Recital with Jun in Newton Highlands

Sunday: Woke around 8:20. Shower. Down basement for morning practices, emerging at 9:40. Quick breakfast (MB had made some coffee). Bid MB adieu and headed off to Kurukulla.

Geshela didn't refer to the text much today, rather, he recapped many of the topics relating to 'view' that we'd already covered. A lively discussion at the end. I did my best to hang onto the distinction between 'the whole house' and 'part of the house' but it didn't hold water. There's something slippery that happens in these debates though. Geshela said I have a good mind for philosophy, but I haven't had the conditions to let it ripen. Its hard sometimes, talking across such a wide cultural and linguistic gap.

I had parked around on Washington street, so back to my car. Stopped on the way home to pick up a fast food veggie burger. Ate it in the back yard. Packed up the car, changed clothes, and headed off to Newton Highlands, and a GCNE performance.

Arrived about 2:35. Showed Terry and David the little parts to my composition. They picked it up quickly. Alex, Dev and Martin showed up a little later (around 3). First time to see Dev's face in many a moon. Good to have him back, if only temporarily. We did some quick reconnoitering, and determined that Bicycling wasn't going to fly (a flying bicycle?) But the other stuff sounded good.

We made our way over to the house where the recital was being held, the home of a Berklee professor, and a friend of my music teacher's. We helped set the room up, moving furniture around and so on. Got tuned up on the dining room. The turn-out was less then Jun anticipated. Something like 12 people showed up. Terry, David and I, kicked things off at 4:10, performing my new composition "The Ides." Then there were three student performances, all quite good, including some lovely Ravel and a very complicated piece by Alban Berg.

During a short intermission, we got our stools set up. Jun played a suite of his composition. Wonderful. (Afternoon of a Child, Relay Game of Notes etc). Jun and I played a improvisational piece called "Freedom Jazz Dance." (Darned hard holding my own playing with someone of Jun's caliber!). And lastly, the Guitar Circle New England. We began with a circulation in A Harmonic Minor, followed by Eye of the Needle, Homage to JSB, Asturias and Growing Circle. It was interesting for me, acting as the leader of the circle. I completely blanked at one point, and then decided to do what was in front of me. (After Homage, I couldn't remember Growing Circle, which I had intended to play in that slot... but Asturias was right there... ) It was a little funny ending with Growing Circle, but it worked alright.

Then, lots of snacks and drinks. Sushi, nuts, cookies, cheese etc etc. Jun gave me a little tour of the the full bar that his friend built in the basement. Quite a hangout. After some friendly chatting and noshing, a couple of us helped put the room back in order. The bulk of the circle members headed off around 7:00.

I decided to drive back home. MB had returned from her belly dance competition. She had a good time, but didn't win any fabulous prizes. We talked about that some. I was feeling very spent. Gave her a back-rub. Out the door to head to south boston at 8 PM.

At the circle meeting, Victor's nephew Ab was there. We played a good chunk of our repertoire for him. I thought we sounded pretty good. Then, some work on Askesis. Talked about our upcoming wedding gig (that's looking pretty short-handed) and the course in November. Then, back to the the JSB Invention. We were pretty sleepy.

Headed off with MB, after forgetting and being reminded to take a piece of audio hardware I'd lent Victor. We stopped at a gas station for sodas. The guy behind the counter didn't know what to make of us at first, and gave us a glower, but we won him over by the time we left.
Back home. Much left to do tonight. MB is watching a belly dance video.