

Here are some things I’ve learned a few things driving so much:
• Car commercials are the same everywhere with people yelling at you.
• If you want someone to get off your bumper, turn on your blinker
• Be careful at rest stops. People are in a hurry to get to the restroom.
• The “non gourmet” coffee has way more caffeine
• Resist at all costs the leathery hot dogs in the rollers.
• A real smile can diffuse any situation you find yourself in.
• Audiobooks are the Only way to pass 12-hours drives.

Randy

Following the Flute Road East

Fall came overnight here in southern New Mexico’s Mesilla Valley along the Rio Grande. Then almost 80 degree days meant lots of yard work for the industrious. Our 14 Pecan trees require lots of love and soon they will freeze the husks and be ready for harvesting. That is a serious task that usually means lot of hot baths and Aleve. A Harvest Full-Moon this week was astonishing and beautiful. I find myself busy as ever managing my career and time. I had a couple of weeks off preceeded by shows in a Cave in Boerne, TX, Austin, Dallas, Arlington and back again. I played this week for the Hospice Candlelight Memorial and it was as moving as ever and the most people they’ve had. For the first time it was in their expanded facility and I’m very proud of them for the work they’ve done and the $6million they raised for the expansion.

Full Moon Rising over the Organ Mountains in southern New Mexico. November 2

Saturday Nov. 7th I’ll return to the Dona Ana Arts Council’s Renaissance ArtFaire. I’m really glad. Wasn’t sure if they were going to include me due to mid-stream staff changes, but I talked them into it. I always enjoy it and the 30,000 people who attend do as well. We are so lucky to have the best November weather. It is always deep blue skies, dry air and in the mid 70’s. They put a dragon in the moat and have giant smoked turkey drumsticks, the best pastrami and kosher dills this side of New Jersey and lots of entertainment. I will be on the Rio Grande stage Saturday at 11:30 and 3:30 playing my Native flutes, Hang drum and singing up a storm. I’ve invited a dancer, Terry Alvarez, and a cellist from la Cella Bella, Allison Reynolds, to sit in with me should be fun. Here is a link to some press about the RenFaire as well call it http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-sunlife/ci_13680330

A Place Called Peace continues to receive great reviews and of course winning the Indian Summer Music Awards in the Flute category is something I am so proud of because it was a blind judging and not a popularity contest. Beating out a Grammy® and several NAMA winners really didn’t mean much other than it validated that if you express yourself from the heart 100% and have faith in your music you will be recognized and heard. A music journalist who is the most sought after critic in the New Age genre said “there is deep feeling here, and that is something you can’t fake” as Bill Binkleman said in a review on NewAgeReporter.com. You can read the full review here: www.randygranger.net/REVIEWS.html I found out this week that I’ve been invited to perform and conduct a flute playing workshop at the 2010 International Native American and World Flute Association’s conference in Eu Claire, Wisconsin and am delighted and happy about it. Learn more about the conference at http://www.worldflutes.org/

Sunday I am on my way to Florida, Melbourne specifically for the 1st Native Rhythms Festival November 13-15. This is a new festival put together by the Indian River Flute Circle, a whole host of passionate volunteers and sponsors. I will be performing solo as well as with Michael Graham Allen, aka Coyote Oldman. Mark Holland and N. Scott Robinson, Jonny Lipford, Jan Sieden, Clint Goss, Doc Green and other musicians will be there along with Native American Flute makers and other crafts people. I will also be one of the judges for the Flute Playing Competition which will be an honor. I am excited also because a few NASA launches are scheduled while I’m there and Cape Canaveral is just miles from Melbourne. I love Florida’s people and food. I will be travelling through San Antonio, New Orleans, Tampa, Savannah, Macon and hopefully Arkansas depending on the weather. Originally the Poet Wayne Crawford would be travelling with me and we scheduled performances from our collaborative CD “Oasis Bound” however, his duties as poetry editor, Arts Council work and more piled up so I’ll be driving alone and may or may not book a gig in your town… Of course, if you have a flute circle or would like a house concert get in touch with me. My Hang drums are always a real hit especially when people hear them for the first time. I always look forward to bringing my unique Native American flute music from a trained musician, healer and native New Mexican perspective. My own ancestry is so rich with peoples who journeyed far, held rituals, were seers and resilient. I’d like to think they all meet in my Heart—and that is where the music is made.

Randy

Here is a video of the Police song Every Breath You Take on Native flute and Hang drum. Enjoy.