Italian Summer Tour 2009
Siena, Italy
I found myself in a most beautiful place, Siena, Italy. The July weather was hovering around 80 degrees and threatening me with more. I that one of the most important words for me would be…ghiaccio…ice. Now we can move on with the tour. After a few rehearsals and late night wine & pasta sessions our first stop on the tour is way down in Southern Italy in the city of Naples for the Baia Domiza Sand & Blues Festival. Featuring the beauty of the Mediterranean Sea , intricate sand sculptures and a unique blend of international blues. We made the 5 hour drive early in the morning and traveling past sunflower fields, vineyards and villas. Love the rest stops in this country! Where else can you get gas, shop , drink coffee or wine, get a full meal or just a grilled sandwich and play the lotto? There may be more places that have this combination; however this little Californian liked the way this one worked. In Naples, we stayed at the Domizia Palace Hotel. 2 minutes from the stage and 1 minute from the sand and sea. I liked the way this worked too! Statues, columns and big pink velvet chairs, ooh my. The festival included performances by Diaunna Greenleaf, Ana Popovic and Chris Cain.
Blues Di Vino is in the beautiful town of Camigliano. Nestled in the hills of Tuscany, this place on earth where time has stopped. The evening started with Grappa and then a sound check, let’s just get the business part out of the way. Then came the community feast, and boy oh boy, I kid you not. This was the taste of Italy from the history and the land and the sea. The wine was some of the best I’ve ever had, maybe it was the altitude or the longitude, I don’t know but they had me at Welcome. We stayed the night in a family home and couldn’t have been more comfortable. It didn’t matter that I didn’t understand the Italian or did they understand the English, what mattered was hospitality and comfort.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
The next couple of days were TV and Radio interviews and just being fabulous around town. I sort of like doing that, what girl wouldn’t? Ok so The Tresimeno Blues festival was one of the unique stops on the tour. Several venues hosted the festival stages all over the area. Our spot was outdoors overlooking the Lake. <o:p></o:p>
The last show turned out to be the most meaningful as it was part of the culture of Siena. The town has held the race of the 17 Contrade of Siena since around 1590. The show was for the Contrade della lupa. The community gathered and again I was taken back in time where things were simple and warm and good. This tour and the people will forever be in my heart.
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By Tia Carroll
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</w:Sdt>Eastern Europe<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
Tallinn, Estonia <o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p><?xml:namespace prefix = v ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" /><v:shape style="Z-INDEX: 251661312; POSITION: absolute; MARGIN-TOP: 127.5pt; WIDTH: 99pt; HEIGHT: 126.75pt; MARGIN-LEFT: -4.5pt" id=_x0000_s1027 o:allowincell="f" wrapcoords="-164 0 -164 21472 21600 21472 21600 0 -164 0" type="#_x0000_t75"><v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:UsersTiaAppDataLocalTempmsohtmlclip1 1cl ip_image001.jpg"></v:imagedata><?xml:namespace prefix = w ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" /><w:wrap type="tight"></w:wrap></v:shape>A small and very young country in Northern Europe that gained it’s sole independence in 1991. So at a ripe age of 17 , this is a young hip and culturally exciting place to be. Formally a part of Soviet Russia and just a short ferry ride from Helsinki, Finland, this place has history and future all in one beautiful spot on the Baltic Sea. Now this is a very supportive atmosphere for music in general. On my first trip there, I was introduced to a very unique blend of blues and roots music, sung by Estonian vocalist in their own language, played by Estonian musicians and enjoyed by everyone. This country loves the blues. Yes anyone in the world can have and feel the blues, and I heard it first hand. Most everyone speaks English, so communication was not a huge issue. <o:p></o:p>
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My home base was Old Town, located in the capital city of Tallinn. By the way, Old Town is really old… it was first mentioned on the map in the year 1154. The area is a culinary Mecca. Foods range from Indian cuisine to Japanese, Italian. Oh but let me get medieval on ya. Yes, there is one place in town that is totally unique in that they still cook and serve the way they did back in medieval times. Olde Hansa is one of the most famous restaurants in the region and not to be forgotten.. The ingredients are authentic, and the flavors were so simple yet intense. I tried a variety of entrees during my stay and was impressed with the unique flavors. <o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>I was fortunate enough that my visit coordinated with the Jazzkarr festival, and my birthday!
I was the featured artist at Club Clazz, a swanky yet unpretentious restaurant and entertainment venue. Boy did we have a time. Performing with international Jazz favorites until 4 and 5 in the morning, and then we would go find another place that was still open serving food and drink and finish off the evening, I mean, morning well at this point I‘m so done I don‘t think it matters anyway. <o:p></o:p>
The stroll back to my hotel, yes I strolled back to my hotel in one of the safest cities in the world, no worries.<o:p></o:p>
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There is something going on in this venue every night of the week. On one night of the week is an acoustic piano and guitar bar. I really enjoyed the simplicity of pure music and vocals, and so did the audience. This place was packed almost every night and rightfully so. What a beautiful venue. <o:p></o:p>
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Part Two!<o:p></o:p>
Estonia in the fall, yes I made 2 trips to Tallinn Estonia in 2008. The second trip was during the end of October and the beginning of November. <o:p></o:p>
Is there Halloween in Estonia?….NO!<o:p></o:p>
Although I did wear a costume , I think some people wondered why. However, another great time was had by all. <o:p></o:p>
I was photographed by the people at Cosmopolitan magazine during one of my shows as they were enjoying a “company party” that night. I was happy to be the entertainment for them, they do know how to party!<o:p></o:p>
I traveled to the other side of Estonia on this trip to the college town of Tartu. It’s about a 2 and a half hour drive, and quite nice. The weather was more than I expected. We went from about 40 degree weather to zero degree weather. <o:p></o:p>
I called myself dressing warm because I wore pantyhose with my mini dress. Ha!<o:p></o:p>
We did an acoustic blues show in this hip college town. Let me just say, we felt so appreciated, doing this deconstructed blues. We went Back to the roots of where it came from before the huge drum kit and the horn section and the …Hammond, yes I said it, the Hammond. I have nothing against that whole sound, as a matter of fact I have that very sound on 95% of the shows I do. But it was a real treat for us and apparently a treat for the audience too. The house was sold out!<o:p></o:p>
This second trip made me feel like maybe a third trip is needed to tell the some more of the story….<o:p></o:p>
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