story of my roadtrip across the US, a solo voyage between San Fancisco and New York City,
and then on to spend a week in Monterrey, Mexico.
20SEPT2007-13OCT2007

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Monterey day three, gypsies, legends and adieu

Funny that I mentioned BTTF yesterday because on the way to the Festival today a DeLorean followed me practically all the way to the gates. I kid you not.

so I decided to have my own Marty McFly moment :p
Marty McRaph

The pic was taken by a friendly Canadian couple who thought I was a musician. Dunno what gave them the idea, but it's funny.

This is a '47 Austin hearse converted into a mobile Coffee House. The ladies in charge now know me as the "double espresso guy". What can I say, it's a damn fine coffee, and I can't resist good coffee.
Austin Café

Birds like music too
birdie

Sunday afternoon was family day. The Banana Slug String Band are a funky group and make interactive kid-safe enviro-friendly boogie-woogie
going banana

Following the giant crabs and sea stars there was the promising new generation of jazz, personified by the 2007 Clifford Brown-Stan Getz Fellows. They may be young, but boy, they have talent
Stan Getz Fellows

the pianist gets up for a small speech
Stan Getz Fellows

awesome drums solo
Stan Getz Fellows

Stan Getz Fellows

It was a very sunny day on the Fairgrounds. My cold got better as the day came by (but it came back at nightfall). I practicall used up my little stash of pills already so I'll have some shopping to do tomorrow... Meh. :/

Fairgrounds 1

Fairgrounds 2

Fairgrounds 3

Also had my first hot-dog. With no mustard, lots of tabasco and pepper and ketchup. Hot. Yummy.

Speaking of hot, the highlight of my afternoon was getting my signed copy of the latest album of the Hot Club of San Francisco. Excellent Gypsie Jazz Band in the spirit of Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli, a style of music I discovered with the also excellent Woody Allen movie Sweet and Lowdown and that has been a personal favourite ever since.

Evan Price
Evan Price

the Hot Club
Hot Club

Paul Mehling. Apart from cracking jokes and complaining about the planes, he also plays occasionnally... ;)
Paul Mehling

Jeff Madigson & Jason Vanderford
Jeff Madigson & Jason Vanderford

Clint Baker, usually at the bass, also plays the trumpet
Ari Munkres

Still sunny
Fairgrounds 4

The Lady of the Pond, Sue Downs
Sue Downs

the Benny Barth Trio
Benny Barth trio

with special guest Buddy Montgomery at the vibes...
Buddy Montgomery

...and that other guy whose name I didn't catch, but very good too
anon

trio & co

A beautiful evening on the Fairgrounds
sun trees

I then headed to the Jazz Theater to end my Monterey experience with the simulcast from the Arena stage concerts. I thought I'd just see them and then I looked at the camera and hey, what the hell, I took pictures of the screen, and it didn't turn so bad.
I also spoke quite a bit with a nice old lady about jazz, my trip, and stuff. It's incredible how friendly people are around here.

On the 50th Anniversary All-Stars, Benny Green at the piano
Benny Green

Benny Green

Nnenna Freelon at the mike
Nnenna Freelon

Nnenna Freelon and tenor sax James Moody
All-Stars

The great Terence Blanchard
Terence Blanchard

Terence Blanchard

Terence Blanchard

Terence Blanchard

Derrick Hodge at the bass
Derrick Hodge

Kendrick Scott at the drums
Kendrick Drums

Next came another living legend. 85 years old and still kicking ass, ladies and gentlemen, without further ado, I give you the great, the only Dave Brubeck
Dave Brubeck

with Michael Moore at the bass. not the same Moore, obviously.
Brubeck Quartet

Moore and Boby Militello, sax
Brubeck Quartet

Dave Brubeck
Brubeck Quartet

Brubeck Quartet

Brubeck Quartet

Guest Star Jim Hall at the guitar
Jim Hall


And my Monterey experience ended with the great sax of Sonny Rollins. Decidedly, it was an evening to remember.

You gotta admit, the man has style
Sonny Rollins

Sonny Rollins


The MJF has been an incredible experience and I can't describe in words how good it feels to be part of it. I absolutely recommend it to everyone. The atmosphere, the place, the people, and of course the music, everything feels good. I had the absolute best time ever here, and I definitely will come back whenever I can, possibly every year, with luck.

So long, and thanks for all the fish
kthxbye