[Dixielandjazz] Hello From Hungary

[vaxtrpts at aol.com]

 Hello everyone:
Well, I am in Eastern Europe, having a great time.  I am performing with the Benko Jazz Band from Budapest.  Joe Muranyi is also with us. (Louis Armstrong's last clarinet player.)  I sure don't know why some of the Trad Festivals don't "scoop" him up to be an allstar.  He is certainly one of the very best!
We played an extravaganza tonight at the Budapest Congress Hall that was filmed for national TV.  There were many performers, including the Hungarian Border Guard Big Band (Like our Airmen of Note or Navy Commodores or Army Blues), a wonderful big band.  Also some singing groups, some wonderful individual singers, of which Thomas Berki really stands out; and miscellaneous other groups.  It was a FIVE hour show and nobody in the audience left.  About 3000 people were clapping and just having a ball.
We have also played on a boat in the Danube River and the Benko Jazz Club.  Now we are going to Slovokia and Poland for more concerts.  Jazz is sure alive and well over here (both traditional and modern) and the audiences are MUCH more reliable about showing up for concerts and night clubs, than in the states.  There is no such thing as a "half full" house over here.....................................
I look forward to seeing many of you at the Sacramento Festival, but before that, I have dates in California, Wisconsin, and Arizona to do.  Ah the life of the "road rat!"
Mike Vax