Few days  ago, the Harvard Westlake Jazz Big Band & Combos  from Studio City, LA ;, finished their intense week through Spain and Portugal where they performed 7 concerts in front of over 1,400 people and where they played in Malaga, Cordoba, Seville and Puerto de Santa Maria in Andalusia, Spain  and the two final concerts in  Setubal and Lisbon in Portugal.

I want to thank  upfront  to James Smith and Maggie Rodriguez from Encore Tours, Samuel Bull the road manager , all the local Spanish jazz  musicians, students and friends who attended to all the concerts and  helped us to organize such a wonderful tour, and most of all to all the high school-age musicians from Harvard Westlake  who brought  their  music and their talents under the direction of Shawn Constantino.

I cannot forget Pablo Bernardo Caveda, a personal friend and professional photographer who  reflected better than a million words through his  photos  some of the highlight moments of  the tour.

The jazz aficionados in Andalusia had the opportunity to enjoy  the concerts and the excellent repertoire chosen from  the  songs of Count Basie, Dizzie Gillespie, Charlie Parker , Joe Henderson among others.

The jazz students from  music schools and conservatories , from high school to adults ,were able to learn and  jam together with the combos and the big  band.

Even that the concert times where not  very jazzy, as half  of the concerts where celebrated at 5 pm, audiences  where there are welcomed  with enthusiasm   the  band members.

Thanks to all  who participate on this tour from the craddle to its end. It was a wonderful time!