Mastery, Service & Gratitude at the Jazz Festival

Four days...

4 impossible busy, confronting, confusing, practicing-letting-go-of-planning, never-doing-it-my-way, somehow getting all the transportation done. (Even when native Indian demonstrators closed the Pam American Highway for 3 days with many artist coming and going on the bus)

4 ridiculously inspirational, motivating, awe-inspiring, jaw-dropping, moved-to-tears, yelling and screaming, invigorating, simply stunning days.

To be bathed in mastery for so many hours is a rare privilege...one that I will not forget for years.

We set out to produce a World Class festival for everyone--artists, sponsors, volunteers, audience and community. And we did!

I was only involved in the final week so most of the accolades go to my fellow volunteers. Way to go!

You have to understand, I don't like jazz. Never bought a jazz album, never listened to a jazz song on my stereo, turned up my nose at it.

Doesn't matter. Mastery is mastery, in any language, any form, any place.

All the musicians want to return next year for the 2012 Boquete Jazz Festival. It went that well.

We are adding blues next year in an effort to get more people to attend. The only regret I have is that so many people missed this great event. We are trying to figure out ways to make it easy for people to want to attend. I think just the notion of jazz turns too many people off.

So we are adding blues. Everyone loves blues!!!

That whole process of creating next years event can wait.

Time to sit back and smell the roses.

Adios!

My Job for the Jazz Festival

I took on coordinating all the transportation for the performers. I didn't think it would be too demanding.

Boy, was I wrong.

Not only are we dealing with Panamanians with a Latin sense of time, but, for God's sake, musicians!

It is like trying to walk across quick sand with size 4 shoes. Or herd cats. Or push on a rope. Or win a political argument. Or figure out the opposite sex.

Just not possible.

There are about 30 performers who all need hotel rooms, across 8 hotels, and meals at about 12 different restaurants and private homes.

Plus there is the travel schedule. The musicians had to be picked up at the David bus station, an hour south of Boquete. All coming and going from 6 AM arrivals to 2 AM departures!

Now imagine all this changing constantly. I quit trying to set up rides more than a day in advance. Too many changes. Changes while I sleep, while I eat, while I move one group to another place.

Oh, I forgot to mention, the groups have to go to 2 different sound checks and 2 different performance times.

I have spread sheets galore. One for meals, one for rooms, one for transportation, one for sound check, one for performance times...oh, and the after parties that jazz musicians are famous for.

By the time I leave my house, they have changed. I get stupid questions like, did you get the newest and greatest spreadsheet?

No...NO...NNNNNOOOOOO!!!!!! I don't have a computer in my car, damn it! I've taken to stopping at Internet cafes to check in on the changes and I still can't keep up.

A lot of bitching, I know. I simply want some acknowledgement for this work.

I have about 6 drivers, who I will try to get canonized as Saints in the Catholic Church, even though they are heathens, but what the hell, it's a Catholic country after all.

The proof is in the pudding though.

The musicians LOVE it here. They feel so taken care of and supported. The venue is amazing! Their rooms are the best in town, they are eating at the best restaurants. And, dozens of volunteers are at their beck and call.

Plus, the level of mastery with their fellow artists is so gratifying for them. They rarely get to hang out with so many of their peers.

And, I get to hang out with them! I have spent many hours talking because most of them speak English.

Panamanians are great people. And the musicians are at the top of the heap as far as fun, and enthusiasm and joy.

Oh, did I mention, they can really play music too!

Even thought the task I took on is driving me nuts, the satisfaction is way more than the work.

We are only one third done...more to follow.

Jazz Clinic

I will attempt to articulate what can't be put into words. Obviously, this will be inadequate but the best that I can do.

I went to a 2 hour music clinic held by the jazz group headlining tonight. I have never been to one before so I had no idea.

The place was buzzing before the clinic. A large group of up and coming Panamanian musicians, wives and girl friends, moms and dads, and a TV filming crew complete with TV host. Plus, the musicians from yesterday.

All milling around, laughing and talking and joking...high energy, inspired atmosphere.

Plus a few gringos, a few of the volunteers putting the event on and local gringo musicians.

To start with, the band played a 10 minute song. It was so good...beyond description...moving and impressive.

Then the main guy, the sax player who runs the band, talked about the technical aspects of how to perform a song. Jazz style!

He told several anecdotes about the jazz greats he had either played with or study under. Apparently, Thelonious Monk, the great jazz piano player and composer, played one night and one of his band mates said the drummer didn't sound so good. Monk said, "If I had played better, he would have played better...I am responsible for his performance."

That level of responsibility was in the clinic. Astonishing!

He invited all the young Panamanians onto the stage to play. After a few minutes of mayhem, they started to play pretty well. He then coached them on each of their instruments. They tried it again and what a difference.

Then the main band played another song. He asked if we recognized it. No one did.

Then he dropped the bombshell...it was the same song as the first one, only played in an entirely different feel...Latin jazz. The first time it was played as straight jazz. They eventually played the song in a 3rd way, Panamanian jazz, with even more difference.

Wow!

It is impossible to describe how stunning the music sounded. There just aren't words for it. It was great!

And moving...

In the end it was so moving that it would drop you to your knees in awe and amazement at the result.

You see, being in the presence of mastery is moving but being able to see YOURSELF as a master in the future, as a possibility, is beyond words, on the level of being or the soul, somewhere in the intestinal area, or gut, or event lower at the base of the spine.

That was their gift to us...seeing ourselves in mastery...if we want to go for it.

All this leaves me humble, proud, moved and thrilled with the privilege of being alive.

All from one little music clinic in the remote jungle of Panama.

D Day for Princess Emmy

Our female dog is a terrorist, attaching our little male hard enough to leave puncture wounds in some of her attacks.

I hate this!

The poor male is always vigilant, checking on Emmy's location and her mood. He quickly ducks under whatever to escape another attack. We have to check under the cars, bed, tables and other furniture to locate him most of the time.

Enough is enough!

We called in the local dog expert, Attila the Hun. Actually her name is Christine. And she is one powerful dog trainer.

This woman takes NO shit from a dog.

She darted into our house and had Emmy cowering in about 5 seconds.

I really liked that!

Finally some justice.

We learned to watch Emmy's ears to spot aggression and nip it in the bud, NOW.

So when Emmy gives us even a hint of aggression, we land on her like a ton of shit. Sometimes, we have to push her with our leg as well as yell a command to get her to obey.

Whatever it takes.

We even bait her to get a reaction and then discipline her to stop the aggression.

Time will tell if we are taking ground. We have to be successful. This poor little male is at the end of his rope.

I didn't know that owning a couple of dogs wold be this much trouble.

Music, Music, Music

The Boquete International Jazz Festival is starting on Thursday. This is an incredible event for a community this small. And it struggles to get enough audience to support it.

Never the less, the jazz is fantastic!

Today, at the Tuesday Gringo Market, jazz was played live to drum up ticket sales.

And what remarkable jazz it was.

John Day, an internationally known jazz pianist and trumpet player, Paul Day, the best local musician on bass and Yella singing, played at the Tuesday Market.

As several hundred people milled around the market, in one corner, sublime music was being played.

These people had no idea what was going on. Never again in their lifetime will they have the opportunity to hear, in such an intimate setting, this quality jazz. For the most part, it went over peoples heads.

How could that be? It was so good, it was moving!

The piano and bass players were solid like a foundation. Nothing caught the ear that was out of place or inappropriate. It was all right on. In addition, hot licks were flung where there were spaces in the music.

This all done WITHOUT any rehearsal. None! Yes, they had some charts and fake books but that was it. All the transitions, beginnings and ends were solid and beautiful. Without rehearsal!

Unbelievable!

To hear and watch masters is a wonderful thing. And it is moving.

Yella did great on vocals too, if you are wondering. Plus she was pushing ticket sales.

The proof is in the pudding. They sold out of tee shirts, they sold out Saturday night and got a good start on Thursday and Friday nights.

Success all around.

Here is a link to photos of the music at the Tuesday Gringo Event

http://www.bothphoto.com/BoqueteJazzFestival2011

"The Longest Weekend"

Last night, we attended another Jim Hatch play, The Longest Weekend. He is the pro director that puts on amazing plays time after time.

We were thrilled once again with a fast, quick-witted comedy.

The cast was a group of the best actors in town who delivered a smart, hilarious production.

My hat is off to Jim and his crew once again.

It goes to show you that quality in the arts is available here but simply not the norm. And, of course, he gets bad mouthed a lot because he is too demanding of the cast and crew.

You reap what you sow.

Yella has recently come under the same type of criticism for being demanding at music rehearsals. If you remember, she was prohibited from being the music director at the Valentine's Day show for being too demanding.

We are slowly learning the in's and out's of the community. Most of the productions, music or theater, are the "friends and family" variety, where people are cast or selected based on friendship rather than talent.

I am OK with this as long as it is apparent at the start of the project. There is definitely a place for this in the community and, in some cases, I will participate in it. After all, I'm not that good a guitarist and I fit into the "friends and family" part too.

As I look back at my experience in business, as an owner and manager, the same dynamic holds true. I was often criticized for being too demanding or abrupt with the staff. Then again, our firm had an excellent reputation.

Some of this abrasiveness seems to be endemic to excellence.

The Boquete International Jazz Festival is this week. In this little berg, amazing music will be played over 4 days.

Yella and I are about to leave for a meeting with the team putting this event on. We are going to help out where we can. Mainly picking the bands up in David and driving them to Boquete.

The logistics of the event are huge. Everyone and their families have to be fed and housed, all with donations. Not to mention the actual venues, sound systems, etc.

This should be a wonderful week. A great play and now fantastic music.

Wow! Who would have thought this was available in the jungle!

Valentine's Day Mess

I feel duped.

We thought we were preparing a music concert for Valentine's Day and, as it turns out, we were filler material between the MC's clowning around, reading bad poetry and her other antics. She was on stage longer than all the other music put together.

When she wasn't talking, she was horning in on other's songs, up staging the song.

I thought I had a resentment through out the rehearsal phase of the show.

But NNNOOOOOO!!!!!! It got worse during the show.

She summed it up well with her Facebook entry when she wrote: "Come see my very own Valentine's Day show."

What were we, chopped liver! Hell, we didn't see her for more than 30 minutes during the entire month of rehearsals!

Putting aside the MC hogging the show, the music went from terrible to fantastic.

And, the audience loved it. This place has the best audiences I've ever experienced. They will appreciate anything you can throw up on a stage. (I'm wondering if the term "throw up" is a Freudian slip)

About 80 folks saw the show. That is one hell of a small audience for all the work we put into the production.

To add insult to injury, the producer, otherwise known as the MC hog, credited Yella as the Music Director on the program. Yella was livid saying, "I don't want any credit for that piece of crap show."

If you recall, Yella offered to direct the music but they refused. So they prohibited Yella from directing, many of the songs sucked because of it, then they credited her with the job she didn't do.

What the F$#@$#!

The best news of all is that it is over!

We learned a lot.

And in the end, it may work out for the best because we are thinking about producing and directing a concert later this year and doing it right.

Uh oh, that is the kiss of death in The Land of Unfulfilled Expectations.

Stay tuned, more later.

Perfect Morning

After a couple days of self imposed hell...you know, resenting the Valentines Day show...I awoke with a clear spirit to a gorgeous, sunny, calm day.

Ahhhh...

Off to breakfast. Visited with one of the producers of the show and actually treated him well. Avoided a guy who vacations in Boquete...a good thing.

I ran a couple of errands and paid a few bills. Still in a good place.

Bumped into several friends at a coffee shop, told jokes, gossiped and made merry conversation. Then we headed to the theater, where the next play is opening tonight, to look at the set, which was stunning.

While hanging out at the theater, ran into several other friends and musicians. Continued to tell jokes, gossip and make merry conversation.

Ended up at home around noon.

Now, that is a great morning...just like it is supposed to be!

Event From Hell

I'm having mucho trouble controlling my resentments around this Valentine's Day show.

We have no leadership...no music director, no event director...only an always absent producer...what is she thinking?

Our motley crew of 10 performers range from camp fire singers to pros of the highest order.

When we found out there would be no director, only each lead singer directing their own song, Yella offered to be the music director...at no pay. She is eminently qualified.

She was turned down.

Hmm?

What and the hell was the producer thinking?

So we start to learn the music...I use this term loosely because there was no learning going on.

Now in music, normally you start with, lo and behold, MUSIC charts...chords and lyrics.

No one was getting many of the music charts. The ones we got were wrong and several were different insuring confusion.

As I was raising hell about this, the amateurs were making fun of me. Saying things like, "just play these chords, what's the problem." Of course, they said this while they were PLAYING the WRONG chords.

No one was arranging the songs, writing the harmonies, figuring out the beginning and end to the song, or for that matter, anything in between. No one was counting off the song to get it started. And on and on.

Most of the rehearsal songs devolved into chaos.

Then we showed up at the Tech rehearsal...of course, without the producer, and you already know, no director.

We are cobbing together a PA system of various parts that took us 2 hours to piece together.

And, we didn't have 40% of the performers actually AT THE REHEARSAL. For God's sake. What the F$%$@! was going on!!!!

I am so disgusted. And full of resentment. And having trouble getting to the bottom of it so I can get free of it.

The amazing thing is that about half of the concert will be fantastic because of the raw talent and professionalism of a few performers.

I will not, I will not, I will not do this again.

The next production will have to insure me that the proper and skilled leadership is in place and FULLY engaged.

Shit, I hate this!

A Week of Illness

I hate being sick!

Last Saturday night I got hit with an intestinal condition that kept me a prisoner of the commode for 10 hours. Fever and aches continued all week with no improvement.

Finally, I went to see a local doctor. She spoke a little English and I spoke even less Spanish so this lends itself to some interesting communication, or lack there of.

For example. I asked if "antes" meant after and she said yes. "Antes" actually means before so the instructions for taking the meds was a little jumbled.

She was, in some ways, similar to an American doctor. She asked questions and poked and prodded.

However, the exam was focused only on my problem. In the US, docs tend to look at your general health a little more than here.

I got some meds for parasites and my condition is improving...thank God!

This is the first time I have had parasites. This is a common thing in 3rd World countries so I consider myself lucky.

During this period, I went to our rehearsals for the Valentines Day show. I was cranky, impolite and a pain in the ass.

Damn, I hate it when this happens.

I want most people to like me. Not possible when I'm sick.

I wish the music was less full of frustrations. This would have made it easier to slip in and out of rehearsal without making a fool of myself.

We are in the final rehearsal week. Some people, always those who need it the most, won't be at the first sound check, full show rehearsal.

What's that all about anyway!

Why are the weakest links always either the biggest problems or absent at the damnedest times.

I swear, I 'm not getting in another one of these productions where theater people try to put on a musical event. I have been burned twice by the same person. She may be a wiz at theater but she sucks at music, from auditions to final performance.

Oh well, I'm probably not happy unless I have something to bitch about.

The show must go on!