The session started off with DJ Igal running his selection assisted by Sam (Ex-Swiss Cottage London / Wadada S/S).
Igal is a noted collector of quality Roots music. He was spinning some criss tunes and getting well involved in the atmosphere as the people started to fill up the arena.
I went outside to take a few pictures and started chatting to Gal and other members of the kibbutz about music.
It seemed we all shared an interest in Gil Scott Heron and a nice few minutes were passed discussing this man's music.
One of the members of the kibbutz was a melodica player who had converted from the saxophone. He asked if he could blow a tune over an instrumental or two. I had already primed Aba and he was up for it.
I went back inside to check wha'gwan and DJ Igal was lost in the music, completely oblivious that the system was feeding back.
The PA man was rushing around frantically trying to get Igal to turn down, but as Igal head was in a special place, that proved quite difficult. Eventually Igal was made aware of the problem and it was redressed.
I laughed to myself, for watching Igal perform was like watching Animal from the Muppets. No disrespect intended.
He was just a blur of arm movements and juxtaposed head nods, with one hand flinging down the next tune to be played and the other making stabbing motions on the mixing desk, as he adjusted the sound and all the time dancing. Gwan my yout! Wicked!

DJ Igal handed over to Aba and within one tune the place was packed. I don't know where these people came from. One minute there was a moderate crowd on the dance floor and the next it was packed.

As with all Aba sessions, and regular readers would have read this before, the women Rasta!
The front of the dance floor was mostly women, dropping some of the most provocative moves this side of a lap dancing club, and then some. It was a wonderful spectacle.
I was standing on the stage when a girl beckoned to me, so I went to the front of the stage to see what she wanted.
As she tried to talk to me I could not hear a word due to the volume of music, so I indicated for her to follow me outside.
So she and her friend did just that.
No! No! No! Dread, put dem dutty thoughts out of your mind, nothing like that.

When we got into the open air she told me that she was sorry if she frightened us. I was confused.
It transpires that she was the girl with the overweight bag at the airport and her name was Chem.
I asked her what she was doing at the dance and she said that her and her friend had heard about it and came along and it was only when they got into the club and saw Aba and I on the stage, she realised we were the two guys from the airport.
She said she just loved the music we were playing. It was wonderful. So thanks for the compliment, Chem and friend.
Bwoy isn't life strange!
The session was getting well hot and the bredrin with the melodica did his stint and mek me tell you dread, the bredda can play!

DJ Ellen and MC Ranking Levy from 'My-Love' Sound were in attendance and MC levy was skanking up the place. Every time I looked in the direction of DJ Ellen she was smiling

I went outside from time to time during the session and at 02:30 I met Gal who was sitting on a chair with a massive grin on his face and steam coming from his clothes. "Enjoying it," I asked as I pulled up a chair beside him.
He just looked at me, and with the same big grin, nodded. Nuff said.
Ras Natty Culture was running his arts and crafts stall just outside the venue on the concourse. He and I talked about music and the struggles of surviving and as I told him "It is not a one man ting". If all fellow strugglers get together and pool their knowledge
and skills it is surprising what they can achieve. Just check where we were, a kibbutz where all work for the common good.
Socialism manifest.

Aba finished off his set with a Dennis Brown selection and DJ Igal who was to the left of the dance floor rocking away with his eyes closed suddenly opened them wide open when a tune that he thought he knew and was just about to burst into song, turned out to have a different lyric altogether sung by DEB. What is that tune? Me nah go tell you. You will have to come to a session and just hope that Aba plays it.
The crowd cheered and whistled as Aba bade farewell to them and nuff lighter inna de place. One very appreciative member of the crowd lit a distress flare.
Aba handed over to DJ Igal to close the session and we packed up and went outside to chat and greet members of the audience.

It was 04:30 as we drove out of the kibbutz on our way to the hotel for a well earned rest.

To Gal and the people of the kibbutz, Ras Natty Culture, DJ Ellen & MC Levy, DJ Igal, Sam, Chem and Friend, The Very busy PA man, To all the people that attended especially the beautiful Dawtas of Zion, thank you for making us feel so welcomed and for a wicked vibe. Just an idea, ever thought of becoming immigration officers?
Peace and Love. The Humble Lion.

Dateline: 25/02/2006 Venue: JahLand.Tel Aviv.
I woke at 11:45 and went for a wander to take more photos.
The hotel complex had hills behind it and in front was the Jordan River and across the river, the kingdom of Jordan.
I returned to my cabin and Guil came and knocked my door at 12:15. I asked him about the swimming pool and the shoddy workmanship on the walls.
His reply took a little while to sink in, "Bullet holes! What do you mean bullet holes"? I said.
"Yes Rasta this is used to be an Israeli army barracks and they were always under attack by the Palestinians. So the when the new owners took it over they built the swimming pool, but kept the walls as they were, as a reminder of less peaceful times".
"But you don't have to worry as the Jordanian army keep this part of the West Bank very quiet".
"Where exactly are we" I asked Guil?
"We are in the Occupied West Bank Rasta. Did you not notice we went through an Israeli army check point to get here"?
As I stated early in this report the army checkpoint would be significant.
"Guil, going through an army checkpoint means nothing to me. I just thought as we were so close to the Jordanian border, it was just that, a checkpoint, not a border checkpoint." I continued.

That put a few things into perspective and I went to take new photos of the area behind the cabins.
The holes in the old buildings were re-photographed. The Palestinians used the hill behind us with the cave openings, which was separated from the cabins by barbed wire, topped fencing, as a sniper and mortar position, so the Israelis mined the hill and the whole of the area behind the fencing. That explained the quietness of the place and the lack of animals roaming the hills.

Finishing doing my impression of David Bailey, I packed my things in the car and we went and collected Aba.
"Good rest, Aba" I asked? "Yes. I can't lie I had a wicked sleep" he replied.
I then explained to Aba where exactly we were and what the hotel complex used to be. He looked at Guil and me with raised eyebrows.
We got into the car and started our journey back to Tel Aviv.

We arrived at our hotel at 15:00 and Guil arranged to pick us up at 19:00 to do the sound check and get something to eat.
Guil arrived at the allotted time and we went to the venue.
Inside the venue was big; I estimated it could hold 1200-1500 people, maybe more.
They had brought in sound reinforcement PA to supplement their own system and once a combination of Robbi, the sound crew and us got to work the teething problems were ironed out the sound from the set was happening.

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