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Writer's pictureV. Woods

Jazz festival in Mexico City and Robert Glasper, why not?


As a future Black Expat looking to leave the US for Mexico, I’ve been visiting various cities and towns in Mexico to do my research and learn where my new home will be. So when I saw one of my favorite artists would be performing in my favorite country, I said, why not? This would give me the opportunity to check out Mexico City for the first time and kick off my 2023 concert and festival music tour. I checked out the M Jazz website and the artists that performed. Robert Glasper was the only American on the lineup and went on after Richard Bona. The Comet is Coming closed out the festival.


First festival of the Year


I was very unfamiliar with Mexico City. (SN: Mexico City was the only city in Mexico where I saw multiple black people) It is very different from the places in Mexico that I’ve visited. At no point did I feel unsafe but it reminded me a lot of the states so I knew this wasn’t the city for me. However, the festival was well put together being it was their first. It started around 1:30 in the afternoon. I decided to get some rest before the show. After traveling from San Francisco to New York, San Antonio, and then to Mexico City in a 3 day timespan, this 44 year old was tired. I Ubered to the park and after seeing no signs about the jazz festival at a dimmed lit park, I questioned my driver about being at the right place. He assured me that it was but saw uncertainty on my face and decided to escort me to the entrance. My driver spoke in Spanish with the people at the entrance who let me inside the gate and pointed me in the direction of the stage. I wasn’t able to download my ticket before arriving so I needed assistance. I speak very little Spanish but someone was able to assist me. I arrived right before Robert Glasper came on stage. Robert Glasper started his set off with “Persevere”


“The world is so insane, I gotta maintain, Nothing is easy here, Stand tall through the rain, My heart will never change

I gotta persevere”


Because of current events in my personal life, it was a reminder that I gotta persevere. With watery eyes, I stood in the middle of Parque Bicentenario in Mexico City, MX among other music lovers and gained a little more strength to keep going.

The set included music from the series of Black Radio, The Robert Glasper Experiment. Even though there were some sound and equipment issues while on stage, I was very pleased with the performance.


Since I’m here….


Since I’m making my way back to writing and doing interviews with my favorite musical artists (check out my interview w/Devin the Dude), I decided to see if I could get an interview with Robert Glasper since I was all the way in Mexico City and in light of his recent Grammy win and Chris Brown pretending not to know who Robert Glasper is, seemed like a doable idea.

After Glasper’s set, I made my way to the side of the stage where I figured he would be coming out on. Sure enough he came out and started taking pictures with fans. I made my way to him and attempted to get a quick selfie that wasn’t working for me. Glasper said something about it taking too long and started to move to the next person when I quickly said in my most Southern voice and gave a “don’t do that” look he returned. He knew what was up, he’s Southern and we're the same age as well. Since I had him, I decided to ask about an interview which he wasn’t doing any and I understood. So I asked could he confirm the line up for the Blue Note Jazz Festival, he quickly said “No” jokingly. He asked who did I want to confirm. I mentioned Jill Scott, H.E.R., I’m thinking artists that were apart of Robtober at the Blue Note. His reply,

"I can confirm Ari Lenox and Nas."


When he said Nas, we both looked at each other like only black folks that are impressed could do. I think of Ari as the niece that I’ll never have and NAS, OMG the legend, the fine ass Brotha with the beautiful skin, NAS. One of his fans takes our pic and after seeing it, I made a mental note to have a photographer with me when I attend events.

Yes!

After taking a couple of pics for fans, I left and made my way back to my hotel. I had done what I came to do and was ready to make my way back to the states.


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