I accidently bumped into a list that had been published by The Observer, a British news paper, in December. It was a list of 50 best albums in 2007. I was glad to notice that our last album Take It With Me was on that list as number 47. That's better than Britney!

As expected we were very nervous at the beginning of our first gig in New York. The venue was Dizzy's Club in Lincoln Center. It's a really classy and fancy place with a glass wall behind the stage viewing the Central Park and New York. We had all been to New York before but this was the first gig fr everyone but Antti who already has been playing everywhere we go with Five Corners Quintet and Värttinä. But it didn't diminish the glorious feeling of playing in New York. At least not for me. The experience was different from what I had expected. Like the first time you have sex. You have so much expectations that the feeling of an immediate disappointment is very present, but afterwards you start noticing lots of really great feelings and other stuff about the event. So it was at the same time what I really had expected. I want to thank Magdalena for making our trip possible and fun. Also Finnish consulate has earned their thanks.

Aside from the gig the City was also giving it's best to us. We (well Tuomo, Antti and Emma, I was in Applestore, Soho, which is a dazzling place to be if you like macs and iPods and other Appleware) just happened to walk in to "The Livingroom" precisely at the right time. We had been there with Tuomo last spring to see Kristin Diable, cause our friend Janita took us there. We found out that Norah Jones (or more correctly "Little Willies") would be playing the same night eleven o' clock.

Janita had told us about gigs like this last time. There was an add with the name "Well Hungarians" in one paper (can't recall which one), but in general the gig seemed to be a secret. A private gig for friends and couple of lucky Finnish people. We already had a reservation for Brad Mehldau's gig at eleven in Village Vanguard, but decided to try to get in at nine (with Olavi; the others wen't to see "Joan As Policewoman") to be able to go to Norah's gig.

Well somehow we got first row seats in both of the concerts. Brad and his trio were great. I loved them. But what really made me loose my sense of reality was watching Norah Jones play a gig for an audience mostly consisting of her friends from two meters away. And that gig was with a free entrance. She sang beautifully and the band was really good too. Got to get the recording...

So all in all the trip was great. The food this time was a bit of a disappointment, but ofcourse you have to consider this with knowing that my expectations were, well too high. I hope to get to New York soon again.