Sunday, May 13, 2007
What an amazing trip this has been! The Grand Crossing was so magnificently different from any kind of other travel; Scott and I have decided we liked it best. Luckily, there were no storms – perfect weather, in fact. There’s a calm in fewer choices of things to do. Of course, there were also more than double the number of musicians and various get-togethers during that time. The Regent Voyager is top of the line; so all the accoutrements were spectacular, service remarkable, with wonderful food!
Water slapping slides, sloshing in the center pool, extra hot whirlpools, and ice cream every afternoon. Big band every other night. They liked our shows, and the second performance night Mike Vax (whose big band is the one booked), announced that we’d become the darlings of the ship.
Funchal Island, of the Madeira archipelago, was first land after our crossing. A beautiful green vision rising out of (by that time!) all that profoundly vast sea. Neat, clean, birds, flowers, exotic, warm – everything you’d want in an island destination. We shutterbugs just walked.
Lanzrarote, Canary Islands was our second port. A lava desert, we needed to organize some music for the rest of our trip, so didn’t go into town. Seemed to be a more contemporary ship stop. If we’d paid for a tour, it would have included a couple hours ride to another town, camel ride, etc., but we decided not to.
Agadir, Morocco was a very interesting port. Another “new” place – leveled in 1960 by an earthquake. I wore a scarf in town. Good camouflage. Adventures with urchins “circling” our outside lunch table, watching the proprietor literally kick them in the butt down the street to drive them away. Found some really neat black stone imbedded with fossils made into plates and bowls and bought a few. It was from up the river in the area, in a town called, they pronounced, “Are Food”. Right, our food is gonna be in it…Yeah, I’m the only person you know who packs rocks in my luggage.
We went into port in Casablanca, Morocco and walked from the old town center to the new mosque on the seashore. Must have been 3-4 miles… This is the third largest mosque in the world. They say the sea can be seen underneath thru a glass floor, and it’s one of the only ones that foreigners are allowed inside. We didn’t go inside… The grounds outside were immense, white block rock and green trim. Gorgeous.
Malaga, Spain was totally different. Picturesque, church towers and a Moorish fortress and hill top battlements. Just the right size! After the economic neediness and accompanying squeamish feelings as a vulnerable visitor of Morocco, a blessed feeling of safety.
In Valencia – one more afternoon to explore a port – tomorrow we disembark in Barcelona. Sunday afternoon most tourist sights would probably be closed, and siesta on top of that. We took one bus about ¼ mile to a cruise ship embarkation center, but decided, however, after the disorganization of the bus departures there that we didn’t even want to go into town. Spending a lazy afternoon directly across from the reviewing stands at the America Cup festivities. Valencia definitely seems like the largest port we’ve docked in. Casablanca was the most mind boggling big city, stretching along the coast as far as the eye could see. Economic differences are light years apart.
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Terrassa Big Band & Jamboree, Barcelona
“…whatever is truly wondrous and fearful in man, never yet was put into words or books.” Herman Melville
Those of you who love the muse Euterpe know Melville must have been talking about music!! Some of you know my favorite book is Moby Dick. Had a great occasion to re-read it early May while making a trans-Atlantic crossing on a Regent cruise with the Mike Vax Big Band of Stan Kenton band alums. We had a blast! The Madeira Island of Funchal rose like a sweet green goddess on the far African side, totally charming… We proceeded down to the Canaries, and back up to Morocco, including wild and exotic Agadir and Casablanca, and then thru Gibralter to Malaga, and now Barcelona.
Scott and I gigged at the Jamboree Club in Barcelona Wed. eve last. A wine cave with disco ball and arches of melting brick. Chock full of atmosphere and folks from everywhere. Hearing Scott sing “Let’s Get Lost” right where Chet Baker was a thrill! The Spanish trio was also too marvelous for words, so we had a great time, encore and everything – it was a participatory sport all around!
From Friday, 5/18/07
Tonight I sing with the Terrassa Big Band, just outside of Barcelona in a very jazz-hip town, with an octagonal high ceiling-ed Nova Jazz Cava space – cool spirit and a kickin’ band. Rehearsal in three languages was neato.
Am back in LA to gig 5/21, please check my calendar at www.gingerberglund.com .
Scott Whitfield and I recorded with our band in April before we left on the tour. We’ll do a couple of tunes from that album at his gig at Charlie O’s on May 22.
Scott and I are presenting our “Art of the Duet” at Café 322 Sat. June 9th, 8 PM. Be sure and call the club for reservations. This will be a very exciting evening of unique music, so you won’t want to miss it!
I’ve got a gig with trumpeter Bobby Rodriguez in the Bisto in SF valley 6/10 for brunch next morning. As ever, the Tracy Wells Big Band has the 2nd Monday of the month at the Alpine Village, and now there are some summer concerts in the park (Marketplace in Long Beach, and Woodbridge Park in Irvine) coming up, so be sure to check out the calendar.
As ever, thanks for your support as musicians and listeners in this sport of the language of music we all enjoy!
Cheers and bona dia all!
Ginger
Those of you who love the muse Euterpe know Melville must have been talking about music!! Some of you know my favorite book is Moby Dick. Had a great occasion to re-read it early May while making a trans-Atlantic crossing on a Regent cruise with the Mike Vax Big Band of Stan Kenton band alums. We had a blast! The Madeira Island of Funchal rose like a sweet green goddess on the far African side, totally charming… We proceeded down to the Canaries, and back up to Morocco, including wild and exotic Agadir and Casablanca, and then thru Gibralter to Malaga, and now Barcelona.
Scott and I gigged at the Jamboree Club in Barcelona Wed. eve last. A wine cave with disco ball and arches of melting brick. Chock full of atmosphere and folks from everywhere. Hearing Scott sing “Let’s Get Lost” right where Chet Baker was a thrill! The Spanish trio was also too marvelous for words, so we had a great time, encore and everything – it was a participatory sport all around!
From Friday, 5/18/07
Tonight I sing with the Terrassa Big Band, just outside of Barcelona in a very jazz-hip town, with an octagonal high ceiling-ed Nova Jazz Cava space – cool spirit and a kickin’ band. Rehearsal in three languages was neato.
Am back in LA to gig 5/21, please check my calendar at www.gingerberglund.com .
Scott Whitfield and I recorded with our band in April before we left on the tour. We’ll do a couple of tunes from that album at his gig at Charlie O’s on May 22.
Scott and I are presenting our “Art of the Duet” at Café 322 Sat. June 9th, 8 PM. Be sure and call the club for reservations. This will be a very exciting evening of unique music, so you won’t want to miss it!
I’ve got a gig with trumpeter Bobby Rodriguez in the Bisto in SF valley 6/10 for brunch next morning. As ever, the Tracy Wells Big Band has the 2nd Monday of the month at the Alpine Village, and now there are some summer concerts in the park (Marketplace in Long Beach, and Woodbridge Park in Irvine) coming up, so be sure to check out the calendar.
As ever, thanks for your support as musicians and listeners in this sport of the language of music we all enjoy!
Cheers and bona dia all!
Ginger
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