they asked me to show my jazz hands so i did.

I did something that I have always wanted to do. No, it wasn't learning the entire dance from the end of Grease (which IS still on my "need to do soon" list). I went to a jazz club. You know the ones where they serve you dinner too? Yeah, I was there. Now, some of you may say. "Well, that isn't THAT cool. I was expecting something more, sometime better." To those of you that think that, I am politely telling you to shut up and maturely not giving you the middle finger.

Since I have only been 21 for a short time, my access into these establishments were limited while in the states. However, no one cares here. Plus, I am plenty over the drinking age (16) for Italy.

The day all started with a nice sleep in and the thirst for some excitement. Initially, a wandering around the city was decided on, but then San Diego came in. She had overheard on the tram that there was this musical festival and tonight there was a jazz concert going on. I immediately remembered a booklet I had picked up and found the one she was talking about. Personally, I am not a big jazz person. I like it but I would never in my wildest dreams have suggested to do this. Basically, we said, "What the hell?" and decided to go for it.

Here is a little background: Every year in September, Milano and Torino have a Festival Internazionale della Musica where a number of acts perform all over each city. Some are jazz (like the one we went to), some are contemporary, and there are also a variety of others as well. You can find the website at http://www.mitosettembremusica.it/en/. This should be the English version.

As usual, we went in the complete wrong direction. Oops. (That's the last time we let San Diego navigate.) But one of the La Scala shop workers was nice enough to point us in the right direction. So about 30 minutes later, we found the place we needed to be: Blue Note.


We didn't know exactly what to expect but as we peeked our little eyes into the stage area. We all knew that tonight was, in fact, going to be a good night. There were tables set up for those that wanted dinner as well and a bar. The Black Eyed Peas were right with their hypothesis.

Next we scoped out for a place to eat. Because it was still only 7:30pm (or 19:30), not many places were actually serving dinner yet. Italians eat sooo late. We get hungry before then! We did find this little pizza joint and proceeded to get calzoni. Let me just say that Pizza Hut has nothing on the ones we ate. They were so freakin' big and delicious. I know you can't adequately tell from the picture, so you'll just have to trust me.


Now it was showtime! I was expecting the typical jazz music that I have been hearing for forever and was pleasantly surprised to find that this wasn't that. No, it was so much more. It was like jazz music had a baby with some world/ethnic music (if you can imagine that). The band is called Chucho Valdes Quintet. Some of their stuff is on their website so you can get a feel for them: http://www.valdeschucho.com/sitio.html.

We weren't allowed to take pictures during the actual concert but I sneaked one of the stage area before they started playing. There is also a set of drums to the ride side that I didn't get in.

Okay, so what you have really been waiting for is how they played. The piano man had the fastest fingers. I couldn't stop looking at them. And every moment was so fluid and easy for him. (Oh, man. This is beginning to sound like a bad romance novel.) The guy that played the drums (the three big ones not the normal looking ones) was rocking out the whole time which only intensified during his solo parts. It reminded me of last summer when my best friend and I snuck into her boyfriend's basement to find a drum set where she decided to jam out, and the whole time she had the biggest grin on her face.

Each member of the band looked so happy. I have always had a soft spot in my heart for those people that have found their passion in life and just enjoy what they do on a day-to-day basis. It gives me hope that everyone else (including me) will find that too.

I guess my description isn't doing it much justice but you probably had to of been there. Or maybe you have had a similar experience at some point in your life. It is just the coolest feeling ever. It is like at that moment, all your worries are gone and everything is right in the world.

Overall, it was a great night. Exactly what I needed. It is things like this that I want to do more of while in Milano.

[An added bonus is I got the drummer's autograph. It's probably not worth anything but it is still cool.]