I had a traditional Thanksgiving moment in San Miguel de Allende. I listened to some blues by Danny Blue, a performer who honed his chops in Chicago. I passed up the turkey buffet at Agave Azul for some shrimp with cilantro and lime. The owner, Denny, gave us a brief talk on the various kinds of tequila. I was enjoying my first experience as a guide to Mexico, not a teacher or a jazz aficionado, but un guia.

We went to La Grotta, behind the Parroquia, and waited for Javier. I have been listening to his gypsy music in San Miguel for fifteen years. That Friday night was special, he had CD's of his music for sale. That's a tough step for a gypsy, taking care of business. He did not show up the next day for my gift-a free bio and promo kit. That's another tough step for a gypsy. He just wants to play music, not market and sell it.

Next we headed back to Agave Azul. Another longtime favorite of mine, Chuy, played some jazz. I first heard him in a heavy blues band playing "The Thrill is Gone," over ten years ago. Now, with his striking daughter standing by his side, Chuy plays tasteful jazz to a full restaurant. Calling themselves the "Skin of the Serpent," Chuy and Jessica charmed the crowded restaurant.

That was Thanksgiving. The annual jazz festival in San Miguel was cancelled. The producer, Elena, decided to head north. We still found music, food and fellowship. We still sat with friends, warming ourselves in front of the Parroquia, a pink granite cathedral painted on a bright blue sky in the center of town, the landmark of this colonial town.

I headed home reading Tony Cohen's book, On Mexican Time. I'm gathering a group for a return visit in May. I think we should all be reading this book. The perfect introduction to another culture.

November 17 provided another sterling moment in the fiesta of Texas music. Johnny Nicholas assembled an all-star cast to play an all-star bash, proceeds benefiting the Fredericksburg High School music program. After hearing the school groups play, we took a break and Johnny took the stage. All this after a pre-concert dinner with the performers. It was there I met, for the first time, Cindy Cashdollar. Dr. Gray had been singing her praises since he heard her on the Delbert McClinton Blues Cruise. I discovered her that night in Fredericksburg.

With red and yellow boots peeking out from behind a red and yellow bust, she laid down the chords on her steel guitar. Floyd Domino sat at the piano, an instrument that also provided Marcia Ball another moment of keyboard glory during the second half of the show. And what a show it was.

I didn't think it could get much better after last year. It did. Al Gomez blew trumpet. I had watched him in San Miguel one year, jazzing up the jazz festival there. Ah, such connections, always.

Augie Meyers had his moment again. Rocky Morales, a sax player who has used the world as his teacher, brought up Doug Sahm, another Texas Tornado. "I miss Doug," he said. "I've played everywhere with him. I didn't learn this music from a book. I just play what I feel."

All the performers credit Johnny Nicholas for his ability to pull together this diverse group of musicians, from the highly-trained to the intuitive. Rocky is an intuitive.

Steve Bruton brought his subtle passion to the stage, along with his experiences with Bonnie Raitt and Bob Dylan. We reminisced a bit about the Juke Jumpers, his band in Ft. Worth when I was in Ft. Worth. The family record store still opens each day across from T.C.U. I remember the Christmas reunions that included Sumpter Bruton, his brother, played at J.J. Blues Bar.

Such fun to hear music and remember. A bit like that Proustian moment with a tea cake. Every song, every performance, reminds me of another. What a long strange road it has been chasing the music. I wonder where she will lead me next.

Don't forget the Sunday, December 9, at Francisco's. (I saw his mothers hotels in San Miguel de Allende last week.) The Mike Kasberg Trio will present "Christmas and All That Jazz."

Free Leonard and down the road.

Kathleen
kat@maverickbbs.com

www.texasheritagemusic.org

Click here to return to the previous page