November, 2006
I’m really starting to miss my “daily” journal. It’s so hard to come here after two months and try to remember exactly what was going on. Luckily all that’s bleeding together is all music and all good. On the 13th I left for a 10 day tour with BTD. It’s been a while since the last outing and it’s always great to make music with these amazing individuals. This time the work was top notch and included a 3 day residency in Sheboygan, WI. I must say, not having to move all that gear for three days in a row was an especially welcomed treat. Otherwise, the tour was full of great musical exchanges and good times.
We spent most of our days giving workshops and had the unique opportunity to work a talented group of middle school students into the show. The picture above shows Lisette teaching the vocal group their part. Here I am with a super talented young drummer named Tim. I look forward to hearing great things from him in the future.
Our hosts in Sheboygan were incredible. Thanks for everything Jill, Anne, Doug, and the rest of the team. Here I am with Anne…
Brian “More-Solo” was in rare form during this run. I think this photo says it all…
I’m leaving in two days for my second run in the Balkans. I’ve only been home for a couple of days, but I’m excited to hit the road again. I’m planning to follow this tour with a daily journal, so if your interested, please check back soon!
Thanks,
Clay
Nov. 25
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!!
After spending just over 24 hours traveling, we finally arrived in Skopje. Our travel was problematic from the start. Just after Scott picked me up we got mixed up trying to hit the belt parkway. Instead we drove all the way across the verazzano bridge and felt more than a little nervous that we might miss our flight. Luckily we got to the airport on time and onto the plane, but there we encountered more problems. After boarding and waiting for about an hour they decided to switch the plane. They took everyone off and loaded us through a different gate. Now, another hour later we finally take off. About 2 hours across the Atlantic and a failed piece of equipment sends the plane back to NYC. Now 5 hours delayed we finally arrive in Zurich 13 plus hours of plane time behind us. Fortunately I slept like a baby for at least 8. Then we spend another 4 hours waiting for the next available flight to Skopje (luckily I have my guitar and get in some much needed shed time). Finally, after an hour long wait at customs, we were greeted by our old friend Borka and went to Gene’s house for a home cooked meal. Mmmmmmm. This was just what we needed after such a long hard day. Now were at the hotel with time to rest up for a busy day tomorrow. All said and done, feeling good, and happy to be here!
Nov. 26
Woke up around 9am Skopje time to drive 2 hours to a city named Bitola. There we had some time to relax before the sound check at the venue. Porta Jazz Club is one of the only “jazz” clubs in Macedonia. It isn’t a jazz club in the NYC sense, but it’s an amazing place nonetheless. Our first set up went well, considering the technical aspects of our show. We are using lots of effects and looping pedals to enhance our duo sound. The show was good for a tour starter, but the crowd was definitely divided between listeners and scenesters. Primarily the layout of the club divided the room into such groups, but we made the best of the situation. After we finished we went to check out a really cool (and popular) local band. These guys were mixing influences from all over Europe, Balkan, Klezmer, Mediteranian, and more. They even threw in “Heros,” by David Bowie. We made friends with a Peace Core volunteer, an ex-pat, and a few locals and had a great night on the town.
Nov. 27
Today we checked out of the Deniro Hotel and did an early workshop at the Music Conservatory in Bitola. This would be our first workshop on the tour, with some sections still improvised. Still, the focus and interest of the students really made this one of the best I’ve ever done.
You can really tell that we are bringing something unique to the students. They probably don’t experience the kind of interactive learning that Scott and I are dealing with. We did a few demonstrations, with some prepared pieces, shared some history of jazz music, the blues, and brazilian rhythms.
In the end the impact was palpable, the energy was high, and the students didn’t seem to want us to leave. It was a great moment.
Later we said goodbye to Bitola and drove back to Skopje.
After checking back into the Holiday Inn we went to a local media center to do a one hour radio show.
We are really working hard over here, but having lots of fun in the process. The guys at the radio show were very cool. We also met the promoter for the Skopje Jazz Festival. Tonight I went out for a minute with Borka, to a 40’s theme party at the Hard Rock Café…Whewww.
We happened into a national TV interview and I did a little dance to Honey Suckle Rose.
Nov. 28
Today we set out for an early workshop at the music high school here in Skopje. This is the same High School where the Agora Quartet received such a wonderful response last February. Many of the same kids were there again and they seemed really happy to see us.
This time the workshop was laid out a little differently. Scott and I had the opportunity to work alone with the percussionists and guitarist/instrumentalists separately. For one hour we went to our respective corners and taught parts for a song that in the second hour we came together to perform. It was a really strong moment and I think taught a lot in a short period of time. I’m enjoying these workshops more than anything else on the tour. I get the feeling that we are making a really strong impact on these students lives. Hopefully we will plant a positive curiosity that will lead them to further investigation of jazz and American music.
Tonight we set up in a Café/Club called Mala Stanica. There we played for about 100 plus people, that included many of the students from our workshop. It’s especially amazing to have our kids at the shows. We can use the things that they learned in our workshop to make them active participants in the music. Throughout the set we are doing call and response, sing along, and clapping. The show felt really good and was a great success. We had Tony and Allan, two of Macedonia’s finest jazz musicians, sit in on guitar and drums respectively. We became the guitar and percussion quartet! It was a really great night.
Later I went out on the town with some new friends. At the pub, I heard what would be the second great Macedonian/American cover band. Note perfect renditions of hard rocks greatest hits. I felt like I had Lollapoloza in a box. It was great. They even let me sit in to sing “Immigrant Song.”
Nov. 29
I had a hard time getting up this morning. I missed breakfast and was a little late to the bus call, but still made it. We were leaving early again for a 30 minute drive to Tetevo. There, we did another workshop for a great group of Music Students at the state owned “Todor Skallovski.”
We are really on a roll with our workshops and this one was no exception. The pace flowed really well. Scott and I have worked up a detail outline that really helps us to stay on point. Again the students just embraced us with open arms. They seemed totally engaged and excited about what we were sharing with them. Experiences like this makes me want to teach all the time.
At the end, again, the students didn’t seem to want to let us go. We hung around for another hour or so chatting and signing autographs on the pamphlets that we brought. I just have to say again, these workshops have been awesome! After a quick meeting with the headmaster we ate a quick lunch and went for a nap at the hotel.
Back in Tetovo for a performance in the same building where Agora performed in February, this time we played in the small basement Café. Again, the students showed up in full effect making another memorable performance. Afterwards we gave a TV interview and spent some time hanging in the Café.
The people there were really happy to hear us, wanted pictures after the show, and wanted to talk with us and hang. As a cultural exchange and a concert, the evening was a great success. We headed back to the hotel to get some rest for a long travel day tomorrow.
Nov. 30
We were picked up from the Holidy Inn, Skopje at 10am this morning. I slept for most of the 2 hour drive to Pristina, Kosovo. At the Royal Hotel, we were greeted by our old friend Aferdita , and the new PAO named Laura. We immediately went out for a lunch where we met Larry and a group of 5 other local musicians. Scott and I were both very tired. We had some time to chill at the hotel before we went out to check out the Jazz Club where we are scheduled to perform. Scott and I met with the bassist, Vissar. We stayed, listening to a local jazz group for a little while. Then we stopped in another spot called ROOM BOOM BOOM. They recently changed the name from BOOM BOOM ROOM, when a jealous boyfriend drove his car through the walls. Apparently, with its new name, it’s more popular than ever.
