"It takes me to new places..."

The night after Devon was born the three of us were chilling out in our own beds at the birthing center room, in the dark, listening to a mellow mixed playlist from my ipod. Some of the music we played is what we still play everynight at bedtime: Ray Lamontagne & Lucinda Williams. Music has been an important part of each day in Devon's life since that night. Some of her favorites include: The Chicago & The Producers soundtracks, "It's de-lovely," Bruce Springsteen's Seeger Sessions especially "Buffalo Gals," "Froggie-went-a-courting," & "Pay Me My Money Down," The Preservation Hall Jazz Band of New Orleans, Aretha Franklin & Ray Charles doing "Spirit in The Dark" live at the Fillmore West from 1971, and just recently we start everyday with "Good Morning, Good Morning" from Singing in the Rain. Suzanna plays a mean piano solo on Devon in the middle of Lyle Lovett's "You're not from Texas (But Texas loves you anyway)." Every couple of days we play her something else to see what she likes. Last week she really starting kicking in excitement to Beck's "Where it's at." In Duke Ellington's memoir, "Music is My Mistress," he writes that music "takes me to new places and experiences." Hell yeah!



My dear friend Katie Jo (AKA SuperKate) made me promise to sing to Devon as much as possible, as it is one of fondest childhood memories of her parents & grandmother singing Beatles & older standards to her. So slightly off key & a little pitchy, dog, I do. And as much fun & joy it is to dance around to all the pre-recorded music mentioned above, nothing compares to the glint in her eye when she sees & hears me singing to her. Nothing like live music, baby! These photos are from a beautiful time in Devon's life when Kate and her wonderful husband Andy lived in "the bunny house" on Ohayo Mt. Road in Woodstock and one summer day mad with sunshine when the supertalented Andy played guitar and sang to her. She couldn't get enough of his elegant performance.