Member # 7
posted July 20, 2003 01:58 PM               

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Life’s Simple Pleasures Among the Vines

Contrary to Craig’s notion that Temecula is really one of the Count’s distant Transylvanian relations (saying perhaps "I want to suck your wine…"), it is really a Spanish spelling of the Luiseño Indian word Temecunga, meaning place of the sun. As I turned off the freeway from Los Angeles onto Temecula’s main road, that meaning became painfully clear when I rolled down the window – the temperature on the bank’s sign registered a toasty 100F shortly after 2:00 p.m.! Cruising down the center of town I was struck by its Old West feel; you almost expected the stagecoach to roll along the dusty streets. A roadrunner (ala beep beep!) darted across the road right in front of my car and into the bushes; not something we see in the big city. Of course the gunslingers are long gone and wine makers have moved in to carpet the valley with beautiful green vines.

One of the newest wineries in the valley is Wilson Creek, founded by Gerry and Rosie Wilson and run by the entire Wilson clan (www.wilsoncreekwinery.com). Since the grand opening in 2000, they have expanded to produce 15,000 cases of wine a year. One of their biggest sellers is the "Oh My Gosh" almond sparkling wine. They added a gazebo for weddings and a beautiful jazz stage for their new "Sunset Jazz in the Vines" series. From the parking lot below, I heard Craig’s unmistakable guitar. I wandered up to watch the guys running through their sound check. I was pleasantly surprised to recognize some new (old) songs added to the set, and was delighted to hear the familiar flute sounds that I remembered from the St. Regis show last month. Hardly anyone was around; the tasting room had closed early for the concert and most of the visitors had departed. I stood by the arched gateway, decorated appropriately with wrought iron grapes, to watch. A nice man came up and offered me a chair or a bottle of water. I must have looked completely roasted because he led me to a bench by the stage in the shade as the sound check was ending. Well, the kind stranger turned out to be Craig Johns, the son-in-law of the owners! So I sat and took in the beautiful surroundings. I felt like a guest at a fancy wedding with all the festive white chairs lined up, tables set for dinner, flowers everywhere and
beautiful music filling the air.

When the doors officially opened, I grabbed the best non-reserved seat I could find and waited for the show to begin. The sun was inching its way across the sky, but still provided enough heat to cook breakfast on the cement if you wanted. Huge pots of colorful geraniums hung around the stage and the vines shimmered from behind the stage. While I was admiring all this natural beauty, I felt someone sit down next to me…it was Mr. C himself who came to say hi and
bring me a bottle of ice cold water.

Gerry and Rosie Wilson welcomed the audience to the inaugural concert in their jazz series and thanked us all for coming to their winery. Their genuine warmth and hospitality isn’t something you see from concert promoters much these days. The band took the stage and launched into their first song, "Café Carnival." Again, everyone was dressed in black (the band’s favorite) except Kevin who added a splash of color with his blue shirt. It’s always so much fun to see Craig with both guitars strapped on to play the end of that song! After Elvis made his brief appearance during "Sweet Talk," we were treated to a beautiful version of "Gypsy Nights," a song I wish they’d add to their set list permanently. Craig was his usual talkative self, animating the crowd one moment with funny stories about his son’s new passion for knitting, and pulling heartstrings the next talking about his Dad’s passing before playing "Autumn Blue."

Marquinho amazed the crowd with his energy and fabulous tambourine routine during "Hurry Home." "Sacred Ground" was made even more powerful in this outdoor setting, with the sunset casting an orange glow on Craig’s face and the Wilson creek babbling in the background. Next, Craig offered to play "Return of the Eagle" by request. Watching Craig play that song up close with all his special guitar work is pure delight. A contingent of folks from Carvin guitars had their
own table and cheered wildly in the background.

After over an hour of music, most shows would have been over, but this one was just getting started. After a brief intermission, the band continued with "Acoustic Highway," a song most of the audience recognized and loved. Craig chose a woman in the first row to dedicate "Luminosa" to and played it just for her. By then the sun was gone and the first stars were peaking out from the night sky. Strings of twinkling lights over the audience added to the glimmer.

Craig explained the inspiration behind "Gathering of the Tribes" and was once again joined by Michele Finn and her student, 11 year old Beau Thomason, to play the Indian flutes during the song. Michele teaches 6th grade at Monte Vista Elementary School in La Crescenta, California and her students enjoy listening to Craig’s music every day before class. She had emailed Craig just before his Dana Point St. Regis show last month, and he invited them to perform with them for the song. Michele and Beau were both dressed in Indian-inspired costumes, which added an element of poignancy to the song. Ozzie took over the stage to play his own "Fingerpainting" as the rest of the band toweled off backstage.

With the fun just beginning, Craig grabbed the mike to make a few announcements. He told the audience that they were part of a truly unique show (something we didn’t need to be reminded of by then!) because not only were they doing the show in such a beautiful outdoor setting, but there was also a special exhibition of artworks by Bettie Miner. Miner, well known to smooth jazz fans, takes a Polaroid shot and adds her special brush strokes to create an unusual, almost impressionistic, vision of the subject, all in the space of time (around 90 seconds) it takes for the film to develop. She had all her work on display and Craig was happy to autograph and personalize any of his photos. (For his pictures and info on her work, see www.MinerWorksOfArt.com. Note: she doesn’t have photos of Chris Botti yet; he will sit for his portrait in September).

Also exclusive to this venue, there was a professional photographer taking digital photos during the show (those should be online later today at http://digitalstills-library.photoreflect.com; choose event Wilson Creek and password Craig to view (and purchase) the concert photos).

By the time the band launched into the Wilson Creek version of "Find Your Way Back," most in the crowd were up and dancing. Craig ventured off the stage and into the audience. He hopped onto an empty chair in my row to play. When he got to the part where he plucks the strings with his teeth, he and I almost fell over laughing…he did the teeth thing two or three times and the guy in front of him very nonchalantly told him, "Oh yeah, I do that too." Yeah, right!

While Jim come to the front of the stage to play his solo, I noticed Craig the prankster had moved in behind Marquinho’s drums and was banging away, having a great time, even twirling the drumsticks in the air like a pro. The band left the stage for a few minutes and the audience went nuts, begging for more. When they returned to play "Feelin’ Alright," people were cheering fanatically.

Kevin and Craig tried to do their usual routine in the audience but the rowdy crowd practically ran them over. Fueled by way too much "Oh My Gosh" almond champagne, people were grabbing both of them, almost knocking them over. They finished the song from the security of the stage. By then the party was in full swing, with the luau torches flickering in the garden, the wines flowing and millions of stars twinkling in the black sky. It was a perfect summer evening.

The carnival atmosphere continued at the signing table. Craig and Ozzie set up shop in between the displays of Bettie Miner’s art and the digital photographer only too happy to snap your photo with Craig. Craig handled everything with such grace, signing and then jumping up to put his arm around someone for their once in a lifetime photo. Ozzie had CD papers stacked up like airplanes, waiting for Craig to add his name to them. I marveled at the scene and chatted with a few fans who were already raving about the incredible show they’d just seen. I met the winner of the drawing for a guitar personally autographed by Craig (a musician himself), waiting to take possession of his prize. I got to chat briefly with Ozzie and Craig who were clearly having fun, even though they had an early morning wake up call to catch the plane to Colorado where they play the Winter Park Jazz Festival later this afternoon.

As I drove down the country road awash with stars in the darkness, I thought this is what it’s all about: slowing down long enough to enjoy the simple pleasures in life. Take note of nature’s infinite beauty, while listening to great music and enjoy the moment, something I think we all need more of these days.

A special thanks to Ozzie, Jim, Wade, Kevin, Marquinho and Craig for such a memorable evening of music amongst the vines, and to the Wilsons for hosting a fine start to their Sunset Jazz in the Vines series. I never thought Craig could top the first show I saw one year ago this month at Montalvo, but he did it last night and I’m so glad to have been part of it!

-Carolyn