The here and now... and what and why

Complacency is a trap. At least that’s what I was thinking when I up and left the comfort of a Yankee prep school gig, where I taught music, amongst other things, for 28 years. There was also that life long career as a composer, musician and artist.

First, it was a year in St. Thomas, USVI, working as a reporter and shooting photography and then, a year in San Agustin Etla, Oaxaca, Mexico.
Time passed.
More time passed and a year back in the Athens of America followed by a hasty return to Oaxaca where it is all happening.
A couple of years in San Sebastian Etla and now, just down the road in San Pablo Etla. Life is good.

Click on an image to see it larger.
For additional photography please visit my flickr page.
You can find my music on Jango (World & latin - Worldbeat) and at iTunes and most online stores.
¡Soy consciente de todas las tradiciones del Internet!
If you are coming to Oaxaca, please contact me for tours or advice.

Santo Domingo

Santo Domingo
The view from Corazon del Pueblo

The hereafter re me

My photo
Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Mexico
Musician, photographer, videographer, reporter, ex-officio teacher, now attempting to be a world traveler

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Alejandra Robles


Last night, in the park near the baseball stadium, Alejandra Robles put on a wonderful concert.  She is a originally from Puerto Escondido, the costa chica part of Oaxaca.  She proudly represents her Afro-Mexican roots in her music and dance.  She also sings classically.

The event was the opening of the opening of the winter fiesta complete with ice rink, toboggan slide, all sorts of action.  The governor was there and lots of press.  It was a big deal when he rode down in a toboggan and then there was a thirty minute figure skating show.  So the 7 pm listed starting time was pure dreaming.  Try 8:30 and it was cold and blowing - perfect for a winter event.... a concert, not so much.

Of course, I am in love with her... I mean, her voice and stage presence.

And her band was top notch, some really nice players.  The sound was good, but not perfect, which it should have been, given all the tech they had and the amount of tweaking time.  The lighting and video did not work the way they should have.  They had an led screen behind her and the band, so basically, she was a silhouette most of the time, hard to see well and really hard to shoot.  It did make for some interesting shots. 

This one has a Lady Day sort of feel to it.

A classic pose.

And in the end, said as one who put on and performed in hundreds of concerts, most of the magic that happens in concerts comes from the audience. 

Yes, the performer generates it, but the crowd must feed on it and then give it back.  That's what does it. 

And it just wasn't there for this one.  I think it was just too cold and the crowd too small to push it into that realm. 

It sure was not for trying.  She was wonderful. 
 

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