Israel - Preproduction
Day 3
Thursday 26th February 2009 10:15 AM
Israel Album Preproduction ....
Well, today is my last day in Israel. We will travel to Jerusalem to meet with the recording engineer, check out the conference centre and meet a few Israeli musicians. As we drive we continue to ascent and I am reminded of the 'Ascending Psalms' that David wrote as the Jews made their annual trip to Jerusalem 'Feast of Tabernacle'
As we drive I am just passing the Amides Road where Jesus revealed himself to the two men he was walking with.
All the houses are built on the mountains - I am told the reason for this is because the country is so small and they want to leave land for agriculture!
As we drive through the main tunnel we now enter the outskirts of Jerusalem, I am taken back by the reality that I am actually in the 'Holy Land'. How lovely is your dwelling place...'
We arrive at the Regency Hotel - a beautiful five star hotel and the Manager has placed me in a VIP room right opposite the temple. This almost too much for me! As I look over the old city I can hardly wait to take a look at some sites before I start my first meeting.
The first meeting is with the Sound engineer and the Sound System provider - Veikko and Joel. They are both part of the 'King of Kings Church - a well known church in Israel! All the gear is now booked for the conference and the recording in May.
We have a few minutes free, so I manage to squeeze in a quick stop to the 'Garden of 
Gethsemane' where I also got to see the oldest tree in Israel. Right next door to the garden is a Catholic church. Francy takes me in and I simply sat for a while - though it felt like time just stood still. After praying for a while, I move forward to the altar where they have placed the original rock that Jesus prayed against. I look around and realise that there are just a few nuns in the church - apparently, the church was closed and I was one of the few people still inside - what an awesome experience.
The next meeting was with an Arab musicians whom I will use on the recording. As I walked into the Hotel we met at, he introduced me to a Palestinian pastor who swiftly invites me to his church for the Sunday (if only I was spending another few days in Jerusalem). As we draw the meeting to an end, having discussed all the technical 'stuff' about how we will record. Right there in the hotel we all begin to pray to together (Palestinian, Arab, Chinese Christians from LA and me 
Afro-Caribbean from the UK). This really is the nations coming together and Israel seems to be the central meeting place!
Finally, I head back to the hotel for a final meeting & dinner with Paul & Francy. What an incredible two days, I feel as though I have been in Israel for a whole week! However, it is now time to go home and start working on the album!
Shalom
Posted 10:15 AM | 0 Comments | Permalink
