Greetings from Paris!
Yes, I’ve finally made the jump across the pond and back to my beloved France. I miss the men of Agachiko IMMENSELY and wish that I could have packed them all up into my suitcases and brought them with me, but alas… il était impossible. They are not only amazing musicians, but brilliant collaborators. I hope to continue the association, after all, I’m only across the pond, not on another planet.
That being said, there were many reasons for my need to come back to France. I fell in love with France over 35 years ago, when I arrived at the invitation of Steve Lacy, and stayed for 2 years before returning to the States to attend Graduate school. I’ve visited often since then, but in recent years, events in the U.S. have convinced me that if there was ever a ‘TIME’ to return, it was now.
The increasing violence, open police brutality, number of guns, a growing lack of respect for the intellectual process, the slow death of the humanities in education, and an ever increasing lack of love and support for the arts, was actually killing me slowly. I needed to come to a place where, though life is not perfect, it is VASTLY different in outlook and quality of daily life; in order to rejuvenate my soul.
I feel that I am in many ways following in the footsteps of many artists of colour whom I’ve idolized for decades. Josephine Baker, Nina Simone, Paul Robeson and James Baldwin for example; managed to find a path to some happiness and personal freedom here. Mind, it is not an easy transition, but having skydived TWICE and survived, I’m sure I can handle this change as well. My ulcer is already grateful.
I look forward to creating new music and making new artistic connections and working with my much loved and respected Musical Director and Arranger Russ Gershon and the fellas, in a project coming to you as soon as I can make it happen.
Thanks for staying in touch, and BELIEVE me, there is much more coming. For now…
A Bientot!
Gabi
Agachiko 