GREETINGS FARMJAZZERS!!!   The past 10 months has proved to be challenging and "enlightening" in ways still asserting themselves.  The "Noble-Fall" - occurred last Oct 1st - 30ft. fall from a tree while attempting to rescue pet-cockatiel "Dennis"(the Menace), who had escaped from cage and gone out for a "joy-flight",  & was being pursued by a pair of red-tailed hawks.  I shattered my pelvis into some 8-pieces.   (check out the X-ray at bottom of page - ouch!)  After an Airlift to Duke, a 5 hr. surgery, and a month in the hospital, I was able to return home to begin the long and arduous rehabilitation process.  Indeed, I am lucky to still be "amongst-us".  Praises galore to the "Pelvic-Guru" Dr. Steven Olson, MD.; his team, all the PT folks, and most of all, my loving wife Sandy, without whom there's no way I could have sustained.  However, I returned to teaching in Jan. and am now walking w/o a cane.

Dennis, a little “worse for wear” after hiding in the bushes and hanging-out underneath the “wild-bird” feeder for a few days was spotted by a friend coming by to feed the dogs and other birds and set his cage out for him, to which he ran right into and buried his head in the sunflower seed bowl.  He still ain’t quite right; me neither, but at least I didn’t break a nail (or my head).

X-ray : Reparations from the Noble-Fall

     HIGHLIGHTS of the summer:  National Library Week performance, accompanied by Children’s Librarian & Watermelon Sugar musician, Louise Bendall, for seniors at Gunn Memorial Library in Yanceyville, NC. - I attended the 13th Annual Charlie Poole Musical in Eden, NC and won 1st Prize in the Finger-style Guitar Competition w/ a rendition of "The Dallas Rag".  Still offering lessons on guitar and banjo at: the Kirby Gallery in Roxboro, NC; Don's Music City in Danville, VA; and beginning Fall semester I'll also be teaching in the new Fine-Arts Program at Piedmont Community College in Roxboro. PCC courses will include: Classical Guitar; Applied Music in guitar & banjo; and we're designing a course in Jazz Styles/Appreciation.

       UPCOMING CONCERT ENGAGEMENTS:

       The FarmJazz Guitar Duo - The Guitarchitects - Hartley & Thompson will perform 11-1pm Sunday Aug. 30th at the new Weaver Street Market across from the courthouse in Hillsborough, NC

      Flute & Guitar Duo (w/ Janet Phillips – flautist) performing for a Social for the National Uptown Main Street Development Assoc. Aug. 20^th at Barristers B&B in Roxboro, NC.

     On Sept. 13^th,7pm,  Guitarchitects  Michael Thompson & Thomas Hartley will perform w/ Mike Willis – Vibraphonist for the “Summer Nights” Concert Series at the “Hogswaller” in Lenoir, NC.  

     On Sept.20th, 8pm, at the Unity Center of Peace Church in Chapel Hill: a special performance of music from the CD “ Every Sound I Hear” by Stephen Smith & Dilwara Fletcher.  Accompanists will include: Eric Pritchard – violin; Virginia Hudson – cello; Michael Thompson – guitar.  Check-out the website:  www.everysoundihear.com

    Thanks for stopping by and I’ll keep you posted on other news and concert events as they come up.  You can check out all the CD’s here on the website’s CD page; also on cdbaby.com; and earbuzz.com.    Also:  myspace/michaelthompsonfarmjazz

     The FarmJazz BANJO PRIMER is the long awaited, (and most requested), publication by FarmJazz custodian Michael Thompson.  This 2-CD- along w/ Banjo-Tablature Booklet-Set is the “answer to a prayer” for banjo students everywhere. It contains 10 of the most popular bluegrass banjo tunes presented initially “at the snail’s pace”; and then several more times; each a “little-bit” faster than the previous version. And then finally, Michael plays the song  at “performance-tempo” and accompanies himself on guitar. Songs included are: Cripple Creek , Cumberland Gap , Old Joe Clark, Foggy Mtn. Breakdown, Lonesome Road Blues, Devils Dream, Home Sweet Home, Lonesome Reuben, Duelin’ Banjoes, Groundspeed.   This “must-have” learning tool is available through Michael for $30 on his farmjazz.com website; at Don’s Music City in Danville , VA ; or personally through Michael himself.