[Dixielandjazz] whataday.....

[James Kashishian]

Well, it rained like crazy during the whole morning here.  Luckily, we were
under cover, but the crowds were standing out in it all.  The police that
lined the streets to keep the people behind barriers were 3 deep, and stood
in all that rain, also.  They looked very wet!

We started right on time, as planned, and the motorcade came by right below
our stage.  The royal couple both looked over at us and gave a really
friendly smile & waved.  

The motorcade later came back by us, with another batch of smiles & waves
reserved just for the band!  Meanwhile, we entertained the crowds.  Played a
total of one & a half hours.  Just did a normal sort of selection of tunes
that we would do in a concert.

Since I arrived home, my phone hasn't stopped ringing.  Apparently, the band
was featured full screen in several occasions.  I just now caught a repeat
of when we played Hello Dolly.  The sound was excellent....which is what my
wife told me after the concert.  Best she has ever heard for a large scale
concert scene.  

It seems we have been seen in Australia, two people have written from
Argentina (our very own Sr. Flores was one), and my son in Seattle stayed up
until 4am to see his old man honking on a Mexican station.  Apparently CNN
carried the motorcade live, and the band was featured.  

Also, I was told that we were announced on Spanish television as being the
oldest band in Spain (that's band performing years...not, referring to our
ages, before anyone makes any wisecracks!), and that 4 of the members are
from Madrid, and "the fifth member is Jim Kashishian, and American
Armenian"!!!  

Anyway, that's enough honking my own horn for the moment.  (I have noticed
that if my head gets too big, that something eventually happens to bring me
right smack back down to earth, and the bump usually hurts!)    :>

I have sent some pictures to those that requested them.  I've shrunk them to
be email friendly.  One is absolutely amazing....showing the Rolls with the
Royal couple inside waving at the band, and the whole band on the stage
behind the car.  I'll be happy to send them on to anyone that emails me
privately.

Jim