August News

Currently I'm writing you from Twin Falls, Idaho. I'm on a 1800 miles drive to Amarillo, TX where I play next Friday. Last week we tracked about 20 songs at David Lange Studio in Tacoma, WA with my longtime German friend Ralf Goeldner on percussion and me on acoustic guitar and vocals. After that we went to Avast Studio in Seattle where we recorded 9 songs with Keith Lowe on bass, Mike Stone on drums, and me this time on my Gibson 335 through a 1965 Fender Deluxe Amp. I'm so thrilled to have producer Evan Brubaker on board and just finished additional parts in his studio in Tacoma. Next week he's recording the horns and Hammond in Seattle with engineer Mell Dettmer. Mell and I worked on my last two albums and several other productions and I hardly can wait until I hear the final versions...All I can say is Rock'n Roll:)

had an intense July in California playing with my friend Ralf and a few shows with Lyquid Amber. For the first time since years I spent two weeks at a music camp in the Sierras without phone and internet, what a change of focus! It was two weeks of heaven and then last day in Camp I learned that my mon had passed away in Germany. After the initial shock I was glad to be in the mountains and amongst friends. It was the most comforting place to be in that moment, but I also wished I could have said goodbye in person, even though I know we don't get to choose those moments. I have fond memories of my last visit in 2009 and always will have her with me close to my heart. Around the time she died I was dancing for the first time in years and my body felt almost weightless, playing with gravity and motion. The Maracatu Rhythms of Northwest Brazil grabbed me and a large Percussion Ensemble filled my heart and soul to the max. I almost had an out of body experience and totally lost myself in moments of intense joy and tears wanting to climb into a bass drums. I could not get enough and was still full of energy after and hour of bliss and dance ecstasy. Now I know that she was dancing with me all the time:) I'm very sad but also know that she's well.

In September I will mostly play in Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona and Nevada and then fly to Germany for a long due family visit and some shows. Really looking forward to seeing my siblings and friends again!

6000 miles and feeling like the Lord of the Rings:)

I was pretty busy and drove about 6000 miles from Pennsylvania to the entrance of Yellowstone Park in Wyoming, then down to Denver, CO for the weekend. After that to San Jose via Reno. Part of that stretch is probably the most scenic I've seen so far. It is on US 50, which is also called the loneliest Highway in the States. I can second that and was for hours the only car on the road! Have you've ever seen "Lord of the Rings"? Well, at one time I entered a huge valley and had 4 snow covered peaks in every direction. What a sight! After an overnight in Reno I took a scenic route past Lake Tahoe - It was my first time there - beautiful!!! In San Jose I attended my friends wedding and was the grooms man - it was my first "American Wedding" and very impressive if I might say so, especially seeing myself in a Tuxedo:)

After the weeding I started driving East again to Phoenix and then via Las Cruces to Fort Stockton in midst of the West Texan desert. Never thought I would ever play there but...Then on to Austin and finally to Kerrville where I attended this years Festival. Currently I have a few days off and spend it in Austin trying to catch up with booking and various mailings. Live on the road is good and I'm still smiling though I had weird dreams tonight and woke up quite in distress. Luckily I had a chance to talk it through with my buddy James Hurley while driving him to the Austin Airport. After some deep laughs I surely felt way better! This weekend I play in San Antonio and then go back to Kerrville for a show at the Festival. Already looking forward to sleeping in the tent again - well, not really:)

Next Wednesday I'll be driving North to Lubbock for a few days and then via Albuquerque, NM and Prescott, AZ to Anaheim, CA. I'll stay at the California for a while and am looking forward to picking up my friend Ralf from LAX. He's visiting again for 6 weeks playing shows and recording the new HANS YORK album - yes, it finally happens beginning of August. I can't tell you how excited I am - but more of that later. For now I say goodbye and am sending my best wishes from the never ending road:)