Pacific Coast in a grey coat

Woke up to the sound of road traffic doing a very particular noise, that of wet tires on a wet road.

Yep, it's raining today, and it doesn't look like it's going to stop. Bummer. Regardless, I went to the car and drove off, heading south towards the Big Sur area. I actually like rain, so I don't really mind when I'm sightseeing, but for the festival it's a different story, I'm already having a cold from the plane's A/C and sitting still under a cold shower probably won't help.

Anyways. The road.

Even under a grey sky, the coastal road is stunning. Basically, you gotta stop every half-mile to take pictures, every turn brings something new.









This also served well to try how Molly behaved, and on the slippery wet curves of California Road 1, I just had nothing to worry about. The car practically drives itself.









I got a strange feeling of déjà-vu at one moment, and I wondered why (well duh). Then I got the confirmation that even halfway around the world and on holidays, I'm a nerd.
Some portions of the coast reminded me of Half Life 2, most notably this one


Of course, since there are no aliens anywhere, no mass destruction to be seen, no hybrid biomechanical aircraft in sight, one wonders why the hell I'd think that. Heh.

a few cows who don't give a shit about the view




Further down south, waiting for the Bixby Creek Bridge to appear on the horizon


Rocky Creek Bridge, built in 1932








And Ole Bixby, also built in 1932

I just noticed I took almost the exact same shot as Wikipedia...

I stopped at the Ripplewood Resort Café and got a breakfast served by Cheech Marin's long lost twin brother. A few miles after that, I was thrilled to see I didn't miss Sycamore Canyon Rd, only to have my plans crushed two seconds later as I stopped in front of a closed gate with a sign saying "NO BEACH ACCESS".

Shit.
Now what, further south to Mc Way Falls? Ideally I would have, I had time, but given the weather I decided against it and just drove back to Monterey.

The Big Sur area










Now I'll do some shopping then head back to the Festival. With my raincoat this time.
 

Monterey day two, joy, tears, sun and texas jumbo flyswatters

Today was a day filled with all kinds of emotions, from the upbeat and colourful Rythm'n Blues by the Honeydrippers to the wacky James Hunter to the emotional Terence Blanchard, it was one of the best days ever.

I arrived just in time to see director John Sayles present the Honeydrippers All-Stars, a band assembled to promote his upcoming movie of the same name.
This felt like a gig taken straight out of the Blues Brothers, pure awesome from beginning to end, and the audience went wild and started dancing and all, it was fantastic. Plus it stopped raining and the sun came back for good around the middle of the act, so everything was just perfect.

Director John Sayles


Honeydrippers All-Stars


Harmonica solo


Gary Clark, Jr. and Eddie Shaw




oh yeah


Gary Clark, Jr. in a Marty McFly moment. this guy's good.


Mable John


the audience go wild


some a little too wild...


I hereby present the Texas Jumbo Flyswatters


Drums solo by Lester Jordan


the sun is back! Weeeee!


music also comes in a variety of... bubbles


MJF




Food!


More food!


Brazilian drums & dance


I went to the Bose stand and got a glimpse of the Otis Taylor Band playing at the Jimmy Lyons stage. However, as the guy in charge there put it, Bose may be good at designing sound systems, but their simulcast projector sucks, the thing fell apart two minutes after I arrived.

What can I say, I am cursed.


Hmmm, deep fried calamari


MJF


I went back to the Garden Stage to see James Hunter. The man is nuts, it was a complete blast. With guys like this, Ray Charles may be gone, but damn, the spirit lives on alright.





And that's when my battery died. I must have left the camera on or something at one moment, because it suddenly dropped from full charge to "HEY MAN, I'M DYING HERE".

James Hunter's performance was abolutely great, again it was like being an extra in the Blues Broters, the spirit, the air, everything just felt right.

I unexpectedly managed to see Diana Krall, albeit in the same way I could see Scarlett Johansson a few weeks ago, from the other side of a security detail. She was doing an interview at the CNN stand, and damn she's beautiful.

As I was trying to have a copy of Hunter's album and have it signed by the artist, Borders anounced everything was sold out (great timing again, raph) so I headed back to the Garden Stage for the third performance of the afternoon, the Otis Taylor band.

The man's a living legend, but he's one of those legends who get off the the stage and spend 10 minutes playing and walking among us mere mortals; the crowd was hysterical, everyone cheered, and it was a moment you wish could go on forever.

Back on the stage, jamming with the band was one of the guitarists from Los Lobos, impromptu guest star.

In conclusion, ninety minutes of pure Blues goodness. It doesn't get any better than this.


To end the day, I went to the Jazz Theater to see the simulcast of the evening's concerts at the Arena. Eventually I just saw one, because my cold got worse and I kept sneezing.

But what a concert. Oh my. The Terence Blanchard Quintet and the Monterey Jazz Festival Chamber Orchestra gave us A tale of God's Will (A requiem for Katrina), a poignant performance that went right to the heart. Unbelievable. Listening to Blanchard playing, you just know you're in the presence of one of the best player of the planet, and it's a privilege to be here, even if not in the actual audience, and share the music and the moment with all the people there. One of those "I was there" moments. Beauty and sorrow. Tears on a diamond.

A perfect way to end the day. And on this note the curtain falls.


PS. It does taste like chicken.