To skip this blog and go straight to my website, clickWell i am just packing and leaving for the airport, but i wanted to add this last entry. I received some lovely gifts from the students today, including a letter from them, which reads as follows:
'IN THE NAME OF GOD''
Dear Mr Carter
Music in Afghanistan needs to improve and we try to bring these days which our country's name be in the first level. We are lucky because we meet a person by the name of Jason Carter who is the best player and also come to help us for learning some more guitare's tacktik. Now me, Zabi ullah, agent of music schools students want to say thanks because of coming you here and we hope to see you soon again. We have small gift for you, which is not very expensive but i think shows a lovely way between us.
Good luck Mr Carter.
Agent of music schools students
Zabi ullah
Tuesday, 29 July 2008
Sunday, 27 July 2008
The Concert!
To skip this blog and go straight to my website, clickWhat can i say, it was a very special evening. Such an honour. I have to find a way of bringing these wonderful musicians to the Middle East and Europe. I have learned so much here, about people and music, i will be very sad to leave on Tuesday. Here are some photos from the concert, i will get a movie up as soon as i receive a copy from the TV Station. The National Archives have asked for a copy, to document the evening in the history of the new artistic life in Afghanistan. I feel as if i have only scratched the surface here and i have to come back.....
Saturday, 26 July 2008
The night before the concert..
To skip this blog and go straight to my website, click
Its saturday evening, and i am here at 'home', preparing for the concert tomorrow night with the Afghan musicians, very exciting. I have to do a bit of practice, memorizing the Afghan tunes, change my strings on the Harp Guitar, and to sleep early. Tomorrow there will be 60 extra (armed) police within 1km of the British Council Compound, for added security. A bizarre concept, all those weapons, so close to something creative. We will have the concert filmed professionally so i hope to have a copy of that up here as soon as possible, but it will probably take a few days....
My students at the University and Vocational Music School are doing so well, i wish i could stay longer and do more with them. I must find a way of coming back to do just that. Also i had a lovely Afghan suit made for the concert tomorrow...photos to follow :)
Its saturday evening, and i am here at 'home', preparing for the concert tomorrow night with the Afghan musicians, very exciting. I have to do a bit of practice, memorizing the Afghan tunes, change my strings on the Harp Guitar, and to sleep early. Tomorrow there will be 60 extra (armed) police within 1km of the British Council Compound, for added security. A bizarre concept, all those weapons, so close to something creative. We will have the concert filmed professionally so i hope to have a copy of that up here as soon as possible, but it will probably take a few days....
My students at the University and Vocational Music School are doing so well, i wish i could stay longer and do more with them. I must find a way of coming back to do just that. Also i had a lovely Afghan suit made for the concert tomorrow...photos to follow :)
Tuesday, 22 July 2008
Music Session Videos Online!
Tuesday...
To skip this blog and go straight to my website, clickThe last couple of days have been busy. But today we are 'locked down' because of a demonstration in the city. There was a suicide bomber this morning, 3 died, plus a bit of rioting, but now all seems quiet, we are waiting for news from the British Embassy as to when we are 'back to normal'.
Last night i spent with my good friend Mirwaiss Sidiqi, and his family, Afghan food, music, great company and good fun. Will try and get this video online with the local musicians this afternoon, as we are 'locked in'.
In the meantime, here are some photos, including ones with the musicians this week.
Last night i spent with my good friend Mirwaiss Sidiqi, and his family, Afghan food, music, great company and good fun. Will try and get this video online with the local musicians this afternoon, as we are 'locked in'.
In the meantime, here are some photos, including ones with the musicians this week.
Sunday, 20 July 2008
The BEST day so far!
To skip this blog and go straight to my website, clickToday was amazing, I spent the day at the Aga Khan Cultural Centre and i played with a 10 piece Afghan Orchestra. Musicians included Ustad Ghulam Hussain (Rubab) and an 87 year old Dilruba player. I have some great photos on Facebook, and videos which are still in the camera, i will get them up here tomorrow. The only disturbances were a couple of low flying US Helisopters. Somehow, worlds apart.
Saturday, 19 July 2008
Kandahari Concert
To skip this blog and go straight to my website, clickToday was GREAT! My students are so eager, the time just flies with them. They are like sponges, absorbing everything i give them. I also have 2 girls, one in each school. The fact that music is being taught here again is one thing, but having girls study music is a first. Tonight i went to a concert featuring some musicians from Kandahar, and that was also wonderful. Beforehand, we were hanging out with some of the actors from the recent film 'The Kite Runner'. Tomorrow will be another great day, i will be at the Aga Khan Cultural Centre, working with the traditional musicians. This blog is quite short, but here is a video, some images from the day, plus some video of this evenings concert.
Friday, 18 July 2008
Friday evening...
To skip this blog and go straight to my website, clickThere are only certain places where we are allowed to go, recommended by the British Embassy, so today i went to the UN club to meet Lisa Gans, one of the survivors of the Serena Hotel Bomb last January. We had lunch together and i listened to her many survival stories from Kabul and Baghdad.
But then i met my good friend Mirwaiss Sidiqi, who is in charge of the Aga Khan Cultural Centre in Kabul. We had a great time and he will arrange for me to meet some of the older and more established Afghan Musicians. So on Sunday i will spend the day with a 10 piece traditional Orchestra, including an 87 year old Dilruba player. Suddenly, my purpose for being here is renewed! Great! And tomorrow i am back at the University teaching. Music Education is limited, and still, music is not taught in regular schools. The dedicated music schools here have limited facilities, and yet, the Afghan spirit is so strong, they are survivors.
As i came back to the British Council Compound, i saw a Jumbo Jet flying overhead with a Military escort, probably Barack Obama, he was supposed to arrive this week.
But then i met my good friend Mirwaiss Sidiqi, who is in charge of the Aga Khan Cultural Centre in Kabul. We had a great time and he will arrange for me to meet some of the older and more established Afghan Musicians. So on Sunday i will spend the day with a 10 piece traditional Orchestra, including an 87 year old Dilruba player. Suddenly, my purpose for being here is renewed! Great! And tomorrow i am back at the University teaching. Music Education is limited, and still, music is not taught in regular schools. The dedicated music schools here have limited facilities, and yet, the Afghan spirit is so strong, they are survivors.
As i came back to the British Council Compound, i saw a Jumbo Jet flying overhead with a Military escort, probably Barack Obama, he was supposed to arrive this week.
Wednesday, 16 July 2008
Kabul University
To skip this blog and go straight to my website, clickI love it here. I spent the morning in Kabul University Fine Arts Department, discussing the collaborations and workshops. I will probably be there every day, with the students and teachers. They are so kind, warm, friendly and grateful for my visit. I will do some guitar workshops, and also work with the traditional folk musicians, collaborating with them. I will invite some of them to perform with me, alongside the professional musicians.
Here is a collection of still and moving images from today. Bear in mind that all video and photos are taken from a moving car, we are not allowed to stop and take photos for security reasons.
Here is a collection of still and moving images from today. Bear in mind that all video and photos are taken from a moving car, we are not allowed to stop and take photos for security reasons.
Tuesday, 15 July 2008
Arrived in Kabul
To skip this blog and go straight to my website, clickWell i finally arrived, after a very hairy landing with the UN plane from Dubai. I think it must be the first time i have ever landed with such a rapid descent, nose first, and skidded sideways before grinding to a halt. When i arrived at the British Council compound, i met some staff who had arrived on an air India flight and they had had a similar experience, so maybe its the 'style' of landing here :)
Well i have a beautiful room in the British Council compound. The land is heavily secured with machine gun toting security guards, and we are absolutely not allowed out, only in the armoured car. This will be frustrating, North Korea all over again :) But i will of course be meeting the Afghan Musicians, going to Schools and the University, but these are the only places i will be allowed to mix with local people. So i see this trip as the beginning of something, laying ground work for future collaborations i hope. Anyway, i will try and get my laundry done as i am running out of clothes, and play a bit of Harp Guitar to pass the time. More later. Thanks for reading. Jason
Well i have a beautiful room in the British Council compound. The land is heavily secured with machine gun toting security guards, and we are absolutely not allowed out, only in the armoured car. This will be frustrating, North Korea all over again :) But i will of course be meeting the Afghan Musicians, going to Schools and the University, but these are the only places i will be allowed to mix with local people. So i see this trip as the beginning of something, laying ground work for future collaborations i hope. Anyway, i will try and get my laundry done as i am running out of clothes, and play a bit of Harp Guitar to pass the time. More later. Thanks for reading. Jason
Thursday, 10 July 2008
All is going ahead!
To skip this blog and go straight to my website, clickGood news! I have the Visa and this morning received word from the British Council in Kabul that we are going ahead with the trip, so i will be flying to Dubai tomorrow evening. I am so relieved and excited about the trip again, i will keep you posted. The guys at the Afghan Embassy were so polite, kind and warm. I have been to many Embassies to get Visas, and this was the easiest and friendliest, apart from maybe the North Korean Embassy. But the North Korean Embassy dont have that many visitors, and you always have their undivided attention, a cup of tea, and a nice friendly chat! Thanks for reading, will write more from the desert.
Tuesday, 8 July 2008
Video Diary Part 1
To skip this blog and go straight to my website, clickI thought i would start a video diary of this trip, instead of writing too much, lets see how it works out. Not sure if i can access Youtube, Vimeo or Blogspot from Afghanistan, or how fast the internet connection is, but video diary would be more immediate i think. Lets see how it works out. Here is the first installation, Kabul Diaries Part 1.
Sunday, 6 July 2008
Afghanistan Preparations
The Visa process has begun, all flights are booked. This trip has come together very quickly, within a week or so. The plan is to go to UK to get the Visa, then fly to Dubai to catch the UN Flight to Kabul. This trip is a co-operation with the British Council, so collaborations, workshops, recordings and concerts. Including the older more established artists, but also children from local music schools.
At the moment i am at Kuopio Wine Festival, playing daily with a bunch of Finns, supporting Finnish artists such as Hanoi Rocks, Anna Eriksson, Yö, Don Johnson Bigband, Poets of The Fall, Lauri Tähkä and Kari Tapio. The weather is gorgeous and Kuopio is a lovely city. But i have a lot to do before i leave for the UK with only one day at home beforehand..... leaving for London on the 7th, Dubai on the 11th, Kabul on the 15th.
At the moment i am at Kuopio Wine Festival, playing daily with a bunch of Finns, supporting Finnish artists such as Hanoi Rocks, Anna Eriksson, Yö, Don Johnson Bigband, Poets of The Fall, Lauri Tähkä and Kari Tapio. The weather is gorgeous and Kuopio is a lovely city. But i have a lot to do before i leave for the UK with only one day at home beforehand..... leaving for London on the 7th, Dubai on the 11th, Kabul on the 15th.
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