White House Jazz Studio

Eli Yamin arrives at the East Gate Arriving at the White House today was a dream come true.  I was invited to participate in the launch of the White House Music Series: Jazz Studio.  It was the first ever jazz education event at the White House and we were given the run of the East […]

Blues Band back in the U.S.

We returned to the U.S. on June 2, had a day off, then hopped the train to Washington DC for a concert at the National Geographic Society.  The following day we were invited to the U.S. Department of State in Washington to discuss our trip with officials from the Department of Education and Cultural Affairs […]

Blues Band in Tirane, Albania

At this point, we are real close.  There’s nothing like making music together on the road and meeting such great people along the way.  Here’s the workshop at the High School for Music in Tirane.  There’s such curiosity for our music here, and such great talent.  The trombone professor thanked us for drawing the power […]

Blues Band in Elbasan, Albania

Our first stop in Albania was the High School for Music and Art in Elbasan.  The students were super enthusiastic and supremely soulful.  Here they learned the words to Healing Song:  “It’s not just a song for me.  Take a breath…and you will see.  Why the blues has the power to be.  A healing song.  […]

Blues Band in Drama and Xanthi, Greece

I was struck by how deep culture and aesthetic beauty runs in this country.  The town of Drama has a population of 50,000.   We visited a municipal music center where 900 students participate in lessons and ensembles.  Here’s a clip from our performance there.  Check out the serious audience participation! Then we went to a […]

Blues Band in Anatoli and Ioannina, Greece

We arrived in Ioannina just as the sun was setting over the water. My parents honeymooned in Greece in 1965. My whole life, I’ve heard about the physical beauty of this place and it’s all true-the mountains, the sun, the water and wind. My parents portrait of Greece, however soaring, missed the most beautiful part […]