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...
I am little wary of jazz by white men, aren't you? :P But thanks for the heads up, just my kind of thing.
ReplyDeleteTRQ
ReplyDeleteI 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
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.
ReplyDeleteThx TRQ
ReplyDeleteI know. It's just there are many out in local cyberspace who would spin me as a "racist". And I'm not.
UD
don't worry, US (and UK) white boys can sure play the blues.
ReplyDeleteIt takes heart, not skin.
Boys, boys, boys... Stop bickering and just listen. Heaven.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfLsEH4csQ4
Cheers,
Willie D.
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.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't a jazz concert!
ReplyDelete"...US Embassy is providing a Blues concert"
YESSS!!!!! Thank god I'm going to be there!
ReplyDeleteStrange...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!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this info, UD!
ReplyDeleteFYI, 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)
Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteCrowne 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".
Had a great blues evening!!!
ReplyDeleteUD,
ReplyDeleteThanks again for the hot tip. That was an awesome evening of GREAT music!