The audience erupted in applause as Jorma Kaukonen walked across the stage of the Theater At Innovation Square. He sat down in the chair awaiting him, leaned into the microphone and simply said, “Thank you.”
Jorma casts a quick glance at his set list before leaning into his opener, “True Religion.” Applause rises as he finishes, met again with his trademark humility: a simple, sincere “Thank you.” He immediately goes into his next number, “I See The Light.” The audience listens raptly during the instrumental finish that stretches on for some time. One man. One guitar. Taking us on a musical journey that seems to end all too soon. When it does, the audience erupts in applause. Jorma again replies appreciatively: “Thank you very much,” he says this time. He immediately goes into his next tune, “Requiem For Angel.”
And so it went for the first hour or so of the show. Jorma would play. The audience would show its appreciation. He in turn would show his appreciation by thanking the audience and go on to play the next tune on the list. “Barbeque King.” A cover of Reverend Gary Davis’ “Death Don’t Have No Mercy.” Jefferson Airplane’s “Good Shepard.”
Just before playing “Ice Age” Jorma told the audience it would be his last solo tune. Pointing to the empty chair next to him he said it would be filled right after the song. He was as good as his word and after more enthusiastic applause he welcomed his good friend and musical partner John Hurlbut to the stage.
Where Jorma was quiet but friendly and appreciative of the audience he held captivated, John was equally friendly, equally appreciative, but quite loquacious by comparison. He noted several past students from Jorma’s Fur Peace Ranch were in attendance. The Ranch is where Jorma holds workshops for guitarists young and old. John manages Fur Peace, coordinating events, booking performances, and also giving guitar lessons.
It is said that at Fur Peace Ranch you can immerse yourself in music. It is somewhat akin to Field Of Dreams in that, like baseball, music has always been there — marking the passage of time. It evokes the feelings that touch you and the memories you recall. In that sense, Jorma and John brought the essence of Fur Peace Ranch to Rochester. It was the music that mesmerized the audience and took us down our individual memory lanes.
Accompanied by Jorma on guitar, John opened with Bob Dylan’s “She Belongs To Me” and “I’ll Remember You.” They paid tribute to singer/songwriter Scott Bohren with a cover of his song “Travelin’.” Their encore was Dylan’s “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door.”
The Theater At Innovation Square in Rochester, NY, is a “Goldilocks” performing arts space, one that is not too big and not too small but just right. It seats 700 and was indeed just right for a warm and friendly performance such as the one Jorma and John gave. Perhaps it was the setting. Perhaps it was not for promotional purposes. Perhaps it was just Jorma being Jorma playing and singing along with his friend John. It felt more intimate, almost as if I was sitting in someone’s living room listening to Jorma just playing some songs he likes to play. And if we liked them too – well so much the better.
Following the Rochester, NY concert on June 8, Jorma and John have shows in the following locations:
- Center For The Arts in Homer, NY on June 10, 2025;
- Bearsville Theater in Woodstock, NY on June 13 & 14, 2025
- Hudson River Music Festival in Croton Point Park, NY on June 14, 2025; and,
- The Kate in Old Saybrook, CT on June 16, 2025;
A current list of Jorma Kaukonen’s shows for the rest of 2025, including shows with Hot Tuna, can be found here.