So this other musician brought me back here, who is not unlike Levon Helm in some ways. I am very pleased to say that he appears to be thriving at the moment, and seems to have gained depth and richness over the years. Jorma Kaukonen, -- guitarist with Jefferson Airplane, and since then, blues musician (solo and with Hot Tuna), guitar instructor, and farmer (gentleman/crusty or both, yet to be determined).
His tune "Genesis" was featured within the film "Transcendence" -- I was astounded by how viscerally I responded -- it drew my attention so completely that I paused the movie to make sure I could track down the song and the LP turning on the phonograph remains the most vivid image. "Genesis" is the first track on Jorma's 1974 LP Quah, an album I picked up not too long after it was released. I remember listening but not being terribly excited about it - partly because I was still expecting it to have the Jefferson Airplane sound, and partly because other bands were experimenting with electronic wizardry, synthesizers etc.
I spent the next few days listening to different versions of Genesis, replaying Quah numerous times, and checking out Youtube recordings old and new; poked around the Fur Peace Ranch and perused the cracks in the finish blog. At the moment I find myself amazed that his voice today sounds so much like it did 40 years ago -- kind of silly, I know, of course he sounds like himself!
I was grateful to see something I didn't expect -- clarity and consistency in his message regarding the way has chosen to live and what he prioritizes. *nervously smiling* ...and I started feeling like a legendary "has seen it all, no patience for BS" sponsor was challenging me to explain why I hadn't been to a meeting for so long.
