March 7, 2006

Tales from the Longhouse
Early March, 2006

Life is remarkably lively at the Longhouse, and it's heating up around here. I've been doing a lot of road work, as my friends know, and yes, came back from a triumphant and wonderful trip to Folk Alliance in Austin with raging bronchitis--yet under the gun to finish two projects at once, and indeed they are being finished, with more exciting things in line behind them.

Just about done mixing the acoustic live album we did with the rock band Hypnogaja, and I do believe this cd is going to make waves. This is probably the most intelligent unsigned band in Los Angeles--they're old friends of mine by now, and their music has spanned several genres. But in their rock touring last year, they did a few songs acoustically, which seemed to spark the audience quite a bit, leading us to do this project. As some of you know, I like to produce records in multiple genres, am a HUGE fan of rock, and this is a great opportunity for me. Also, for Michael Boshears, my partner in Longhouse--who has some experience in rock dating back to his years with Oingo Boingo and Black Flag. To us, if the songs are great, we are happy to work and enjoy whatever the genre is. Further, aligning ourselves with a rock band from a different generation has proven to be fun for both parties--Mark Nubar, Hypno's leader, has just built my myspace page--www.myspace.com/wendywaldman-check it out! and the fans who are visiting there are a different crowd completely.

The other project about to be mixed is the Wendy Waldman cd, which is now finished and waiting its turn on the mixing runway. That will officially start next week. Everyone has been patient with me about this one, and that is much appreciated. I hope for all of us it will be worth the wait!! I'd hate to put it out and have you guys go, "ehh, it's okkkk, but it sure wasn't worth all this angst!!!!" Late spring, I think. We're doing a little unveiling at the Renee Bodie house concert April 29, and should have copies around then.

A wonderful project on the tarmac behind these two--a tremendous opportunity for us hillbillies in LA--I'm going to be working with the legendary (yet modest) Artie Traum on his new cd. We're collecting our songs right now, and plan to do the first recording in Woodstock NY in a few weeks. And of course, doing the Artie Traum cd right after Hypnogaja ought to keep our critics guessing!

We will split the cd between Woodstock and LA. I LOVED going to Woodstock and working there and am very grateful for the opportunity to spend more time with those people. I love Artie Traum, as folks know--his album "South of Lafayette" is a marvelous record and made me practically beg to write with him. He is a sweet, funny, brilliant, and very unassuming man--I think me begging him probably embarrassed him, but here we are!

Much much road work, in a strange and delightful turn of events: Taylor clinics in FLORIDA, coming up in April for those friends who've been asking--two of them with Artie Traum as well as a concert with Artie.

And then the imminent trip back east--opening the sold out Rams Head Tavern gig for Lowen and Navarro next Wednesday, but there are still tickets available for the house concert in Maryland Friday the 17th with Freebo and Photoglo. It?s my privilege to be on a bill with Lowen and Navarro. I was very fortunate to be included in a special show they did at Folk Alliance. I definitely felt like Cinderella at the ball, standing onstage singing with them.

Very excited about the Kulak's show this coming Saturday with those guys and MS. Holland. That should be fun! As that one is a webcast, you can watch it from the comfort of your own bed in your own pjs!

There are also other gigs: I get to return to my first and original haunt in Boston, Passim's, on a bill with Freebo and Photoglo. I've been longing to go back to Passim and I'm very excited about this. Also on the same trip we're doing a concert and fundraiser for and with our old friend John Hall, up in New York at the Turning Point. John is running for office, and he has quite a record as one of the real movers and shakers in the No Nukes movment years ago. He's a white hat for sure. Shortly thereafter, I wind up in Nashville playing a night with my girlfriends Jenny Yates, Deborah Holland, and Bonnie Hayes-for the Tin Pan South week there.

The WW reissues are selling well, and we're hoping to get the last two, Which Way to Main Street, and Letters Home reissued this year too.

In writing news, Garth Brooks' big box set includes his version of "Fishin in the Dark", so I can now officially claim to have a Garth Brooks cut!

Alas, no time to garden whatsover, and the weather is becoming so beautiful out here in LA. But I'm tending a music garden, and hopefully I'll get out there in late spring or early summer and do what I can. Anybody want to swap weeding for demo services?

Very best wishes to all our friends

XXWW

August 10, 2005

Tales from the Longhouse
August 2005
Los Angeles

So much going on!!! It's been a pretty busy few months and shows no sign of letting up, thankfully.

Travels with WW

W takes an actual vacation:

In the spring, I cashed in 200,00 air miles--miles I've been saving since before they had expiration dates on them,(that's how old they were) and took the wonderboy Abe to Europe. He turned 16 in Venice. I'd never been to France or Italy before, and I fell in love every day with everything I saw and every place I went. . We met my sister and brother in law, Jillian and Arnold Sandrock there and also Seth Osburn, my brilliant piano composer colleague. Almost immediately I was wishing I had gigs and could work all over Europe--I hope to do that someday soon. All I can say is I was a very happy girl and I can't wait to go back. I went on a major Renaissance painting bender and tried to see as many as I could. Abe got into testing gelato--three times a day in Venice and Rome. Yes, we ate like crazy but we also walked a thousand miles, and that is why French women are thin, to weigh in (sorry about that) on the controversy!

No time to miss Europe

Upon returning I really had no time to be sad because I had to gear up and go up to Canada and the northeast for Taylor workshops. I did workshops in Massachussetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. I was with some friends from Taylor Guitars Sales and Customer service department and we had a blast. Taylor had a booth at the Music Stop Trade Show in Halifax, where I also did a clinic. Did some television and radio up there too. Yes, I loved it up there and made many new friends. I look forward to going back up there a lot more, and expanding into other parts of Canada. I have to say, it's beautiful everywhere you look, the music is wonderful and the folks are great. I hope I'm an honorary Haligonian (that's what people who live in Halifax call themselves)

Right before I flew back to LA from Boston I did a little interview on WUMB with Marilyn Rea Beyer, played a few songs on the air and was honored to be there. WUMB is a great folk station, and it carries "Folkscene," the beloved show of Roz and Howard Larmon, which is still taped here at the Longhouse and hopefully will be for a long time to come.

No time to miss Canada

But I didn't have time to be depressed about coming back from the glorious maritime provinces and the northeast because I had to turn around and go to Santa Barbara to teach at Summersongs, along with Kenny, Severin Browne, the wonderful Caroline Aiken, Sloan Wainright, David Roth, Florence Riggs, and some other superb teachers. Summersongs is the brainchild of Penny Nichols and is a great program for songwriters. This was the second year of the western program and it was fantastic. The last night, at the student show, I heard more great songs on one stage than I've heard in a lot of professional situations. It was absolutely a magical experience and it didn't hurt to be in El Capitan Canyon above the beach in a lovely cabin.

No time to miss Santa Barbara (or WW writes rap)

No, there was no time to feel nostalgic about Santa Barbara because a week after I got back I went to teach a master class in songwriting up at Cal State Fresno as part of their wonderful Summer Arts program. My friend, the fine songwriter Deborah Holland heads up one of only two masters programs in the country in Songwriting, here at Cal State LA, and she invited me to participate in the arts festival that the California State Universities hold every summer. It was hot up there in the Central Valley, believe me! Try 110 degrees..This Cal State Summer Arts program is quite remarkable--there are some 55 concerts, events etc over a month, and all kinds of workshops and master classes. Very very impressive.

My class was made up of very talented mostly twenty-something year olds,--some of whom were already working on masters degrees in composition and music--it was very challenging and fun. In one exercise everyone in the class was supposed to write something very different from his or her normal style--and for some reason I decided to do the exercise too even though I had assigned it.

Immediately, the class decided that I should write a rap song since I'm always putting rap down! Well, I did it, and it was a real kick for me, which goes to show me once again to never say never! At the end of my stay, I did a concert with Lowen and Navarro, who came in to teach as I was leaving. I have to tell you, their show was absolutely glorious. I was so thrilled to be with them--they are truly an inspiration to all of us who are struggling every day to survive in this world as musicians.

No time to miss Fresno

But there was no time to be sad about leaving Fresno because I came back to my hometown to do a house concert at the Renee Bodie's with Kenny. This was practically more fun than I deserved to have, it was such a good time. Friends from the Summersongs West program came to the show along with a whole lot of other folks, among them my own webmaster Russ Paris, Julie Paris, Severin Browne, John M, Florence Riggs , the wonderboy Abe and Michael Boshears, the Longhouse's own engineer/mixer/photographer and cat wrangler. A1 mixer that he is, he got a few nice shots of Kenny and me too. Yes, I did the rap. Our friend Rebecca Troon got up and played various percussion instruments and found noisemakers (boxes, jars, whatever) with us. I tried my best to give Kenny lots of opportunities to roll his eyes in exasperation at me, and I believe I succeeded.

News from the Longhouse--the Warner Brothers lp reissues and more

Perhaps one of the most remarkable things that's happened this year has been the recent reissue of my Warner Brothers lps, which have been out of print for so long that they had become archaeological relics. I honestly never thought those records would be available again and I am the most surprised and pleased of all. Collector's Choice Records made an arrangement with Warners to release the lps in cd form, and they asked me to write the liner notes as well. Revisiting all that music was quite an experience for me, I have to say. The reaction from fans has been very generous indeed and I am so very grateful for this opportunity. The cds are for sale here at the WW store and they've been moving pretty well!

The various Longhouse alumni are all doing great--excellent response to Arthur Leeland's new cd "Dragonfly" and to Anna Wolfe's "My Treasure." Arthur has some excellent video clips on his website, well worth looking at. We've finished the Katy Moffatt/Rosie Flores cd and are looking at distribution options for them. I've been doing some writing with Katy for an interesting project she has in mind, which hopefully will be recorded here. Brian Joseph is out on the road all the time these days, which is great for him.

Folkscene has had some interesting guests recently, and more to come. Chris Hilllman, Herb Pederson and Bill Bryson. Also the fabulous Ditty Bops were here recently, and they are getting very very hot indeed. Lots of other fine artists, as usual, coming through the door here to talk to Howard and to record the great live show. We are privileged to be a home to Folkscene.

My good friend Keith Sewell, brilliant guitarist, writer, singer and all around hand has just released his first cd on Skaggs Family records. I'm excited about Keith finally having records out. He's worked with the Dixie Chicks, Sam Bush, Ricky Skaggs and others, and now we get to hear him on his own. He recorded some songs that he wrote with Kenny Edwards and me. I even got to sing on the album.

Coming up:

Well, there's more road to cover this year, it appears.

There are some shows at Kulak's, one in September with my girlfriends Katy Moffatt, Deborah Holland and Rebecca Troon--this should be a howl! Between those three women there are some fabulous songs and I'm looking forward to this night a lot.

And in November, I'm doing a show with my friends, the band Hypnogaja, better known for being a serious metal/songwriting/ hard hitting band picking up a following all over the country among younger folks who probably have never heard of the likes of me. But the boys in Hypnogaja are very dear friends of mine, they are excellent musicians, and we've been wanting to do something together for awhile. The opportunity has presented itself because they are going to do an acoustic version of their metal album "Below Sunset," and we at the Longhouse are going to help them do that. So we figured we'd jump out and play while we're all doing acoustic stuff. Hey, I promise you, someday there will be a Waldman metal album. I figure I'll do it when my grand daughter is a little older so I can really outrage her!!!!

Taylor Clinics

I'm heading out to the midwest the first two weeks of October for Taylor clinics. The dates are still being sorted out, and they will be very soon, so check the website for exact locations. I expect to be in Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Chicago, and all the way out to South Dakota and Iowa. I believe I'll be putting some miles on for that one! There are a couple of potential house concerts as well as the Taylor clinics in music stores. I'm looking forward to this. I have a lot of fun at these clinics.

Other appearances

In September I'm going up to Colorado to play a day at the Grand Lakes Folk Festival. The end of October will find me right here in LA, doing panels and workshops at the West Coast Folk Alliance convention in Woodland Hills (about 10 minutes from the Longhouse...)

And then in November I get to go up to the northwest, hopefully for a few Taylor clinics and to appear at the Rockrgrl Convention in Seattle. That should be a blast.

There may be a house concert in Portland. Again, it will all show up on the appearances page as soon as I can give an exact location and time.

In February, I'll be in Austin at Folk Alliance, and appearing on Caroline Aiken's showcase, as well as other events. Caroline and I are hoping to do some shows together next year. She is such a great great talent. I'm looking forward to working with her.

In April 2006, the Acoustic Guitar Magazine Cruise hits the seas again--the Caribbean--and I'll be there. Information on that is on the Acoustic Guitar Magazine website. Boy, that was fun. I'm pretty sure I worked because I was teaching classes, but it didn't feel like work!!!

The Website

We're hoping to be able to bring more information and more stuff to the website. There will be more pictures, more entries in this journal, and an email signup space. Also, we're playing with the idea of doing some podcasts and some little video clips. I promise not to overdo it, but it does sound like fun. There might be some t shirts in the gallery along with some other cool little things we're contemplating here at the LH.

Oh yeah, that.....

No, I didn't forget. I'm working on it as we speak, and it looks like we'll have it on the web around December 1. Yep. I know, it's been 18 years. I think I know the songs by now........I know it's been a long time.... Don't remind me..well, it's not like I've just been gardening all this time, I did work on music, lots of music...I just ..

Well, anyhow, the new WW studio album will be out --my 8th studio record in 30 years. If this one comes out ok, I promise not to wait another 18 years til the next one, but let's get this one done first. Some of you have heard a few of the tunes--I've been trying to play them out as much as possible so that they really work in the studio--and now they're being recorded. And I'm enjoying the studio like never before.

Finally, a very sad note:

Two weeks ago here in LA, one of the very greatest musicians of my generation passed away. He was someone most of you don't know, but he was one of the greatest music scholars and probably the most influential guitarist/guitar teacher to many of our heroes in the industry. His name is Ted Greene. Steve Ferguson, George Winston, Seth Osburn and I had the privilege of spending some very special time with Ted in the last two years, all thanks due to George. Ted decided many years ago NOT to be a recording star, but to be a teacher and student. It's a hell of a choice to make, and looking at the Ted Greene Tribute website, it's amazing how many people he influenced and how many lives this quiet, humorous masterful teacher changed.

There is ONE solo record from Ted Greene. It's finally available on cd. ONE. It's an eloquent and brilliant and complete statement and we are a fortunate bunch to have that record. Would that he were still here and ready to make more records, but as George Winston points out, we have one perfect cd from Ted. Please visit the website and you will be amazed at how many people loved this wonderful man and what a towering giant he was as a musician and teacher. www.tedgreene.blogspot.com

Very Best Wishes

I wish every one of you good health and happiness, and I thank everyone who's been buying the cds and sending notes to the web or in the mail--your support and belief in the music is what keeps me going and what makes me want to do more music, and do it as long as I am able. See you out on the road, or here on the internet, this great grassroots prairie that connects us all now.

Love and Peace

Wendy

March 12, 2005

March, 2005--Tales in several movements
(not so much a letter as an epic novel....)

Introduction and Apology-opus 1

Hello everyone, and I hope this finds you well. I guess we've been pretty busy here at the Longhouse, cause it's been a while to say the least, since I've written. And this isn't the only letter that's overdue, but it's all for good reasons, looking back, and looking ahead. Still, I owe an apology for being so remarkably tardy in my update--I swear it won't happen again! (sounds like I've been learning from my teenager...)

Interestingly, seems like a year ago at this time we were talking about the recent rains here in LA--had we only known what THIS winter would bring, we wouldn't have said a word. We were subjected this winter, indeed, to torrential rains and storms here as everyone read in the news. It was quite extraordinary to get that much rain in LA in about 8 weeks! We're drying out slowly still, suffered only a leak in the roof and the indignity of the grounds being soggy and weed-covered. (Not for long, if I can get some weekend gardening time!) But it's beautiful right now, and the cats are happily lazing around the yard and the deck, thrilled to be released from the captivity of the house for weeks on end. Certain people (gardeners) here admit to having a hard time sitting in the studio when it's so nice outside, but they have pledged to behave.

The Road (and the ocean)

In the past 12 months, I wound up playing in all kinds of interesting situations, and there are some great ones coming up. I made a lot of new friends and saw some places I've never been. In the spring I was in North and South Carolina doing Taylor clinics. I loved it there, especially Kure Beach and Wilmington, NC. In the summer, Kenny Edwards and I taught at Penny Nichols' SummerSongs, at a campsite north of Santa Barbara and we had a great time.

In the fall, I joined the Acoustic Guitar Magazine Cruise, which was nothing short of glorious. Never having been on a cruise ship, nor to the Caribbean, I was in heaven just about all the time. I also got to take my daughter Saida, and the amazing traveling baby Hannah with me, the official WW grandbaby. Hannah was six months old at the time, and it was like carrying an all-access pass having an irresistible little baby girl with us. She was a fine traveling companion--you can see the pictures.

Oh yes, and the reason we were there in the first place--the actual event, was magical, though I had to work hard, being the new teacher on board.

Wonderful musicians on the staff and among the students--great new friends, and good music--it was one of the most memorable trips I've ever taken. Perhaps my personal highlight was my end-of-cruise concert at which I was joined by the great guitarist Peppino D'Agostino on my song "Waiting for the Rain." And think of it--there's another cruise coming up next year!!

In November I went down to Nashville, the Atlanta area, and Birmingham, to play shows with Jim Photoglo, Brian Joseph, and Kenny Edwards. Again, it was a chance to make new friends and good music.

Jim and I drove back up to Nashville from Atlanta through the mountains and the leaves were still turning--it was breathtaking.

Recording, always recording.....

Despite the travel, the studio stayed busy, and we finished two of the cds I had promised to finish. The beautiful Anna Wolfe cd My Treasure is now available on her website, AnnaWolfe.com, and is getting great reception. She's a magical poet and a very profound writer. The goal was to make an eloquent and simple record, and I think we did just that. In the bargain, she and I became good friends, so that's a wonderful bonus.

As I write this, Arthur LeeLand's new cd Dragonfly is coming out, available at ArthurLeeLand.com. We had a complete blast doing this project--we got to work with some great musicians, among them Joe Craven from David Grisman's outfit, Mark Diamond, Scott Babcock, Greg Liesz, Kenny Edwards, and Herb Pederson to name a few. Also some excellent Afrograss guys helped out up in Boulder. The cd rocks, to say the least.

And we've finished the wonderful duet project of Katy Moffatt and Rosie Flores. I confess that one is a little late, but will be well worth it. Not available at this writing, but I will let everyone know. Meanwhile, both of them have been out playing a lot, together and apart. They'll be at South By Southwest this month.

Kenny Edwards, Michael Boshears and I were able to edit and mix the Bryndle live project--Live at Russ and Julie's which has been selling pretty well for us. We think it might be one of the first ever official house concert recordings. It was recorded by Boshears and Peter Cutler, our friend and the engineer for Folkscene.

Let's see---that leaves only one project left to be completed here at the Longhouse that we remember.....more on that later.

Friends, Folkscene and the piano known as "the big boy."

Folkscene continues to make its home here at the Longhouse, which is a privilege and a joy for us. There have been so many great musicians in this house, I still wouldn't know where to begin. Many of them have been friends of mine, and I met some I've always wanted to meet too. And all I have to do is make coffee and keep the cats out of the living room! The Larmons hosted among other people this past year, Steve Earle, Nanci Griffith, the Dirt Band, Rodney Crowell, Natalie McMaster, Laura Love, and a bunch of Irish bands each one more amazing than the last. I actually got to sing with the Dirt Band when they were here--of course we did "Fishin in the Dark." The Dirt Band are a great success story, and I'm glad to see them rocking on.

With the addition of the big grand piano, on loan to us from George Winston, we know that Folkscene will be able to expand even more and bring in some of the piano songwriters. A few have already played.....

George and I refer to this piano as "the big boy," because it sure is; it's nine feet long and it's made better musicians of some of us since it's been here. It's starting to appear on records--Anna's was the first cd that used the piano extensively. You can tell I love this instrument. It has inspired lots of new songs for me.

With the arrival of the big boy, we've had the opportunity to spend some evenings with four musicians who are giants--George Winston, the legendary Ted Greene (the great and reclusive guitar teacher) my good friend Seth Osburn, and another reclusive genius, the formidable Steve Ferguson. These evenings spent together have inspired all kinds of new things--Steve Ferguson is just releasing his first album of piano compositions, to be followed (at long last!) by an album of songs--and Ted Greene's cd is now in re-release, due partly to the patient nudging of George Winston, who is a tireless champion of great music. Bryndle's webmaster, Paul Grosso, is building a site for Steve Ferguson, and I urge you to check him out. Steve is a brilliant musician whose time has come at last.

I can't say enough about George Winston, his kindness, and his inspirational love of music. He has helped transform the Longhouse into an even better place to make music.

Songs are being written and published as we speak!

Had songs in tv this last year--"Alias," "Rescue Me," among others.

Also, Jim Photoglo and I had a version of "Fishin in the Dark" recorded by the country group Emerson Drive. There are some songs being recorded by artists right now, but one doesn't speak of such things until they are on the cd. I'm very happy to start working with the Pen Music group here in LA for publishing. There are all kinds of interesting opportunities for my music now, and I have a lot of faith in this particular company. I'm enjoying writing these days, and I understand that there's a cd I'm supposed to finish that will contain some of these new songs.....

So where am I going???

I am going all over the place! First, starting in May, I will be doing Taylor clinics in the Boston area, up in New Hampshire and Maine, and then in Halifax, in Canada. I have deep music roots in Boston and I'm extremely happy go be going there, for the first time in years. All of this will be posted on the website as well as on the Taylor site. In June I'll be teaching again at SummerSongs in Santa Barbara, along with Kenny Edwards and others. It's a great time and I think a very good value as well, looking at the costs of some of the song camps out there. July, I'll be doing some teaching and performing at the Cal State University Summer Arts Festival in Fresno. In the fall and winter, I will have the opportunity to travel to the northwest at long last--the Portland Songwriter's festival and the RockrGirl convention in Seattle, as well as Taylor clinics up there. I love the northwest and it's been way too long since I ve been there. Next spring, I'll be going up to the northern midwest--Chicago, S. Dakota, Minnesota, and of course, the beloved Acoustic Guitar Magazine Cruise. One can only hope! Again, it will all be posted as the dates are confirmed.

Kulak's Woodshed

The other place I'll be as much as I can is Kulak's Woodshed, here in LA. It's a very special little club where we have a great deal of freedom to experiment, to entertain and be entertained, where we can bring our kids AND our dogs, if we happen to have them. The best thing of all is that Kulak's continues to be a groundbreaking webcast studio. Every performance is webcast on the internet at KulaksWoodshed.com.

I've played there several times now with Seth Osburn in what we call a "night of piano music and songs," where we are combining pure composition with songs--and you can tune in from anywhere in the world! Seth and I will record some of our songs this year, too.

Most recently we did a night with Seth, myself, and Steve Ferguson. Paul Kulak brought in a lovely baby grand piano, and we've been taking advantage of it every chance we get. Look for me to be on that webcast every month or so, with various friends and dogs (not mine, as I live among cats) and my son Abe as well. Abe made his debut with Seth and me at Kulak's last fall. This year we plan to do some shows there with Kenny too.

Taylor Guitars

As a Taylor clinician, I get to see some pretty amazing instruments, and there are a couple that I'm very excited about. In January, we clinicians got to see the T5 Taylor which is a fabulous new guitar, a thin bodied acoustic/electric with an innovative pickup design, as only Bob Taylor and his crew could make. Loving rock music as I do, I can't wait to get out on the road and play one of these.

But before the T5 comes into my life, there's a guitar I've loved and coveted and wanted to show people since it was unveiled a year ago or so. The Thirtieth Anniversary Taylor model is spectacular. It's a gorgeous, user-friendly short scale model all of its own. I put one in my hand and fell in love instantly. Have been whining about it to Taylor ever since, in a light hearted way. Turns out, I'm going to be carrying one this year for my clinics, and I'm very excited!

The store, pictures, etc

Am taking Paypal now, and it will be on the store site shortly.

Also, there are some fun new pictures we will be posting asap--the road, the cats, the musicians, and of course, the amazing, now crawling baby Hannah.

OK, so where is it?

Well, it's a little late, I admit, by several years, BUT I'm working on it now. There are new songs I'm planning to record to add to what's already there. I've been playing some of these tunes out on the road and at Kulak's to see how they work, and I'm pretty happy with them. I expect to have the new cd finally available this fall. I'm considering artwork already--there's a gorgeous landscape that Michael Boshears did in the southwest, there is the possibility of original artwork, a portrait, some poetry--thinking about it all.

End of of missive

So, that s the story here in LA. As I said, it reads more like an epic novel than an update. It has been a good year and promises to be even better. The boy supermusician Abe has his learner's permit, and has driven with me, also has about three different bands going at once. The grandbaby is fabulous along with her parents Saida and Eric Staudenmaier...check out his photography website at EricStaudenmaier.com. He took the great Bryndle portraits lo these many years ago. I'm happy to be working, a couple of great projects to do AFTER the new WW cd is finished. The cats are fat.

My very best wishes to everyone, my thanks for your patience, and I hope to see you out on the road or at Kulak's.

Happy Spring

WW

March 12, 2004

This past week in LA, it was as though the whole world turned to spring, even though it's not official yet. Suddenly, after the big rains we'd experienced a few weeks earlier, everything began to bloom. The days were warm and windy, and the fragrance of jasmine and narcissus was everywhere. Believe me, I found it hard to stay inside in the studio, which is where I need to be right now! I did manage to sneak out and do a little gardening, but there's so much going on at the Longhouse, I can't really play hookey for too long.

Right after New Years' we hit the ground running. We had recorded basic tracks on Anna Wolfe's record before Christmas, and on January 5, we went right back in to finish the project. We're pretty much done now except for mixing it. We had a blast doing this record--we got to have a string trio on four of the songs, and it was so great to have such excellent classically trained musicians working with us. Anna and I wrote the string parts with the brilliant Seth Osburn, who is a wonderful pianist and composer in his own right, and a hell of a music teacher as well. Anna's new record will be quite a departure from her previous ones--I think it will surprise a lot of people. It's a very unusual, stately, and simple project...lots of piano songs, incredible lyrics and singing.

I had to take a few days to be on hand at the Music Manufacturers' convention in Anaheim in January, as part of the Taylor Guitars team. I played several sets there, and got to spend some time with my fellow Taylor clinicians, who are all like brothers to me now. Especially fun for me was playing with Artie Traum, who has become one of my all time favorite human beings and musicians, and with whom I hope to do some stuff in the future. Artie and I spent some time with Chris Shaw, who is a walking history of the Adirondacks, a great storyteller and writer--between those two guys, I found myself laughing a lot. Also, the incomparable Steven King TOTALLY blew me away with a rendition of my song "The Main Refrain." He is so gracious to me, says he always loved that song, and when he played the arrangment he's working up, I was quite stunned. He's an incredible guitarist, as Artie says, "a force of nature.."

By the way, Taylor introduced their 30th anniversary edition guitar, and I fell in love with it. It's been a long time since I've seen a smaller guitar that I loved, my two old Martins notwithstanding. But this guitar took my breath away. Those guys are doing some good work down there at the Taylor factory. And no, I don't have a 30th ann. edition yet--have some other things to pay for before that!

Work in the studio continues--we're about to mix the Katy Moffatt/Rosie Flores project. We're also starting to mix Anna's record. I guess this means that Michael Boshears will be working some long days in there. Oh I guess that means me too....

We are also starting Arthur Lee Land's project --I'm excited about this one, because it's going to be so much fun--four killer players and some great groove music. Arthur is now living in Boulder, a change that I think is great for him, and he says that he and Carol are very happy there. We're doing this record with Arthur on guitar and he's a total virtuoso, the legendary Joe Craven on percussion, mandolin, fiddle and who knows what else -- Joe plays with David Grisman -- Scott Babcock on drums, and Mark Diamond on upright bass. How can this not be a blast? The songs are fun, and I must remember to wear tie-dye to all the sessions.

A bunch of us went to the annual Folk Alliance Convention in late February. This year it was held in San Diego, which made it pretty easy for us to go. Everyone that I've produced lately was there==all my artists performed. I did some showcases, the best one being our own little group--Kenny Edwards, myself, Katy Moffatt, and Anna Wolfe. Our dearest friends Brian Joseph, Jim Photoglo, and Freebo came on right after us, so it was really all family for me.

Speaking of young Brian Joseph, he is taking wings. There was quite a buzz about him down at Folk Alliance, and he's got a great team together now. I'm pleased that people are liking the record so much. Our other artist, Ronny Cox was also at Folk Alliance, and he's completely taking off, doing lots of gigs, and finding his audience.

I was so happy to see every single one of the artists that I work with in just about any capacity doing so well--I could really see it at Folk Alliance. Katy Moffatt did a brilliant set as part of a presentation including the legendary John Stewart, Steve Young, Lowen and Navarro, Ray Bonneville (who is so cool). Nina Gerber played with Kate--Nina plays with Karla Bonoff now too. It was a hell of a set, and packed! Anna played beautifully in her showcases too, and she and I went on to the convention floor to meet people and walk around and do all that stuff. There was a rumor afoot that Kenny Edwards and Wendy Waldman kicked some serious butt when they played, but I wouldn't know...

Well, the house is standing, Abe is almost 15 and a remarkable musician and knucklehead. He's playing a Beethoven sonata in recital, and he's the biggest punk rock fan at his school. I thoroughly approve--that's what I call a broad education! After these projects are done, which will be in the late spring, believe it or not, I'm going to finish the new WW cd. I like it still, which is a good sign, and I can't wait to finish it, even though that's kind of scary.

This family is expecting something else, too--my daughter Saida and her husband, the wonderful photographer Eric Staudenmaier are expecting their first child in late May. We already know it's a girl. I intend to be one sexy grandmother....

No Taylor Clinics scheduled yet, but we appear to have requests from all over so we're trying to put some stuff together. I will definitely be out on the road later this year, but we're a little late getting going. One thing I do know is that I'm playing at McCabe's here in LA with Brian Joseph on May 16. That's amazing to me, as Bryndle was the very first band that ever played McCabe's back in ...well, back then. I also know that I'm going to join the Acoustic Guitar Cruise in October--we're going to the Caribbean! And I know that Kenny and I will be at Summersongs in Santa Barbara at the end of June.

I am also working on an instrumental version of 'Wild Bird," which may be included in the next "Acoustic Heart" cd--talk about intimidating! But it's sounding pretty good, so we'll see.

Folkscene continues to record here at the Longhouse, and there have been so many great musicians in this place I can't begin to describe it. Just check out their website (www.folkscene.com) and see what's going on. I know they're about to put their third compilation cd together for RedHouse, and it will be a good one.

"Seeds and Orphans" continues to sell, and I'm about to get a stock of the Warner Brothers' Best Of --"Love is the Only Goal" so folks can get it from me as well. I also have a few of the vinyls left--Love Has Got Me, Which Way to Main Street, and Gypsy Symphony. (See the "Store" page.) I want to thank everyone who has emailed me, ordered the cds, and been so generous to me. I hope to get some sheet music and tablature together for those who've asked. I finally got a lead sheet of "Standing Right Next to Me," which folks want for their weddings. That can be made available by contacting the Bryndle webmaster, Paul Grosso.

And finally, of course, fibers--I took some incredible classes in basketry taught by some very well known native American basket masters. Also, Anna and I did a lot of knitting (in her case) and crocheting/weaving in my case while we were listening back to her project. Can't get enough of that stuff!! The artists are getting used to the producer lady holding some yarn in her hand while she works...

My very best wishes to all of you, happy spring, and many thanks to my great and patient webmaster, Russ Paris.

XXWW

October 15, 2003

Hello to all our friends,

It's been a pretty hectic time here at the Longhouse, and it looks like it will go on this way into next year. Lots of music being made here all the time now, and that's what the Longhouse is for, so we're pretty happy.

In the summer, we finally got a chance to record a project long held dear to our hearts--the duet cd of Katy Moffatt and Rosie Flores. These two women are wonderful solo artists, but every now and then they work together and create a whole other kind of magic. It was TEN years ago that the three of us sat down and wrote some songs and made plans to do a cd of Katy and Rosie. We didn't get to do that project then although they continued to do gigs together whenever they could. Then, talking to Rosie at Folk Allliance in Nashville this year, we discussed resurrecting the cd. The timing couldn't have been better, and we wound up recording ten songs with Katy, Rosie, Kenny Edwards on bass and guitar, and Scott Babcock on drums and percussion. We have some beautiful additional guitar from the brilliant Greg Leisz, someone I've always admired very much. We should be done with this cd fairly soon, and of course we'll tell everyone about it the minute it's available.

Our good friend Brian Joseph is out there on the road with the new album we did here, "King of Echo Park", and he's doing very well. It was a lot of fun for us doing that record--we got to work with some people we hadn't known before, and I was very happy with the songs and the way things turned out. I believe Brian is going to go very far and I'm flattered that he came to me to do this project. He's a great guy--has become one of our dear friends. In fact, Kenny Edwards and I are going out to Colorado and Utah to do some shows with Brian in the last week of October--some gigs, a workshop or two, and some driving!

In other driving news, I'm doing a few days of Taylor clinics in central California the week of November 17, so it looks like I'll get out of the house a bit this fall! [See the "Appearances" page for dates and locations.]

I was very fortunate to be invited to participate in the West Coast Songwriter's conference a few weeks ago, and I had a great time. Met some excellent writers up there in Northern California, that beautiful place up the coast and far away from the toxic pool I call home. I had a blast up there.

There are other recording projects in the works here at the L-house. We did some exploratory work with Gina Nordwall, a beautiful singer from Santa Fe, and we are all pretty jazzed about the results. She's got a gorgeous voice, and exquisite taste in songs--ok, she did want to record a Bryndle song and a Kenny Edwards/Linda Ronstadt song--but we also did a Julie Miller tune and a Waylon Jennings song! This will turn into an album next year. It was WAY fun to record with her. The icing on the cake for all of us here is that Gina is married to the great Native American painter Raymond Nordwall, and we are all fans of his work. We were completely blessed and blown away when at the end of the session, each of us received a piece of artwork from Ray!! Kenny Edwards, Scott Babcock, Michael Boshears and I each got a rare and special work from Raymond--that doesn't happen to musicians very often. We will cherish these works forever.

We are going to do an album with Anna Wolfe, who is a fine singer-songwriter we met in Colorado and then again at Folk Alliance, introduced by Paul Reisler. Anna is very hard to describe--she's at once brilliant, disturbing, sweet, intense--I don't know, maybe someone who would camp in the same campground as Kate Bush and Laura Nyro. You know what I mean--no artist is "like" any other, so the best you can say is that they mght be found at the same table, or pitching their tents near each other. Beth Neilsen Chapman is a big fan and mentor of Anna's.

My friend Arthur LeeLand, who is making waves playing guitar with everyone at the festivals and is a phenomenal musician, is due to come here and make an album with us sometime in the late fall/early winter as well. This will be totally fun for us because we get to record with drums AND percussion at the same time, and indulge a bit in the art of jam music. But as you would expect, coming out of here, it will be jam music underpinned by SONGS, and Arthur has a stack of cool songs I'm looking forward to recording.

The Folkscene Radio show continues to record here at the Longhouse, and those guys have had some incredible guests lately--Steve Earle, Rodney Crowell, Chris Smither, Altan, Laura Love, Alex de Grassi, Beppe Gambetta, Dan Crary,Guy Davis--the list goes on. It's been absolutely marvelous for us to have the show at our studio, to meet these incredible artists, and to be able to offer something of value to our heroes the Larmons. Please check out Folkscene on the web. The Larmons are an institution in the world of folk music and have been for 34 years now! The best part of the Folkscene days is that we don't work--Michael gets to take pictures, I make coffee and help out, but the show is engineered by Peter Cutler as it has been for decades, and Roz and Howard are the hosts. We get to be fans!

Songwriting goes on, with some great writers gracing me with their presence--lately I have had the privelege of writing with Steve Seskin, Jeff Silbar, Sally Barris and Kenny Edwards,and the young Scott Bomar. Am quite excited about the prospect of writing with Harley Allen when he comes out from Nashville, and also--Andrew Gold. Yep, we've been talking about doing some work together and I'm totally into that idea. The other intriguing project I'm into is writing some songs with Katy Moffatt for the Santa Clarita Cowboy Poetry Festival--that could be an amazing cd down the line.

Finally, yes I AM still working on the new WW cd, and I'm happy with it. Sorry I'm so slow. Mostly it's been working on all the other stuff, but I am making progress on it--most of the tracks are recorded and pretty near completion. I will get it done, I swear.

Meanwhile, music goes on, the cats are all here--we had a few scares this summer with two of them missing for two weeks each. But miraculously, everyone's survived--it's fall planting season here in the Santa Monica Mountains, and I'd love nothing more than to plant right now, but it will have to happen in between mixes. I am managing to do some small handweaving projects when I'm listening back in the studio-- but alas, no big weavings or baskets until the holidays.

Very best to everyone

Wendy

August 24, 2003

To all my friends--

I'm very happy to have this new website, designed by Russ Paris, who will be the webmaster here. We're still building, but we want to get up and running, so please bear with us as we continue to work on the site.

There are so many exciting things going on in the creative world today, and I'm constantly fascinated and thrilled to be involved . On this website we will include appearances, discographies, information about songs, articles of interest, interviews, photographs, links to many wonderful friends out there who might be of interest to my fans, a store to buy music, and a section called Tales from the Longhouse. In this little section, we'll include news from the Longhouse Studio where we live and work, not only on my music but on many other people's as well. I'll also include any news about what's going on with me, with friends, and anything else I hope will be of interest to you. I want to include as many links as possible for you, as I have found that there's strength in numbers, and the more interest there is in any part of the creative world, the more there is in all parts.

There will be contact information for me, as well as the ability to participate in the chat page, which is on the Bryndle website, and easily reached by a link from WendyWaldman.com

Lastly there will be, eventually... a little gallery. As all the arts are interconnected, I've spent a lot of time examining and appreciating other forms of art, and other artists. I've also done a lot of work in other media besides music--It's all work and at some point it all feels the same, whether it's music, painting, weaving, gardening, or writing prose. I've always dreamed of having a little gallery where I could feature visual arts, books, weavings, toys, whatever might come out of my workshop or the workshop of some of my close friends. The backdrops you see on WendyWaldman.com are all my weavings (of course filtered though the eyes of Russ Paris for the web!)

I hope you enjoy this website, and any suggestions you might have will be most appreciated. I especially want to thank Bryndle's great webmaster Paul Grosso for all his help and support in this process, guiding us and helping us to get this thing going at last.

Very best to all,

WW