Swiss Miss Please

So, every time I get the honor of traveling overseas I get a list of requests of what to bring my friends and family back. We just flew into Switzerland this past weekend to perform for the Blues Now Concert Series in Basel and the Sierre Blues Fest in Sierre.  I usually get the uncertainty of exactly what country this is..."Sweden?....Germany?..."
Then it starts:
"Hey bring me back some chocolate!"
"Hey don't they make Swiss Cheese?"
"Bring me back a hot Swiss girl!"
and finally "Bring me back some Swiss Miss!!"

I do my best to accomodate my people. Chocolate is always a winner.
I have played now in Europe for about 5 years. It's a slow process but rewarding and always
very fun for me. I love to travel abroad and learn things about other cultures.
You find that no matter where you go, people are people.
I always make a friend or two and some of them really stick.
We find that we have a common interest in music and family and that we are not all that different.
I met Patrick Kaiser last year when we played the  Blues Now Concert Series in spring of 2011.
It was the first show of the tour and we really hit off. Patrick and his partners Rene' and Wolter are
very much music lovers and wonderful people. Patrick and his wife Beatrice brought us into their home for dinner and we all talked for hours on end about the Blues, Jazz and music in general.
The people of Basel are modest and straight forward. If they like what they hear, they'll let you know.
Thankfully the initial show at Blues Now was a success.
Now, 15 months later, we returned to Basel to perform again for Patrick and the fine folks in Basel.
The Blues Now Concert Series is extremely professional. The sound is fantastic and the concert hall was really great. This year Cadillac was the big sponsor. The show was full at about 250 people.
Once again Patrick spared no expense at making sure we were happy and having a wonderful experience in Switzerland. We had many meals together and the best is at his home with the family and band. We again sat for hours discussing the music business and the Blues. Who we liked, who we didn't know and so on. We always take a lovely ride over the Rhine River on a ferry when heading to Patricks home. Basel is a wonderful city, very charming and quiet. Beautiful old buildings and scenery that is incredible. This year I was very fortunate to have Rob Lee on drums, Andy Irvine on bass, and Jimmy Carpenter on sax and vocals. What a great bunch of guys and tight ass band.
I have been watching Jimmy C play since 1998. We met at Murphy's in Springfield, Mo. when I opened for Jimmy Thackery. We hit it off right away and have been friends ever since.
The show in Basel was a wonderful show, the people cheering after every solo and dancing in the ailes.
Patrick was very happy and so was I.
There is just something amazing about traveling half way around the world to play music you wrote in your home and have everyone accept it, enjoy it and cheer for more.
Patrick Kaiser is a wonderful man and brother in the blues.
I am back home now, hanging on in the midst of Hurricane Isaac. Hoping for the best for my family and friends in Louisiana and Mississippi.
We fly out this Friday to resume performances with the Royal Southern Brotherhood.
Peace, Love, Zito