PART II

The Gig:

Most airports in large U.S. cities are designed to look like you're in a large shopping mall.
This was my first trip for any reason outside of the U.S. and the airport in Bogota was quite a surprise.
By comparison every wall was institutional grey. No ads, no shops except for one small area.
There were military-like, automatic weapon carrying guards everywhere in the terminal area.
Quite startling. But after understanding this city's politcal situation regarding narco-terrorists that could come out of the hills and take over the city at any moment, I quickly understood. This is one of the reasons the university assigned a few students to assist us during our stay. There were instances that the narco-terrorists would kidnap Americans hoping to obtain large ransom settlements.

Since my flight was the last to arrive (everyone else came from Florida), once outside my bandmates were there to greet me. Here's where the fun began. In the 40 minutes it took for my plane to arrive, the youngsters of the band (LP and Jeff) had already picked up a few Bogota beauties which tagged along on the ride to the hotel. Typical band hotel hi-jinx consumed the rest of the evening.
Great fun so far, until I discovered I couldn't sleep.

The next day's seminar was something i'll never forget.
1st shock: The discussions were all done in Spanish (I only know English).
2ndshock: After the discussions, we played 2 condensed and restrained versions of numbers that would be part of tomorrow's set which were followed by a standing ovation. (Whew, at least know I felt as if we'd had a bit of a rehearsal)

This was followed by a Q&A. The questions were asked by the students (in Spanish) and answered by Longineu who was the only one of us who was familiar with the language. One of the students asked a very long question which was followed by some very nervous-like murmuring from the rest of the audience. One of the students (Alejandro) who was assigned to assist the band during our stay was on the stage standing next to me. I asked him what had the student had said. This student had given a mini-documentary of the way black people have been historically treated in the United States.

He followed this up with another mini-documentary of blacks being at the forefront of progressive Jazz. He then tied these two issues together by asking based on these 2 things, why we had a white bass player. Hence the crowd discomfort. After Longineu's response (in Spanish) there was another standing ovation. Alex provided me with a quick translation. In essence, he said that Tribal Disorder was simply about the music and whether a given musician could it play or not. The band was not concerned with a person's race and that Tribal Disorder's music "serves as a metaphor for crossing restrictive boundaries that separate people and confine human potential".

Amen brother!

After this rather emotional encounter it was announced that the seminar was concluded and to be sure and see the band at the festival the next day. Now came the 3rd shock as the everyone in the audience then rushed the stage with pens and their seminar brochures. I asked Alex what was happening. He told me they wanted autographs. I said, "Why do they want my autograph?" Alex said don't worry about it, just do it. Now i'm completely overwhelmed. Come to find out that this was out of the respect they have for musicians in general and American Jazz musicians specifically. Quite different from the States where you're generally regarded as a dope consuming low-life.

The rest of the day consisted of sightseeing and running into some of the friendliest folks i've ever met along with doing an interview for one of the local music magazines. That evening we discussed the arrangements and Longineu wrote one of the tunes we'd end up adding to the set.

Still couldn't sleep well although I did get in a few hours.

It's gig day. Got up early and practiced the tunes. Ate breakfast.
Practiced the tunes again and again and again. Got together with the band and had lunch.
Back to the hotel and went over all the heads with Longineu. Took a shower, got dressed for the gig, went over the tunes until time to take off for the venue (Simon Bolivar Park). The ride to the park is where the excitement/tension/fear has started to take over. The entrance to the park is where you get the 1st impression of how many people are attending the festival. We arrived way ahead of time because of a few backstage interviews that have been scheduled. They reminded me of the non-English speaking foreign boxers that do interviews after a match that need the questions and answers interpreted, only in reverse. While roaming around backstage, I was introduced to some of the other performers and started a conversation with the bass player of the group that would perform before us. All of these musicians, and especially this bass player, wanted to talk about Sam Rivers. They knew his history, all the records he recorded and many people he'd played with.

Once the group before us took the stage, and you could see that this tremendous crowd of people had settled into position, I had a little time to myself to review the position I know found myself in.

This is the important part of this whole story!

~Reunited with an old friend.
~This friend has asked me to do a gig with him after not even hearing me play for almost 2 decades.
~This is not just any local gig. It's an International Music Festival. It's the 1st time in my life that i'm in another country.
~This band consists of extremely good musicians.
~One of these musicians is Sam Rivers, someone who has played with many of my idols.
~WHAT HAVE I GOTTEN MYSELF INTO AND HOW DO I GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE?

Too late. The prior group's set is over. My innards feel like they're being used as the battle ground for W.W. I,II & III. Congratulated the bass player as he exited the stage and made my way over to where the amps i'd requested (JC-120 & Fender Twin) were being positioned. Luckily I had to kneel down to get all the cords and accessories hooked up properly. If not i'd have probably passed out. This anxiety was not due to stage fright. Thank goodness i've never been cursed with that malady. It was more due to the gravity of not wanted to let any of the musicians in the band down.

All the equipment's in position and it's a less than a minute to showtime. We do the band huddle thing and before we break Longineu gives me that look I hadn't seen in quite some time. It was a look he'd give me back in Florida right before we were about go on stage and do something outrageous. A we're about to kick some ass look. I believe he sensed some apprehension on my part and did it to set me at ease. It's on. The drums and bass lay down the groove to an original tune called 13th and Blue. I start vamping on guitar with the piano player. Longineu and Sam play the head.


From left to right - Sam, LP (partially obscured behind the drums), Longineu, Jeff, me.
Sarge (Lindsey Sarjeant) is to the far left of the stage on acoustic piano.


From left to right - LP, Longineu (doing the 2 recorder thing), me.


Workin' the wah.

The tune is kickin'. I look into the audience and right at the front of the stage is the bass player from the prior band (wish I could remember his name). He's shaking his head giving me the it's happening sign. Sam starts his solo. I almost stop playing listening to the amazing stuff he's doing. From that point on, I never noticed the crowd except for their between song applause. This was for 2 reasons. The 1st is that i'd entered musical nirvana and the 2nd is that because the sun had set and the way the stage lights were arranged, you really couldn't see past the 1st few rows.

The rest of the set went without a hitch. Eventually got back to the hotel and slept like a baby.
A final festival event occurred at the airport on my way to the gate for my flight back to L.A.
At the time I didn't have a flight case for my guitar, so as a carry on the 2 military attendants opened my hard shell case to search for drugs I guess. The one doing the search appeared to be very determined to find something. She was just about to slit open the velvet inner lining when the other guard said to me, "Didn't you play at the festival with Sam Rivers yesterday?". I answered yes. He replied, "You guys played really well". At which point he said something to the female attendant in Spanish. Whatever he said, she sheathed her cutlery, closed my case and I was on my merry way. At this point, I could've flown back to L.A. without the assistance of a plane. I didn't f-up the gig, actually enjoyed myself playing and continue to be part of Tribal Disorder (albeit at a distance) to this day.

Now the moral to this story is one of friendship.
As I said before, I got to do this gig on the faith and trust of a good friend.
Something like this might never happen to me again and that's OK. I'll be forever thankful that it did this time and it's something i'll always have fond memories of. Not for the 20,000 people, but for the trust and renewed relationship with an old friend, and the unbelievable experience of making this incredible music with these great musicians. That's what is important about this story.

THE END
(of that chapter anyway )



tA


Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...rmusic.htm
[Edited 9/3/05 11:25am]

Farout Neal. I can understand your savouring telling this wonderful story. What a lovely thing to have the faith of Longineu in your ability, and his unquestioned belief in you!

Reading part 1. all these came to mind, and i thought there's something to be read between the lines here. Now with the conclusion, I understand.
Hey, I'm glad i asked the question..., & thanks for relating it in such a professional way. You are a true Professional, and a blessed human being.
Love the pics. S'pose you've gotten lot's of Hendrix lookalike comments The dimm lighting helped !
I suggest to other readers to leave their Ego's at the front door and read this tale with the sincerity it was posted. Not as a "Trip" for theAudience ; but as a amazing story of trust and friendship. Thanks again Mr. Audience, such a priceless experience, and surely a truly spiritual event in your life.
Blind faith, Love & friendship, & adrenalin scorched Reality: what a powerful combination .
Great stuff ! Great Friend ! Great Story !
FANTASTIC
I'm gonna go out back and burn my guitar to complete the Experience .

My Wayne and Garth comment was more in the line of MUCH RESPECT. I understand now that the story is about more than just that. Then again friendship like this is about respect (and so much more) so I stand by it.

Neil, thanks for posting this experience (with pictures) you are truly blessed with friends and family. That's what it's all about, IMO, the big picture and the essence of what this story is about.

This quote made the hair stand up on my neck and get a little misty. It confirms everything I've always thought and it's good to know that the another place in the world gets it.



This quote is why I'm a musician, the "look" and the inner knowledge, that's "it is on" and we are going to own this. Didn't know you also played keys?



Thanks again for sharing this!

FLUX said:

Sir FLUX,

Thanks for taking the time to read and get it.
"I knew that you could."

Longineu is a great friend and musician and I have the upmost respect for him on both counts.
I'll have to remember and tell him that today when I see him. He's flying to L.A. for the day.

As for looking like Hendrix, I don't think so. And the glasses don't help.
(I will try and remember to don the headband next time.)


Here ya go...



...l'expérience est complète.

Thanks again.

tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...rmusic.htm

Slave2daGroove said:

Thank you S2G. I'm happy you caught what I was trying to do.
It was a hell of an experience to say the least.


You still don't.
That was a lack of writing clarity on my part.
That line should have read, "I start vamping on guitar with the piano player."
(It's since been corrected)

Once again, thanks for reading and getting the true meaning.

tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...rmusic.htm

theAudience said:

Have a great time ! I hope your passport is in order, , God knows what Longineu has in store for you. ; Hopefully a good jam will come together . That goes without saying.
After all this gonna see if I can 'digup' an old buddy and rekindle our friendship, been too long between drinks !

Thanks for the inspiration.

Sounds like a dream I once had.

Wish I could've been there for the show and them Bogata beauties.

Thanks for sharing.

i just saw this.it must've been such a rush!

Cool.

theAudience said:

I wanna go there!!!!

Cool man!

Can I get a copy on bootleg?

theAudience said:

Words can't express the feelings i've had at having this 'ARTicle' addressed to me. You (Neal) are a true master, at essay writing & most things it seems. .
I've always had this problem of asking too many questions, .
I'm glad other Orger's are appreciating this fantatic story, and that I asked what the concert was like for you.
Magic happens; when we least expect it.
Not that simple though is it, we make our own luck in Life.

FLUX said:


[/quote]
Not that simple though is it, we make our own luck in Life.
[/quote]