The World's Northernmost Jazz Festival: Polarjazz 2008 in Longyearbyen, Norway
Polarjazz 2008 Longyearbyen, Norway January 30-February 3, 2008 “This place is abandoned by God and ought to have been abandoned a long time ago by mankind as well" --Historical quote on mural at Longyearbyen's museum
This is where people will come after Doomsday: a town 600 miles from the North Pole whose idea ...
Refugees find harmony on Norway's northern edge at Varangerfestivalen 2007
(Note: Mark Sabbatini will reporting daily from the world's northernmost jazz festival, PolarJazz, starting Jan. 30 in Longyearbyen, Norway. As preview of the Scandinavian Arctic's jazz scene, this is his feature from last summer's festival in Vadso, on the northern edge of the country's mainland.)
When the U.N. needs a place to send refugees fleeing war-torn ...
The 2007 Riviera Maya Jazz Festival: Almost Free For You Today
A free trip to a jazz festival near Cancun, complete with luxury trappings. All I'm expected to do in return is write something about it.
What could possibly go wrong, aside from a few meddlesome skeptics questioning my objectivity?
To them here's my assessment of the 2007 Riviera Maya Jazz Festival: Greatest. Festival. Ever.
Just kidding. ...
Tragicomic Tones in Turkmenistan
Banishment from the country takes effect with the publishing of these words.
Assuming otherwise is foolishness in Turkmenistan, the most repressive and two-sided country of the scores I've visited seeking jazz in the most remote and unusual places on Earth. Brilliantly lit marble monuments and unerringly smiling faces camouflage a serpent's nest that strikes instantly with ...
2007 North Sea Jazz Cruise Days 9-12: Land-ho! Causing Waves At The Festival
Day 1 | Day 2-3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9-12
(Author's note: While the “gee-whiz" factor ought to be diminishing after a decade of dealing with digital music, I'm in absolute raptures discovering a large number of concerts from the 2007 North Sea ...
2007 North Sea Jazz Cruise Day 8: School Daze With McCoy Tyner, Amateurs And A 'Ship Pianist'
Day 1 | Day 2-3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9-12
Despite the questions some cruise ship passengers ask ("how high above sea level is this town?"), learning opportunities are prominent for people supposedly on a relaxing vacation.
Lectures, multi-day classes and even full-blown ...
2007 North Sea Jazz Cruise Day 7: Taking Aim At The Audience
Day 1 | Day 2-3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9-12
They traveled 500 miles in one day to come aboard for 90 minutes and play one of the best gigs of the cruise. Their reward? A near-empty lounge with probably the lowest audience. ...
2007 North Sea Jazz Cruise Day 6: History, Hucksters And Hancock On The High Seas
Day 1 | Day 2-3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9-12
'Twas a good day to be a captive audience.
The first of two days entirely at sea marked Day 6 of the inaugural North Sea Jazz Cruise, an 11-day voyage through Scandinavia aboard ...
2007 North Sea Jazz Cruise Day 5: Sounding Off In Oslo
Day 1 | Day 2-3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9-12
Some days it's good not to be shocking.
Peaceful stability greeted Day 5 of the inaugural North Sea Jazz Cruise, as a ship rolling heavily the previous two nights docked in Oslo, Norway, ...
2007 North Sea Jazz Cruise Day 4: Heaven And Hell
Day 1 | Day 2-3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9-12
“We're here to celebrate the power of the Lord, as evidenced by this rocking boat."
Healing powers were very much alive, and not just for seasick passengers, as those words opened the Sunday ...
2007 North Sea Jazz Cruise: Day 2-3
Day 1 | Day 2-3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9-12
Comparisons are inevitable when traveling.
It's wondering why a gallon of gas costing $4 in the Land Of The Free is less than a dime under the crushing Banana Republic leadership of Tukmenistan. ...
2007 North Sea Jazz Cruise: Day 1
Day 1 | Day 2-3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9-12
Even for organizers who've done jazz cruises worldwide, this is a whole new level.
More bands. More diversity than the mostly straight-ahead acts usually booked. And a ship that a couple of weeks ...
Seeking Quiet and Peace at the 2007 New Orleans Jazz And Heritage Festival
Lots of empty seats in the shade right next to an intimate garden stage. Nobody in line for beer at the air- conditioned concession stand. Sprawling leisurely in the hay in front of some eclectic band that was still rehearsing songs on the drive over.
Sound like anybody else's weekend at the 2007 New Orleans Jazz ...
New Year's In Namibia
“I'm going to have my baby in Namibia. I don't care how long of a drive it is." - Britney Spears
When most people go on an African safari, they probably aren't looking for penguins and pianos. Then again, Namibia was something less than a Holy Grail among tourists before it became a pilgrimage ...
