As usual, I’m way behind schedule with this update. Since I’m a writer by trade, I could think of some good excuses, but, after all these years, my Webmaster, Dan Beach, has heard them all. Thanks to all of you for your continued patience……Like the Norman Seef cover photograph of my first, first album, my head really is in the clouds most of the time.
The band and I have had a busy year on the Road and we really enjoyed seeing so many of you out there at the gigs. Though it sounds kind of cliché, we really do soak up all the inspiration your enthusiasm generates.
This Summer I toured Spain and the Canary Islands as a special Guest Vocalist with an all-star band called Reunion. My long time friend and many time producer, Chuck Loeb, invited me along on this tour and I had the greatest time singing with these guys: Chuck on guitar, Eric Marienthal on sax, Jim Beard on piano, Till Bronner on trumpet, Tim LeFebvre on bass, and Dennis Chambers on drums.
With Chuck, Eric and Till
Soundcheck in Madrid
We played jazz festivals mostly and one of my favorite side effects of these kinds of concerts is that you run into your old friends quite often and, just as appealingly, have the chance to meet musicians you’ve always admired. At the festival in San Javier, for example, I spent some time with Ernie Watts, who played so beautifully on Burchfield Nines back in 1978. Ernie was there performing with bassist, Charlie Haden, so I had the pleasure of meeting Charlie too and fellow Quartet West member, pianist Alan Broadbent. And these are all musicians whose records I’ve owned and appreciated for years, so it was an extraordinary pleasure for me. (I just wish the festival publicist would send me the jpegs!).
Abe, John, and Bahnie
From The New York Times (Dachshund Edition)
Pictured here are John A. Lupton and Bahnie, Flora’s mother. John, who is Associate Director of the Papers of Abraham Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois, appears on the PBS Series History Detectives on August 27th. On the show John solves the mystery, but Flora swears it was Bahnie who cracked the case.
For those of you wondering what happened after “the scene in the diner,” here’s your answer:
The Cutting Room Floor
Here on the homefront, we’ve been busy at the farmhouse getting ready for a visit from my son Sean, his wife Siree, and our two granddaughters, Samantha and Melia. I’ve patched a hole in the canoe, cleaned up the kayaks, raised the badminton net, and stocked up on crayons, construction paper, and DVDs (we’re hoping to introduce them to “Wishbone,” a PBS series we’ve enjoyed).
Curing the patch
Sean at 6 mos.
Tippycanoe
Hippies arrive in Tokyo
Here’s a vintage shot of Claudia and me on our first trip to Japan. This coming “Seventh of September” marks our 30th. To celebrate we purchased a signed print by the late Kurt Vonnegut. As you know, Kurt is my favorite novelist.
I Love Lucy
Our cat Lucy passed away this past May. She was 22 years old! We’ve never had a cat live that long and it was a treat to spend so many years with her. I found her in a parking lot in L.A. when I was recording Blue Pacific. The house doesn’t seem quite the same without her. “And so it goes.”
As always
Wishing all of you
Health, Peace, Happiness
Recordings
Michael Franks' recordings include:
Rendezvous
in Rio (2006) * Love
Songs (2004) Watching the Snow (2003) The Michael Franks Anthology:
The Art Of Love (2003) Barefoot on the Beach(1999) The Best of Michael
Franks: A Backward Glance (1998) Abandoned Garden (1995) Dragonfly Summer (1993) Blue Pacific (1990) Camera Never Lies (1987) Skin Dive (1985) Passionfruit (1983) Objects of Desire (1982) One Bad Habit (1980) Tiger in the Rain (1979) Burchfield Nines (1978) Sleeping Gypsy (1977) Art of Tea (1975) Michael Franks (1973)
* ADLIB Award
for "Rendezvous in Rio" ADLIB
Magazine, the premier music magazine of Japan, has selected "Rendezvous in Rio"
as the best international popular album in Japan for 2006.
Recent Performances
2008
January 18 - Austin, TX - One World Theater
January 19 - Las Vegas, NV - Boulder Station
February 14 & 15 - Nashville, TN - with Nashville Symphony
March 22 - Atlanta, GA - Civic Center - Spring Jazz Festival
April 11 - Riviera Beach, FL - Riviera
Beach Jazz Festival
April 12 - New Orleans, LA - House of Blues
May 9 & 10 - Boston, MA - Scullers - 8 & 10 PM
Mailing List
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Michael regrets that he cannot answer e-mail at this time.
Hearts United for Animals
We encourage your support of Hearts United for Animals, a national no-kill shelter, sanctuary and animal welfare organization dedicated to the relief of suffering. We support our local Humane Society and ask that you remember to do the same.
[Click photo for Flora's movie
A selection of shirts and coffee
mugs bearing the cover graphic
of "Rendezvous in Rio" are
now available at
Cafe
Press. All of the profits will be donated to Hearts
United for Animals.
