Last night my son Nick and my friend Jim Miller had the pleasure of hearing the group Weinland that is based out of Portland, Oregon at the Turf Club in St. Paul. My distant removed young cousin, Paul Christensen, is the accomplished keyboardist with a tremendous original five-piece emsemble that features refined vocals and intricate instrumentation. This is a group that is integrated, interesting and with layers of complexity and rhythm.

The group has a new CD called La Lamentor on the Badman Recording Co. Try em, you’ll like em’.

I like to get out. I don’t get out enough. Music is magic on tape or that was long ago.

It has been and will always be a major part of my life. From the trumpet in junior high, to the joy of Lance Heddan and Dan Marty on sax, to Bobby Peterson on the keyboard, to the piano lessons I hated but taught me the joy of the fingers, to Al Sterner and Billy Hallquist, and Rick LiaBraaten and Leon Sterner, Terry Banbury, Jerry Bader, Stan Krohm, Jeff Bower, Dan Maanum, Jim Rolland, Rob Witte, Eddie Engler,Paul Gagner, Danny Wolf, John Hughes, Doug Smith and Larry Suess, the Winklers, Mary Ann, Ron Geslin, Gypsy, Big Island, The Depot, Joe Cocker, backing Tiny Tim and Johnny C, opening for Ramsey Lewis, Poco, Loggins and Messina, Traffic, Johnny Winter, Sha Na Na, Grand Funk Railroad, booking with Marsh Edelstein and Dick Shapiro meeting Stevie Wonder at the Copacabana and playing his original songs, being managed by Don Powell who, with MoTown records brought Stevie to fame and fortune, Fresh Air, the Depot, First Avenue, George’s In the Park( Does Anybody Know What Time It Is?), the Purple Barn, Magoo’s, The Prison, New City Opera House, Lucky’s , Chameleon, Charlie Campbell, LaMont Cranston, Michael’s Mystics, Mike Botten and Jim West, the Sir Raleighs, the Perspectives and Calvadas.

I have so many wonderful memories of music events. Milwaukee with Blind Faith and Led Zeppelin. The Fire Barn and YMCA dances. The Jockey Lounge and Pudges. Wine and Beer Night.

What is it about music? To explain it is to misunderstand it. It is what it is. At that moment and at this time. To feel it, to embrace it and to send it back. This is why is is called music and it is not about talking.

Thank you Paul. Your spirit lives in your fingers, your head bob, your shoulders, your arms and your eyes.

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