Jazzlandia




Yet another jazz club. Jazz seems to be very popular here in Mexico City. There are a handful of clubs. All of them are generally full on the weekends. If you haven’t made a reservation, then you’re stuck with whatever you can find.  This one is named Jazzlandia, and has two floors of jazz. On the first floor is a no cover jazz trio that was mediocre at best. But the atmosphere made up for it. The place was filled with jazz fans.  

It’s amazing how much of the jazz played here is of American origin. Well, I guess that’s not surprising because America is the origin of jazz.  As a music style, jazz is not that old. It originated in new Orleans and Louisiana in the early 20th century. It seems as though jazz is the hip thing to do here in Mexico City among the younger crowd. One way to feel like an old man is attend some live jazz music.

My bartender Maya was a cheerful 20’s something young lady who was not afraid to learn about her customers. She was very curious about me, my life, my dogs, and what life is like in the United States specifically up in the mountains of Arizona. In between breaks, we would chitchat in Spanish, all the while hoping I was understood. Although the music was mediocre, Maya made the evening fun. 

After a while, the band stopped, and I decided to leave for a local rooftop bar. What a mistake that was. It should’ve been a warning when I noticed a line of young attractive people waiting to get in. I am neither young nor attractive. But curious me decided to wait in line just to see if I was missing something, or maybe to feel younger for a moment. The end result was overcrowded with people 1/4 my age and full of much more life than I realize I have at this point.  I didn’t feel younger, rather I felt ancient.

While I was waiting to get into the place. In front of me was a couple from New York. A big, tall, beautiful black woman, and a short little balding guy. 

Coming in they got separated from each other.  The tall pretty lady was following me. He was looking for her and asked, “where have you been.”  She responded I was following this tall guy because I could not see you.  You were buried amongst the crowd. 

He looked at me kind of strangely and to break the tension I said to him “well you’re much better looking than I am.”  He then put on a humble smile.

Then I finished with “ I may not be as pretty, but am likely richer than you. “   We all had a good laugh 😂

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