Linda Stout

I was thinking more about this. I was warming up for my early morning gig, and cold Saturday at the LiveStock Cowboy Jamboree. (11 a.m. is like the middle of the night for me, though I would stay up and play at 6 a.m. if I thought people would listen). I warmed my hands on a stove next to Jack Elliott. I usually do fine once I'm on stage. I can be a little nervous before I go on, and I was cold, and there I was focusing on a little warmup, hearing tidbits of conversion, "and then Kristrofferson..." and "...Woody," and I'm a little more relaxed and a little more nervous all at once, and I did my strange, slow little version of "Oh Susanna," think Stephen Foster was an ironic, talented, sad, vivid, great American songwriter, some say the first impoverished yet pop-star songwriter, and I realize, even before I switched from the slower, sad Americana finger-picked aspect of my version into the jazz I add at the end -- wow, they are listening. the conversation stopped. Sheriff Jim Wilson, a real character period and a character of a Texas performer was there, and as I wrote in another post, Jack's manager Marie Damron, (and she is just so lovely and nice), and I realize this, they're quiet. I was completely honored to be there and yet at home. I'm completely honored to play for anyone, and that was just a warmup. The show was fun, too, portable electric heater and all. After, I met the lovely young singer Lisa Gould, too, have an excellent feeling about her music, know her brother, David, so I look forward to more. I trust my excellent feelings. Crow Marley, www.CrowMarley.com, and her wonderful nice son, a finely attuned bassist, and her partner, Ellen, came, because she was playing midafternoon. The night before at the cowboy fest, I'd gotten to see friends Patti Witten, www.PattiWitten.com, and Annie Burns www.AnnieBurns.com and www.BurnsSisters.com and Rich DePaolo www.richdepaolo.com. Ithaca is full of talented musicians.