Annie Wenz: News/Blog

Hello Everyone

So sorry it took a bit to get to writing... It's been very very busy. We are all well & very safe. It is an amazing situation up here in the earthquake zone. I am so incredibly blown away by the huge hearts & courage of those who've been here & continue moving ahead through such a difficult time. We spent all day today touring the hospital & facilities up here. We were shown where the many field tents were during the aftermath, & we met with many doctors & staff to make recommendations/evaluate what medical supplies are needed. Batool & I facilitated a workshop for the docs, medical students & volunteers about post traumatic stress which we interwove with music therapy... (while Larry acted as videographer) Those who lost & have been through so much entered quietly & left laughing & tapping out rhythms. It has been difficult to hold back our tears. Again we are so amazed & blesssed to be with such strong & beautiful people...

We will be continue to be safe & busy (as we of course eat our way through Pakistan;)

Love to all
Annie, Batool, Larry, Nadeem

Hello Friends...
Many thanks to each & every one of you for all of the love & support for my upcoming trip abroad! I certainly couldn't have done it without you. I leave Boston Friday June 16th & should arrive June 18 their time & will be sure to write as I can letting y'all know all's well. Again- Many Many Thanks... Wish Me Luck... I can Feel The Love! Annie

Hello Everyone & A Belated Welcome to 2006!

I hope you all found ways to share the important little things during the holidays...
With so much going on in the world, it's always so wonderful to hear everything y'all are doing
to make big differences. Keep on keeping on! We can & do make miracles happen.
I've got all sorts of news & a bunch of really fun gigs coming up...
Hope some of you can join me, or help spread the word! Many Huge Thanks in advance!

Contents Below:
~Schedule at a glance
~ Newz
~ CD "LOVE SALE" & Valentines Day Shopping Links to Some REally Cool Friends (IMHO)
~ Visiting artist friends (if you live in SW FL- these are folks you have to see- playing in Pineland!)
~ Off to pack for Austin!- BYEBYE & THANKYOU SO MUCH!

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~Schedule at a glance: In depth details at "calendar" above on this site.

2/9- 2/14 "International Folk Alliance Conference"- Austin TX
2/15 Wed. 6pm "Tarpon Lodge", Pineland FL
2/26 Sun. "The Country Store-" Ft. Myers FL. Blessing of the BIKES! - Time TBA
3/ 10 Fri- "Wildchild Gallery-" Matlacha FL 4-7pm†
3/11 & 3/12 Sat /Sun- "Sertoma Youth Ranch-" Will McLean Festival- Brooksville FL
3/18 Sat. -"St. James City Civic Assoc.- Breastfest 2006!" - St. James City FL
3/23- 3/26 (Thu- Sun) "Suwannee Springfest"- Live Oak FL
4/14 Fri."Wildchild Gallery-" Matlacha FL 4-7pm†
5/18 Thur. 8pm "Anderson Fair"- Houston TX
5/20 Sat "Walden Coffeehouse"- San Antonio TX
5/26 Fri. "Kerrville Folk Festival"- Kerrville TX†
8-13- 8/17 (Sun- Thurs)- "Rocky Mt Folks Fest. Song School" Instructor- Lyons, CO
8/18- 8/20 (Fri- Sun) "Philadelphia Folk Festival" Schwenksville PA

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~ Newz
*I'm back home in Florida after spending part of Dec/Jan writing, & playing percussion with musician friends in Isla Mujeres Mexico. They had major damage from Hurricane Wilma, but the community pulled together to have things up & running for their high season. It's a great place to visit- so all's ready for you!

*My biggest music news is that thanks to the marketing wizards at CD Baby, my song "Dreams of Bali" off the new "Winds of the World" CD was heard on iTunes by a large record company in Australia which deals specifically with instrumental/Asian music, AND they just licensed the song for a CD compilation for a huge project in Malaysia! (several thousand per year) They're also anxious to hear the rest of the CD for future project consideration! I am just so very excited!

*AND thanks to you all, "Winds of the World" is spreading quickly! Every few days I receive another note from CD Baby saying "guess who just bought your CD?"... and I had 57 digital downloads in just the first few weeks I signed up for digital distribution! I just had no idea it would do this well. Folks continue to buy them as gifts for friends, co-workers, nurses, teachers & folks they know who do massage & yoga & teach & on & on...
So thankyou thankyou thankyou & Please keep spreading the word

*I'm finally getting to sorting & touching up my photos from the E. European tour, & WILL BE posting some of those photos to my website in the next few days (I promise!) Which reminds me, if ANY of y'all in the Northeast or in Florida are interested in helping the Daft group find some dates this Oct & early Nov. (The folks I toured with from the German/American collaboration!), the website for info & contact is http://www.daft-tour.com. It was one of THE most wonderful musical events/experiences of my life & I know you'll love the next group!

*Martin Guitar's Newsletter "The Sounding Board" has a photo of me on my Harley by Jayne Toohey & article about my music (well wahoo!!!) at http://martinguitar.com/news/newsletter.php† Click on Volume 20 and read page 6 (at the bottom), and page 13 is about the DAFT Tour!

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~ CD "LOVE SALE" & Valentines Day Shopping Links to Some REally Cool Friends (IMHO)

Annie CD's: As always, my recordings can be purchased online at this link at this website
http://www.anniewenz.com/products.html & click on the CD you'd like... Which brings you to CD Baby- the coolest place on the planet for indie artists! Also, since discounts seem to matter, I've kept them at the lower SALE price & you get additional volume discounts at the website!


ALSO - any of these would make great gifts!

**Author Robert N. Macomber http://www.robertmacomber.com/ This is the site of my good buddy, award winning Civil War Maritine Historical Author Bob Macomber...
His books about character Peter Wake are GREAT!!!

**Island Flutes http://www.islandflutes.com/ I can't say enough about these absolutely stunning flutes or about my dear friend & flute wizard Ray Wood! If you know ANYONE interested in Native flutes, look no more! Questions- email me!


**Native Kid Clothing http://www.NativeKidInc.com My good Pine Island friends Cindy & Alan Bickford started this small, but fast growing business specializing in really quality, reasonably priced but snazzy outdoor clothing. I wear their shirts riding my bike & fishing & hiking &...

**AND in the Pine Island,FL area, you can purchase my recordings as well as a truckload FULL of wonderful
magical everythings at Wildchild Gallery in Matlacha or Pine Island Gifts & Cruises in St James (right next to the Hardware Store!

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*** The rest of June & July & Aug are still under construction;) More TBA! I'm still trying to figure out how to sneak in some performances & house concerts as I ride my motorcycle from Fl to Sioux St Marie, Canada to Maine in early June. Biggest difficulty is not knowing exactly when I'll be where. As the exact route & possible dates sift out, I'll let y'all know in case any of you are into hosting a doo! It sure would be a blast!
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~ Visiting artist friends (if you live in SW FL- these are folks you have to see- playing at the† "Tarpon Lodge", 6pm Pineland FL http://www.tarponlodge.com/ 239 283 3999 (SPECIAL thanks to Nancy Glickman at the Tarpon for making this happen!)

Thursday February 16- The Dreamsicles- Tom Prasada Rao & Carrie Cooper will ROCK YOUR world!
Tuesday February 21 Tom Prasada-Rao solo- So So wonderful!
Wednesday February 22 Tom Prasada-Rao (Encore! Encore!)
Tuesday, March 14- Rik Palieri (Good buddy of Pete Seeger!) You'll LOVE him!
Wednesday, March 15- Rik Palieri "encore performance"

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~ Off to pack for Austin!- BYEBYE & THANKYOU SO MUCH!
Well folks, I've burned your eyeballs out long enough...
THANKYOU all so very much for your continued love & light & support!

Wishing you all joy & magic & love & light back!
Annie
--

Hey Folks

There's a brand new shiny review of "Winds of the World" up at the "PRESS" section of this site, so check it out... I'm SO EXCITED!
Reviewer, WUFT Radio Program Director Bill Beckett is one of THE most knowledgeable people on the planet about the multicultural music genre... So it really means a lot to me!
Life is Good... Annie

Hey Y'All
Many of you who live in the Pine Island/Matlacha area have been asking where my CD's are available locally...
(THANKS FOR MAKING MY DAY!)

Sooooo, CD's are available:

*At WILDCHILD GALLERY on Pine Island Rd., Matlacha, FL

*At ISLAND BOOKS & CRUISES (next to the Hardware Store) in St.James City, FL.

*At any of my area concerts

*You can also Email me about making a purchase via check
annie@anniewenz.com

Or you can Email me just in case I happen to be twirling about your area on my bike...
Have Harley will sometimes deliver!
(for any old excuse;0)

Felicidadez!
Annie

Hey There Everyone!

Just wanted y'all to know sound bytes of all of my recordings are FINALLY up & available at this website at the "hear music" link & also at the "products" link. (yaaay)

I'm also offering the CD's at a special holiday discounted price at the "products" link... AND they're even 10% less than that if you buy more than one!

Folks are telling me they're loving it, and giving it as gifts to their families & friends, massage therapists... and I'm honored & grateful...

I promise I'll really get photos of the E. European tour up on the site as well.

Have a HAPPY HAPPY THANKSGIVING full of joy & love & peace & chocolate & pie!
Annie

Hey Friends & Family

Just back from 4 days up in Live Oak where I was performing at Suwannee Springfest 5 hours north of here. Felt like a great place to spend the hurricane!
We returned to Pine Island (after they reopened the bridge which was out of commission for a bit due to a run in with a shrimp boat) to find phone line ok (which is why I can briefly write this note and check email), electricity down and no clue as to how long till it's back. We're having to boil the water since that blew out for a bit and goobies could've snuck in...
Some trees and limbs and my huge fruiting bananas bit the big one... but they'll grow back.

All is safe and dry in the house... no instruments gone. Troopers checking ID's as folks enter the island to be sure nothing weird goes on...

So all is really great.
No electricity and boiling water is just like a music festival.
What could be better!

Many thanks for all of your calls, emails and notes... It's times like this when one finds out just how loved they are!

I'll be in touch with each of you as soon as I can. I'll also write more and post trip photos.

SmoochSmooch
Annie

Hello Everyone

Sorry I've been so bad about writing... We've just been so busy. In a great way! I can't begin to describe what these weeks have meant to me, and I believe each of us. We've become a family. The music grows in so many dimensions with every performance as we learn not only about each others musical changes, but about each others personalities, moods smiles, signals and hearts.
We care about each other and about doing what we can do to make each others music sound as good as it can be, so the music truly is amazing... we're really sounding like a band more and more!

There are also so many little subtle things I see each of us doing for each other... little acts of kindness and consideration. Someone is thirsty so someone else shares their water (or beer or green schnapps:) Someone has a heavy load and another comes to pick up the other end. We share food and cheap jokes and lay off when one of us looks tired or needs space.

We are still eating our way through Germany as well, so thankfully our schedules are full and we are loading and breaking down gear, so the tour hopefully won't end with us all gaining new butts!

So many unexpected gifts as well...
Jorg who we call Ko invited us to his home where he and his wife prepared an absolute feast!
Followed by a stroll by the nearby lake...
The presenters from yesterday's brunch at a gorgeous old restored barn gave us each a loaf of home baked bread (that didn't last long), and after last night's gig we were each given a bouquet of flowers!

We've had a busy schedule, sometimes with 2 performances per day...
Wilfried and Bernd really outdid themselves setting this tour up.
So many memories...

Anyway... I must go help load gear for tonight's performance at a theater in Dresden... I'll write more when I can.

Till then Danke for being here!
Annie

Hey Yall
So glad to hear some of you are reading this and 'joining me' on this trip...
I am now about half way thru the DAFT Tour and am having one of the most wonderful musical and personal times of my life!
EACH of the artists is so unbelievably talented so playing together is just such a joy! FYÍ-Info about the artists is at the DAFT website.
http://www.DAFT-tour.com Though we are playing our own individual songs, we are accompanying each other, and as in the last tour we did in the US, the coming together of our sounds is like that of a band which has played together for years. There are the folks from Germany- Martina who plays brilliant compositions and songs on German bagpipe, mandolin and guitar, Jorg who's voice and songs in German send chills down our backs, Ron originally from the states, but from Germany for years, tells hysterical intros in German and then sings wonderful songs in English... Bob, also born in the US, but a long time Germn resident, who now teaches linguistics at the university in Cairo Egypt hasn't yet joined us. He'll arrive tonite. He was also in the last tour and we know things will escalate once he hops in the pool!

George Wurtzbach from Brooklyn, NY is one of the Americans in the group. Besides writing GREAT songs,he is just one of the most amazing piano players I've ever heard, proficient in every style imaginable, so we have him snazzing up all of our songs, along with Ron & sometimes Martina on mandolin and Jorg playing bass. I'm playing percussion as well, so we have our own rocking band! Last of all and certainly not least, our mighty leader and tour organizer (also an incredible musician) Wilfried Mengs keeps us in line and joins us on the last encore- a group version of 'Where Have All the Flowers Gone' in English and German. We're also fortunate as hell to have Frank the best sound
wizard to double as driver... and Larry as roadie and all around helper.
It just couldn't get any better!

In each of the cities and towns we visit we're taken on a tour, so we're seeing Germany as one only gets to see through an insiders eyes... so much old history!

The actual places we've performed at have been so varied and wonderful. The tour has been so far in Western Germany in towns small and large- so we've played at schools, where we then taught classes in music and English,
arts centers, town halls, and tonight a club in Berlin. We've
been treated to a castle tour, a traditional German
Christmas meal in a glass enclosed garden in an ancient arts center surrounded by candles... we've raised several glasses of German brew surrounded by stone in old cellars, we drank some green stuff that was a combo of mint schnapps, listerine & ti-d-bowl ;)

As you can see... we're all having the time of our lives.
We're busy driving between cities most days- doing mini tours, and most of all laughing and laughing...
Both George and I have German ancestors, so we're also looking here through those eyes as well... George speaks some German and is doing great with the language. I came here knowing about 5 words, but am now introducing some of my songs and singing choruses in German. We all communicate in both languages and are learning somuch about each others culture which is why we do this!!!

We are also
learning much about what it must've been
like living in Eastern Germany longing for freedom...

Last night we arrived at the flat of Ron who's been living in W. Germany
for years.
We climbed up the stairs to his 5th floor apartment, went out onto the balcony and looked east.
From his balcony, as if we were looking across a small city street, there is a beautiful tree and flower lined area. It is where the wall used to be. On the other side of the trees are more apartments. I then realized what it had to be like for those on the other side looking over to Ron's side of the wall from high in the sky- seeing freedom, but not being able to get there. The stretch I now see was a wall and a wide path of dirt where tanks and gunners watched and waited. I always pictured how it must've been to look at a high wall... but to be able to see OVER the wall from a high balcony to freedom just brought me to tears... and it still is now...

So tonight and tomorrow
we rock Berlin... then we continue on to other towns and cities...
Our other mighty leader Bernd Haber joins us in a few days... We can't wait to see him!

What bliss... We are all so very grateful!

Danke!!!
Annie

Hello Yall

Well... here I am in Berlin... Just arrived today after a blissful week in Krakow Poland. It was just supposed to be 2 days there, but it is truly a magical place it somehow kept extending! It reminded me of New York in its excitement, arts and culture, but it is an ancient city as well... so bursting with passion, art, music and joy. The people dont seem to run about pushing and shoving as they do in other big cities. They stroll about watching the street artists and mimes, feeding pidgeons, eating luscious desserts and loving life. I just couldnt get enough of it. D&J Hostel owned by a young Polish couple Joanna & Dominik became home base. They were so in love with the city it was contagious! We had a blast there and they even hosted a concert my last night there...
I will write more soon, but I must go as I have much to do before meeting up with the DAFT Tour group tomorrow

Love to all!
Annie

IT'S FINALLY AVAILABLE!
Thanks so much to those of you who patiently waited and supported me in this journey. The new CD is now available... just go to the {Products{ link and click.
Hope Y'all LOVE IT!

When you get a chance- feel free to read my notes below about my current wandering gypsyings... I'm now today in Krakow, Poland. I'll write more maybe tomorrow, but I have to say, I absolutely LOVE this city. It's the arts/ cultural capital of Poland. Maybe someday I'll live here for even a month or 2!

So... out to explore.
Nasdorovia, and feel free to spread the word about the new CD!
Hanulka (which by the way is Annie in Polish)

Well... Finally... In Poland...

I'm trying to remember when I first dreamed of coming here. I think it was when I was about 5 years old and my grandmother said "Hanulka, if you learn to speak Polish, I'll bring you to Poland". I attempted t learn the language, but it wasn't easy. I remember getting a book from the library a few years later. It was so difficult still... But I kept dreaming.

Anyway- yesterday with teary eyes, we crossed the border through the Tatra mountains from Slovakia into Poland. The scenery was breathtaking. The houses were each works of art with steep peaked tin roofs, ornate carving around doors and windows, surrounded by herbs, fruit trees and flowers. The first stop is in Zakopane which is actually a touristy place, but despite the tourism, you can walk down the small side streets and visialize what it looked like long ago. The people are so friendly- loving life and wanting to share their love and passion for it.

The first night we unfortunately ended up in a more modern- "rode hard & put up wet motel " way up on a hillside. Great view, but that was the only positive feature. It was cold and rainy out, so we flipped on the TV which was a scream (to us) There were only 3 channels. One in Polish, the other were old foreign bad- I mean BAD movies. The dubbing is the same guy speaking Polish a bit louder than the original script! Whether the actor is man, woman or child, its the same male Polish voice speaking!
In between the movie, there were boullion cube commercials! Yea- you read that right!

So we had wine and cheese and bread and fruit and that was our 1st night in Poland.

We set out today to find anything better... and immediately were rewarded by knocking on the door of a man who was a former teacher, & his wife a rehab. specialist. Their little house & rental penzion was surrounded by charming gardens- filled with veggies and herbs and fruit trees... so reminiscent of the garden I remember tending with my grandmther as a child.
We checked in and went about walking thru the side streets taking photos of the beautiful houses and gardens, then sampling pastries, cheeses and taking it all in...

I finally feel as if I'm in the place of my dreams...


Hanulka

Hey Everyone...
Well the journey continues...
My last night in Slovakia was such a memorable magical night. I went to the small cafe owned by a Slovakian couple who, hearing I was a musician invited me and 2 of their other musician friends for a gig/ get together. The other musicians were James and Beata. He was from England and she from Slovakia. They met a few years ago in a cave- both doing music. They fell in love, got married, have a young son now and live in Solvakia where they work as professional musicians. Their music was so beatiful- a blend of acoustic- folk - from the heart type songs. Some jazzy, some reels, some love songs... James played guitar and also amazing violin/fiddle. Beata played guitar and they both sang... breathtaking harmonies. We swapped songs back and forth accompanying each other. I had my brushes and tin with me and ankle shakers, so I played percussion. Jaro, the owner of the place had been clipping his hedges outside when we arrived, so not wanting to miss out on the fun, he decided to play the hedge clippers- opening and closing them rhythmically. It was a hoot!!! He was pretty good too! From Slovakian Mt Climbing team to drummer! We all shared wine and stories.... music and laughs and once again it was evident how music can bring people together.

That's all for now...
Nasdorovia,
Hanulka

Hey YAll

Just writing to report that I'm staying out of trouble... took a breathtaking hike to a waterfall at about 4800 feet in the Tatra Mountains of Slovakia... Reminds me of New England. Met a rock climbing guide in the village of Stary Smokovec who also has a small cafe, so I have my first gig in Slovakia tonight! Should be big fun. Crossing the border via bus/foot/bus into Poland tomorrow into the town of Zakopane'.
All is good!

Nasdorovia
Annie

I.ll just write a quickie today so as not to bog yall down with too much reading.

Bratislava, though another city full of amazing architecture, churches and castles was yet another big hussling in your face.a.rama, so we decided to get out of the craziness and head for a smaller, kinder, gentler place. We were told the smaller mountain city of Banska Bastriska was that place...
So we hopped a 3 plus hour train ride northeast of Bratislava, into the central part of the country. It is truly beautiful here! The people are warm and friendly and the pace is slower. We are surrounded by mountains and the town has a small square surrounded by fountains, sculptures, little eateries and people just spending time together. I wonder why we don.t have more squares like this in the US.

The language barrier is still a big issue, but I.ve learned to survive by learning to say "please, thank you, information, hotel=pension, coffee, beer, wine, no meat" in every language!

So... that.s all for today
Thanks for sharing the journey!

Annie

I am writing two entries today... this and the entry above from "on the train to Prague"... be sure to check out both!

Prague... what do I say...
I guess first I,ll say the obvious. Amazingly brilliant architecture. I have never in my life seen such a display. Each building a work of art!
That being said, it is also a HUGE city where hundreds of thousands of people rush about, cars rip around, shops burst with crystal and jewelry and puppets and regal clothing and a fortress of a castle dominates the skyline...larger than any other in the world... and me being me ... I say "how many people could that have fed" and "what,s the rush... when do you smell the roses" and "do you really NEED all that stuff"

Prague started out with sticker shock. After travelling around the world on a shoestring, it was difficult only finding accomodation in what was more like a jail cell than a cosy room. We were told breakfast was included and then arrived at our flat to find out "it was just free, but now its not" so feeling somewhat screwed, we sucked it up and said "fine".
On to walking the streets. Public transportation was incredibly difficult to figure out as you could only buy tickets to ride trains-busses-trams at some kiosks somewhere, and we never did figure it all out. Of course everything was in Czech, which I totally agree with, however, any other country I.ve visited at least had pictures-understandable diagrams... so we walked till our feet were blistered. We had read that taxis could rip you off so that wasn.t an option.
We then went to change money at a Western Union affiliated money exchange which had rates posted all over the walls. The posted rates were the same rates as we saw in the bank, so we asked "is there commission?" She shook her head "no". We placed 100 US dollars on the counter and she replaced it with Czech money, but the amt was 25 dollars less than we understood. When we asked why, she pointed to a small side banner which said changing US to CZech was a much lower rate. We said " that is not what we understood, may we please have our money back" In ANY other country we,ve travelled to they would have returned our money... not here!
She said "transaction complete... no change back"
We begged and pleaded. Asked for the police. she said "call police".
We waited in the street for about an hour. No Luck. We were told at the nearby post office that this type of misleading is frequent and there is always trouble there. We tried every kind way of explaining. I Ghandi,d her to death. Zip.
When she wasn.t looking, I switched the numbers on her board so no one else could misunderstand and therefore get ripped off.

Another time I will write more about the people I am trying so hard to understand. What does Years of oppression and occupation do to you???


So, we said... "enough big city in your face..."
Got on a train for Bratislava, Slovakia where we are now.
It took 4 hrs and at arrival we were wasted. We decided to suck it up and attempt to buy the 48 hour transit pass so our feet wouldn.t fall off. We read and asked and pointed and circled until we FINALLY found a kiosk in the main train station where you could buy the pass. We paid for the pass and hauled our weary butts on a tram which was only a kilometer from where we wanted to go downtown. Everyone we attempted to ask for information... saying excuse me and thankyou in Slovak, still acted annoyed, as many did in Prague. We finally got on the tram and sat down. We were immediately approached by 2 big bully guys demanding to see our passes. We produced them and the guys gestured !no!
Waved hands as if our passes were bogus and pointed to demand the equivalent of about a hundred US dollars!
Of course we didn§t speak the language, so we waved and pointed and gestured to our tickets saying "good" "new" I pointed to our watch saying "just bought" Well I could.ve just as well been speaking spanish...
We stood to get off the tram and they physically blocked our way and forced us back to our seats. It was incredibly frightening and frustrating. Everyone else just stared ahead. We had no clue as to what the problem was. Finally he pointed to a machine where we were supposed to have punched the ticket the second we got on the tram. Well how should we have known that??? I tried to search for words in my dictionary. We said "we want police" they said "police you pay much more and wait many hours"
/interesting they could speak that much!
A young woman tried to say something on our behalf to no avail. We went on and on . I asked if it made him smile to make me suffer. I think he understood but didn.t give a squat. We argued on, again tried to get up and were blocked.
Finally after about half an hour and many stops past our intended destination, one of the guys took my ticket, punched it in the machine right in front of me and got off.
Talk about being bullied!

So we got off, turned around on the tram back to where we needed to go and I overheard a man speaking English. I asked "excuse me... may I ask you something" I relayed our story and asked if this is typical. He said there can be huge fines if you don.t have your ticket punched even if you just plain old didn.t understand. He shook his had as if to say it was sad.
We spoke a bit about our trip and he asked of we planned to stay in Slovakia, I said I came to buy a folk flute... fujara... but after our ordeal wasn§t sure how long we.d stay. I said "we met those guys, but then we met you, so who knows" I then asked what he did for work.
He smiled and said "I work for the ministry of Foreign Affairs"
We all got a good laugh...
Said goodbye and ...
that.s that
24 hours and 2 almost trips to the police. Makes me realize how easy it§s been all these years travelling where I speak Spanish!
I.m exhausted!!!

Nasdorovia...
Hanulka

I wrote this while on the train to Prague 3 days ago... Much has happened since then... but I-ll start with this...

I am in a train rocking back and forth in the Czech Republic between Plzen and Prague where old meets new. My dear friend Anna Wolfe is singing to me. Her music brings me to both places and now she will always be here... but her music tells me she has been here before. Her spirit has been everywhere... this I know.
I look out foggy windows to piano and violin as old stone farm houses encircled by flushes of mustard nod to and she is waving a magic wand... dusty...grateful and brilliant. Fat sunflowers are bending to touch the dark brown earth and I am touched and held as a winding river chases this train catching, feeding, being.
We stop at some small village station. Life comes and life goes. I watch and wonder... who why... has there been joy or pain... and she is singing of life and death and lucky pennies and blessings.

Low drums thump to dancing ghosts in clay villages where peasants have held heads high and proud watching armies come and go in velvet revolution.
Trees flash and blur between red roofed lives... my own Picasso. Some tiles missing. Oh so beautiful, that absence.

Flower boxes bursting make cracked windows invisible and the wind is caressing her... such bliss... amidst broken simple houses.

She sings of winter of long black coat and I am reminded of siting around a white table under a sole white light eating babka, speaking in Polish and English sewing crisp bills inside the cold satin lining of black wool coats which were stacked into brown paper wrapped boxes and sent with love and hope and hope and love to those who lived inwindow boxed hopeful houses not far from here.
Two voices sing in my head. One new and very old... a gentle lullaby.
And one old and very new in thick foreign tongue sings about a black eyed gypsy she is calling me.

Hello everyone...
First of all, you,ll have to bear with me as I navigate thru these very different computer keys and letters...

I am writing from the the small but gorgeous city of Pilzen aka Plzen, in the Czech Republic. It is absolutely breathtaking...
After what seemed like an endless journey- leaving the US thurs at noon, arriving in Frankfurt, Germany 7am fri and immediately taking 5 different trains, we arrived here fri about 6pm. I am learning so much about the Czech people and this wonderful country. For hundreds of years the Czech people just fought to survive many occupations. Only in 1992 did they become a democracy led by a playwright from Prague who became president after an uprising called the "Velvet Revolution"... called that because there were no casualties. I know theres a song in that!!!
The buildings were spared during WW11 because the occupation was so swift, so the architecture is just spectacular, the streets are cobblestone in spiraling patterns and there are flowers and huge trees gracing the city.
I am often wondering what this region looked like whan my grandmother left here almost 100 years ago. Needless to say, I am taking a gazillion photos.

This is the birthplace of Pilzner beer, so of course a tour of the brewery was a must. The tunnels underneath where the beer is fermenting in huge copper vats go forever... I of course had to play my flute there!
They have an annual music fest which I will truly attempt to perform at some time in the future... wish me luck.
The food is also incredible... and I plan to eat my way across town.

The Czech people are warm and friendly... but this is probably the most intense language barrier I have experienced outside Laos!
Last night I acted as translator for a group of people from Madrid who spoke no Czech or English... The waitress spoke a bit of english... fortunately I was able to help everyone to communicate and they loved their dinner.

Tomorow... on to Prague- Praha-Prag depends on what country you are in!!!...
Then onto Slovakia...
BUT... someday... I will return!

Nasdorovia
Hanulka

Annie Wenz~ Wandering Gypsy Update

Hello Everyone!

Contents:
1~Hurricane Relief~ AMERICAN RED CROSS
2~ Old Newz~ FL To ME on a Harley/Naked Folk/FRFF/RMFF
3~ New Newz~ NEW WEBSITE!
4~ NEW INSTRUMENTAL CD~ WINDS OF THE WORLD!!!
5~ DAFT-Tour

1~ Hurricane Relief~ First of all, I know all of our hearts are breaking as we watch the disaster of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. I have many personal thoughts about the situation, but I think the most helpful thing I can do is to urge all of you to consider sending a donation to the Red Cross http://www.redcross.org/ As a Red Cross volunteer myself, I can personally attest to their reliability. If not the Red Cross, I know there are other fundraisers & organizations in need. If we all give what we can, we can make a difference. Thank You!

2~ Old Newz ~ It has been a wonderful few months. Hopefully many new songs will be born. The bike (motorcycle) trip from Florida to Maine was just an AMAZING journey! 3000 miles, 19 days, 2 of us, 2 bikes, 1 guitar, all back roads. Highlights were Neals Gap, GA & Deals Gap NC where bikers come from all over the US to twirl about the most technical hairpin turns I have ever seen or ridden. The Tail of the Dragon in Deals Gap has 318 turns in 11 mi! It was quite intimidating maneuvering a 750 lb bike, but now I have the T-shirt to prove I rode the dragon (twice!) From NC & TN, it was off to my old stomping grounds- Harlan KY. THAT was an emotional experience. In all of my travels, I have yet to see a town so changed by technology. I moved there because after a huge flood (23 feet above flood stage) in the 70s they needed nurses. It was there that I first lived away from home, delivered about a dozen babies, & got to see life in the hollers first hand. Returning to find the small town with so much history & 1 tiny restaurant literally cut in half by a strip malled, walmarted ,cvsed, fast-food lined 4 lane hwy which was then lined by a 24 foot wall built by the Army Corp of engineers, totally blew my mind. Fortunately the heart of Harlan was still there- people never change, & I was able to find my old landlady Moverine sitting in her little hillside house still sucking a cigarette butt inside out. We flashed back. I cried, & rewrote my 2 Harlan songs plus I’m now working on a song about why we are so drawn to return to places we lived long ago.

After Harlan, on to Forksville, PA so photo goddess Jayne Toohey could take my photo for the Naked Folk Calendar 2006! http://www.nakedfolkcalendar.com Yes- you read it right. Me, my Harley, & a smile! Others so far on the 2006 calendar will be Susan Werner, SONiA, Utah Phillips, Tom Prasada Rao & Cary Cooper & more.

Falcon Ridge Folk Fest was next. My buddy Rik Paleri joined me on the family stages, I did a few workshop stages and my highlight was playing percussion with Lowen & Navarro and Eddie from Ohio. Eddie’s mom was ill & he couldn’t be there, so it was a huge honor to attempt to somewhat fill Eddies bodacious shoes. I also participated in the tribute concert to my dear late musical sister Rachel Bissex. She so would have loved hearing her beautiful music sung by those who cherished her. The compilation CD of her music, Remembering Rachel is still available at; http://cdbaby.com/cd/rachelbissex5
After FRFF, I returned to teach at Rocky Mt Folks Festival song school for the 9th year. As always it SO filled my cup. I learn so much from the students & faculty as well. New teachers this year were Lisa Loeb, Joe Craven & Willy Porter who are not only amazing musicians, but also wonderful people!

New Newz~ NEW WEBSITE!
As some of you know, I FINALLY totally overhauled my website! YAAAAY! I signed on with http://www.hostbaby.com and I LOVE them. I now have the ability to write frequent updates in the news/blog section; add photos when I travel & you all can still write your thoughts in the guestbook for the world to see. Please check out the site & let me know what you think!

NEW INSTRUMENTAL CD~ WINDS OF THE WORLD!!!
After all these years of you all urging me to record my Native American flute/piano compositions, I finally took your advice! I also decided to bring in other world influences & textures & included Slovakian flute, Balinese flute. Bamboo & Drone flutes. Each song features a flute, plus I am playing piano, soft percussion, guitar, gongs, bells, didgeridoo, or steel drum. I was joined on percussion by Glen Velez, known to be the best frame drummer in the world, as well as wizard Vernon David on haunting cello, & Tom Prasada Rao blows me away on violin AND sitar! Part of the CD was recorded by Grammy Award winning producer Norman Blain, and Tom Prasada Rao co produces 4 songs with me. Per the request of massage folks, the CD is an hour long (plus a few seconds). I must say, I am so incredibly proud of this CD & so far everyone who has heard it says they love it. It will be for sale via the link at my new website. The cover art & info are there now, & I was told it should be available about 2 weeks from now, So please rock my world & return to the site in mid September; & if you know of anyone who is stressed & could benefit from the gift of relaxing/zenfull music- please spread the word!

The DAFT- Tour~
Last November I was invited to be part of an amazing collaboration between artists from the US & Germany, touring throughout the Northeast US & culminating in one of the most outstanding musical experiences of my life, performing on Veterans Day at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC with my new friends! And now the tour will continue in Germany from September 28th thru October 12th. I leave this very Thursday, 9/8 so that I can first travel to the birthplaces of my maternal grandparents in Bialystock, Poland & what was Vilna Poland, but is now Vilneus, Lithuania. I am also planning to go to Slovakia for another Fujara (flute) as well as Hungary, Austria & Slovenia. I will be writing in the news blog when I am able to find internet joints, so please join me in my travels if you are interested! The German magazine Folker honored my work by doing an article about me, so if you can read German http://www.folker.de/
TATA and THANKS~
As always, I am incredibly grateful to each & every one of you who have been the wind beneath my wings. Without you, I feel as if my music would fall silent.

So THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU

Peace & Nasdorovia
Annie (Hanulka;)
http://www.anniewenz.com

Hey Y'all
Yes, it's true... many changes are in store! (yea I know- waaaaay overdue!) As you see, I've totally revamped my website since so many of you have asked me to share more about my twirlings out & about in the world. Look closely at the photos on each page- they're montages of all sorts of cool people & places! I'll be writing updates as I travel & adding photos to the gallery. So don't be a stranger... & let me know what you think!

So...onto the new CD...
YES- IT"S DONE! And I'm so proud of it. My dear friend Grammy award winning producer Norman Blain has been bugging me for years "Annie you have a gift for that type of music" (who knows... I hope so... in any case...thanks Norm for the love & the prodding)

The CD is totally instrumental, with each cut featuring Native North American or other indigenous flutes. (Balinese, Slovakian Fujara, Bamboo, Native Drone Flute) I'm accompanied on 1 cut "Journey to Katahdin" by Glen Velez (known as THE best Frame Drummer in the world!); the AMAZING Vernon David totally gives me chills with his contributions on Cello, My bro Tom Prasada Rao the Musical Wizard is joining me on Electric Sitar & Violin; and in addition to flutes, I'm playing piano, guitar, kalimba (African thumb piano), Digeradoo, Bullroarer, Gongs, Bells, Steel Drum...

While the recording was in progress, many massage therapist friends requested that I make it an hour long...so I did. It's a meditative recording meant to put your head & body in a wonderful space. I so hope it speaks to Y'all... it was a true labor of love!

It's being duplicated by Oasis as I write. I'm hoping it'll be available before I blast off on my journey & tour to Eastern Europe just after Labor Day... It will be available at CD Baby via the links on this site.
So... please check back!

Heartfelt thanks to all who've encouraged me to complete this project... You've been the wind... & I'm so thankful!

Peace~ Annie