Ray's Report
an update from absentee Ray Turner, who until recently was wasting away his time in Mexico
November 12 2008
Dear Basement Musicians,
Well, I am back in Kelowna, having driven almost two thousand miles from Baja Mexico, through California, Oregon and Washington. Much of the driving was in torrential rain. My little Datsun pick-up with a new muffler survived so well. Me too.
As I have said before, most of my plans for projects like starting a music group, writing a book and performing puppet plays in Spanish have fallen by the wayside. There is no way that anything like Basement Musicians could happen in that small fishing town of Bahia Asuncion. Music is everywhere but it is very loud and comes mostly from CD players in trucks. For those who do play or sing, the guitar predominates, just like Kelowna, but is mostly played impromptu at family events. Like right now. It was hard for me to get together with players in any organised form. It's Mexico! Life is much more casual.There are hardly any such things as appointments, though cellphones abound. Except in my pocket.
To be truthful, although I picked up a good few Mexican melodies and rhythms, and I can play Las Mananitas, the Mexican birthday song, almost all the way through, it is a culture different from mine, which is . . . well, I am not sure what that is exactly. I would need many, many more years to appreciate it fully.
Thinking back to the beginning of this experience, I want to say thanks to the BMs who threw me a Mexican-flavoured party before I left. It was a special evening for me.
i am now readying myself mentally to face winter in Kelowna. I look forward to seeing you all again and maybe sharing some new ideas.
Cheers,
Ray
an update from absentee Ray Turner, who until recently was wasting away his time in Mexico
November 12 2008
Dear Basement Musicians,
Well, I am back in Kelowna, having driven almost two thousand miles from Baja Mexico, through California, Oregon and Washington. Much of the driving was in torrential rain. My little Datsun pick-up with a new muffler survived so well. Me too.
As I have said before, most of my plans for projects like starting a music group, writing a book and performing puppet plays in Spanish have fallen by the wayside. There is no way that anything like Basement Musicians could happen in that small fishing town of Bahia Asuncion. Music is everywhere but it is very loud and comes mostly from CD players in trucks. For those who do play or sing, the guitar predominates, just like Kelowna, but is mostly played impromptu at family events. Like right now. It was hard for me to get together with players in any organised form. It's Mexico! Life is much more casual.There are hardly any such things as appointments, though cellphones abound. Except in my pocket.
To be truthful, although I picked up a good few Mexican melodies and rhythms, and I can play Las Mananitas, the Mexican birthday song, almost all the way through, it is a culture different from mine, which is . . . well, I am not sure what that is exactly. I would need many, many more years to appreciate it fully.
Thinking back to the beginning of this experience, I want to say thanks to the BMs who threw me a Mexican-flavoured party before I left. It was a special evening for me.
i am now readying myself mentally to face winter in Kelowna. I look forward to seeing you all again and maybe sharing some new ideas.
Cheers,
Ray