Happy Thanksgiving. In such a turbulent world it is necessary for me to sit and reflect on what this holiday means. Well I guess it is a day to be thankful for all of the successes of the ending year. It was back in 1621, when the Pilgrims had their first harvest in the “New” (for them) World. By some accounts there were 90 Indigenous People there. The 53 Pilgrims were thanking them for getting them through their first winter when their supplies ran short. We all know how this story ended.
I had a great summer to be thankful for. I toured in Estonia, Finland, Austria, Switzerland, Spain and Belgium. Most of it was with the project Chicago Blues: A Living History. I met a lot of great people and did some collaborating with musicians from Switzerland. Lurrie Bell and I both played with members of the Swiss band Rotosphere. I will be returning to Switzerland to do a few more gigs with them in January (8th-11th). I am excited to play with these guys again!!
Matthew and Lurrie Bell at soundcheck with Nic Niedermann , Philippe Kuhn, Thom Wettstein, Eddie Miles Walker in Baden, Switzerland at Club Joy May 2014. photo by Anita Muller
I will also be playing a couple of gigs in Paris in January as well. Check my show schedule for details.
I am indeed thankful to The Dept. of Cultural Affairs for the grant support that helped build this website. As well as the diligence and creativity of my graphic artist Al Brandtner and my web master Eric Hoffmeister.
So there is a lot to be thankful for, I am still here! We have lost a lot of friends and colleagues this year (Nick Charles, Michael Coleman, Sam Greene, James Knowles, Johnny Winter, Finis Tasby, Lee Mcbee, Sista Monica, Lynwood Slim and Tabby Thomas, my apologies if I have left anyone out) as well as last year, notably Magic Slim, Joe Kelly and Eric ‘Guitar’ Davis. So I am thankful to still be breathing and breathing in and out of my harp. Nothing gives me more joy.