Friday, April 16, 2010

Free Jazz> Blues concert for Muscat residents from... Barack Obama

Yes, truth be told we are a bit of a cultural backwater here in the Sultanate. That's why there were so many happy people at the Tom Jones bash Wednesday. (our free ticket winner, Muscat based blogger Mr. Sythe wrote a nice review here).

So I was pleased to be informed by my new friend Dan Pattarini, Assistant Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Oman, about an free concert that the US Embassy are hosting at the Crowne Plaza, Muscat, this Monday night at 8:00 p.m.

The Little Joe McLerran Quartet is visiting Oman through a special program of the U.S. Department of State: The Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad, produced in partnership with New York's Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Free stuff: The US Embassy is providing a Blues concert open to the public on Monday.

Here's what Dan had to say:

Dear Mr. Dragon,
...
The concert is open to the public and we’d love to invite you and your readers to attend. Those wishing to attend the event should contact the Crowne Plaza to reserve a space which will be made available on a first come first serve basis.

The Little Joe McLerran Quartet

Monday, April 19, 8:00 p.m.
doors open at 7:30 p.m.)

on the Grand Lawn at the Crowne Plaza Muscat



Hey, free stuff. Get on it.

And don't forget to keep visiting the pet shops and taking photos to send to the petition and Y Magazine. I thought it was hilarious that 'The Week' were going to do a follow-up story on it, but the idea was quashed by Mohanna because it had already appeared here at Muscat Confidential. LMAO...

14 comments:

  1. I am little wary of jazz by white men, aren't you? :P But thanks for the heads up, just my kind of thing.

    ReplyDelete
  2. TRQ

    I do find that a bit on the racist side... especially coming from you.

    I'd like to think clever talented musical people play great Jazz, and while economic and prejudicial forces may have served, now and in the past, to encourage those clever musical people who happened to be black to play Jazz (as opposed to say, doing engineering or advertising), that still, white boys can jump, as it were.

    Lets see how they roll, and suspend judgement.

    Even if they totally suck tho' (which I trust they won't), I still say your hypothesis is wanting.

    PS. And yes, Miles Davis and John Coltrain may happen to have been black, but I'm still going with the brain power/talent selection preference theory for now).

    D

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hmm. It wasn't meant to be racist at all, that comment. My personal collection of jazz and blues musicians (right from Big Bill Broonzy, Lead Belly and Howlin Wolf to BB King and Taj Mahal) has more Black Americans than it does white; maybe my evaluation comes from there. But I also love Norah Jones, Amy Winehouse and John Mayor trio when they occasionally lean towards the blues. Just as I believe music has no language, I also believe talent, as you said, has no colour or creed. It was meant to be light-hearted in the same way that Eric Clapton has been jovially run down for being a wannabe-bluesman for ever. No offence or racism intended. And if that's how it came across, I apologize. Yes, let's see how they play.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thx TRQ

    I know. It's just there are many out in local cyberspace who would spin me as a "racist". And I'm not.

    UD

    ReplyDelete
  5. don't worry, US (and UK) white boys can sure play the blues.

    It takes heart, not skin.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Boys, boys, boys... Stop bickering and just listen. Heaven.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfLsEH4csQ4

    Cheers,

    Willie D.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Bluesfan in BausherApril 16, 2010 at 6:32 PM

    That one's great, Willie, but the magic of YouTube can even give us a preview of the group that will be here - this is the quartet playing a couple of weeks ago in Bahrain... not bad.

    ReplyDelete
  8. It wasn't a jazz concert!

    "...US Embassy is providing a Blues concert"

    ReplyDelete
  9. YESSS!!!!! Thank god I'm going to be there!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Strange...apparently even if you call ahead it's still first-come-first-serve at the gate...I was hoping calling would be sufficient to get me a seat...oh well...free is always good, so can't complain!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thanks for this info, UD!
    FYI, the Filipina lady, Laya (spelling?), said that of the 300 reserved seats, only 150 remain...Get them will you can. Crowne Plaza-24660660
    Thanks again! Should be a fun night out!
    (Andy in Oman)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous,

    Crowne Plaza also told me that it's "first come first serve" but after clarification, the lady told me it's "1st come 1st served (for seating) if your name is on the list of course".

    ReplyDelete
  13. Had a great blues evening!!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. UD,
    Thanks again for the hot tip. That was an awesome evening of GREAT music!

    ReplyDelete

If you wish to post anonymously, please pick a nickname by selecting the Name/URL option, or at least sign off your comment with one! I will delete comments I find objectionable or needlessly inflammatory. Sorry for the word verification.... OMG the spam has gotten BAD these past 12 months... trying to avoid making one log in...