IT'S A SMALL WORLD...

My Korean adventure is almost over. I have a recording session tomorrow and then one more day of teaching with a gig at night at "All That Jazz", the first club I sat in at way back when on June 24th, the first (full) day I was here (how's that for closure?) and then it's home to Japan. (and I use the term "home" loosely.)

It's been an interesting trip--rarely have I come to a new country and spent so much time on a first visit, getting in touch with most aspects of the jazz scene, meeting players, teaching, playing in most of the clubs and even on Korean national TV.

Tonight, I sat in at Pinot, a wine bar, and heard a fine pianist J.Bae (she goes by JB for westerners) who studied at North Texas State. And with her added to the list, I really feel like I've heard, met or played with many (most?) of the younger players here. There's an alto player that I hear is very good and a couple of bassists that I didn't play with, but, I met a lot of folks, mostly players in their 20s and 30s. I haven't mentioned Do Hun, who is another good drummer, who incidentally lost all of his drums, cymbals and most of his worldly possesions in a fire a few days ago. In the same event, he woke up 5 people who were sleeping in the apartment, saving their lives. Kenji commented, 'wow, they should take you to dinner' when he heard. Hmmm...you think? Either that or name their first born children after him. Fortunately for me, I wasn't in the apartment and so wouldn't have to name my son Do Hun Berkman were I to have one. (Quite a relief, that). All in all, pretty impressive showing on Don Hun's part, storing up a lot of Karma points for the future.

But I am rambling. I was saying that I spent an unusually long time here for a first visit and feel like I learned a lot about life here. It's a really interesting place, ridiculously hot foods, all night demonstrations against the government that block many of the streets in Seoul (this has been going on for the last 2 months or so and has something to do with concern over importing US beef due to mad cow scares, but is really more of a referendum on the new President (a conservative) and his unpopular policies) photographs with many many smiling young Korean girls, and a lot of enthusiasm for music, at least that's how it seems. I hope they have me back here soon. (There are plans afoot for a return visit the end of July, so Goodbye and Hello, Korea). Until then, I'll be eating a lot of pleasantly bland foods and biding my time back in Tokyo, with my kooky wife.