Linda Stout

I played two shows in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn Oct. 9 and 10 and saw my old college roommate, jazz singer Susan Giles. See www.SuGiles.com. I got to sit in with her band. Earlier that evening, during dinner, I looked over and there was Will, who does sound for the Big Red Barn open mikes at Cornell. He was visiting his parents. I also got to see other friends and meet Sue's friends and family. One of her friends and musical cohorts, the great horn player Joe Magnarelli, was at Fredonia when we were there. One of my neighbors, John Harrison, a.ka. Johnny Time Bomb of the Atomic Forces, a rock band, in Ithaca was in a jazz band with Sue when we were in college. John has played with me, too. The degree of separation with musicians is far less than six degrees. I've met new people, become friends with them and we figured out we have mutual friends, even though we live in different states. I think the music world, as it grows bigger for me, will also grow smaller. Last weekend I played in Corning at Soul Full Cup. The Corning Leader ran a photo, and I had done a lot of e-mailing, and the place was hopping. We even had to contend with a very intoxicated fellow who had perhaps been kicked out of a nearby bar. Mike and Anton and the cute pink-haired barrista finally herded the guy out after he tried to get on the little stage with me. I have had drunks to deal with at bars and festivals, but this guy was so gone he could not stir his coffee. The audience was wonderful that night, and even the drunk guy liked my music.