Letters about Jorma and Tom Hobson's album "Quah":

Mick, ever since I checked out the Tom Hobson site can't seem to get him out of my mind. All the kind words everyone had to say about him. I really liked what Jorma said, about Tom's guitar, "he always played this old western style guitar, that had a warped neck on it. I think he did that on purpose, so nobody would ask him to borrow it". That is way funny!! Even though I know longer own Quah, these lyrics, that Tom sang are still etched in my mind probably forever!

"All the love, that I could steal, beg, or borrow, couldn't ease all of this pain in my soul.
What is love, but a prelude to sorrow, with heartbreacks, ahead for your gold.
Here I go, now you know, why I'm leaving, I've got the blues, what can I lose goodbye"

We miss ya Tom!! , See ya soon! DAN DA MAN.....COCHRAN!

I agree. The first time I read through the Hobson tribute it grabbed me the same way. If you'll recall: "I'll Let You Know Before I Leave" is a ragtime guitar duet on Quah of which I only recently got around to learning (after 30+ years of listening to this album). And, although I can play the main guitar's part, without the second guitar playing, the essence is lost. Still fun to play just the same though! Mickey

Further Notes on the album Quah:

Quah -- Jorma Kaukonen's (guitar/vocal) solo debut effort -- was recorded and issued shortly after the dissolution of Jefferson Airplane in 1974. In contrast to the sonic indulgences of Grace Slick's Manhole or Paul Kantner and Jefferson Starship's Blows Against the Empire, Kaukonen retreated back to his folk-blues roots along with vocalist Tom Hobson -- who contributes to "Blue Prelude" and "Sweet Hawaiian Sunshine" -- to create this intricate acoustic masterwork. From the highly original artwork -- courtesy of Kaukonen's then-wife Margareta -- to the stark and beautiful melodies within the grooves, Quah is unlike any other recording from the era. Much of the album's vibe is strikingly similar to the final contributions that Kaukonen made to Jefferson Airplane. The most obvious and direct correlation being "Third Week at the Chelsea," which maintains much of the same intimacy as the tracks "Genesis," "Flying Clouds," and "Song for the North Star." Likewise, his admiration for folk, blues, and gospel -- which had first surfaced on the self-titled Hot Tuna debut release -- informs the content of this disc on his cover of Rev. Gary Davis' "I Am the Light of This World" as well as the haunting traditional blues "Another Man Done Gone"and Blind Boy Blake's understatedly ribald "Police Dog Blues." Tom Hobson's inimitable vocal delivery stands apart from Kaukonen's in a somewhat theatrical manner. His take on the noir torch song "Blue Prelude" could not be more dissimilar.

Recorded at Wally Heider Studios, San Francisco, California between 1972 & 1974. Originally released on Grunt (BFL1-0209). Includes liner notes by Jeff Tamarkin.

Personnel: Jorma Kaukonen (vocals, acoustic guitar, 12-string guitar); Tom Hobson (vocals, acoustic guitar); Daniel Kobialka, Anne Kish, Mischa Myers, Eva Karasik, Carl Pedersen, Nathan Rubin, Tom Haplin (violin); Edward Neff (fiddle); Mary Jo Ahlborn, Don Ehrlich, Miram Dye, Thomas Heimberg, Nancy Ellis (viola); Teressa Adams, Melinda Ross (cello); Arthur Krehbiel (French horn).

Liner Note Author: Jeff Tamarkin.

Bio on Jorma from his Classic Video: "The Electric Guitar of Jorma Kaukonen"

Jorma Kaukonen has been one of America's foremost rock guitarists since he burst on the scene in the mid-Sixties as a founding member of the legendary Jefferson Airplane. since that time he has been lead guitarist with both the acoustic and electirc versions of Hot Tuna, the innovative band he founded with fellow Airplane alumnus Jack Casady. Jorma and Hot Tuna have recorded numerous albums, and contunue to tour throughout the world to a dedicated and loyal following.

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