JWT Reedmakers

The last three days have been filled with sight-seeing and concerts. Thursday night was Berklee's International Folk Festival. It featured a number of different countries that were represented amongst the students here...Dominican Republic, Portugal, Middle East, Japan, Scotland and of course Canada. Ivonne, Kimberly Fraser (Nova Scotia) and Trent Freeman (another Vancouver Islander!) represented Canada - along with special guests Ryan and Jamie! Interesting to note, Roy Haynes, legendary jazz drummer was honoured that night with the Berklee International Award for "supporting international understanding, goodwill and education". We were lucky enough to catch a show a couple of years ago that he played at in Vancouver.....he has played with ALL of the great jazz musicians past and present and is considered a grand master of the genre. Such a surprise to be in the same room and watch him be presented with such a grand award. 

Friday was the last day of the Photoshop Conference so while Ryan and I were wrapping that up, the boys went on a tour of Fenway Park. We met up in the late afternoon to prepare for the next concert on the schedule. Benny Golson, another jazz legend, was performing a FREE session with the Berklee Jazz Orchestra. This was the fellow that taught the Master class that Jamie was able to attend with Ben - he's 80 years old but could pass for 45 easily. A legendary composer, arranger and lyricist, he was great friends with John Coltrane and has played with the likes of Art Blakey, Dizzie Gillespie and Benny Goodman to name a few. The place was packed and right enough, Benny plays a mean tenor sax! Truly another unbelievable experience that we were able to witness.

Jamie, Travis and I went to the Museum of Fine Arts yesterday while Ryan was on another set of photo shoots. This place is AMAZING...and had everything that each of us was interested in: Egypt, fashion/textiles, Venetian painters and the list goes on. A room full of ancient musical instruments was one highlight...where Benjamin Franklin's armonica was on display. I had no idea that he invented it and that Mozart actually composed for this particular instrument at one point. And here we thought we were being clever playing the glasses after a night of wine drinking! 

Last night saw the last of the concerts....the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Considered one of the top orchestra's in the world right now, it was a treat to hear! Ravel, Prokofiev and Stravinsky's Petrushka was the program of the evening. A young violinist by the name of Lisa Batiashvili was the featured performer who blew everybody away with her superb playing. Again, what a great way to spend the evening! 

Today is the last full day here in Boston and I think we all are a little sad to be leaving. Ivonne and Ben have been outstanding hosts and we appreciate every bit of floor space that they have provided. A HUGE thanks to them. 

Today we are going to try to pack everything that we haven't seen yet in....good luck to us! 

-JLT