Back from San Miguel de Allende. The International Jazz Festival is back in full swing after a year's hiatus. I arrived in town Wednesday afternoon and spent the evening at La Gruta, a local hot spring. We were celebrating the wedding of Cristen Gray and Mark Vargas. After the Thursday ceremony, we attended the first night of the Jazz Festival. I enjoyed the first set of fusion jazz, but I was knocked out by the last set featuring Brenda Boykin and Eric Swinderman from San Francisco. I'd heard them before in San Miguel. They seem to just get better.

Her energy is full tilt, delivering as many different styles of music as she can imagine. Eric's tasteful guitar work only reveals more about his talent. Friday night we went to a party for the San Francisco crew, held at a mansion hidden behind those tall walls on Chorro Street. We enjoyed the company, we enjoyed the energy and we enjoyed the great food. Most of all I enjoyed talking to Angela, Eric's wife and a lawyer. At the end of the evening I asked myself, "Where else can I go to eat great food and talk of Aristotle and Plato?" Nothing like being surrounded by creative and imaginative people.
Brenda told us stories, like the time she sat in the audience listening to Natalie Cole with the French producer of the show. "I told Natalie you were here," he enthusiastically told Brenda. She laughed, knowing that her presence might not move Natalie. "Well," Brenda explained, "during her show, I saw her look out and wink at me, every so slightly." We all laughed at Brenda's interpretation of this French concert.

"Conversations in Time" is the new CD by Brenda and Eric. Each song creates a new way to experience some familiar songs. Not only do we hear Cole Porter, Thelonious Monk, Duke Ellington, Scott Joplin, John Lennon, Paul McCartney and W.C. Handy in new forms, but we hear original music by Brenda and Eric. Contact bonbelle@mac.com for more information on getting the CD. And we need to bring this duo to Kerrville!

The rest of the trip unfolded like a well-planned dream, only the unfolding was completely spontaneous, with synchronicity at the heart of every move. I saw Tony Cohan, author of On Mexico Time, in the jardin. We talked briefly, and I told him that his book had been given as a wedding present. Our last night we entered The Market Bistro on Hernandez Macias, and he walked in with us. Cristen ran home, got her book, and ended the evening by getting his signature in it. Now that's a gift given "on Mexican time."

We also heard Myrna, from Holland, performing a set of French cabaret songs as our farewell to Mexico. Yes, San Miguel de Allende holds all the charm of a European cultural center, while being a jewel in the crown of Mexico's history. I'll be taking a group after Christmas from Kerrville. We'll explore more possibilities in this culture as we study global issues. And I'm sure we'll find some good music.

For those of you road warriors who took the bus to Mexico with me for two separate Thanksgivings, you only have to remember and imagine to know the good time we had. After two cool days, the sun came out, burning off the clouds and giving us that perfect blue sky. The light glistened off this city built to reflect light. We stood on the roof of The Scorpio Hotel, on Quebrada, and drifted off into the dream that becomes San Miguel de Allende.

Jose Juan took us through Guanajuato on the way to the airport Sunday. We stopped and toured the house of Diego Rivera, seeing many of his paintings as we retold the story of Frida and Diego. Guess it's time for me to go see the movie.

I stayed at the Posada de las Monjas and enjoyed my fourth floor view of the surrounding hillsides. This hotel provides an ambiance totally Mexicano. My January class will stay there, soaking up local culture as we discuss issues common to cultures throughout the world. In the few weeks before heading back, I'll be tracking down women in Texas music to interview for my next book project. Off to Austin to hear Toni Price, Kelly Willis (December 14 at Antone's), Lou Ann Barton, Sara Hickman and more. Each will be a story for this column as well.

Enjoy the photo essay for this short column. Free Leonard and down the road.

Email Kathleen:  kat@maverickbbs.com

Visit the THMF website:  www.texasheritagemusic.org

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