Performing w/ RY COODER, TAJ MAHAL @ UCLA's Royce Hall for The Ash Grove's 50th Anniversary!

By chance at Howard Larman's memorial, I sat in my church pew next to Ed Pearl, owner of LA's "The Ash Grove." The Ash Grove was one of the most influential folk clubs in the 60's and 70's, featuring the absolute Royalty of folk / rock / blues artists until it burned down in 1973. After I sang, Ed insisted that I sounded like Joan Baez, for whom he had produced concerts for four years, and asked for my card.

The next day, Ed emailed requesting my CDs. Yesterday, he called to book me for a huge 50th Anniversary concert for The Ash Grove at UCLA's Royce Hall called "Legend and Legacy" next April. I'll be singing alongside artists like Bonnie Raitt, Ry Cooder, Taj Mahal, Kris Kristopherson, Linda Rondstadt, Ben Harper, and Jackson Browne!!!!!! He said I would represent the next generation of artists carrying on their tradition. I'm blown away!!!!!

Just the thought of Bonnie Raitt and Jackson Browne (who both love Malian blues) and Ry Cooder (who produced those brilliant Ali Farka Toure CDs) hearing what I can do onstage gives me goosepimples!

Singing @ Howard Larman's Memorial

Roz and Howard Larman, (the venerable KPFK radio DJs who's show, Folkscene, has run for 37 years) recently invited me to record an hour's session for them. Along with my band, I pre-recorded 8 songs + an interview, live at Wendy Waldman's house. Howard was in hospital at the time, suffering from complications from their car accident in late 2006, so Roz interviewed me. We all had a wonderful time.

None of us imagined that Howard would pass away shortly thereafter. And when he did, Roz and their son, Allen, invited me to sing at Howard's funeral.

The memorial service was held in an enormous and very beautiful old church near Vermont and Wilshire and, to my great surprise, there was a dazzling array of Who's Who luminaries from the folk world: Louden Wainright III, Jackson Browne, Richard Thompson, Wendy Waldman, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Jennifer Warnes, and many other legendary folk singers and musicians. I was one of the opening singers and, looking out over the crowd of 600, I realized that it was a HUGE honor.

Funerals remind me of losing my own parents, so I was pretty emotional. I sang You Are the One for Me a capella, to honor Roz and Howard's love for one another. Digging deep into the lyrics, I could feel my Voice filling the church and sinking into the pores of every person. It felt haunting and amazing all at once.

Afterwards, when I told Jackson Browne that his song, "All Good Things" had provided the evening's emotional centerpoint for me, he replied that hearing ME had inspired his song choice. God, there were SO many amazing performances. Jennifer Warnes sounded wonderful singing Amazing Grace a capella and The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band had the whole room singing, "The Circle Shall Not Be Broken."

A moving, sad-yet-celebratory, inspiring fitting memorial for a wonderful man.