Hello All,

So, had my first concert with “The Boss” last night in Las Palmas, Spain.  It was quite a journey indeed.  I got to Las Palmas 2 days earlier than the band to rehearse the orchestra.  I got along very well with the orchestra.  I am digging the Spain orchestras.  A different approach to music making that I like but took some adjusting to.  This orchestra had many folks from different countries so it was quite International.  And they understood English well so were able to work super efficiently and get the work done in record speed.  On Wednesday July 13, 2011 I awoke, got breakfast in the morning and played on the computer for a spell.  We were meeting to head over to the venue at 3 PM.  The first thing that I noticed in being inside the “bubble” with Sting is that there are so many autograph seekers and picture takers around every corner.  Security at and around the hotel increases to handle the onlookers.  And not only are they looking for Sting but also people associated with the tour like myself and band mates.  But ultimately they want to meet the man and that is understandable with his level of celebrity.

We load up the van at 3 pm and head over to the stadium.  This is a space used for Football, you know, soccer.  The promoters were expecting about 12,000 people to attend.  The weather was a little cloudier than expected.  I have to say I was a little nervous for the rehearsal.  Although I really felt comfortable with the music there were just so many moving parts to contend with for example dealing with a rhythm section, communicating with a soloist (Sting), being outdoors, microphones, transitions, and so on.  Then an amazing thing happened, we began the rehearsal and it was soooooooooooooo much easier with the rhythm section.  I had been spending the past 6 weeks without that rhythmic drive element which ultimately is good for the orchestra learn the music without relying on the external beat.   Without the band at the prep rehearsals we can focus on the internal rhythmic pulse and then it is much easier when we add the band.  Plus without the band you can do a lot of detail work.

Things were cooking in the sound check rehearsal.  We had to make some adjustments and do some rehearsing but the orchestra played wonderfully with a good meaty sound.  I think that Sting was pleased so far.  But we had the concert for the evening about 3 hours after the sound check rehearsal.

After the sound check I went to my dressing room, dashed off to catering to get a bite to eat, then back to the dressing room for a short nap.  Got up and got a shower and made my way to the backstage area.  The concert was scheduled to begin at 9:30 but only about half the stadium was full so we pushed the concert back about 30 minutes.  A brilliant move.  By about 10:10 the stadium was completely full and I am ready to hit it.  I come out Rhani (brilliant percussionist) counts me off and off we go.  The audience was tuned in to the concert from the moment Sting came on stage.  It was also wonderful have the local orchestra playing in front of their hometown crowd.  They played with a lot of pride and the audience took pride in having their “hometown” band involved in the production.

We got done at around 12:30 PM.  Everything is set up so that I can walk straight off stage right to a waiting van to take us back to the hotel ahead of the traffic.  We arrived back at the hotel around 1 AM and we met in the restaurant for about an hour with Sting and the band and just chatted about things.  It was nice.  A long day but very rewarding.

When I travel with the band I get to fly the private jet.  That is really cool and efficient.  I am currently on the plane to Granada.  Side note, one of the nicest plane bathrooms that I have ever experienced.  Roomy, spacious and lots of flowers all around. Tune in to see how things go in Granada.  We are playing in a bull arena and it gonna be hot!

Peace and blessings to y’all,

Chelsea