Keith Jarrett, please, stay away from Italy. We like musicians, not kings...

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Keith Jarrett trio concert in Perugia, Umbria Jazz festival, 10 July 2007.
Not allowed: taking photographs, making illegal recording. Ok.
Allowed though, I think: breathing softly and listening to the music.

The warning: at the first photo flash the musicians leave.
Not a good start for a jazz concert. Are musicians Gods, or Kings?
I thought musicians played. Just that. (I know: I'm one.)

The tragedy: at the end of the concert, a "damned" photo flash in that "damned" city made the situation fall. Jarrett and the other musicians didn't come back on stage for a BIS that the fans longed for.

Boos and insults from the public. The musicians left. The organization states Keith Jarrett is no more welcome at Umbria Jazz.
Carlo Pagnotta, director of Umbria Jazz, said he understood all obsessions but one can't insult a whole city because of a flash!

Not new to this attitudes. In the year 2000 he threatened not to play in Perugia as temperature had fallen under 19°C. This year he asked to be served by a waiter who had stopped smoking since 3 months at least. He even complained he was photographed on the streets...

Please, Keith, stay away from Italy. We like musicians, not Gods nor Kings on stage.

(Source: http://www.repubblica.it/2007/07/sezioni/spettacoli_e_cultura/jarret-umbria-jazz/jarret-umbria-jazz/jarret-umbria-jazz.html
Only in Italian, from the newspaper La Repubblica)