We just left Ecuador after having a great time there. Here are some pictures from some of the things we did:

AFAR presented a Master Class at Orquesta Sinfónica in Guyaquil. This is a picture with our translator:

Our first acoustic performance ever, on the morning news and entertainment show in Guyaquil:

Hip Hop friends:

It’s hard on the road!!! Tight Travels from Guayaquil to Riobamba:

Hip Hop Concert!

AFAR’s Fergie (Lonide, Londie, Londie!):

AFAR taking over the world!!

From the top of the world to the middle, AFAR has you covered:

On our way to the top!

Kids at a local high school in Quito waiting on us to begin the show:

After the show and workshop:

We did a workshop in a part of Caracas called Hatillo today. The kids there were great! Here are some pics to check out!

Jahah and Marc looking around to make sure no one’s there to hear any of our top secret ideas for some music we’re working on:

BlackFist speaking to our guests:

I really can’t remember what was going on in this pic:

Stage shot of AFAR and upcoming AFARians:

Marc gives a thumbs up to our guitar player:

BlackFist and the percussion ensemble:

Me and the new group “Melodies from Heaven”:

Marc and two of the students:

Listen…Afar and I have been on the road for over two weeks and things are just heating up! So far we’ve hit Paraguay, Columbia, and Venezuela with sell out crowds! That’s a big deal for a band that promotes and markets their own music with no real machine behind them. The hype is all word of mouth along with the help of Jazz at Lincoln Center (JALC) and the US Embassy.

Before I go on I would like to thank JALC and the US Embassy for believing in what we do and giving AFAR the opportunity to see the world. If you all don’t already know…last year we had the opportunity to tour South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Tanzania. Thanks to JALC and the US Embassy the tour was a success!

Last but not least, contiue to check out this blog and Double D’s blog www.brainmunchie.com for the latest pictures and updates concerning out Rythm and Road tour.

Keep us in your prayers…Gracias!

JAHAH

This is my first overseas tour and I wanted to share some things I’ve learned so far, so here it goes.

 1. It’s not easy to sleep on a plane.  You just can’t get comfortable

2. Always always “Keep it Together.” Basically stay on your toes and expect the unexpected.

3. Eat the free brunch and take advantage of backstage drinks and snacks.

4. Sleep whenever possible. That means on a plane, car ride to shop or while waiting to start a show.  A little sleep goes a long way.

5. You travel 48 hours for a 1 hour gig so make that performance count and rock the crowd.

6. The traffic in some of these cities makes Atlanta traffic look like Mayberry. 

7.  Always keep a positive outlook cause hey, how often do get to experience other cultures. 

 Here are some pictures I have taken sooooo…. enjoy from Marco Dinero.

 Afarians ready to grub in a great Brazilian steak house!

 On stage teaching english, “One Time!”

 Che flyin in on our private jet, The Afar Frontier.

 Afarians rockin it back and forth

 Dinero signing autographs for adoring fans.

 Caracas crowd about get down with AFAR

AFAR has spent the past week in Colombia, taking in the the cities and playing music… what we do best. Collectively, I think we all liked Colombia enough for it resoundingly to pass the “Could I live here?” test. My personal favorite place was Bogotá, mainly because of the mountains and the style of the people there.

The poster was done by Colombo, an American cultural center, and some other sponsoring entities.

The media stuff included some press luncheons and TV appearances:

For all of the bass players out there, check out the vintage MusicMan bass amp:

Drums have the most important job in hip hop (So I’ve heard…):

Jahah, getting ready for a show:

AFAR “Rockin It” for the crowd at the Universidad de San Buenaventura

Me on the mic working the crowd… It’s a new thing for me!

AFAR and Alex the Translator:

Making Friends on the Road:

Lastly, AFAR and the United States Ambassador to Colombia, William Brownfield:

And don’t worry, he’s a Longhorn’s fan! Those aren’t gang signs!!!

“D”

Paraguay is an incredible place and the people have really received AFAR well. In the short time that we’ve been here, we’ve presented a workshop and two concerts for the people of Asuncion and Encarnacion. Everything has been fantastic!!! Even with the language barrier, we were able to get the people to sing: “One time… two time” or “My mic sounds nice…”. Hip hop is in an infant stage here and they don’t have access to many of the contemporary artists, other than those that they see from American television. We gave away as many CD’s as we could and everyone was unbelievably grateful. Note to self: Never take advantage of good music!!! Here are some pics from the shows and interviews that have taken place:

Making new AFARians everywhere we go:

Our translator Valeria speaking on our behalf to a journalist with ABC, the local newspaper:

View from the mic… Our first show at CCPA in Asuncion:

Hip Hop hang after the show:

 Gloria… the new AFAR t-shirt model…

New Hip Hop supergroup… Two Emcees, Bass and Drums… Album coming soon… Only available in Spainsh!

Jahah and BlackFist doing a radio interview on Venus 105.1 in Asuncion

The fun’s just beginning!!!!

“D”

Guess where we are at! South America it is this time……..