Before I continue my FPR narrative, I want to apologize for any 
ego-spew and/or fan-drool that may have dribbled across my previous 
posts or the ones to come. I am still finding it hard to believe I was 
actually there, and I am still completely jazzed up over the whole 
thing. So please bear with me, gang...
 
There were no curtains on any of the cabin windows, so we all woke with 
the sun (that would have been about 07:00 back in the world). Breakfast 
was sausage and gravy over biscuits, cereal, and fresh fruit (there was 
ALWAYS fresh fruit available). Jack, Jorma, and Mike joined us for all 
the meals. I forget exactly who sat where when, but the three of them 
*always* sat with the students, and over the course of the weekend, I 
got to sit and shoot the breeze with each of them over a good meal.
 After breakfast came a coupla hours of free time before the first of 
two workshops scheduled for that day. I used the time to wander around 
the library, which has hundreds of video and audio tapes on every kind 
of music imaginable, as well as books on music and the music industry. 
There were even some non-music related books, including, in one 
inconspicuous corner, a real treasure-trove. Dare I believe my eyes? Was 
I really seeing what I thought I was seeing? Yes, it really truly was! 
Jorma's collection of underground comix! Originals! A veritable R. Crumb 
motherlode! Zap Comix! Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers! San Francisco 
Comix! Young Lust! I was in heaven...
 A little later, Vanessa (Jorma, you lucky dog!) opened up the store and 
showed us all the stuff for sale (some of which is unavailable anywhere 
else on the planet). I dropped a little more than $100.00 on FPR 
T-shirts, FPR and HT hats, FPR and HT guitar picks, a coffee mug, some 
stickers, and Jorma's Christmas CD.

The workshops continued with Jack teaching us "Miracles" and "Jack's 
Funk" - something he made up on the way over to the studio to show us 
how to work with pre-recorded rhythm track. There were eight of us in 
his class, from absolute beginners (one guy just bought his bass a few 
weeks earlier and was literally starting from ground zero) to us more 
"advanced" (relatively speaking) players. We were each told to bring a 
"small" amp; it was interesting to see how each person interpreted 
"small." 35-50 watts through a 10" speaker seemed to be the norm.  Jack 
was using an SWR (natch) Baby Blue amp that had 2 8" speakers. It was 
amazing what a deep, beautiful tone it put out through those little 
things. Comments on Jack's teaching style will follow in a later post.

All the workshop sessions ran overtime; it seemed like we'd do a little 
review, learn something new, ask a few questions, and then have to run 
up the hill (!) for meal times.

At one point Jack put down his bass and went over his notes with us 
about the practical aspects of bass-playing and making music in general. 
He gave us tips on working with other musicians, working in a studio, 
performing live, how and what to practice, how to get a powerful but 
clear sound, and so on. Invaluable! 

During the second workshop Saturday, we went over "Lawman" and "Funky 
#7", which Jack threatened to make us perform en masse at the 
performance workshop Sunday. 

Dinner Saturday evening was prime rib with all the trimmings, for which 
we gave the chef a hearty ovation (at Vanessa (Jorma, you lucky dog!)
& Ginger's behest). After 
dinner, the porch jams resumed, again with Michael playing and teaching 
at the same time. Again I regretted leaving my ABG at home. I have since 
resolved to carry that thing around with me everywhere - ya never 
know....

Again we broke up about midnight, mainly out of courtesy to those hearty 
souls who decided to forego the cabins for the true camping experience 
of sleeping under the stars. Sunday was gonna be a BIG day....

Next: Jack's teaching style!

       
            John