Remember how much great information, how many nice, large photos you used to see on 12" vinyl record jackets? I still miss that. So I thought that, rather than trying to cram all that stuff onto a tiny CD insert, I'd create this web site - a companion to When the Wind is High. As this is my first solo CD, I'm starting at the beginning. This wasn't by design - I had no idea when I started that this would be the case, but most of this recording is directly or indirectly about my early life. When I was conceptualizing this CD, it was going to be pretty much a recording of interpretations of traditional Arabic rhythms played on doumbek - beladis, malfoufs, chiftitellis. This was inspired by my work with Jodette Johnson's troupe here in Sacramento (and others) and especially by my work with Mychelle Crown who asked me to do an original composition for her for the Rakassah (belly dance) Festival in March of 2004. As it turns out, there are almost no Arabic rhythms on this recording and almost no doumbek! Some day I may make that CD - who knows. I would like to thank Bea Ramirez. At all times she was understanding and supportive about the time and resources it takes to make music. Also, I'd like to thank Roxanne and Pablo Ramirez, Tony Martinez, Philip Little, Leah Erez, Carl Dickason and Laurie DeVarney for camaradarie and personal support. Many thanks to Kris Barkley for the cover design. Thanks also to David Houston who mastered masterfully, as he always does. Renee Gramacki spent an entire Saturday afternoon taking pictures with me. What a trooper. Thanks, Renee. And many thanks to family and friends who have received email after email, describing in excruciating detail all the aspects of discovering, playing and recording the instruments and songs on this CD. Additionally I would like to thank Tobias (the guy, not the guitar) and the people at Lark in the Morning, who didn't pay me to say this, but who have been excellent resources for instruments and information.