Studying Acoustic fingerpicking with Jorma Kaukonen Fur Peace Ranch - August 22 to 25, 2003 First three photos courtesy of Pete Stern

This year I was lucky enough to be able to do a second session at Fur Peace Ranch with guitar legend Jorma Kaukonen. Besides being the proprietor of the Fur Peace Ranch, Jorma is a member of the Rock and Roll hall of fame (class of 1996), was a charter member of Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna. Hot Tuna will be doing a tour of the east coat this fall - don't miss it!! Watching Jorma play back when I was a teenager growing up in New Jersey in the late 70's was one of my main inspirations to pick up the guitar and ultimately choose my life's career. His fingerpicking technique astounded me back then. I've never seen a solo performer who could way-lay an audience (with just a guitar) like Jorma can. Later I got to meet Jorma and spend some time with him in 1985 and '86. Among other things, he was the first person to turn me on to CD technology. Jorma has influenced me a lot as a teacher. First of all, he understands sequence. Sequence is absolutely vital in teaching. There are a lot of great guitar players out there, but it is rare to find the combination of virtuosity and teaching skill that Jorma has. He is totally unselfish about what he will show you on the guitar. That has generally NOT been the case when I have had even formal lessons with "noteworthy" players. This summer marked the first time that I ever took formal lesons with Jorma. I had played with him and sat around playing guitars here and there - but I had never sat down and had two hour teaching sessions with him before. The class was made up of a great bunch of fellows - we were all serious about getting all we could out of it. Many of the players were working musicians like myself. Some are quicker learners than I am - I am still digesting the pieces we were taught. They included: I'll Let You Know When I Leave, Big River Blues, The Fur Peace Rag (and Rondo). Jorma even did a remedial picking session on Blind Blake's West Coast Blues, which was good for me. In the late 80's and early 90's I did a lot of fingerstyle work, but it sort of fell by the wayside when I began playing electric guitar in Little Sister. I have done some finger picking with Vickie Russell but not full time. My goal for the class was to get back into fingerpicking and Jorma's class gave me a big jump start. On the last session the other students started pressing Jorma for Airplane stories and he happily obliged. It reminded me a little bit of that movie "Everybody's All American" where Dennis Quaid is constantly asked to re-tell stories about his past glories. That is not necessary for Jorma; he was nominated for a Grammy this year, is working on a new recording (on Epic), did some soundtrack music for "Moonlight Mile", and has a new instructional video coming out. He is definately living in the "now." To learn more about Jorma, go to his web site at: www.jormakaukonen.com

Jorma's class Aug 25, 2003   Mr. Hetfield having too much fun with Bill Kirchen and Too Much Fun August, 2003   The entire gang in front of the Fur Peace Ranch concert hall August, 2003   Jamming with Bill Kirchen and Too Much Fun. An apt description! August, 2003   Bill Kirchen and TMF rock the house August, 2003   Dan Erlwine jams at FPR with Bill, Johnny and Jack August, 2003   Dan Erlwine jams on Jorma's axe with Bill Kirchen and Too Much Fun August, 2003   Jorma adds his twang to Bill and the boys set August, 2003   Jorma's signature Epiphone on stage at FPR August, 2003   The whole gang jams on the porch at FPR August, 2003