Separation Wall (Film: La Zona – Rodrigo Plá, 2007)

In a world subjected more and more to violence, with the established societies not able to provide appropriate answers to social and political conflicts, ordinary people try to protect their normality by building walls. Tall, barbed wired walls, with armed guards behind which the apparently normal life – with children playing games and going to school and adults indulging into the pleasures of comfortable routine – can continue. To what extent are these walls efficient may be measured by statistics that show if crime or violence are lowered by building them.Other effects however are harder to measure – what is the psychological impact upon the ones who are supposed to be protected by these walls? To what extent are the people protected by the walls really free? What is their relation to the world outside – morally? legally? Can normality of life be really protected by walls?

 

source http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/la_zona/

 

Those generic questions get some interesting answers in the Mexican director Rodrigo Pla‘s first feature film, applauded by critics and the jury of the Film Festival in Venice, a story about a community of mid-to-high class residents in Mexico that build a wall around their district and protect themselves in a vigilante manner. A state within another state unable to protect its privileged citizens. When intruders almost accidentally break into the protected area, the inevitable happens, and the members of the community are faced with the dilemma of continuing to protect their way of life at the costs of covering the killings of the not-so-innocent intruders and chasing the sole teenage survivor of the incident. To protect themselves from crime they must resort to crime.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iukxjrE_xFM

(video source moonfleetpuntoes)

 

Pla’s efficient film making and good acting keep the interest awake for the whole duration of this film, despite the rather expected story line and the conventional characters. It is however the questions that can be asked beyond the immediate details of the story that provide value, questions about the balance between the need for normality and the price to pay in order to earn it, about the rights of all members of society not only to a quite life but also to basic living conditions and equal chances, about the moment when the power of law is superseded by the laws of power. The story may happen in Mexico but it is true and actual for many other places in the world.

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Andrei Berar – NU ESTE TOTUL PIERDUT

Andrei Berar este un vechi prieten. Ne-am cunoscut in ultimii ani de liceu, la Sfantul Sava (a.k.a. Balcescu in acea vreme). Am devenit prieteni in vremea studentiei si am colindat impreuna cateva creste de munti cu corturile in spate. Drumurile ni s-au despartit, amandoi am ajuns pe cate un West Coast, doar ca el pe West Coast a Statelor Unite in Sillicon Valley, iar eu in West Coast of the Mediterranean in Israel. Ne-am reintalnit acum cativa ani in San Francisco. Andrei a citit despre ‘leapsa’ noastra cu tema NU ESTE TOTUL PIERDUT si mi-a trimis contributia sa pentru a o posta pe ‘Catcher in the Sand’ deoarece el nu are blogul sau. Ii multumesc pentru contributie si pentru preluarea stafetei. Limba engleza ii este mai la indemana in exprimare.

 

 

source https://thepauls.wordpress.com/2011/01/31/the-gospel-baton/

—————–
Nu este totul pierdut, because it’s a null sum game. Like probably many other who are reading this blog, I grew up in Romania and left when I was 27 years old, spent most of the rest of my life to present day in California, and travel extensively in search of a “sign.” I wonder through Tibet, Buthan, Nepal, Sikim…up to Mt. Everest base camp in Tibet, and returned with a sense of accomplishment, there is no sign.
Life goes on, and nothing can get you out of its continuous circle. You do the best you believe you can do in this particular cycle of life, gives you a sense of control, but most of it is “pre-assigned”. Your real contribution is in the next cycle, so actually nothing is lost but gain for you and for others.
One of the “tricks” is to be very selective of your attachments, get attached only to things and people that make you a better person. Forcing things to go your way, does not work, or is very violent, and still does not succeed. One of the biggest problem that the communism did not see, was that in order to succeed they must kill ALL the people from before the communism, or the result will be a disaster; it was a disaster.
So, “nu este totul pierdut” the only question is when we will get it back, and how much of it will be our own or somebody’s else.
my 2¢
—————–
iata si traducerea in limba romana:
—————–
Nu este totul pierdut, caci este vorba despre un joc cu suma nula. Precum multi altii dintre cititorii acestui blog, probabil, m-am format in Romania, pe care am parasit-o cand aveam 27 de ani, mi-am petrecut cea mai mare parte a timpului de atunci in California, si calatoresc intens in cautarea unui “semn”. Am ajuns prin Tibet, Buthan, Nepal, Sikim… pana la tabara de la poalele Everestului din Tibet, si m-am intors cu un sentiment de realizare a faptului ca nu exista niciun semn.
Viata continua, si nimic nu te poate scoate din ciclul ei nesfarsit. Faci ceea ce crezi ca este mai bine in acest ciclu in care te afli, ceea ce iti da un anumit sentiment de control, dar in realitate cea mai mare parte este “scrisa” dinainte. Contributia ta reala este in ciclul urmator, deci in fapt nimic nu este pierdut pentru tine si ceilalti.
Una dintre “metode” este sa fii foarte selectiv in relatii, sa te atasezi numai de lucruri si oameni care te fac un om mai bun. Fortarea lucrurilor pe fagasul tau este sortita esecului sau genereaza violenta si nici atunci nu reuseste. Una dintre marile orbiri ale comunismului a fost ignorarea faptului ca pentru a reusi ar fi trebuit sa-i ucida pe TOTI cei ce traisera inainte de comunism, daca nu rezultatul era sortit dezastrului; a fost un dezastru.
In concluzie “nu este totul pierdut”, singura intrebare este cand vei primi ceva inapoi, si cat va fi al tau si cat al altora.
‘my 2 ¢’
—————–
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Happy Birthday, Catcher!

Christmas Day is also the anniversary of The Catcher in the Sand. I started it two years ago, as an experiment with this format of communication on the Internet and as a way of sharing feelings, experiences, and information with my friends. It has become since then a part of my life, and maybe a part of myself.

I have written less in the second year on the Catcher then in the first one. It was a busier year from a professional and personal point of view, and not an easy one. I want to believe however that I have written better, and the feedback that I am getting is that I am on the right track. The feedback that counts I mean, the one from my friends and the one from readers who get to my blog while searching for a specific item, and stay here to read more because they found interest in the content and in the way it is written. A few friends help me with contributions and I thank them for allowing me to host their thoughts and experiences here.

 

source http://www.blippitt.com/blippitt-is-turning-2-and-were-upgrading/birthday-cake-candle-2/

 

What next? I plan to continue to write and share in this space. The subjects will cover almost everything. I will write about my hobbies, about books, movies, travels, music and sport games. I will try to keep out of politics, although what happens around in this politicized world have probably and will probably influence what I wrote and will write. I will also write less about my professional life, and not directly in any case, as there are other channels of communication where I am active and present all the time on the professional plan.

 

First of all I plan to have fun. I will keep this blog active as long as I will have fun doing it. I hope that you will also have fun reading The Catcher in the Sand and I invite you to share your feelings and impressions.

 

Happy Anniversary, Catcher!

 

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A Hell of a Retirement (Film: RED – Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, John Malkovich, Morgan Freeman, 2010)

When actors who played spies in action movies get older they have an option. They can start playing roles of retired spies in action movies. At least the best and the luckiest of them. Same is true for westerns or for science-fiction movies, BTW.

 

source http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1245526/

 

Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, John Malkovich, Morgan Freeman are all among the good and lucky one. Some of them may have not even crossed the legal age of retirement in these times when the governments push the pensions limit higher for reasons I would not detail here. What counts is that all the members of this carre of aces are in good shape and have fun making us have fun in this story where the renegade and rogue agents are the active ones the the institution one should trust less than any other around is the government. Conspiracy is not a theory, it’s a fact of life whose credibility is not placed under question for one second in the script of the film directed by Robert Schwentke. who film after film builds to himself a name of one of the best action film directors in Hollywood and I expect him being trusted with one of more of the never-ending James Bond series entries sometimes in the future.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMCh4etBbkU

(video source trailers)

 

Did I forget somebody? Oh, yes – I should mention Richard Dreyfuss, one of the actors I mostly admired about three decades ago and who seemed to get lost into politics, to the point that I almost did not recognize him here in the retired villain role (sure, villains also retire). One could comment that only Willis is within his usual casting limits, while actors like Malkovich, Mirren, Freeman, or Dreyfuss could do more interesting things and certainly no Oscar was waiting for them behind the corner for the roles in RED, but, hey, this is entertainment, this is an action comedy, one of the genres Hollywood knows how to do well, the guys and the gal are having fun doing it, so get your popcorn and have some fun yourselves watching it.

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NU ESTE TOTUL PIERDUT ( leapșa de sărbători )

Ce poate fi mai potrivit in aceasta perioada de sarbatori decat o leapsa? Ma alatur deci leapşei iniţiate de Lucia Verona (http://luciaverona.blogspot.com/2011/12/nu-este-totul-pierdut-leapsa-de.html.), continuată de Horia Gârbea (http://horiagarbea.blogspot.com/2011/12/nu-este-totul-pierdut.html), de Andrea Hedeş (http://andreahedes.blogspot.com/2011/12/nu-este-totul-pierdut-leapsa-de.html), si last but not least de prietenul meu rim (http://blog.oldrimsix.info/).

Nu cred ca eu am dreptul sa consider ca totul este pierdut. Nu voi spune ca situatia este mai buna decat a fost vreodata, caci nu sunt nici politician alergand dupa vreo re-alegere si nici naiv (sau tampit). Voi spune insa ca a fost mult mai rau. M-am nascut in Romania si am trait 31 de ani acolo si de alti 26 de ani traiesc in Israel. Doua tari care nu au fost binecuvantate de prea multa liniste de-a lungul istoriei lor, si care cu toate vicisitudinile si incercarile istoriei si cu toate conflictele interne au supravietuit si vor supravietui. Exista ceva comun in supravietuirea lor, si aceasta este forta interioara si coeziunea spirituala care le face sa treaca de perioadele de abis, si in umorul care le este arma de aparare si atac deopotriva.

Nu cred ca eu am dreptul sa consider ca totul este pierdut cand am in spate generatia parintilor mei care a supravietuit Holocaustului si am in fata generatia copiilor mei carora am datoria sa le insuflu credinta in viata si dorinta de a se construi pe ei insisi construind ceva in jurul lor.

Nu cred ca am dreptul sa consider ca totul este pierdut cand mai am prieteni cu care pot impartasi si cele bune si cele rele, si filme pe care nu le-am vazut, si carti pe care nu le-am citit, si cantece pe care nu le-am ascultat, si tari ale caror stampile de intrare nu le am inca pe pasaport.

2012 este doar un an in siragul anilor, si siragul nu se curma cand vor Maya.

Sa vedem cine continua siragul acestor postari – poate Pierre, poate Larry, poate Angela,   poate …

Hag Sameah, Un Craciun Fericit, La Multi Ani!

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Gica Manescu – La Bella Italia

Doctorul Gica Manescu mi-a permis preluarea unui articol recent al sau care impartaseste amintiri dintr-o calatorie in Italia. Unele locuri le-am vazut si eu, altele nu. Ii multumesc pentru aceasta noua impartasire.

—————

Acum  cativa ani, mica mea familie de 3 persoane m-a asteptat la aeroportul italian “Fiumicino“ pentru o vacanta  acolo. Cu o masina  inchiriata, spre Roma, am strabatut soseaua pe marginile careia sunt pini inalti care isi unesc  varfurile coroanelor si parca s-ar deschide un tunel.

Roma, oras frumos, cu istorie veche si cu urme ale trecutului. Circulatia vehiculelor e inebunitoare,  oamenii vorbesc repede si tare, gesticuIatia vie si ne lasa in urma. Curatenia e destul de buna in centru, la periferie, ca la noi,  Nu erau olim hadasim (imigranti).

 

source http://www.roadlesstravelled.com.au/rome-forum-palatine-hill-colosseum-vatican-museum-and-st-peters-basilica-review/

 

Intr-un autobuz,  cum vorbeam romaneste, cel din fata, adresandu-se cu “ scuzi “, a  vrut sa stie ce dialect vorbim ca el intelegea foarte multe. Ginta latina.

Pastele, pizza si cafeaua “espresso“ le-am savurat la “mama lor“ si parca aveau alt gust si aroma. Per pedes, am inceput sa vizitam monumente, cladiri, sa vedem istoria invatata sau cunoscuta. In Piazza Venezia, am urcat treptele largi  ale  “Capitoliului“ , proiectat de Michelangelo, (azi e Primaria si un muzeu), in fata fiind statuia ecvestra a lui Marc Aureliu, din secolul II.

In Forumul Roman, am  privit Arcul de Triumf al lui Titus, ridicat in anul 81, dupa ce cucerise Ierusalimul si in anul 70, a distrus Templul. Se vad in basoreliefuri, evreii dusi ca sclavi. Nu departe, e Forumul Traian. Tot in  basoreliefuri, erau scene dupa cucerirea Daciei de catre romani.

 

source http://www.lessing-photo.com/dispimg.asp?i=08050648+&cr=48&cl=1

 

Mi-au revenit in minte, cum la liceu, in orele de “Istorie  a evreilor“ facute cu domnul Derbarimdigher – of  ce nume greu – invatam despre “faptele de eroism si suferinte ale poporului nostru“ si la liceu, in  orele de “Istorie antica“ invatam cu domnul  Arbore, despre “strabunii nostri, dacii si romanii”.

Colosseum, acea oarecum ruina  partiala a circului  roman, in reparatii si curatire, Pe pietre a aparaut culoarea alba, cea originala.

 

source http://robertnyman.com/rome/saturday.htm

 

Nu poti fi la Roma fara sa treci pe langa Fontana  di Trevi  si sa  n-o admiri. Si ca toti de acolo,  sa arunci o moneda peste spate,  aducatoare de noroc. O cunoastem  si din  filmul “ Dolce vita “.

Mai departe,  in  Piata Navona , de admirat fantana monumentala a celor 4 fluvii, opera lui Bernini.Sunt din  4 continente : Nil, Gange, Rio del Plata si Dunarea.

Dar tarabele, casutele neglijate si zgomotul, iti taie pofta de frumos.

 

source http://www.tripwolf.com/en/guide/show/266757/Italy/Rome/San-Pietro-in-Vincoli

 

La biserica neinsemnata, San  Pietro in Vincoli ( Sf. Petru in lanturi ) ,intr-un semi- intuneric, troneaza in  jiltul lui,  Moise, sculptat de  Michelangelo.

Alt punct  turistic important este Basilica San  Pietro. Piata  enorma  cu obeliscul in  centru si biserica,  parca te cutremura. Vaticanul cu Garda  elvetiana  e  alaturi.

 

source http://www.bb360.it/

 

Daca la Luvru din Paris, e inghesuiala la portretul  “ Giocondei “- Mona Lisaa, a lui Leonardo da Vinci, aici e la“Pieta” a lui Michelangelo.

Pentruca sute de ani, milioane de vizitatori mangaiau sau sarutau un  picior al lui Christos,  s-a subtiat. Sculptura are in  fata, un perete din  sticla. Doar priviri, fara atingeri.

Un loc pe care putini turisti stiu sa-l viziteze seara,  este terasa de la Observator. Iti sta la picioare, Roma luminata. Priveliste rara.

Drumul  cu masina  spre sud cu soarele pe cerul mediteranian, este o incantare a ochilor.

Trecem intai prin   Napoli, metropola cu aspect variat, cuprinzand renumitul cartier –Santa Lucia ( de aici si cantoneta) si cu golful lui, de care se spune ca e unul din  cele mai  frumoase din  lume, impreuna cu cele din Haifa si Sydney .

In urma cu ani, italienii spuneau : “ Vedi Napoli, poi more “. Mucalitii au parafrazat, spunand: “  De  ce sa mori ? Vezi mai intai Napoli si apoi Mori.

 

source http://www.menstennisforums.com/showthread.php?t=190169

 

Pompei,  orasul acoperit de lava vulcanului Vezuviu, de apoape 2000 de ani, in 67 e.n. si adus la lumina abia in  1860. A fost cu cei 25 mii de locuitori ai sai, unul din orasele importante ale Imperiului Roman.

Nu-ti vine sa crezi,  ce locuinte , ce bai si bucatarii au avut.

Pe coasta amalfitana, se insira pitorestile Positano, Salerno, Amalfi. De  pe soseaua in  serpentine stranse , in  sus si in  jos, se deschide o perspective, rar intalnita.

 

source http://www.italianbestweddings.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=29&Itemid=1

 

Sorrento, cu case elegante, magazine cu tot ce doresti, hoteluri de lux, dar si modeste, este unul din  punctele de plecare spre insula Capri. Dupa 45 minute, vaporul acosteaza in portul insulei. Un autobuz duce  calatorii sus, in localitatea  Ana- Capri.

O strada principala,  hoteluri, buticuri, magazine de dulciuri si Casa – muzeu a scriitorului suedez –  Axel Munthe.

 

source http://www.art.com/products/p13036603-sa-i2280954/roy-rainford-house-of-axel-munthe-villa-san-michele-anacapri-capri-campania-italy.htm

 

Cand in  urma cu foarte multi ani  am  citit  “ Cartea de la  San – Michele  “ am  sperat ca intr-o zi ma voi plimba prin  gradina si voi admira statuia mica a unui leu .

Cu vizitarea, intr-o barca a  “ Grotei albastre “,  am  incheiat excursia.

Iar la  Fumicino, pentru zborul de  intoarcere. Am locuit in  hoteluri si pensiuni, serviciul bun  si gazdele ospitaliere.

Am intrat la mine in casa, pe malul aceleiasi mari, dar viata zilnica , cu greutatile si avantajele ei a fost reluata.

Adaug ca  in Italia am mai fost si la nord de Roma : Florenta, Siena, Pavia,  Venezia dar si pe coasta Adriaticei. Poate ne vom  mai intalni.

 

Dr.  G. Manescu.

Decembrie 2011.

 

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Al Green – Searching his Soul in Gospel

I am using these days of vacation to catch back with a huge log of reading books and seeing films accumulated during the year. I will of course be able to clear up only a fraction of them. Among these are a few music documentary films, and the first one was Robert Muggee’s Gospel According to Al Green made in 1984.

 

source http://www.kalamu.com/bol/2008/08/11/al-green-%E2%80%9Clay-it-down%E2%80%9D/

 

This film is an interesting snapshot of a career that spins already for almost half a century. Born in Arkansas in 1946, Green made to himself a name since the mid-60s on the scene of soul music, which enjoyed a great success and was promoted widely, nationally in the US and internationally together with other trends (like pop, rock and folk) of the musical revolution of the ‘flower power’ generation.

 

(video source misclasicos)

 

Of the material available on youTube Take me to the River (one of the best known of his own compositions) seems a good example of the type of music Al Green was singing at that time – rhythmic, sensual, charismatic R&B and soul.

 

(video source jamaisledimanche)

 

And then, in 1974 the change happened. A personal life incident (described by Green in the documentary film in a different version than the one recorded by other sources like the Wikipedia entry dedicated to the singer) triggered a process of returning to religion, and in only a couple of year we see Green becoming a reverend and buying his own church (this is also described in the documentary).

More and more gospel takes precedence in his records and performances. From this period here is Jesus is Waiting, a fascinating rendition, about which I will quote two comments from youTube, which reflect the mix of spirituality and musical fascination that was felt by his fans and followers:

– as a lifetime atheist, this is the closest ive ever been to god

– That’s the sexiest Lords Prayer I have ever heard lol!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9wkcfCbZqM

(video source eubank12)

 

The documentary itself includes testimonies by Al Green’s musical partners about his beginnings, about the road to success, and his transformation from a soul to a gospel artist. The musical parts are recorded in one of his performances at a military base, and in his own church in Memphis – and this is certainly the most interesting part, as it documents how music becomes part of the religious discourse and ceremonies, and how the word gospel truly merges and combines its two meanings.

From this period Amazing Grace is one of the good exemplifications.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPqvVU90Rdk

(video source dtvmusic)

 

As I said the film was made in 1984, at a time when his life was mostly dedicated to religion and as a singer he was singing only gospel. More than a quarter of century later we know however that as his career continued, Green returned to some of his non-religious songs, in a tentative to regain some of the success of his younger years. Here he is still introduced as ‘reverend Al Green working the crowds in a televised show in 2010, singing one of his initial successes Let’s Stay Together (a love ballad), with a voice that sounds amazingly young.

The 1984 film catches Green at a point in his evolution, which did not follow exactly the expected track. Asked in the film how he sees his life and career 20 or 30 years later, he predicts an universal acceptance of the gospel, and him as a priest of it. It is however more to the non-religious soul music that he is still known today, while the religious fulfillment did not disappear but was pushed back more to the space of his private life.

 

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Hanukkah Rocks!

source http://www.dogonews.com/2010/12/13/video-of-the-week-jam-to-this-hanukkah-beat

 

As the whole Jewish world prepares to light tomorrow night the first candle of the Hanukkah festival, I searched the net as I always do for the traditional round of significant clips, songs, images related to the holiday to post on ‘The Catcher in the Sand’. It always is a rather easier task on Hanukkah than for many other holidays, as the positive and heroic message of this holiday translates in a lot of music and joy. So I decided to focus more the search this time and gather some of the more significant pieces of music created and posted in the last year in Jewish American and Israeli musical space. My findings were amazing. In two words – Hanukkah Rocks!

 

(video source westdawg63)

 

(video source MaccabeatsChannel)

 

My favorite holidays band are the Maccabeats – the chorus of the New York Yeshiva University. This was a great year for them with a performance at the White House praised by president Obama, the release of their first CD and a tour in Israel.

 

(video source einpratfountainheads)

 

The Ein Prat Fountainheads are a group of Israeli singers and dancers, students or graduates of the Israeli Academy for Leadership. Their life and studies are about ‘working to create a new Israeli-Jewish identity and building a strong and diverse community that celebrates Jewish life’.

 

(video source MatisyahuTVSME)

 

This was a year of changes also for the alternative and reggae singer Matisyahu, who recently announced that he gave up the Hassidic Jew appearance and mode of life in search for other forms of spirituality. Good luck to him – what is important is that he will keep doing good music.

To all my friends – Hag Hanukkah Sameakh!

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Vaclav Havel (1936 – 2011)

Vaclav Havel died today, at the very time when the people in Eastern Europe celebrate 20 years since the empire of the Soviet Union fell apart. These are certainly not easy times, but there are very few people – I dare hope so at least – who regret the dismantling of Communism in Europe. And Havel, the playwright, the poet, the dissident, the first president of Czechoslovakia after it became free again was one of the people who made freedom and democracy in his country and in the Eastern Europe possible.

 

source http://vaclavhavel.cz/

 

I envy the Czech people for many things and one of them is that their history of resistance to dictatorship 1n 1968 allowed them to transition to democracy in 1989 peacefully and in dignity, as no other nation in Eastern Europe could do better. This is due to people like Alexander Dubcek and Vaclav Havel.

 

(video source Tavaana2010)

 

Great men speak better in their own words. Here are a few memorable quotes from what Havel wrote and said (source – http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/V%C3%A1clav_Havel):

 

Even a purely moral act that has no hope of any immediate and visible political effect can gradually and indirectly, over time, gain in political significance.

(Letter to the downthrown Czechoslovak Communist Party chairman Alexander Dubček (August 1969))

 

If every day a man takes orders in silence from an incompetent superior, if every day he solemnly performs ritual acts which he privately finds ridiculous, if he unhesitatingly gives answers to questionnaires which are contrary to his real opinions and is prepared to deny his own self in public, if he sees no difficulty in feigning sympathy or even affection where, in fact, he feels only indifference or aversion, it still does not mean that he has entirely lost the use of one of the basic human senses, namely, the sense of humiliation.

(Open letter to Dr. Gustáv Husák, Communist President (8 April 1975))

 

Despite all the political misery I am confronted with every day, it still is my profound conviction that the very essence of politics is not dirty; dirt is brought in only by wicked people. I admit that this is an area of human activity where the temptation to advance through unfair actions may be stronger than elsewhere, and which thus makes higher demands on human integrity. But it is not true at all that a politician cannot do without lying or intriguing. That is sheer nonsense, often spread by those who want to discourage people from taking an interest in public affairs.

Of course, in politics, just as anywhere else in life, it is impossible and it would not be sensible always to say everything bluntly. Yet that does not mean one has to lie. What is needed here are tact, instinct and good taste.

(International Herald Tribune (29 October 1991))

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Simone Kopmajer in Tel Aviv

The value of a cycle like the Hot Jazz series at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art is measured also in discovering and revealing to audiences less explored territories on the jazz planet. Austria is certainly a place appreciated for its huge musical tradition, but less associate with jazz. One more argument to appreciate the choice of bringing to Israel this week a young and tallented Austrian singer like Simone Kopmajer or Simone as she was presented to the Israeli audiences.

 

source http://acousticshock.de/4484simone-kopmajer-didnt-you-say

 

Simone Kopmajer was born in a family of musicians, and it looks like there were not too many doubts that music will be if not her profession at least the passion of her life. Some of the best moments in her show were when she was taking over some of the instrumental parts (blowing instruments especially) and rendering them in a way which was fully integrated into the musical logic of the songs, and also proved a good understanding of the specifics of the instruments whose sounds she was replicating.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sDjki_dsNk

(video source ivanpix)

 

I found on youTube a clip where she speaks about herself and also introduces a new album. The program in Tel Aviv was a compilation of songs ranging from pieces from the big American jazz and 20th century folk repertories, country music (one of her more recent discoveries and sources of inspiration), and up to contemporary pop. Each of these were processed in a classical vocal jazz manner, emphasizing the qualities of her voice and the talents of New-Yorker pianist John di Martino whose stage presence and musical personality would have been worth a concert of himself (the other two Austrian instrumentalists were unfortunately far behind).

 

(video source conecas1)

 

If there was something to object in the musical evening last night it was the sound which amplified the volume of the voice of Simone louder than necessary making it sometimes sound strident while pushing down the bass guitar of Herfried Knapp too almost inaudible levels. Simone herself visibly enjoyed the show, but played a little bit too much with the usual tricks of speaking a few words in the local language. I do not appreciate visiting musicians doing it more than once or twice an evening if at all – after all when I come to a jazz event speaking English is somehow part of the convention. However at the very final encore of the evening her rendering of an Israeli song was made in an almost perfect and clear Hebrew, another proof of the skills of a young singer with the potential to become a star shining from an unexpected corner of the jazz universe.

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