So Sumi

Last night was the last of three consecutive evenings hearing live music, the performer was Annie Sumi at River Spirit Music aka Peter and Paula’s house in Hastings. It takes a bus, a walk, a train, and getting picked up in a car, to get there but it’s still a home game.

Annie was one of my top discoveries at the last NERFA. This is what I said about her. She was in “Tier 1: Unequivocal recommendations, the best of the best.”

Annie Sumi – Annie created a sensation on Thursday by not being at NERFA. She was supposed to be in the DJ showcase but had trouble crossing the border. She is not a terrorist or a drug dealer. She’s a sweet Canadian musician but there was a misunderstanding by the border guard of the nature of NERFA. There are rules about Canadian artists coming to the US for paid work. Want to reform NAFTA? Get rid of those restrictions. The Canada has them too. I talked to Canadians about Annie and every single one referred to her in glowing terms and said that she was the sweetest person. Every person literally said, “sweetest.” That doesn’t make her a great musician. In fact, that lowered my expectation as people might be recommending her because they like her. I’m glad that I saw her perform before I met her so I could remain unbiased. The verdict? She’s a great singer/songwriter. One of my friends that wasn’t attending asked me for recommendations. Her words were: “Please keep your eye out for the next Dar Williams, Lucy Kaplansky, Cheryl Wheeler. I’m sorry that’s so narrow, but it’s what I LOVE!! A beautifully written story song sung by a female.” I unhesitatingly recommended Annie and only Annie. I saw her first at a Semi-Formal. She as so good I went to see her again at a guerilla. I got a few chances to talk to her. She’s the sweetest person, the Canadians were right. She’s also smart and talented. She is like Dar.

Damn, reading that makes me want to see her. It’s always good to read what I wrote and not cringe. It’s not as bad as hearing my own voice.

To make it a home game I have to have friends in the audience, I did. Jeff & Carol, Perry & Beth, Carter, Robert, and Adrian. Oh yes, and one more. I resisted telling this story on Friday but now I can’t resist any longer I can resist anything but temptation.

Friday was my mental health day. I had therapy in addition to music, friends, and Nathan’s hot dogs and fries. I was about to talk about a rough topic in therapy, but my therapist said, “Before that I have to tell you one thing you’ll enjoy; I’m doing a very Gordon thing. I’m going to my first house concert.” I asked who she was seeing? I figured there’s a good chance that I’ll know the artist and or the host. She said, “I forgot her name, some Canadian woman in Hastings.” Yes, it was Annie Sumi. I’m patting myself on the back because I made house concerts sound so good that my therapist wanted to try one. My mission never ceases, not even in therapy.

Annie performed as a trio, she was joined by Neil Whitford on 12-string guitar, at least I think so, from where I was sitting it was hard to see, and Jillian Sauerteig on cello. I’m a sucker for cello. Neil played the guitar with an EBow, a vibrator that the musician touches to the strings instead of plucking them. It allows a guitar to play legato, similar to a violin bow, thus EBow. It gives it a spacey sound. Jillian also gives her cello a spacey sound. Along with Annie’s voice it creates an otherworldly feel. This is music that comes not from the earth, but from reality beyond reality. That’s odd as few are as earthy as Annie. She’s one of those people whose smile lights up a room. She’s like Tom Bombadil, you feel better when she’s around. You might be thinking that her music is kumbaya, nothing could be further from the truth. She writes about real issues, like homelessness, but she manages to find hope and beauty even in the darkness.

After the show Adrian gave Carol, Jeff, and me a ride to the train station. We were the carless New York City contingent. They traveled even further than me, they live in Queens. I don’t often see Adrian in person, and it was great to spend some time with her. Carol and Jeff pretty much stalk me, or is that the other way around? I had the pleasure of their company on the train portion of my trip home.

I now have no music plans until NERFA. Sure, that’s on Thursday, but it feels like a long time. I have to make sure I record an edition of Gord’s Gold this week. I listened to a new album by an old favorite artist and I’m excited about it. You’ll just have to listen to me on Folk Music Notebook.