Playa del Carmen, Mexico
10/12/2008

On November 28, 2008 we headed down to Mexico to take part in the Riviera Maya Jazz Festival. It was held outdoors, on the beach in Playa del Carmen, a very special place both scenically and sonically, especially during this particular weekend. I arrived in time to hear Earl Klugh do what he does best, play his buns off! He was followed by David Sanborn and the band: again everybody was in 'groove mode' that night. What had me a little askew was the fact that I had just travelled about 12 hours, including a lay over in Atlanta, Ga. I was not quite where I would have liked to be it terms of enjoying the performances and as I grow older, I am finding it more and more difficult to come to grips with this "jetlag" syndrome. I am in search of a reasonable formula in the form of a travel schedule that will help me to be more rested and prepared for performances that require me to travel great distances in order to take part.I know that the climate changes are a major part of the problem I face here. Throw in a language and other societal elements and we have what we have, I guess........ I remember a line from Jan Hammer where he said that he wished he could play a show without having to travel to the venue, take part in sound checks or rehearse........... I wouldn't go that far but I wish I could somehow dematerialize like Mr. Spock, play the gig and head home without making a flight just so I could control my performance destiny a bit better. Combine that with having MY own drum set and not a rental well.......... YES!

On the following evening I got a chance to hear Harvey Mason after many years of not. It's the nature of the beast when I am working and my peers are as well so, this was a special treat. I remember Harvey from the original HeadHunters recording and just being an all around solid, tasty percussionist both in and out of the studios. Again with a distinct personality, there is something to be said about a player whom you know just by what comes across in the grooves of a CD or LP. Harvey does have that. Harvey anchored Four Play featuring Larry Carlton, Bob James and Nathan East. The band personality leaves a distinct imprint and again brings then to me in a unique way. There is only one 4 play!

Culture Mix was in the middle of the performance bill with a very special opening performance by a group named Sacbe that included the Toussaint brothers (Eugenio, Fernando and Enrique) with special guest Luca Littera playing harmonica in a way that one must hear to understand.

For Culture Mix it was bitter sweet to have to travel so far for only this one performance as we were supposed to play in South America directly after. But, in the music business one has to be ready for anything and last minute cancellations are right up there with anything else you can think of in terms of "Murphy's Law". As it was, we continued to 'play the hand we were dealt' by doing the best we could and making a good situation better than we expected. We have grown in that regard and I am very proud of my people (J.M. Ecay, Fifi Chayeb, Junior Gill, Christophe Cravero and Marco Lobo) and the way they came through after traveling so long and far. Look for a more mature and solid unit in performance in 2009. Check the web site calendar for more details as to what's on line for 2009.



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