Last Night

April 26, 2009 | Filed Under Main, Music | Leave a Comment

The final night was my shortest night – because I had to go to work the next day. But it was still pretty great. I caught the tail end of Paprika Balkanicus from Romania playing traditional tunes from the whole Balkan region. Sort of a gypsy party band. Then came the amazing percussionist Trilok Gurtu (India) and his multi-ethnic band playing his brand of fusion. Very cool performance AND I got to meet him earlier in the day in the lobby of my hotel (he is one of the reasons I came to this festival). My last act for the night was British guitarist Justin Adams and Juldeh Camara – master of the Gambian griot (sounds like a fiddle). These two fused rock and African rhythms for a hot set of classic blues/rock – fronted by a young man named Robert Plant. He was not even on the bill three weeks ago, but the duo had worked with Plant and invited him down for the gig. Since it was all blues, you can say America finally had a chance to rock at the festival.

The most interesting thing each night was my walk back to the hotel – nearly 40 minutes each night along the Corniche. A “corniche” is defined in some Arab countries as a waterfront promenade which parallels a major roadway. That is what they have in Abu Dhabi. One side is right along the water. The city side is something else. The first two nights, I was walking back around midnight or later. What struck me was how alive the Corniche was. Not with concert goers – but with families and couples. Little picnics everywhere. Teenagers playing soccer. A father flying a kite with his little girl. Why were they out so late? Because it is BLOODY HOT during the day. And the breeze off the water and the grass and the dark made everything so cooled. The landscape of the Corniche is the best I have ever seen. Brilliantly planned and executed. There is light – but not too much. Playgrounds dot the landscape and each with different playsets. There is grass and there a trees and there are hedges to create quiet little private areas along the walk. And it is not just flat – there are small hills all along the trail. And fountains! One unique to the next. Everything spaced out perfectly for intimacy and togetherness. There are even walkways under the main roads so you don’t have to risk playing with traffic. Sometimes I would just see people on a bench – by themselves – in the dark. Just to relax.

Relax. You have the right to relax.

There is talk of sending me out to this office. Let’s see…

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