[Daryl Jones]

This hit me like a ton of bricks. I’ve been a fan since the 60’s (Yardbirds) and followed Jeff’s rise and career constantly. Just hearing the outpouring of condolements from some of the current legends and masters of guitar playing is testament to his incredible style and skills with the instrument. I doubt there is a player alive (amateur and professional) that hasn’t had some influence from his playing, he was that good. The Three “Kings”, Buddy Guy, Albert Collins…all the blues Gods living and deceased that knew him, heard him, played with him have nothing but highest praises for Jeff. That speaks volumes in itself never mind his contemporaries and fellow rock stars.
We are losing all our guitar heroes as time marches inexorably on, and we need the Joe Bonamassa’s and Samantha Fish’s, Sophie Burrell’s, and of course our beloved Twins to carry on the traditions and keep forging new roads in their own right, but legends like Jeff Beck will live on in their music yet to be written and recorded.
My old “Guitar Boogie” album is scratched and noisy, but I’ve played it several times since Wednesday, and I will play it more still.

[Daryl Jones]

I had a whole reply typed and by virtue of a wrong keystroke I lost the darn thing…argh.

Bob influenced John, and John then influenced the rest of the fab four. There is always one “instigator” in a group, and that would be John. Ringo, being the “new guy” after Pete’s departure would be the standard/obvious candidate for the experimental use of Bob’s gift of marijuana. The rest as they say, is history. Paul and John developed their own creative struggles and differences along the way, George and Ringo just went with the flow for the most part, until the final fallout and they all went their separate ways. Tragic, but still an unavoidable eventuality.

I find it interesting the George and Bob made the push in forming the Traveling Wilburys, where Bob sort of slid into the background and let Tom, Jeff, George and Roy take a lot of the limelight in what is (was?) likely the last Supergroup of our era. Bob’s brilliance as a writer may or may not have been overrun by the other members’ vocal abilities, and given their vocal strengths, why not? But sadly, we lost them all but Bob and Jeff tragically, as we do so many of our music idols and heroes.
<font color=”rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)” face=”inherit”>While they gave us so much more, this is </font>undoubtedly<font color=”rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)” face=”inherit”> their trademark (as well as my favorite) and I play it often. So poignant with the rocking chair and Roy’s photograph in </font>the<font color=”rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)” face=”inherit”> video. Perhaps John joins George, Tom and Roy in a loftier place and adds another dimension to the song. Share a puff of an aromatic substance, or maybe they just sip a Heavenly cup of tea, chat about the good times and listen:
</font>The Traveling Wilburys – End Of The Line (Official Video) on Vimeo<font color=”rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)” face=”inherit”>
</font>

• This reply was modified 3 years, 2 months ago by  Daryl Jones.

[Daryl Jones]

I lost a young (just turned 40) niece to leukemia last August. She was so very brave through all of it, but in the end it took her. It was (stoll is) a difficult thing. 4 young daughters left behind and a (thankfully) loving husband. My Brother and his wife are still reeling with the ongoing grief, Christmas was a very painful time wgen it should have been full of joy for them. She wasn’t gifted in the music or artistic sense, but she was a terrific mom, those girls were so lucky to have her. The oldest (17) has taken the role of Alpha without reservation or the need for personal gratification, so much like her mother. Pam would be so proud of her.

It’s so true, live for the day. Never be afraid to tell the ones you care for how much they mean to you. Never stop doing what makes your life full and rich in deeds and accomplishments; it isn’t money that makes success in the long run. It’s in the doing and how you do it that matters. If you can make someone’s day brighter with what you do and who you are as a person, that is the greatest gift you can ever bestow on anyone.

[Daryl Jones]

So many musicians, artists, performers have faced horrible and seemingly insurmountable obstacles to create what they did and share with the world.

In the contemporary world, we’ve lost superstars like Neil Peart, Gord Downy, Jeff Healey, Glenn Frey, Karen Carpenter and so many others to cruel and often self inflicted ills…so heartbreaking.

Still others of great fame go out of their way to try their utmost to make the lives of others inflicted with hardships better and more fulfilling. And I do not mean those that use their fortunes and successes in vain political ventures. That is hypocrisy in the saddest form (my opinion of course).

To see this lady going forward with a full bore attitude is very inspiring indeed. I have lost friends to MS, and have still others fighting daily with it and I feel so helpless and insignificant in their plight. One of my friends (with the disease) wife bought him a guitar a while back (she knew I played a bit) and she has asked for hints to help him out. I’m not skilled enough to offer much in the way of teaching guidance other than some very basic structure and techniques I was taught years ago, but it did give him enough to seek out a seriously qualified instructor so I’ll take that as a win. At least he didn’t give up on it and is still working at it. I’ve been trying to get him to come over and see if he can jam along with me but he’s a proud guy, so he’s understandably nervous about it. A feeling I know all to well.

But many things in life are much like learning to box in a fight school gym, sooner or later you gotta step inside the ropes and take one on the chin to see what you are made of.

[Daryl Jones]

I flew freight and crew changes to remote fields in northern Alberta in Cessna 206 singles and Piper Navajo twins. The occasional executive charter in the C90 King Air (co-pilot only on the turbine). Used my 172 for private use and sight seeing tours. Single engine ops mistlyvsingke pilot and regulated to daylight hours and visual conditions with passengers, and twins were dual pilot (mostly), especially in instrument and night conditions. Unlike the big airliners, we almost never flew auto-pilot, all hands on control. None of the small fields had instrument approaches anyway so it was all visual.

Bush flying you love to hate at times. When it’s good, it’s really good. But when it’s otherwise it can be pretty mind boggling. Certain rules get, shall we say…”customized” out of necessity just to get the job done.

Oh for sure, there are some “interesting stories” I could recount ;>)

[Daryl Jones]

Cool topic! In typical fashion, I’m a tad late to the party and you guys have mentioned so many related compositions, I can’t think of one to add to the list.

But it does tug at the heart strings for me being a former commercial pilot. I never got a seat in any of the big birds, but few many piston twins and larger single engine aircraft in my time. But while the work of flying did replace some of the joy (romance?) of being in the air, moments alone in my little bug smasher were often magical.

A night flight with the Aurora Borealis putting on their display cones to mind. If you have ever seen “Always” with Richard Dryfus and Holly Hunter there is a scene with her in the plane in a rather surreal mystic situation is a lot like that.

I also had another more active experience with some scattered cumulus “puff balls” returning from Edmonton. Now granted, a 150hp Cessna isn’t a high performance plane by any means, but dipping and swooping around between those misty cotton balls was as close to dancing the controls of a fighter jet I’ll ever know. Before anybody goes tattle tail on me, I was alone in uncontrolled airspace during my fantasy ride so no rules or safety parameters were cotravened. But you can rest assured that the strains of John Cay and Steppenwolf’s Magic Carpet Ride were coursing through my brain.

It’s been 15 years since I sold my plane and gave up my active flight status, and I do miss it.

[Daryl Jones]

Lorena is one of my favorite performers/creators of incredible musical art. I have several of her works in my collection. I can’t even count the times I’ve turned the lights down and listened to Mask and Mirror alone in the dark. To hear that one of us here is conversant with her is nothing short of amazing! Sarah is also (I think) a National Treasure. I watched a documentary on Gordon Lightfoot (another of my homegrown idols musically) last night where Sarah added commentary. We actually have a wealth of Canadian talent that sometimes gets overlooked on the larger International scene. But Loreena is in a class by herself clearly. Thanks for posting this Tom!

[Daryl Jones]

The things we take for granted indeed. Sight, hearing, dexterity…we often don’t realize what we have until something threatens them. I’ve always been active, strong and fit, not really gifted but athletic. But I found out in 1997 I was far from bullet proof, and the years of sports injuries and accidents are beginning to manifest themselves in undeniable ways. But so far, so good anyway.
I have another 2 maybe 3 years of racing my bike, I can still teach my martial arts classes, and I will play my guitars and sing for as long as I can still handle the instrument and hold a note. Life is good. Damn the torpedoes!

[Daryl Jones]

I both agree and disagree on your response Jeanette. I totally get the pressure thing, but just the mere mention (and play) of it last month was enough to tell me they are (hopefully) interested in doing an updated version of it.

I firmly believe it would be such a wonderful and soulful re-release and I am about two heartbeats away from flying to the UK and begging on my hands and knees at their doorstep for them to do it! OK, maybe not quite that rash (yet), but yeah, I would so love to see that come to fruition.

So if my vote on the subject adds to the process, count me in favor big time. (hint…)

[Daryl Jones]

Nice, I like the drive in that!

[Daryl Jones]

A jamming partner mentioned Samantha a while ago and I’ve been following her ever since. I’m on a bit of a blues kick right now and I’m discovering more of myself through it. Trust me, I’m no Freddie King but I’m going down that rabbit hole ever deeper.

[Daryl Jones]

Bruce is indeed a wee bit “opinionated” I’m his messages. But still is a fabulous writer.

Canada can be a but enigmatic for musicians that wish to tour throughout the course of the year due to the great distances to travel. Of course, now is even more challenging with the foulups with airlines and airports. I’m fortunate to be in reasonable proximity to a great music city in Edmonton, we get some stupendous acts coming through that some other major cities don’t always see (Calgary included) and the concert faithful are blessed with great performances in several venues that Edmonton has available.

This summer Edmonton is hosting a 3 day blues festival with some serious blues headliners (Samantha Fish, Colin James…) that I certainly hope to take in if my m/c racing schedule permits.

On the original subject, Loreena would be very well received in Edmonton I’m sure. I know I would definitely be there if she could manage the tour arrangements.

Of course, a certain pair of gorgeous and fabulous “Twins” would be epic!

[Daryl Jones]

Daylight in the summer seems to last forever. Not wanting to start any heated discussion on the pros or cons, but I love DST. Day breaks around 4am and doesn’t hit dusk until around 11pm from mid May until late August. And the birds start their symphony well prior to sun up all summer long. Drives some people crazy but I like it. Hard to sleep sometimes when it never really gets dark all night long but you get used to it.

This is my back yard right now, lots of fresh snow and hoar frost on the trees. Was foggy all day yesterday but today the sun is shining so the frost will get burned off.

[Daryl Jones]

Here’s a shot of the valley coming down from the east side of town, across the river from the boat launch, and one from the south. I thought I had more including one of the main town center but somehow they have disappeared. Our little burg is small, under 3000 souls, but it’s home. I live on an acreage in a summer village 25 km (16 miles) west, on a small lake. I much prefer the quiet of more natural surroundings. It’s funny, you don’t think of urban noise in a small town, but if you live in the country and then spend a night in town, it’s amazing the difference. I only live a km (1/2 mile) off the highway and I can hear large trucks (or the snow plow in the winter) go by, but it’s is short lived and quite sparse. We do hear the waterfowl in the spring and summer, but that is soothing and somehow comforting. But we do get visits from the local fauna: deer, moose, foxes, the occasional skunk, and once in a while black bears. Have had a couple of Yogi’s on my front deck and on the lawn, that gets a bit unnerving at times, but they usually scare off quite easily…”usually”.

[Daryl Jones]

Very similar to here and yes, I could be “private” and restrict myself to the latitudes and usage. But I’m not built that way so ZI need the proper certification and insurance so I can do all I want with it. I haven’t even activated that darn thing yet, but it has all the bells and whistles I could ever need without going into the professional UAV realm. Auto-hover, auto-return, GPS active programable, just about everything I could ever need. I didn’t even plan on it, I received it as a complimentary gift from an Off Road Vehicle manufacturer that I used to deal with in my career as a dealer and hitting a very lofty unit sales target. Over here it sells for about $2k, made by DJI I think.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 2 months ago by  Daryl Jones.