Brad Spurgeon's Blog

ABU DHABI – How many times have I said, “Don’t give up!” “Don’t despair!”? And without even probably believing in my own words? Well, I had pretty much given up on the idea of finding a place to play my guitar and sing in a bar in Abu Dhabi this year. But I had brought the guitar to play in my hotel room. So what happens? I find a very cool bar and a very cool band, in my hotel, the Mercure City Centre, and I get a chance to go up on stage in this bar with this band in my hotel … and wow, was that fun last night in Abu Dhabi.

And I encourage anyone in town to check out the Friday night jazz jam in that bar, the Mood Indigo bar. Not only are the musicians very good, but they are more welcoming than anything I’ve found so far in this place. Very much a place to be.
Here’s one at Mood Indigo bar Abu Dhabi

Oh, yes, I forgot to point out that it was indeed a night mostly devoted to jazz, and that I haven’t got a single jazz standard in my repertoire. But that did not matter at all. What I said about them being open? I got to do my Van Morrison, “Crazy Love,” my “Wicked Game,” my “Mad World,” AND my own song, “Borderline.” And the bassist, pianist and drummer backed me on all of them!
First one at Mood Indigo bar Abu Dhabi

So in this town full of hotel bars and live music, do check out this island of laid back jazz and cool sanity, a musical spirit like none other I’ve found in Abu Dhabi so far….
And a third at Mood Indigo bar in Abu Dhabi

PS. Does anyone know a jazz standard on the theme of a car? Because it was the F1 race weekend here, the MC asked the audience if anyone knew any such songs. I was the only one who came anywhere close, citing “The Surrey With the Fringe on Top.” In fact, that is a song about a horse-drawn carriage, not a car. But they kindly gave me a free drink for my effort!

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