"John Sebastian is one of the very select group of songwriters - including also John Lennon, Ray Davies, and Brian Wilson - for which the term 'genius' doesn't seem just a publicist's wild notion."
- Percy Keegan

	© CSP Images

Greetings to all, with thanks for your continued interest...

Fall approaches with a rollicking full schedule of dates with mandolin virtuoso David Grisman. These shows are some of my favorites in years, allowing both of us to explore new ground, reinterpret past glories, and generally surprise each other with unplanned musical day trips. Very challenging and a lot of fun!

Scattered throughout the summer and fall are co-bills with Roger McGuinn. We started playing the same clubs in the early sixties, and our parallel paths continue to cross.

On a sadder note, Woodstock's musical community is reeling as we must say goodbye to Artie Traum. For over forty years, Happy and Artie have provided our community and the music world with a folk-blues palette of original and collected songs, along the way teaching thousands the guitar styles of their heros via Homespun Tapes instructional videos.

Artie's skills as a producer and musical organizer created projects and produced cds often based out of Woodstock, New York, where the Traums have made their home since the mid sixties. I'm fortunate to have been included in many of Artie's projects as harp man, rhythm or baritone guitar. It was his encouragement and enthusiasm that resparked my interest in solo guitar, resulting directly in recent collaborations with David Grisman. Artie was also my favorite substitute when the J-Band needed a "take-off"guitar player! For more specific info on Artie, obits are appearing in the New York Times, Rolling Stone, and just about any guitar magazine you can come up with. Ciao, Artie, composer, song writer, virtuoso, teacher and student of the blues, Italophile, gardener, conspiracy theorist, budget bon vivant, my friend and paisano.

For a some amazing condolences and comments, visit http://artietraum.com/at_remembrances.html

'Til next time,

John Sebastian

Upcoming Events (links to venues on NEWS page)

2009

January 23 - New Hope, PA - Lambertville Winter Festival
February 5 - Spindale, NC - Isothermal Community College w/ David Grisman
February 7 - Raleigh, NC - Pine Cone Concert
March 7 - Newberry, SC - Newberry Opera House
May 2 - W. Long Branch, NJ - Monmouth University w/ Roger McGuinn
May 16 - Dowagiac, MI - Dowagiac Middle School PAC w/Roger McGuinn