Barcelona Celebration 20 and 21-09-2009

[jarkko]

Toni & friends,
it is obvious that the restaurant you have reserved will be too small with its capacity of 30. On Hydra we counted all international members who have tickets to Barcelona, and it was already over 50 (plus all those from whom we haven't heard). Many of them may arrive too late for the meet-up, but still there will definitely be more than 30!

[ForYourSmile]

Jarkko, we know, already we have reached 30!

24, 25 Confetti and husband (Northern Ireland)
26 Margaret (Chester - UK)
27 Vlastik (Vlasta - Prague)
28, 29, 30 Lluïsa (Barcelona), Judy, Elisabeth (England - France)

It's extraordinary, I am very glad, there are very familiar names in the list. Mary, see you

Yesterday we were speaking about it. L'Antic Forn was nice for the memories, but it become small. Now we look one of at least 50 pax, centric or with an interesting environment, Catalan food, good quality and reasonable price... already we have some good ideas.

[confetti]

ForYourSmile, i have just been re-reading this thread, and you have given such a wonderful description of Barcelona, that I can't wait to see it. I have always wanted to visit Barcelona and this seems like the perfect opportunity to see lots of things I have only read about before.

[friscogrl]

Hi, please count us in for lunch on the 21st, Marsha and Sarah from San Francisco.
Thanks, looking forward to this!

Marsha

[MaryB]

I have just purchased my tickets for Barcelona . Do you have room for lunch for my husband, George and myself (#s 32 & 33 after Marsha and Sarah)? Would so love to meet all you other forum members! If not, I will be the one with her nose pressed against the window watching you all enjoy yourselves !

Best regards,
Mary

[jorcx]

Bravo to all those Cohenites travelling to Barcelona, the list is getting larger, it will be very exciting to meet everyone and celebrate together... Now we've surpassed the 30 mark, let's double it, and make us reach the magic figure of "75" to honour Leonard !!!

[crystal]

Hello,
please count in Christel and husband for lunch on the 21st. We are very much looking forward to it. But first we have only twelve more days until the Berlin concert.
Have a nice weekend, Christel

[jarkko]

I have noticed that all members are not aware that our Spanish friends are organizing two separate happenings (well, if I understand it correctly!):

The birthday party on SUNDAY September 20 at 21 o'clock (9pm), new location to be announced
The lunch on Monday September 21
[The concert is late in the evening on Monday September 21]

[Bill's Bar]

Can you please add myself and a friend to the lunch and party list .

Thanks

Tony.

[Wybe]

We will be there!

Willy and Wijbe

[jorcx]

Dear Jarkko and friends, great to see so many Cohenites joining the Celebrations in Barcelona (three months to go from today!):
As far as I'm concerned, the Tribute-Concert of the Sunday 20th remains in the same location (Torrent de les Flors St. - Gràcia) but we are actually looking for another restaurant to accomodate more than fifty people on Monday 21st. Anyhow, stay tuned to this thread as we will keep discussing and updating any changes... All the best,
Jordi

[ForYourSmile]

The activities:

Sunday 20th 21h. Jorcx Concert, "Cara B" Torrent de les Flors st., 34 (Barcelona)
Monday 21th. 75th birthday Lunch, (looking for the perfect restaurant in Barcelona)
Monday 21th. 21:30h. Leonard Cohen Concert, Palau Sant Jordi (Barcelona)

Monday 21th. 75th birthday Lunch, unfinished list:

1-2-3 Liverpoolken, Willy & Wijbe.
4-5 Andrea, Marco (Verona / Berlin)
6-7-8 Mari Paz (Madrid), Josep (Barcelona), FYS Toni (Barcelona)
9 Chema (Barcelona)
10-11 Joe and friend (Ireland)
12 Dave (Liverpool)
13-14 Joe and Anne (Wisconsin)
15-16 Meritxell and Rosa(Andorra)
17 Jorcx (Barcelona)
18, 19, 20 Jarkko, Eija, Sinikka (Finland)
21 Henning (Germany)
22 Maarten (Belgium)
23 Guadalupe (Lleida)
24, 25 Confetti and husband (Northern Ireland)
26 Margaret (Chester - UK)
27 Vlastik (Vlasta - Prague)
28, 29, 30 Lluïsa (Barcelona), Judy, Elisabeth (England - France)
31, 32 Marsha and Sarah (San Francisco)
33, 34 George and Mary (Columbus, Ohio)
35, 36 Christel and husband
37, 38 Tony (Bill's Bar) and friend
39, 40 Willy and Wijbe (The Netherlands)

Well, if you have more ideas and activities, (a Cohenite demonstration on Les Rambles, for example) please don't hesitate to contribute it here.

[ForYourSmile]

Javier Mas



Who is Javier Mas? by webheights.net/speakingcohen
Javier Mas in myspace

Leonard Cohen introduced Javier Mas as originary from Barcelona, but he was born in Zaragoza (Aragón). He has lived for many years in Barcelona and knows perfectly the Catalan language. If he considers himself a little bit from Barcelona, we feel proud of it.

"Jota" is the most spread dance in Spain, it's present in almost all regions: Castile, Navarre, the Balearic Islands, south of Catalonia, Valencia and especially in Aragón. It is really a spectacular dance. It is accompanied on guitar, lute, bandurria and castanets. At the age of nine, Mas was already playing the bandurria.

Javier Mas is a virtuous instrumentalist with many influences: blues, flamenco, Arabic music, Indian music... fusion. He was part of a progressive music movement in Barcelona called "laietana" music. In his more folk facet, Mas is linked to the Mediterranean music.

He has collaborated for a long time with the singer Maria del Mar Bonet. They co-wrote "Anells d'aigua", "Els boscos del pensament" and "Coloma Blanca", sung with Maria Dolores Pradera.

Maria del Mar Bonet recorded several discs and offered unforgettable concerts with Javier Mas, specially those of Plaça del Rei as part of the Festival Grec program. That festival takes place at the beginning of summer. Year after year, these concerts, outdoors and surrounded by Gothic architecture, were a ceremony full of depth emotions and loyalty for our music. Sometimes the music blended with bell rings or the shout of a gull.

Maybe this Youtube video is an example of this music. It is not Plaça del Rei. The song "Merçè" was composed by a young Maria del Mar Bonet, in 1970, nostalgic about Palma de Mallorca, where she was born, and also about her mother:

Youtube - Maria del Mar Bonet - Mercè

In 2006 and 2007 Alberto Manzano organised some Cohen tribute concerts: "According to Leonard Cohen". Javier Mas and Kevin McCormick were the musical coordinators.

Here, the rocker Javier Mas with Javier Colis playing The Butcher in Sant Cugat (Barcelona):


I need to remember once again Alberto Manzano for all his great effort and sacrifice in promoting and spreading Cohen in Spain. Thank you very much.

Then Javier Mas was called to Los Angeles to start the tour. His sound suits very well Cohen's music.

Bob Metzger, Javier Mas and Dino Soldo in Copenhagen July 5 2008.


Another beautiful song co-written by Cohen and Sharon Robinson:
Sharon Robinson - Summertime - with Javier Mas, Helsinki 2008

edited by Llüisa Ortigosa

[Anne R]

[quote
1-2-3 Liverpoolken, Willy & Wijbe.
4-5 Andrea, Marco (Verona / Berlin)
6-7-8 Mari Paz (Madrid), Josep (Barcelona), FYS Toni (Barcelona)
9 Chema (Barcelona)
10-11 Joe and friend (Ireland)
12 Dave (Liverpool)
13-14 Joe and Anne (Wisconsin)
15-16 Meritxell and Rosa(Andorra)
17 Jorcx (Barcelona)
18, 19, 20 Jarkko, Eija, Sinikka (Finland)
21 Henning (Germany)
22 Maarten (Belgium)
23 Guadalupe (Lleida)
24, 25 Confetti and husband (Northern Ireland)
26 Margaret (Chester - UK)
27 Vlastik (Vlasta - Prague)
28, 29, 30 Lluïsa (Barcelona), Judy, Elisabeth (England - France)
31, 32 Marsha and Sarah (San Francisco)
33, 34 George and Mary (Columbus, Ohio)
35, 36 Christel and husband
37, 38 Tony (Bill's Bar) and friend
39, 40 Willy and Wijbe (The Netherlands)
[/quote]

Please count us in!
39, 40 Anne and Knut (Norway) and perhaps 41 Solveig (Norway)
NB! Wijbe and Willy have both # 2 and 3 as well as # 39 and 40

Really looking forward to this and to meet old and new friends. Was planning to go to Barcelona from Athens Sept 21, but must not miss this important meet-ups and celebration.

Anne R
___________________________________________________________________________________
1976 Oslo | 1979 Oslo | 1985 Oslo x 2 | 1988 Oslo | 1993 Oslo | 2008 Manchester, Oslo, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Helsinki | 2009 New York, Langesund, Barcelona

[jarkko]

I updated this list with some additional names (for both Eept 20 & 21)

1-2-3 Liverpoolken (UK), Willy & Wijbe (Holland).
4-5 Andrea, Marco (Verona / Berlin)
6-7-8 Mari Paz (Madrid), Josep (Barcelona), FYS Toni (Barcelona)
9 Chema (Barcelona)
10-11 Joe and friend (Ireland)
12 Dave (Liverpool)
13-14 Joe and Anne (Wisconsin)
15-16 Meritxell and Rosa(Andorra)
17 Jorcx (Barcelona)
18, 19, 20 Jarkko, Eija, Sinikka (Finland)
21 Henning (Germany)
22 Maarten (Belgium)
23 Guadalupe (Lleida)
24, 25 Confetti and husband (Northern Ireland)
26 Margaret (Chester - UK)
27 Vlastik (Vlasta - Prague)
28, 29, 30 Lluïsa (Barcelona), Judy, Elisabeth (England - France)
31, 32 Marsha and Sarah (San Francisco)
33, 34 George and Mary (Columbus, Ohio)
35, 36 Christel and husband
37, 38 Tony (Bill's Bar) and friend
39, 40 Anne and Knut (Norway) and perhaps 41 Solveig (Norway)
42-43 Shiloh & Noelene Noone (South Africa)
44-45 Päivi Piha & husband (Finland)
46 Alberto Manzano