February 18, 2011
On stage in Japan
I know it's been a while. Really, I do my best, but the time just gets away from me. I've been trying to keep up with my Facebook page (much as I don't like Facebook, it is stupidly easy to deal with, especially while traveling), posting a quote every night and trying to "friend" as many strangers as I can so I can have lots more people I don't know in my life...
<smile>
Does anyone else notice that the economy seems to be improving? Cautious optimism says that after only one Living Room Concert in the past 28 months (thank you Judy Jance and Bill Schib!), I now have three booked. Merchandise sales, down almost 70% in 2009/2010, are edging back up. Friends who've lost their traditional 9-5 jobs seem to be locating other work that ultimately pleases the more. And while no one I know is getting rich, everyone seems to have enough.
Let's hope.
With Kevin Eubanks
I had a productive few months - spent some time with new friend Kevin Eubanks at his amazing new home in Cambria. Yes, I had my own private bed & bath, overlooking the Pacific - and yes, we started a few things with an eye toward both his and my next album projects - but the real icing on the cake was just sitting around, listening to Kevin play. Sheesh! Made me feel like a beginner!!
With Angela Aki and Natalia Zukerman
From there, straight into rehearsals with Natalia Zukerman, with a side dinner of sushi (in preparation) with old friends Chris Valada, Len Wein, and Bill Prady, fresh from a brand new contract for his show Big Bang Theory. Needless to say, Bill bought dinner....
Len, by the way, made up one of my all-time favorite quotes: A true friend is someone who is there for you when he'd rather be anywhere else. So true, so true.
Banana Milk Memo
We landed in Osaka and had three gorgeous days off to recover and rehearse, then plunged straight into the Billboard Live shows. I have to say, their clubs are still the most beautiful I've ever played, and the tech crews are unbelievably good. What a joy when everything works!! I was doubly spoiled because, while regular tour manager Debra Hyslop couldn't come (she's waiting on her green card, and can't leave the US until she gets it. It's only been three years... they estimate another four or five... ridiculous, really...), her replacement was John Mooy. In addition to being a fabulous TM, John is also a guitar tech - which means for 10 shows, I never changed a set of strings!
Fog Bars and Fog Tool
Spoiled is right!
One of my favorite things to do in Japan is walk around the markets, trying to figure out what things are. "Fog Bar", for instance. Or the ingredients on this menu. We ate shabu-shabu, sushi, sashimi, and anything else we could get our mouths around - with the exception of this...
Angela, Janis, Natalia on stage
The capper of the trip was when my dear friend Angela Aki joined us on stage for the last night in Tokyo, and we all sang "Every Woman's Song" with her. What an unforgettable send-off!
One of the things I love about Japan is the attitude toward age. Since I'm turning 60 this April 7th, a lot of people gave me good wishes - and I heard over and over again that for the Japanese, 60 is not "old". Rather, it's the beginning of a new cycle. My old friend Reiko Yukawa stressed this at our traditional catch-up lunch, and I'm not going to pretend that it didn't make me feel really good about maturing. (As it were...)
Banana Milk Memo
Well. I need to get packing - Pat and I are headed off on vacation next week!! I have a two-day turnaround when we get back, then Debra, Lee and I clamber into the Queen Mary and head out on the road. We'll be gone until May, hitting half the country - from Colorado to Vermont to Florida. Phew. I'm tired just thinking about it. A few new songs, a couple of guitar solos, a bunch of dates with Natalia and the incredible Tom Paxton - then we'll quiet down so I can get some writing done this summer! I'll be hitting the Swannanoa Gathering late July, then preparing for my upcoming Europe/UK tour this fall. All in all, another busy year.
Interesting Japanese grill menu
Much as I love performing, I'm beginning to feel like that's all I do in life, so I'm carving out large chunks of time in 2012 for writing, with an eye toward some future recording projects. I also want to continue my short story writing, at least long enough to decide whether I'll ever be any good at it! And the older I get, the more I realize how much I miss being home when I can't be there. They don't say "Home is where the heart is" for nothing!
On that happy note, hope everyone had a great Valentine's Day. Have a wonderful spring, and I'll talk to you when I can!
Best,
Janis
Ebay Auction To Benefit The Pearl Foundation
Please share!! As many of you know, my wife and I moved recently, downsizing from 4,500 sq ft to 1,000. We have no room left for most of my "stuff"!!! so I'm in the process of donating my archives, so most of my memorabilia is going there - however, my friend Joan Maute helped me select things that seemed appropriate for Pearl Foundation fundraisers. We are beginning with a 7-day auction with multiple items.This auction will end Sunday, May 16th at 4:00PM PT.
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Pearl Foundation Update
Astonished and grateful to say that the Pearl Foundation has donated $44,000 in scholarship endowments for the year 2020, bringing our grand total to $1,235,500.00 in scholarship funding, with more than 75 graduates to date. Thank you all for your support!
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New Album Hope Now Available!
Hope, a collection of 12 pieces from the Janis Ian Archives, ranging from 1976 to 2011, is now available exclusively in the Janis Ian Store. On sale as a digital album only, most of these tracks have never been heard before. Visit the store for more information and download options!! Hope will be available at other online stores and streaming services sometime after the new year.
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All tour dates updated on May 5, 2021
Sunday June 27 to Saturday July 3
Swannanoa Gathering Fiddle Mando Banjo Week, Swannanoa, North Carolina, USA
Swannanoa Gathering Fiddle Mando Banjo Week
Swannanoa, North Carolina, USA
Phone:
Visit the venue's website
Note that Swannanoa is moving online for 2021; for more information, please visit their website.
For the first time, Janis will be giving her 5-day series "A Master Class In Artistry" during each of the Swannanoa Gathering weeks. The final week will also feature a second, more interactive class tentatively titled "War Stories". Time of classes is TBA; please check the website for more information. The 5 day class covers everything from the origins of artists to physicalization, songwriting for profit and not so much, performance, the need to be brave, how to survive as an artist in the modern world, and why bother. Points are illustrated with songs and playing as she takes us on
Sunday July 04 to Saturday July 10
Swannanoa Gathering Traditional Song Week, Swannanoa, North Carolina, USA
Swannanoa Gathering Traditional Song Week
Swannanoa, North Carolina, USA
Phone:
Visit the venue's website
Note that Swannanoa is moving online for 2021; for more information, please visit their website.
For the first time, Janis will be giving her 5-day series "A Master Class In Artistry" during each of the Swannanoa Gathering weeks. Time of her classes is TBA; please check the website for more information. The 5 day class covers everything from the origins of artists to physicalization, songwriting for profit and not so much, performance, the need to be brave, how to survive as an artist in the modern world, and why bother. Points are illustrated with songs and playing as she takes us on a journey that begins with the first caveman to tell a story and continues through the myth of
Sunday July 11 to Saturday July 17
Swannanoa Gathering Celtic Week, Swannanoa, North Carolina, USA
Swannanoa Gathering Celtic Week
Swannanoa, North Carolina, USA
Phone:
Visit the venue's website
Note that Swannanoa is moving online for 2021; for more information, please visit their website.
For the first time, Janis will be giving her 5-day series "A Master Class In Artistry" during each of the Swannanoa Gathering weeks. Time of her classes is TBA; please check the website for more information. The 5 day class covers everything from the origins of artists to physicalization, songwriting for profit and not so much, performance, the need to be brave, how to survive as an artist in the modern world, and why bother. Points are illustrated with songs and playing as she takes us on a journey that begins with the first caveman to tell a story and continues through the myth of
Sunday July 18 to Saturday July 24
Swannanoa Gathering Old Time Week, Swannanoa, North Carolina,
Swannanoa Gathering Old Time Week
Swannanoa, North Carolina,
Phone:
Visit the venue's website
Note that Swannanoa is moving online for 2021; for more information, please visit their website.
For the first time, Janis will be giving her 5-day series "A Master Class In Artistry" during each of the Swannanoa Gathering weeks. Time of her classes is TBA; please check the website for more information. The 5 day class covers everything from the origins of artists to physicalization, songwriting for profit and not so much, performance, the need to be brave, how to survive as an artist in the modern world, and why bother. Points are illustrated with songs and playing as she takes us on a journey that begins with the first caveman to tell a story and continues through the myth of
Sunday July 25 to Saturday July 31
Swannanoa Gathering Cont. Folk & Guitar Week, Swannanoa, North Carolina, USA
Swannanoa Gathering Cont. Folk & Guitar Week
Swannanoa, North Carolina, USA
Phone: N/A
Visit the venue's website
Note that Swannanoa is moving online for 2021; for more information, please visit their website.
For the first time, Janis will be giving her 5-day series "A Master Class In Artistry" during each of the Swannanoa Gathering weeks. Time of her classes is TBA; please check the website for more information. The 5 day class covers everything from the origins of artists to physicalization, songwriting for profit and not so much, performance, the need to be brave, how to survive as an artist in the modern world, and why bother. Points are illustrated with songs and playing as she takes us on a journey that begins with the first caveman to tell a story and continues through the myth of the artist as "crazy", the need for silence, and
Thursday, February 24th
Santa Fe *break in show*, information TBA, Santa Fe, NM
Santa Fe *break in show*, information TBA
Santa Fe, NM
Please do not try to second guess the venue or call local venues. Information will be posted when available. Thank you.
Friday, February 25th
Santa Fe *break in show*, information TBA, Santa Fe, NM
Santa Fe *break in show*, information TBA
Santa Fe, NM
Please do not try to second guess the venue or call local venues. Information will be posted when available. Thank you.
Saturday, February 26th
Santa Fe *break in show*, information TBA, Santa Fe, NM
Santa Fe *break in show*, information TBA
Santa Fe, NM
Please do not try to second guess the venue or call local venues. Information will be posted when available. Thank you.
Sunday, February 27th
Santa Fe *break in show*, information TBA, Santa Fe, NM
Santa Fe *break in show*, information TBA
Santa Fe, NM
Please do not try to second guess the venue or call local venues. Information will be posted when available. Thank you.
Sunday, March 6th
The Magnolia, El Cajon, CA
The Magnolia
El Cajon, CA
Phone: 619-651-2004
Visit the venue's website
Solo show. Tickets will go on sale Thursday, April 15th, 2021.
