Hi Gang: Long time no post, but since I'm back early from Jonifest I thought I would give you an update.
I arrived with Patti Witten on Saturday afternoon. Alas, we could only join the festers for one day because of prior commitments (Cornell Orientation and Patti had several other gigs this weekend). I just can't tell you how happy I am to have finally met face to face people I feel I've been close friends with for years. Number one, Les Irvin, oh my god how long we've been friends and to finally be able to talk and hang out together. Also my good friends, Marian Russell, Mary Pitassi, Jim Lamma, Bob Meuller, the PAZ!, kay ashley, kate bennett, SHERELLE SMITH...on and on (sorry if I didn't mention you all). I'm going to cut to the chase and tell you that the performances on Saturday night were amazing. Patti and I opened the night, and that was good because I got to relax and watch a lot of amazing performances. If you can get a hold of the cds when they come out, you will be amazed. I was also very very happy that most of the singer/songwriters played their own compositions. Sherelle Smith was Absolutely Amazing!!! Her two original songs were beautiful and a lot of fun but her rendition of Edith and the Kingpin had the whole place mesmerized. Standing O for Sherelle and she deserved it. YEAHHHHH!!! Claudia San Soucie played a beautiful set of originals and That Song About the Midway and her best friend John Van Tiel sang a very beautiful song with the help of Paz, Claudia and Chuck E. Great great music. Christina and Henning from across the sea did a beautiful set of Joni (Michael from Mountains, Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire, Sunny Sunday and Conversation) Christina's voice is like a bell and Henning played wonderfully. What a treat, also meeting and talking with them was also quite a gift for me. Then after a great raffle, my dear friend Marian Russell played such an amazing set of originals, plus a wonderful heartbreaking version of Cherokee Louise. I must say her song about the Rodeo just blew me and Patti away and we talked about that song on the way home to Ithaca. VERY VERY GOOD MARIAN!!! I also very much enjoyed Bryan Thomas' set. He does the most amazing version of Black Crow...the different style and originality of his music continued to keep the night at a very high level of excellence. But alas again, the clock struck midnight, and like the fabled cindergirl I had to rush home. The hardest decision I had to make was do I say good bye to everyone in the room or just leave and make my getaway without disturbing the mood, so that's what I intended to do, but I had to smash my guitar into John Van Tiel's wine glass and make quite a commotion before I left. John, I owe you a drink!!! I could go on and on. It was too short for me but the time I spent at Jonifest 2002 was a time I won't forget soon. Oh no, I forgot my commemorative coffee cup! If anyone found it, please let me know! :-) take care, Sue -- ____________________ /____________________\ ||-------------------|| || Sue McNamara || || [EMAIL PROTECTED] || ||___________________|| || O etch-a-sketch O || \___________________/ <http://www.jmdl.com/> "It's all a dream she has awake" - Joni Mitchell
