This is very sad news about Chris. The last time we talked, he was living just outside of Berlin and he was as full of life as I'd ever seen him. He was hopeful and energetic, still a consistently fierce live performer who embraced the troubles that life had given him and redirected them passionately into his music.

I remember him ruminating on how differently we, as Americans, view and respect music from the rest of the world -- how it could be that our obsession with what is cool or hip so consistently derided our ability to embrace anything outside the boundaries of fashionistas. But while we talked of this aloud, he would say that it did not bother him to be that outsider because he loved his work and he loved his daughter Trixie so much.

He spoke of living across from an area which had been bombed repeatedly since the mid-20th century and how, in spite of the feelings of sadness or anger, the people who lived there simply rebuilt and moved on. They did not become ruffled about the fact that they had been bombed and focus on some revenge, either on another group or the world at large. They merely rebuilt and moved forward.

I think, in many ways, this defined Chris as a person and as an artist. He was the most soulful of bluesmen, fiercely independent and so filled with talent. Whenever someone would bomb his building, he would swallow his pride and rebuild because that was who he was.

Rest in peace, Chris Whitley.

His passing is a shame, but at least we'll be able to enjoy one more of his records. His last album (Reiter In) is coming out later this month. I payed a lot for an import, but you can hear some of it on www.redparlor.com It's amazing, definitely one of his best. It's too bad it will be his last record, but at least Chris was able to accomplish a lot while he was here.