Looking back on South America

Javeriana University Radio Interview-Bogota, Colombia
Tim Horner, Ro and Joel Holmes
I have been receiving and finding photo's from our tour and I have decided to post a handful of these special moments.
Bob Bowen was featured in the Quito, Ecuador news regarding our wonderful workshops that we presented for Kevin Skillin.

The Arte Bar in Asuncion, Paraguay was a blast and we hung out with great musicians.

My last gig in Santiago, Chile for Father's Day

The Montreal Jazz Festival - 30 years - young

Ben Harper closing the Montreal Jazz Festival -

I decided to fly up to Montreal to experience for the first time one of the biggest Jazz Festivals left in North America. Andre Menard is one of the original founders of this amazing festival. Michael Bourne (WBGO Personality and top Vocalists friend) was in rare form when we met at the press office this afternoon. I also saw Jeff Levenson (Half Note Records , The Blue Note Jazz Club, NYC.) and Mark Ruffin -main brain for XM Satellite Radio. I was lucky enough to receive a pass to slip in and out of various musical events. How I've missed attending this fantastic festival for half of my life, I don't know? There are venues that line several streets, stages everywhere, big concert halls, little clubs, etc.. several blocks filled with music. From the smallest venue to the largest venue the Montreal Festival consists of some of the greatest musicians you will find anywhere in the world.

Happy 4th of July

The JazzIam Band landed safely back in New York City. We're hitting' the ground running with new projects, gigs and recordings. I'll post as soon as we put together new concerts and tours together. I've decided to keep up this blog and document my projects and any news on Joel, Tim or Bob. We are headed to Lincoln Center on July 15Th for our official debriefing of the Rhythm Road Tour. I have many idea's regarding the program and ways we can all work together to make it more effective and efficient.
It's Great to be back in the U.S.A. ! The fireworks and family were fantastic yesterday.

Estoril Summer Jazz Festival, 2009 - June 27th

photo's by joaofrazao.estudio@gmail.com
The dinner with Paulo Gil, Carlos, Tim Horner and Ro

Estoril was a great experience. My friend Paulo Gil and I reconnecting.
joaofrazao.estudio@gmail.com -photo



The Estoril Jazz Festival has existed for over 35 years. Duarte' Mendonca is the Jazz Afficianado who loves jazz music and has put together great shows for all of these years. He is a delightful man who still has a twinkle in his eye. I loved meeting Duarte and having a chat with him. The bill was filled with great musicians; James Carter, Chick Corea, Christian McBride and more. Kenny Werner and I were billed together and my right and left arms: Tim Horner and Bob Bowen were on bass and drums. This was a cherry on our touring cake after this month, touring South America. I am still awaiting pictures of all of our workshops and concerts for a more complete look on our blog. Soon I should have photo's of Paulo Gil, my heart in Portugal. I love this man. He is a soul mate to me and to all good musicians in Lisbon and ports in the area of jazz. Paulo took Tim, Bob and myself out for jazz and great seafood on our arrival day. Langostino's, Squids, clams and fine Portugese wine - what a great hang, physically and spiritually. I feel very lucky to experience so many great musicians and see so many great sites this past month. I am more inspired than ever before. Thank you's to all who have made a difference for us on our musicial journey.

Club De Jazz DE STGO & Curico, Chile -

We had a great time in Chile. Thanks to Sandra Perroni and Michael Orlansky from the U.S. State Department (Jen and Carrie too) and Danielle Gilson from the Santiago Jazz Club, also Pepe the "Main Jazz Head" in Santiago (more on him later!) and of course Shana Bromberg and Billy Banks from Jazz at Lincoln Center.


Our gigs in Chile, the first was : Curico, we had a total blast in concert at the 50th Anniversary of the Binational Center.

Curico photo


This center is a meeting place for artists and talent and the walls were covered with incredible paintings. We had a two hour lunch and learned about the "Pisco" (a magical Chilean Brandy made in the fourth region). The audience was Great and we had a wonderful ovation and encore from a Very spirited crowd - Thank you!

Our next day work event was a workshop with the ProJazz School Big Band student musicians and four local singers, led by Danielle Gilson ( a fine singer and jazz support in Santiago). The workshops were great, instrumental and vocal. I am waiting for more photo's, but Armeniabar Ñuñoa took photo's of our concert at the Club - Thank you. Augustine, a great local sax player sat in with us. The regular soundman was gone, so our first set suffered bad sound for me and I sang "More Than You Know" without a microphone for my third song and actually got an amazing response from this sophisticated jazz audience. Jose' Hossiason was on the front row (Pepe). He is a world renown jazzhead, journalist, had a radio show, owns every jazz recording and book ever printed, besides the shows he bootlegged (he has photo's on his wall with Louis Armstrong, Basie, Ellington, Diz - on and on)...Wow..
Our second set found us with good sound and Billy Banks back on the PA. Thanks Billy!!
Bob and Joel met and played with many great musicians in Santiago. I hope they will post about them.

Hello Santiago - Goodbye Quito

Zazu Restaurant in Quito, Ecuador *****
Chef Alex - Amazing!

Beautiful Santiago


Today we left the lovely Le Parc Hotel in Quito at 6:45 am. Tim, Billy Banks and I had an incredible 'tasting dinner' at Zazu, where Chef Alexander Lau blew our minds and taste buds. Luis from the Embassy wanted us to eat at the best restaurant in Quito - thank you Alex for your artistry.

Our day was filled with two flights, another lay over in Lima, Peru and finally we landed in Santiago, Chile. We are on the home stretch! Michael Orlansky, the cultural affairs officer met us at the airport. In 2004, we worked with Michael in Macedonia, so this was a very nice reunion. We're off to Curico tomorrow for a full day, a two 1/2 hour drive and concert and drive back. The band is lucky to be staying in an Intercontinental Hotel for our last 5 days in the amazing city of Santiago. Stay tuned.

Quito, Ecuador - Workshop and Goodbye

The Whole Gang in Quito: Kevin Skillin', Elizabeth Serrano, Pablo our soundman!, The JazzIam Band, Billy Banks
The Workshops in Quito


June 16th - we presented two workshops - one at 10:30 am. and one at 3:30 pm. Our workshops convened at a coffee house across the street from the concert hall. Pablo our soundman set up a little pa. system, electric piano, drums and we were set to go. These workshops were to be 'general -what is jazz? - workshops, but it didn't turn out that way. The room filled with musicians and singers. We played a couple of tunes and opened the discussion for questions. We received many great questions regarding leading a band, what to do if the leader won't let the sidemen solo on his original work?, what should a singer do when her accompanist doesn't listen to her? many great questions and my great band had helpful answers for these young musicians.

I'm waiting for the pictures to post! Until then, here are a few pics from Quito and what a beautiful old city it is.