Out at the Blob

Just a few photos (that are also on facebook) of my last night playing gutiar at Blob, a really great bar here in Florence.


My good friend here Danny plays most nights as well. He was just playing around with a few chords after a song of his, right before I was about to start. I yelled at him to keep going and grabbed an electric guitar for what ended up being a nice easy jam.



Emily (a new friend I met just that night) and I make our way through "Dear Prudence".



Always good to have some support at the gigs.



That's about it. I'm off to more of Italy and the area for some traveling. School is out, and I hope everything at home is just fine.


Scott

Pasqua a Firenze (Easter in Florence)

As is probably to be expected, Easter in Italy is quite a production. The Vatican hosts one of the biggest and well known masses in the entire world in Easter, with literally millions of tourists church-goers piling into Rome. Florence has its own Easter tradition, one I was able to get a glimpse of this morning.

This morning I was awoken 30 minutes before my alarm by the bells of the Duomo (our main cathedral) bell tower. I live over two miles away from the church, the Italians were making sure the entire city knew it was Easter morning. Throughout the morning, the bells would ring for about five minutes straight. I couldn't make out a certain melody or hymn, it seemed the goal was to make as much all-out cacophony as possible throughout the entire city. Considering the circumstances of the day, I suppose that's appropriate.

So, after catching a 9:20am bus to the city center and finding one of the handful of espresso bars that was still open for the holiday (Italians take the Easter holiday to give themselves essentially a four day weekend. Few locals stay in the cities, most travel to the coasts for some time off at the beach), me and some friends made our way to the Duomo square, which was already quite full of people. We were part of the early group, things got quite full in no time at all.



The square as things just got started.






The 15th-century era cart that the Florentines fill with fireworks each Easter and then proceed to ignite in between the Duomo and the Bapistry.





Clearing out after the festivities.

I hope to add a video of the actual fireworks show later on today. I hope everyone at home is having a great Easter and eating lots of chocolate eggs. No Easter basket this year, but it's definitely a treat to be here in Florence for the holiday!


love to home,

Scott

Come se dice "Jazz Club"?

As I've told a few friends, one of my favorite places that I've found over here is the Florence jazz club. The catch is, the name of the place is, really, "Jazz Club". You don't get points for being subtle in Italy.

After getting my hand-held field recorder shipped over from home, I've been waiting for a good night to go and tape some live Italian swing. On a whim, I brought the little guy along with last night when I went out for a bit of apertivo (the Italian idea of a dinner buffet) and wi-fi exploitation (the internet in our apartment has recently disappeared). After heading down the street and down the stairs at Jazz Club, I happened upon a great 8-piece band getting everybody moving. Think Blues Brothers with a little less Dan Akroyd, a little more Mario & Luigi. Here's a little sample of my favorite body-mover of the evening:




So, hopefully some more fun recordings will surface, both of other acts and perhaps even myself? I have a few Minnesota friends coming to stay this week at our apartment and the school load seems to be winding down a bit. April in Florence looks like it will be a fantastic time. However, I have learned to avoid bargain-brand Italian laundry soap. A mistake you don't want to make twice.


un'abraccio to all!

Scott

Books

Here is a youtube link to a new song that I've written since I've been here, it's called "Books". That's my trusty, bright blue Italian guitar in the video. I've written two other songs since I've been over here and can't wait to get home and play them on my real acoustic guitar (even though this one has served me well so far) for old friends.


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

(copy and paste that into a new browser. For time and space reasons, I decided not to upload it to both youtube and blogspot)

Hope you enjoy!



Scott

All roads lead to...

You guessed it, Rome. Here are some photos from my weekend trip to Rome, which included visits to the Vatican, a day at the Coliseum and Roman forum, plenty of Gelato and a bit of music in the streets.



Out at the Coliseum.



The Roman Forum and skyline.



The Pantheon. Rome has the Pantheon, Athens has the Parthenon. When you figure out a way to keep them straight, be sure to let me know.

Hopefully a couple more pictures and a video to share soon, until then, hope all is well!


best,

Scott

Jazz in Madrid Videos

So, here they are. The first video is from the very nice vocal standards group I saw at the Cafe Central. The next two are the fantastically complex quintet at Cafe Populart. These bands were a real treat for me on the trip. I've uploaded the videos via facebook, so unfortunately blogspot chops them to a thinner size, but then again, the music is what's important!


Cafe Central:







Populart #1:





Populart #2:





Scott

While I was in Europe

All this great music is happening in the states! I've gradually accepted the fact that I missed 7 (yes, 7) doable Umphrey's Mcgee shows. Phish reuinted this past weekend in Virginia for three fantastic shows, their first together in almost 5 years. Meanwhile, Joshua Redman (fantastic tenor saxophonist) and Brad Mehldau (perhaps the best "new" jazz pianist touring) are both headed to the Dakota jazz club in the middle of my Minneapolis neighborhood. Closer to Saint Cloud, Mister is playing electric shows, which can only lead to trouble (of the best kind). Here are a few scenes I wish I could have been a part of...

Night 1 of the Phish reunion.


It's good to have these guys back. I can't wait until I finally make the trip to Wisconsin for two nights of the best improvisation based rock on the planet.



The line for Umphrey's McGee's three night run in Minneapolis. Trust that I would have been at the very front the entire weekend.


That's it for now. I'm not really regretting being here instead of in the states......it's just times like these that try my soul...


best love,

Scott