How Has Jazz Changed You?

#UKRAINE : A woman casts her ballot in a polling station in the eastern Ukrainian town of Dobropillya #AFP pic.twitter.com/DukNrBIdIe

— AFP Photo (@AFPphoto) May 25, 2014

When was the last time an event in Cape May actually had a lasting impact on you? Not just a warm and fuzzy feeling but a change? Maybe it was a seminar or a social function you attended. Last fall at the Exit 0 “International” Festival (quotes mine for emphasis) I met Muhamed Sacirbey and his wife Susan at Cabanas during the Sunday afternoon session of Henry Butler.

Sort of ironic that a blind piano player could cause the eyes of a seeing man to be opened to world affairs. While that might be a stretch it’s kind of what happened as Henry Butler was burning up the keyboard with his Bluesy style of Jazz. Digital diplomacy is what Ambassador Sacirbey calls using social media to make the world aware of international affairs.  He lectures about it, and teaches and writes about it through the Huffington Post.

I’m not sure I would be as acutely aware of an expression called Euromaiden and the crisis in the Ukraine if not following the twitter feed of Muhamed and Susan Sacirbey. I probably wouldn’t know as much about the flooding in the Balkans, since I really haven’t seen it covered in the mainstream media.  There are over a million people affected by flooding in the Bosnia region, not to mention farm animals and pets.

Sorry if international news depresses you, but it is happening.

Fortunately, as Susan Sacirbey writes, music heals. We are a week out from the next Exit 0 International Jazz Fest in Cape May. I can’t wait to see what new experience Jazz brings to Cape May. I’m sure it will be an eye opener again!