Baylor Jazz In Texas....

We are all back and accounted for (except for Eli, because he stayed in Greece with his family!)

What an amazing experience this was.  It will take so long to remember all of the fun, jokes, inside jokes,  laughter, heartfelt moments, playing experiences, musical experiences, things we learned, places we saw, people we met, and the closeness of this amazing group of people by the time this 10 days was over.   I will never forget these people and what they mean to me: Spence, Cole, Chandler, Mollie, Mitchell, Brandon, Moser, Scott, Tyler, Stephen, John, Sally, Clare, Austin, Ivan, Eli, Chris, Dr. T., and Ryan and Brady....

(and yes....I counted everyone one more time to make sure i had everyone!)

Thank you, and Acropoli!

I am so blessed to do what I do!

Thanks for following us on our Journey,
Alex, Ryan and Brady, and The Baylor Jazz Ensemble

 Sic'em Jazz!!


 Now, I'll see you all at Whataburger today!!

I hear they are fried in Greece!!

Baylor Jazz in Greece - Day 10

Our last day.....

We left early this morning, because it is a long way to the camp where we were playing today.  On the way there, we learned that this camp is a camp for refugee families.  They just stay there for a week and then they go back to Athens.  This particular week, the people are from Iran and they speak Farsi.

The Metro trip was a long one and we were packed into very crowded trains, but it was a fun experience.

Waiting for the Metro

When we got to the camp, we had a little time to kill so we started an epic soccer game!  (I won't say which team won, and yes, that means my team lost!)

Then it was into the community center to cool off and get ready to play.  After we went inside, Brady started playing with a couple of kids from Iran. 

When I was 7, I learned about Iran when some Iranian students stormed our Embassy and took Americans hostage.  I saw them shout bad things about America and burn our flag.  I have heard my whole life about how Iranians don't like Americans, I've seen Iranian kids on tv with guns and I've heard Americans talk badly about Iranians.  Today, I watched my son play soccer with two Iranian kids in Greece, and it was one of my coolest moments as a dad!   Kids having fun together.  So many life changing experiences in the last 10 days.

Then we started playing!  And it was the best concert yet!  The band sounded great and after this concert was over, EVERYONE in the band had taken a solo in Greece.

 This was our backdrop.  I didn't ask the Dolphin's Name

Spencer found a fan!!

 The second to last group photo!!

 Just like we have all week, we had them dancing in the aisles!

Band sounded so tight today!!!  The good kind of tight!

Then after we were done, they wanted to show us their music and dance.  So an Iranian musician played for us!

Then we took the long journey back to the church where we collected all of our things and brought them to the hotel and the apartments where we are staying.  We had a couple of hours, so much napping happened....We could get used to this!

Then we met at the church for a wrap up session with Pastor Giotis.  It is amazing how insightful, intelligent and observant these students are.  So many great memories and fun times talking about the week and a half we have had here.  I am so proud of them.  For the way they played and especially for the way they represented Baylor and the School of music.  Dignity, class,  care, and love were shown by these kids this week.  To me, to each other and to everyone that they met.

Pastor Giotis and our good friend Lillian (a missionary from the US that works with this church).  New friends for life.  

Then, one last amazing Greek meal.  At a beautiful restaurant with live Greek music.  

 Table #1

 Table #2

 This place will do!

 Some of the coolest moments for me were just sitting back and watching them interact with each other: Laughing and smiling and having fun.

What an amazing way to end out time in Greece.

Then, they surprised me.  Earlier in the week, they took me into a musical instrument store to show me the instruments.  I played on a Bazooki.  

Then when we got to the hotel, they presented me with this instrument that they pooled their money together for, and they bought this for me.  

I could barely speak I was so emotional and surprised.   Thank you, Thank you, I have no words but Thank you!!

These people are such amazing people and I love every one of them,.  They don't have to be in any jazz classes for their degree program, but they do this because the love it.  They are so fun to work with and I have the BEST job in the world.  I am eternally grateful to Dr. Taylor for his friendship and guidance and playing and help in planning for this trip, and to all of them for teaching me this week and for taking such great care of my boys, for inspiring me through their playing, and most of all, for the friendships that were made during this trip.  This is a time and a trip that we will all share for a lifetime.  I am thankful and I thank GOD for each and every one of them.

ACROPOLI!!!

Tomorrow (or really, later this morning) we wake early and head to the Airport, and start our journey home.   We are headed back to Texas!

Thank you for following us on this journey, 

The Baylor Jazz Ensemble.

Baylor Jazz In Greece - Day 9

Today was our last day to sight see in this amazing city of Athens.  We got up early and headed to the Agora, or ancient town meeting place.  This is the place where Plato, Socrates, Pythagoras and a few inconsequential folks like that used to hang out.  It's only where philosophy, democracy, western traditional music and many parts of mathematics and geometry began.

Here are some pics:

 Walking up to the Temple

 We are getting pretty good at group shots!

 The only Temple that still has a roof!

 Sally: either contemplating the amazing history that occurred in this place and the way that things discussed here changed the course of human knowledge and learned study, 

or thinking: this is a nice place to sit in the shade!! 

 Wow, where are we?

 I think this was a discussion about who had the better hat!!

 I have nothing to say about this pic....

 The town center of Ancient Athens.

 They have been so good all week long at posing for pics.

 Cats are everywhere!!  We liked this little guy (and he likes the simplicity of the Doric Column!!)

Yes, we wore the same thing...complete with the sweat stains!  (did we tell you it's hot in Athens this time of year?)

 A head....

 This discussion was either: where do you think Pythagoras and his peeps came up with the concept of the major scale with 5 whole steps and two half steps, or...

when do you think Parker is taking us to lunch?

 A fun Beatles-esque photo!

 and another

I'm sure this conversation was about Bone-Squad!

Then we went to the Greek Musical Instrument museum.

Then back for some rest, some more amazing food at the church and a huge thank you to Pastor Giotis' wife and her friend for cooking for us all week.  We are all very sad that we have eaten our last meal at the church.  They were the best meals we have had in Greece!

We had to get a picture with them!!

 The best cooks in Athens!!!

And check out the new BU Jazz shirts! 

Then it was off to Kypseli Square for a performance.

 Brady improvising!

 The bus was a little crowded!!

 Preaching the Jazz word to the people of Athens.

 A curious concert go-er checking out the band!

 Dr. Taylor Drum Solo!!!

It was a great day in Athens and we hope that we were able to open the door for the site church that was planted here to make some connections today.  Regardless, everyone had fun!!!

Tomorrow is an early morning.  We are going to an Afghani refugee camp, then a wrap up discussion with Pastor Giotis, and then a night in a restaurant with Greek food, music, dancing, and fun!

Tomorrow is our last day.  We all have mixed emotions.  We will be sad to leave our new friends and this great country, but we will be ready, after one more amazing day, to head back to our friends and families back home.

Thanks for following us on our Journey,
The Baylor Jazz Ensemble