We were greeted warmly by Guil and after a short conversation we were led to his car and were on our way to the hotel.
After checking in to
the hotel and sorting out the rooms,Guil asked us if we wanted
to go and see a friend of his who didn't live far from the hotel,
"To rest up and ting".
Guil took us to his friend (and ours now),Robie,a
sound engineer of note.
Robie welcomed us into
his home and played the gracious host.Another one of Guil's and
Robie's friends was there,a percussionist named Yossef.
Between us all we had a wonderful and enlightening conversation,
while we waited for the time to go and collect Aba from the airport.
He was due to arrive at 21:10 local time.
I asked about the plane and the passengers that came from the
former Soviet Union that I had seen at the airport, and the situation
regarding the Arabs and Jews.I was given an insight into the problems
that only someone from within the situation can articulate.
"Only Those That Feel It, Know It". Big raspect to Robie
for the guidance.
While we were there another brethren of Robie's arrived a drummer called David.
We found out as the time passed that these people we were breaking bread with were all part of a band called 'Ex-Centrix'.
'Ex-Centrix'
is an Israeli band that plays music that draws on a cross-cultural
vibe,taking inspiration from all forms of 'Roots' music.
The time passed so quickly,it was a shock when Guil said it was
time to go and pick up Aba.
As we left we promised to return that night with Aba after we
had done the radio show for Dj
Kwame on 'Galgalatz Radio 91.8 FM'.
So off we went to collect
Aba from the airport.
On arrival at the airport we settled down opposite a giant screen
which was diplaying the arrivals area after customs, so that we
could see when Aba was coming through.
While we were waiting we were joined by Ras
Kulcha and his lady, who had driven all the way from Jerusalem
to be present to welcome Aba to Israel.
Maximum raspect to Ras Kulcha.
Blood was showing brotherly concern in regards to how immigration
would treat Aba.
We saw that Aba's flight had arrived and after what seemed an
eternity Aba came bounding out of the arrivals area looking none
too distressed.
After meeting and greeting the assembled Blood asked Aba how the
journey went,but more importantly did he have any problems with
the immigration people?
Aba it turns out had no problems what so ever and had breezed
through without a hitch.The delay he informed us was due to a
passenger who was in a wheel chair and to the amount of people
trying to get through immigration when only 2 booths out of 20
were open.
We headed out of the terminal and loaded Aba's things in Guil's
car. We then drove out of the airport and onward to the radio
station 'Galgalatz 91.8 FM' to do the show / interview
followed by Ras Kulcha and his lady in his van.
The radio station was
in the old part of Tel aviv, Jaffa.We arrived at the station at
22:30 and the interview was due to start at 23:00.
As Aba sorted out his records and Blood and Guil settled down
behind the mics,I headed into the control room to see what was
happening.
The guy who was doing the sound was spawled in his chair looking
completely disinterested.
The programme controller was shouting to his assistant to get
him a drink from the machine.
The other people in the room were talking among themselves.
If apathy needed a home this was it.They had all been there,seen
it and brought the t-shirt. This was going to be just another
interview to them,but they and us were in for a surprise!
I went back into the
studio just as DJ Kwame was telling Aba that apart
from the initial introduction the next hour from 23:00 - 2400
was all ours and we could do 'Our Thing'.
Aba looked and me and smiled as he said "Alright".
We were expecting a few questions, a snippet of some of our tunes
and a thank you and goodbye.We had not come prepared to play a
session on the radio for an hour,especially as Aba had literally
just flown in. But we were not going to let a little thing like
that stop us.
'Galgalatz Radio'
is the military radio station and it broadcast can be picked up
all over Israel and beyond, and tonight we were going to give
them an hour of 'Roots & Culture'.
Rasta Soul-Jahs playing to the soldiers.
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