Sorry to not get to you sooner, but I've been all caught up in prep for 20 day trip to Israel to visit daughter and family -- leaving tomorrow.

Also, unfortunately, I will not be able to attend the post-concert session this coming Tuesday night. I really wanted to be there to add my accolades (in front of everybody) to you on the absolutely BRILLIANT piece of work you did on the whole ¡PASION! set. Man -- I'm still impressed. You really acquired a good sense of the generic ins & outs of that stuff. I can't think of any other european who could do the same. How come we gets the likes of you so cheap??? We of the mexican persuasion have unbelievable ingrown, knee jerk, kinesthetic/emotional ties to the rhythms and sounds of mariachi music. My friend, Martha Louvar (originally from Guadalajara, Jalisco) burst into tears when we literally erupted into the beginnings of "Sones". Me too -- my heart was right in my throat. That stuff is SO damn visceral!

So -- thanks for the overall experience and multiple congratulations on your artistic capabilities and achievements!

Best wishes,