Last week San Sebastian was the world´s capital of jazz music. The city celebrated its annual Jazz Festival. Different bands from all over the planet inundated the streets with all that jazz. Piano players, guitars, trumpets and drums, the city´s heart beating with the sound that originated in New Orleans and then spread all over becoming a global phenomenom. James Taylor (You´ve Got a Friend) was around. Even Bruce "The Boss" Springsteen has chosen San Sebastian as headquarters, he played yesterday in the nearby city of Bilbao.
Jazz in the city is one week a year event. Good food is available all year round. Just before going home last saturday night, we went to "Bodegon Donostiarra", a place where you can taste best gildas in town (little thin green pepers, an anchovie and one olive, the trio assorted in a toothpick, just delicious. Gastronomy on the run you may say, right before heading home to watch on television the two partidos of the semifinals of the World´s Individuals Championship.
When I got home the second game, life from Durango, was about start. On the screen two gladiators, Lopez and Irastorza, ready to die saluting the audience, cestas high pointing the heavens. Few mintues before this match, Goikoetxea and Egiguren had just finished, so far no news about the outcome.
Since the beginning Lopez got away from Storza, five to six points ahead. Lopez wanted to make clear who run the show, in other words, that he was the leader of the band. So far we were attending to a one-man-show exhibition. Irastorza appeared lost. His powerful right-hand unable to find the txik-txak area. His rebote was even worse. Balls came from the back wall without answer, overpassing him again and again. Lopez played the fiddle and Irastorza danced. A clumsy country music dancer at a midnight hour in a lost cantina of a town called Durango.( Just then the speaker informed that Goiko had beaten Egi 30 to 16).
Before the end of the partido between Lopez and Storza anybody could foresee that the Championship final was going to be decided between two boys from the same hometown: Goiko and Lopez. Both playing in the U.S.A., born in Zumaia.
Irastorza made 23 points at the end, more due to Lopez´s relaxation than anything else.
Friday the 31st the two best players of the moment will meet in Hondarribia. Two years ago they played the final in Durango. 30 to 27. Goiko the winner in a memorable partido. No doubt that the next is going to be a helluva of a game. No place, don´nt expect a one man show concert, more than likely some sort of a jam session. Each player eager to demonstrate who is "The Boss" of jai-alai. Music is over falks.
Jazz in the city is one week a year event. Good food is available all year round. Just before going home last saturday night, we went to "Bodegon Donostiarra", a place where you can taste best gildas in town (little thin green pepers, an anchovie and one olive, the trio assorted in a toothpick, just delicious. Gastronomy on the run you may say, right before heading home to watch on television the two partidos of the semifinals of the World´s Individuals Championship.
When I got home the second game, life from Durango, was about start. On the screen two gladiators, Lopez and Irastorza, ready to die saluting the audience, cestas high pointing the heavens. Few mintues before this match, Goikoetxea and Egiguren had just finished, so far no news about the outcome.
Since the beginning Lopez got away from Storza, five to six points ahead. Lopez wanted to make clear who run the show, in other words, that he was the leader of the band. So far we were attending to a one-man-show exhibition. Irastorza appeared lost. His powerful right-hand unable to find the txik-txak area. His rebote was even worse. Balls came from the back wall without answer, overpassing him again and again. Lopez played the fiddle and Irastorza danced. A clumsy country music dancer at a midnight hour in a lost cantina of a town called Durango.( Just then the speaker informed that Goiko had beaten Egi 30 to 16).
Before the end of the partido between Lopez and Storza anybody could foresee that the Championship final was going to be decided between two boys from the same hometown: Goiko and Lopez. Both playing in the U.S.A., born in Zumaia.
Irastorza made 23 points at the end, more due to Lopez´s relaxation than anything else.
Friday the 31st the two best players of the moment will meet in Hondarribia. Two years ago they played the final in Durango. 30 to 27. Goiko the winner in a memorable partido. No doubt that the next is going to be a helluva of a game. No place, don´nt expect a one man show concert, more than likely some sort of a jam session. Each player eager to demonstrate who is "The Boss" of jai-alai. Music is over falks.
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