Sometimes life happens too fast for it to be processed or documented. Baltimore was an action-packed Orchkids-tastic episode with countless “epic hangs of biblical proportions”. One such moment was the launch of Classical Revolution Baltimore, in which 30 gung ho musicians crammed into the lovely Bohemian Cafe, and jammed non-stop until 2am with an organised chaos of two brass quintets, octets, bartok reading, jazz improv and so much more. It was indeed an electric night – no doubt the beginnings of a Revolution.
My adventures since Baltimore have taken me up the east coast – to learn more about the fabulous Sistema-style programs in Philly (Play On!), New York (Harmony Program), Boston (Conlab) and Providence’s string quartet-based Community Music Works, which predates all the other US programs by at least 10 years. Each of the programs shot me with a hit of super-inspiration, and I feel like I have been rolling around the country on this wave of amazing do-good energy. I was also priveleged to hang out with the Abreu fellows in Boston for a day, and had the great pleasure of spending time with the passionate vortex for the Sistema cause that is Eric Booth. Wild times!!
Having teleported across the country, I then proceeded to tour with the delectable Mash Potangos for two weeks around the Bay Area. Thankfully there are no Sistema programs in San Fran yet, otherwise I would probably have had to clone/split from energy-output overdrive. We smashed through intimate art house gigs, double-billed with fab local acts at cultural centres, performed wild milongas (traditional tango dances), a stunning gig in wine country and the glorious Sausalito and joined the Classical Revolutionists at Rev Cafe. We did all the bookings (the fabulous Rosi did most of that work), logistics and performing ourselves, and after two incredible weeks of non-stop work, we were flat on the floor, but beaming from it all. We were so fortunate to have played alongside many superb local musicians (including Tangonero and one third of Trio Garufa), who inspired us and taught us many new tricks. Somehow we also managed to squeeze in a recording session at the Bay Area’s newest fancy-pants 25th Street recording studio. Stay tuned for an album!!
fit right in...
On my way out of the US, I popped in to YOLA at HOLA in LA – the Sistema program famed by Dudamel’s presence in the city. At the end of the day we found out that three of the kids who were doing so well in the program – who had entered with a high risk of joining gangs, and in the last year had totally turned around their attitudes and were excelling at music, were being immediately deported to Mexico. It was an awful moment – there were many tears and promises of continuing music education. It is a very blunt reminder of why we do this…
After a few days of doing little but eating in Tel Aviv (a well-needed break), I am now preparing to head home to Melbourne. I am pumped and ready to get rolling with the Sistema project, and looking forward to going home for the first time in maaaaaany years.