No more Dats Amore - please .......

To paraphrase George Orwell: As I write, civilised men are outside my window trying to drive me crazy.  If I hear another bar of 'The Theme from the Godfather' it may well tip me over the edge.  I have heard it played on the sax, the trumpet, the piano accordion and in just about every city we have visited in Europe.  That and 'My Way', are the standard folder of just about every busker we have seen.  

There are some notable exceptions.  The guy in the square in Lagos where we stopped for a beer, who played guitar (and looked) like Carlos (hence acquiring this as his nickname) was very good and although he had a limited repertoire it was not the usual dross, including a few Clapton and Hendrix numbers.  And in Dublin, two young men, guitar and bass, churned out a series of 70s Classic Rock that was most enjoyable, and enjoyed by the passing crowd.  And a bohemian trad jazz band we saw in Lisbon.

Trad Jazz in Lisbon

But generally, European buskers are somewhat lacking imagination, especially here in Spain where we are fed a steady diet of My Way, Song of Joy, That's Amore and of course the Theme... Everywhere we go. And generally they are not good.

This has been an unusually Musial holiday though.  In Kilkenny, in Ireland, we found a great little pub and after we sat down realised that we were right next to the band which commenced played a steady stream of Irish folk, that also included in their repertoire classic Austrlaian numbers including a great rendition of 'And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda' 

In Lisbon we experienced the Portuguese answer to Flamenco, Fado, which is beautifully plaintive songs accompanied by guitar and a mandolin like instrument. And the next day when the No 28 tram broke down halfway up the hill, we were reduced to shanks pony.  So when we came across a small plaza with a great view of the city, an outdoor cafe with a trad jazz band busking, we had to stop and take in the ambience.  It is these unplanned, chance, experiences that make travel so enjoyable.

So in Madrid we have sought some out.  There are plenty of Flamenco venues, but instead we found a small cafe in the square up the road from our hotel which is a jazz music venue and lit send to a modern jazz quartet whilst feasting on jambon and croquettes. The small venue was quiet when the gig started at 9:00 but by the time we left at 11:00 or so, it was packed.

Tom

The Toni Sola Quarteto in full flight at Cafe Central

Finally this sculptor in Guarda thought he was Hendrix.

Footnote:  We were passing through Guarda on our way to Salamanca and stopped to give the driver Dave a break.  In the town square there was the sound of cutting disc but it wasn't the phone company cutting through concrete, rather a bunch of sculptures working on the stone with modern tools.  If only Michelaangelo had a grinder with a cutting wheel!