Hi Dirk,

What's the title of the video? Do you know if this is by any chance available in the USA on DVD or VHS video format? I'd be really interested in purchasing it.

I checked the July 2002 'North Sea Jazz Festival' lineup and have to say it includes an 'awesome' lineup of musicians: Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tynor, Bobby Hutcherson, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Kenny Barron, Take 6, Tuck & Patti, Chaka Kahn, David Sanborn, Michael Brecker, Al Jarreau, the YellowJackets, Charlie Haden, Pat Metheny, Cedar Walton, Wayne Shorter, Roy Hargrove, and MANY more . . . WOW ! I can't believe all these guys will be performing at ONE festival. This kind of 'all star' lineup clearly shows that jazz is far MORE appreciated in Europe than the US. In fact, a number of American jazz musicians spend most of their time living & working in Europe because it's just not possible to make a decent living performing jazz in the US. Dirk, I hope you'll be able to make the North Sea Jazz Festival next week, cause it looks to be quite an exciting event. If you go, please give us a full report. It's really a shame that jazz is NOT appreciated as much in the US. I think it's partly due to the fact that American schools have drastically cutback (and even eliminated) school music programs. So many kids today have no exposure or appreciation of our rich musical heritage.

- Scott