Since moving to Ottawa in January, I have looked for opportunities to get to know the city - it's streets, it's culture, it's people. One way to do this, I thought, was to volunteer at a summer festival or two.
Some people might think it's a crazy idea to volunteer to be a driver for a festival after just moving to a city, but I thought that this would be an excellent way to learn how to get around ... some of the greatest learning opportunities happen when you force yourself to walk out to the very edge and challenge yourself.
OK -it's not quite that tough ... let's face it, Ottawa is well laid out and relatively easy to get around, and my trusty GPS helps when needed, so it's not rocket science.
I have volunteered to work with the transportation end of the Ottawa Jazz Festival, and it's awesome. I am learning to navigate the city more and more, and enjoying some fantastic music to boot. One more benefit - meeting the musicians and driving them to and from their hotels to sound checks, the airport, and such. It rocks : )
Yesterday I had the honour of picking up SMV to take them from their hotel to their sound check. Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller and Victor Wooten are three of the most accomplished base players in the world. I used to listen to Stanley Clarke and Marcus Miller, many years ago, late at night on CBC when Ross Porter would play incredible jazz on the radio to the joy and delight of jazz lovers still up in wee hours.
I thought I'd put some classic Grover Washington Jr. on the CD player as we rolled through the downtown to Confederation Park. Stanley and Marcus started talking about the Washington cut playing low in the background, and David Sanborn, and about the whole smooth jazz movement, when it started and the whole scene. It was incredible for me to be there, listening to this. I was in awe of the calibre of talent in the vehicle, and to be within earshot of this conversation ... sweet : )
When we arrived at the park and the gentlemen left the vehicle, Victor shook my hand and thanked me for the ride ... he impressed me as a really warm, generous man who was friendly and down to earth.
Later that evening, Janice and I caught the concert in the park. I had heard the music of Stanley and Marcus over the years, but was unfamiliar with Victor's talents. He was incredible ... truly a world class talent that has the chops to shine with the best of them.
The concert was most excellent, and as we enjoyed the incredible tunes outside in the park that evening, I couldn't help thinking I had stumbled into possibly the best volunteer gig possible.
The festival has just started. Next week I have several more shifts that I look forward to.
I have a feeling that in the years to come, volunteering for this festival will become a regular fixture in the landscape of my summer adventures.
Janice and I spent an evening there earlier this week at The Just For laughs Festival. We attended a Gala (5 or 6 comedians at a theatre, taped for broadcast at a later time), saw street performances, had pizza and beer on St-Denis Street ... it was wonderful.
