This winter I will be traveling to Nairobi, Kenya. I’m surprised by how many people ask me why. Why not? The music, the animals, the people. If you had the opportunity wouldn’t you? I intend to learn as much cultural arts as I can to bring home to my students. I also intend to eat, drink, and party – with moderation.
I spent so much time this summer listening to the sounds of African music and I am realizing just how amazing both the music of this region as well as the speed of production. I am so privileged as a westerner to even be able to afford a plane ticket to this country – the cost of which could feed villages many times over.
I continue to work slowly on my recordings, working on a series of “nocturnes” now for harp/bass/piano/drums/guitar because they generally inspired by the night. I feel like the best time to record is when there is deep snow, and the loud road slows down – everything stops.
2024 will be a year of self recorded releases (More Ducks More Fun – Songs of the Quarantine), and potentially a new cleavers album with tunes already picked out, and then these nocturnes
I am hoping for snow when I am actually there.
at the Issei Pioneer museum Hansville, WA – image cred: Naomi Takemura
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