January 25,2010
by mark on Monday, 8th February, 20101/25/10
Today was a day for visiting relatives Last month my Uncle Albino who is now 92 years old. had his 20th book published. He is now starting on a Bernardini memoir dating back to the great great grandfather. We stayed for a few hours and had lunch. A good visit. Albino remembered the last time I visited when we were in Sadinia almost three years ago.
Next we went to a mall. I found a plug adapter for my computer, and bought a new wallet that is absolutely amazing. The learther over here is so soft and the price was about 1/3 of what I paid for my last wallet in the states which I lost.
Next we go to visit Franco’s sister Giulia, brother-in-law Celestino and there three children. Celestino and I get a long very well as he is passionate about music and he is like an encyclopedia. He is a big King Crimson fan so I brought him a copy of thr Crimson Jazz Trio. He was very excited as he said he had a DVD but could not find the CD in Italy. In gratitude he gave me a copy of a John Scofield Cd I had not heard of. It is Jhn Scofield playing the best of Ray Charles. It’s a great CD. And I learned something. I did not know that Ray Charles wrote, I Don’t Need No Doctor – Then Celestino took me into his office to show me his CD collection. Everything is in order by Jazz, Blues & Rock. He had some very interesting CD’s. THEN….. He brings out his 50th aniversary limited edition of Miles Davis Kind of Blue. The set comes with three CD’s. One cd is the original the secound is Alternate takes and the third is out takes. It also comes with the vinyl LP in Blue vinyl – it was gorgeous. There was also an incredible booklet of amazing pictures. After this I remembered from my last trip thast Celestino had a Gibson 335. I asked to see it. It was sunburst and it played great. I asked him hold it was he said, “1961” I fllipped. I looked at him with a smile on my face and said, “Do you want to sell it?” He laughed and said, Marco if there was an earthquake tomorrow I would take the guitar out first and then come back for my family!” We laughed. I then told him that this guitar is probably worth $25,000 – $30,000 in America. His eyes widened and his jaw dropped.
After we hang out for a while we go to a concert. We go to Auditorio – Parca Della Music. One of the most incredible music centers I have ever seen. This place has Five performance rooms and in the summer two additional spaces one on the roof with a garden and one outside on the grouns. The building archtecturally was spectacular in and out. My Cousin told me it was desigened by a very famous architect named Renzo Piano.
The concert we saw was Ralph Towner and an Argentinean musicin named Javier Girotto. Javier played Wood flute, Panpipes, Soprano Sax and Baritone Sax. It was an amazing show and one of the best sounding rooms I have ever been in. Ralph Towner also played something I had never heard him play. He played a Barritone nylon stringed guitar. The combination of wood flute and baritone guitar as well as baritone sax and barritone guitar was sensational.
Home by 12:30. I was up until 2:00 writing notes and talking to friends.
