[Dixielandjazz] Dresden

[Robert S. Ringwald]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "James Kashishian" <kash at ran.es>
To: <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Saturday, June 05, 2004 10:06 AM
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Dresden


> We played the Dresden Festival in the spring just before the fall of the
> Berlin Wall.  We were flown (all travel paid) from Madrid to Rome, then on
> to East Berlin (on a Soviet plane!).  From East Berlin, where we spent one
> night, we were bussed to Dresden.  The flight included an extra ticket for
> our contrabass to have its own seat.
>
> We were met in East Berlin by "guides" who stayed with us during our
> complete visit.  Come down from your hotel room (also paid), and one would
> be in the lobby to help you find/go wherever you pleased....but, never
> alone.



Obviously KGB or East German equivelent.


We had a couple of them in the 70s or 80s, the first time the Russian band
played the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee.

I wanted to start a rumor saying that some of the Russian band members were
going to defect, but, for the good of the festival, I refrained.

--Bob
placerville, CA USA




>
> The "guides" spoke textbook Spanish, which is not nearly the same as
myself
> & my band mates speak, as we use a lot of slang.  We often wonder what the
> "guides" reports to their superiors must have included!   :>
>
> We played several massive sites, one which was 10,000 people.  The
> horsedrawn carriage parade with one band in each & hangers-ons on each
side
> of us was unbelievable.  There were also street gigs, concert hall gigs,
and
> two small club gigs (one a cavern!).
>
> We played complete, normal sets, except in one case where it was like a
jam
> session with about 20 trombones, 20 trumpets, etc, etc, and the formal
hall
> concert which was limited to 4 songs.
>
> We were paid well, but of course, in those days you couldn't take the
money
> out of the country, so we spent it all on gifts.
>
> We never, ever say "ole" in Spain.  It's more of a joke than anything,
> unless you're a bullfight fan.  But, in Dresden, every gang of kids that
> walked by us would yell "OLE" & we would yell it back.  It was great fun!
>
> Jim
>
>
>
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