First, a welcome to all parents of Schreiner University students visiting Kerrville for Parent’s Weekend. Hope you find enough to do. Saturday, October 28, Ponty Bone and the Squeezetones (along with Part of the Problem) are playing at the Arcadia Theatre downtown for a pre-Halloween bash. James Harvey, a rabid Texas music fan, is coordinating the party with proceeds going to the Arcadia project. A $20 donation gets you food, drinks and the music.

November 7, a Tuesday, is the third annual Johnny Nicholas Big Band Bash in Fredericksburg. Tickets are available at Wolfmueller’s Books and Records in Kerrville (or call me at 792-7409). Don’t miss this rare chance to hear Marcia Ball in the Hill Country. This tall Texas woman commands the stage worldwide, and her participation in this event is out of her commitment to young people and music. Proceeds benefit the Fredericksburg band programs. Johnny Nicholas, with his musicologist background, his former radio show on KFAN, his experience with Asleep and the Wheel and the years spent with Little Walter, is a real Hill Country treasure. You only have to go to the Hill Top Café, his joint on the Mason Highway, to get the whole picture.

The Old Watering Hole is featuring Texas music each Saturday, with Mike Blakey coming in November. Right down the street, the Java Pump holds forth a jam each Friday and music Saturday, sometimes hosted by John Wilson Rowland, songwriter and lawyer.

I stepped into the Inn of the Hills Pub last Saturday to find Meyer Anderson rockin’ the house. Seeing their names on the marquee reminded me of former times. I used to sponsor an open mic each Monday there. They entered and won a songwriting contest we held. Now, almost 15 years later, they have a CD coming out, a website and a touring schedule in Texas. I walked in while they were playing an Eric Clapton tune. They moved to a smooth country song, followed by a song about “Funky rhythm.” The dance floor was packed, and folks came up to me, saying, “Aren’t they great! Write about them!” I loved the tight rockin’ country/rock/blues sound, and I wished to dance. I have noticed that my knees are in decline, and dancing doesn’t always feel so good. Check their schedule at www.meyeranderson.com

I attended the jazz concert I helped produce with the Bluebonnet Lions last Saturday at theCailloux Center. I only heard exhuberant comments about this great talent. One special aspect of the evening occurred when John Adams, bassist and bandleader, introduced a very proud father (from Wisconsin). I kept watching dad’s face beam as his son led this trio through an evening of familiar and original music I especially loved “Romantique,” a song John wrote to his wife. I know of two other fund-raisers in town that evening. Looks like we could keep a community calendar to prevent this. One of our attendees said, “I wanted to be at all three, but I had to choose, and after hearing John last June, I knew I had to be here.” The Bill Smallwood Jazz Cowboys played a benefit for KPAS, and classical music rang through River Hills Country Club for Any Baby Can.

John brought two amazing musicians with him—Dennis Durrick on drums (He also plays with Café Noir), and Lenny Tomboullian on duo keyboards. The three had fun; that’s for sure, each taking a wild lead just like they do in jazz.. Talent abounds in this group.

The next coffeehouse at Schreiner University features Richard Dobson, a Texas songwriter living in Switzerland now. His novel, Gulf Coast Boys, is a story in the original picaresque form. He’ll also be visiting my two freshmen composition classes in the morning. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 15, with an open mic, followed by Richard paying tribute to Townes Van Zandt and Roxy Gordon, dear friends no longer with us.

After completing the PIP workshop at Schreiner on Saturday, October 21, I decided that I would spend Sunday in the West—a place of incubation, according to the conceptual medicine wheel used in the program. I did leave long enough to look at a horse. Yeah, even with declining knees, I imagine I can get on this tall, overo paint with blue eyes. I couldn’t resist, and in a week he’ll be keeping my pony from Mexico, Brownie, company. I couldn't bargain on the price either, because he belonged to the Hill Country Youth Ranch, a more than worthy donation, I’d say. One house of kids wants to come out and visit the horse. Guess we’ll have a picnic. I especially like his name—Chapter and Verse. Yep, guess I’ll start a new chapter. Remember, November is Native American Heritage Month.

Free Leonard and down the road. 

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