Youtube: Real Ambassadors Rainmakers

YOUTUBE OF REAL AMBASSADORS "TRICKLE TRICKLE" UNDER THE TOWER BRIDGE, LONDON.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHvbi6CxIOU&feature=youtu.be

From London With Love

From London With Love!

To all our followers….sorry for the delays with our blogposts. Internet service was problematic in our hotel, and slow in many of the cafes and coffee shops where we stopped for Wi-Fi. Hopefully you’ve had a chance to see all the posts, and NBC/WVIT-Channel 30’s short piece about the kids that aired this past week.

You can catch it at:

http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/video/#!/on-air/as-seen-on/Connecticut-Jazz-in-London/164509846

Thank you all for your support and readership,

Ed Wierzbicki

Trip Journalist

DAY 7: London Performances Continue!

Rising at 6:30am, the Real Ambassadors and the entire GHAA team had a quick breakfast before boarding the Clark’s “coach” for the Olympic Park. Today, the group will perform for a second time, but they’ve been asked to bring their act to a very busy crowd area in the Olympic Park where some select dignitaries will be making a walk-through at the appointed 11:30 performance time. So right on schedule, with the sun shining and a cool breeze blowing, the performance kicked off near the Panasonic Building. Using acoustic instrument arrangements, and just a handful of microphones and small amps, the group rocked the streets and worked the crowd—making hundreds of onlookers smile, clap, and sing along. The RA were enthusiastically applauded after every number!

With a tight departure schedule, the group then gathered instruments, costumes, and lunch-to-go for another “coach” ride across town to the London Eye and a 4:00pm performance under that amazing, enormous ferris wheel that straddles the Thames River. Of course, all the Ambassadors took a ride first, and then gathered on the courtyard to perform for onlookers from the Eye, the adjoining park, and tourists packed into the Southbank area.

What a rock out performance!! Dressed casually and flashing red, white, and blue leis, the Real Ambassadors performed a fantastic set directly to the street side audience, dancing with them, playing to children in the crowd, and bringing the kids on stage for a big finale. Later, the students interacted with audiences members who had lots of questions about the group and their trip.

The day in London ended with a trip to Covent Garden for dinner, a few extra gifts at the many stalls and shops, or some Godiva chocolates or ice cream cones for dessert!!

Back at the hotel lobby, the students gathered the faculty/staff and parents, and thanked them for their efforts during the trip—handing each teacher a signed London poster, 2012. Tonight is the groups last night in the UK. Tomorrow its off to Windsor Castle, lunch, and Heathrow for the return flight to JFK.

Cheers!

By Ed Wierzbicki

Trip Journalist

DAY 6: The West End, Piccadilly Circus, and Monty Python’s Spamalot.

 

Our morning wake up call came later than usual, and after breakfast we boarded the Clark’s Tour Bus at 9:30 for a day trip to London’s West End. On our trek into the city, Tim pointed out numerous sites and historic anecdotes from our bus, including: the unmarked buildings of the British Secret Service, the brick and barbed wire fence surrounding the backyard of the Royal Palace, Big Ben and British Parliament, Fortnum and Mason, the Queen's grocery store—and many other historic points of interest.

We arrived in Piccadilly Circus with time to spare before lunch—and a chance to find a few souvenirs or grab another cup of coffee. We then gathered at Leicester Arms for a burger and chips. Students, parents, and faculty then broke up into smaller groups that included shopping, the National Museum, and the musical Spamalot. Diane had a chance to meet with a producer from the Young Vic Theatre to discuss Dave Brubeck’s The Real Ambassadors as a potential London project in the not too distant future.

After a wonderful afternoon with sunny and warm weather, we gathered at  6:00pm at the discount ticket booth, before heading off to Covent Garden to take in the sites, street performers, and shops—followed by a Pizza dinner.

When our bus finally arrived, its rear window was shattered—details still sketchy--and we had to wait for a brand new bus…sitting outside the Drury Lane Theatre where the musical Shrek was playing.

Curfew tonight is 11:00pm, with a 6:30 wake up call before the group’s second trip to the Olympic Park and another performance, this time for VIP's!


By Ed Wierzbicki
Trip Journalist

Youtube: "Real Ambassadors Rainmakers"

CHECK OUT:
REAL AMBASSADORS RAINMAKERS performing under London's Tower Bridge!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHvbi6CxIOU

Real Ambassadors London Photos!!!

DAY 5: Ambassadors Bring Jazz to the Olympic Bandstand!

The rain stayed away, at least long enough for the Real Ambassadors to take stage on the Main Bandstand at the Olympic Park. Wearing bright colors and filled with enthusiasm and love, they rocked the park with a fabulous set that received a wonderful, heartfelt ovation!

Following their uplifting performance, The Real Ambassadors were invited by the Olympic producers to do a second show this Thursday morning at 11:00am!!

More to follow about the big day soon!

Go to WVIT/NBC 30's website for a story on their Olympic appearance!!

The Real Ambassadors will also perform on the Southbank at the London Eye Thursday at 3:00pm.

By Ed Wierzbicki

Trip Journalist

DAY 4: Shakespeare & History Come to Life!

As everyone gathers for breakfast, we are delighted to find Kim Stroud has arrived ahead of schedule! Together, we enjoy a hearty breakfast, while Diane and others catch Kim up on the activities and events to date. Then we’re off to catch a train to London that takes us to the Canon Street station.

En masse, we walk through the narrow streets as Tim talks about the sights and London history. While traffic whizzes by every which-way and from all directions,  we keep reminding ourselves— traffic moves in the opposite direction so look to the right before crossing!

Our first big stop is the impressive and enormous St. Paul’s Cathedral…which seems to loom over several city blocks. After a short break to either explore inside or grab a quick coffee/snack, the group begins its trek over the funky and unique Millenium Bridge to London’s South Bank. Piped-in music accompanies the heavy foot traffic over the Thames, as The Real Ambassadors stop to take a group picture overlooking the river with the Tower Bridge, now wearing the Olympic Symbol, far in the background.

Reaching the other side, we face the Tate Modern, and next to it, Shakespeare’s Globe. This wonderful recreation of the Bard’s theatre of the early 1600s is where we’ll spend the morning with tours and an acting workshop!

In the Globe lobby we meet Tom, a charismatic young actor in the Globe Theatre company and our teacher-guide for the day. With a wonderful interactive style, he puts a spell on the entire group—young and old alike—with a tour of the globe stage and house, an historic overview of Shakespeare, his times, and his company; and lots of anecdotes about London in the 16^th and early 17^th century. We also watch the technical team at the Globe assemble the stage for the evening’s performance.

A block away, we enter a rehearsal room where the group participates in an hour- long workshop on acting Shakespeare’s text. Tim gets us warm-up and involved, and even teaches us the Globe Company’s approach to acting iambic pentameter!! What an upbeat and masterful session, filled with laughter, participation and energy! At the session’s end, goodbyes are said to Tom accompanied by photographs, and we are all off to different luncheon locations along the Thames on the South Bank.

Later that afternoon, the bus takes us back to the hotel for a rehearsal with Diane, Gene, and Alex; followed by dinner. Linda then leads a much needed movement session for the group…all in final preparation for tomorrow’s Olympic performance.

During discussions that evening for the Thursday performance at the London Eye, a decision is made to add guitar to replace piano, as we’ve learned that keyboards will be unavailable due to the rain that’s predicted much of the week. Flexibility has been key in the preparations and adjustments since arriving in London last Saturday!

With an early curfew for the students, the musicians squeeze in an extra rehearsal before retiring for bed. Diane, Kim, Tony and team watch highlights of the Olympics on the telly, and check the anticipated weather for tomorrow’s historic day. Unfortunately, rain is in the forecast all day Tuesday! Everyone retires for bed hopeful and praying for a small weather miracle.

By Ed Wierzbicki
Trip Journalist

DAY 3: Sunday in London

DAY 3: Sunday in London

After a Sunday morning British breakfast—a buffet spread of scrambled eggs, ham, sausage, tomato, toast, cereals, potatoes, cold cuts, fruit, yogurt, juice, coffee (not quite like ours!), tea; and of course a quick glance at the morning paper (The Independent) which featured rave headlines on Danny Boyle’s amazing opening Olympic ceremony, we were off to London by 9:00am.

OK—these Real Ambassadors are becoming real travelers! A combination of bus ride, rail, and then the Tube (London’s subway), we had ten minutes to grab Starbuck’s near the Embankment station, and then walked along the Thames to base of the Tower Bridge. After a spontaneous song under the bridge, (can be seen on youtube: “Real Ambassadors Rainmakers”), everyone took a boat tour of the city as monsoon-like London showers came pouring down.

Time for lunch, which included fish and chips, sandwiches, or other quick meals before a 3 hour tour of the London Tower. Have you ever seen the Crown Jewels?! Bet you've never seen a punch bowl this big….the size of a small bathtub and made entirely of gold! Actors also filled the courtyard to help visitors imagine the past. The tour was followed by a pub dinner (at the site of an old monastery) of “bangers and mash”-- sausages, mashed potatoes, and gravy.

Returning to the hotel, a lengthy rehearsal was held along with the ironing of costumes by parents and Nurse Judy for Tuesday’s Olympic performance.

By Ed Wierzbicki

Trip Journalist

DAY 1 & 2: Greetings From London!

DAYS 1 & 2

After a buoyant send off by parents, CREC and GHAA staff, and close friends--and quite a few tearful good-byes-- the Real Ambassadors, faculty, and parents departed from the Learning Corridor on Friday noon July 27. After a smooth drive to NY, bags were unloaded and checked, and off we soared on the "red-eye" from JFK to London's Heathrow Airport. 

Arriving ahead of schedule, the plane touched down in the UK a little past 6:00am. After a short hold-up at customs, Dr. Napoleone saved the day with all the "proper" documents, and all 28 GHAA travelers proceeded to board a bus that would take us on a tour across the city of London--from the west side of the city to the east side and the Olympic site. There, everyone received "accreditation" as members of the Entertainment Team and security clearance. Wait until you see those wonderful snapshots on the security badges that must be worn at the Olympic Park.

We finally arrived at our hotel at Brands Hatch, a hotel next to a famous racing track! (Motor cycle races were happening that night!) After dinner at the hotel and a chance to swim, Diane reviewed plans for the next day, and everyone finally crashed after a long and exciting 2 days.

by Ed Wierzbicki

Trip Journalist