Abu Dhabi - Dubai Bus Ride Jam Session (Long Jam Version):
It was nearly midnight when we were getting ready to board the bus at the Lourve Abu Dhabi to head back to Dubai after finishing the video shoot for the coming UAE National Day; we were exhausted and most of the musicians were looking forward to nice nap on the drive home.
Unfortunately for some, this changed, when one of the musicians casually asked me, if I could bring my Double Bass on the bus. Though she mentioned this in jest, I took her joke seriously and decided to surprise them. Before the musicians boarded the bus, I snuck the Bass onto the back seats and took it out in its upright position once we reached Shiekh Zayed highway.
It began with me bouncing around with a few well known bass lines while singing with another vocalist. Shortly after a Violinist joined in and once we were smoothly cruising at steady speed of 120km/hr, more musicians joined in with their instruments.
The Violin cases opened and began swaying, a Trumpet began soaring, the Arabic Oud strummed away and the back of my Double Bass and the hard surface of the plastic fridge were used for Percussion!!!
What was supposed to be a relaxing quiet drive home turned out to be one crazy, impromptu, spectacular, energetic and unplugged jam session composed of musicians from different nationalities, cultures and walks of life; it became a true mini global musical melting pot!!!
In a unique yet strange synonymous way, our impromptu jam session reminded me of the 80’s classic movie “Breakfast Club” in which a bunch of high school students are forced to attend a full day’s detention in their school over the weekend.
The students entered the library in the morning as anonymous individuals however by the end of the day, the nerd, the jock, the rebel, the introvert and the cool one from the school’s “in-crowd” had all become good friends due to their forced communication in a confined place.
When we boarded the bus earlier that afternoon, we were mere strangers and individual musicians working on a video project together; initially there was not much discussion amongst us, plus we were exhausted; some of the musicians hardly spoke English.
Regardless, we managed to communicate perfectly well by sharing our musical journeys played by our instruments and spoke through melodies and harmonies (rather than using words). By the end of the ride, we too had become good friends.
As the journey continued into the early hours of the morning, the songs kept flowing; each musician brought their talent forward by playing a tune from their culture while others dived into this magnificent melodious river flowing through Sheikh Zayed Road (still at 120km/hr, am noting the speed limit).
Here are a few glimpses of our mobile bus ride jam session and the amazing fun we had and the bonds we created. Sometimes in life the best way to communicate is not through words and speak the same language but by sharing a common ground or passion.
Thank you to all the musicians (Sarah Baluch , Zein Baluch, George Halwani, Yssdaír Vera, Issis Vera , Ann Petrasian , Aлександр Пуховой) for making it a amazing and energetic ride to remember.
Hopefully our next jam session will at a bigger venue and on stationary ground!!!