Touch down Sweden

#EJNGreenTour

As it quite often happens, you realize things once you’re uncomfortably seated in the middle seat of an airplane, where Starlink is still not switched on, and you’re left with all the worries about the details you might have missed.

As any tour manager knows, no matter how many double-checks you’ve done, something will go not as planned.

But we are on the plane — all ten of us. Vilnius JJAZZ Ensemble is bringing Odd Numbers to Sweden, and as I’m writing this, we’re literally halfway from Tallinn to Copenhagen.

Well, that doesn’t really make sense, one might think — departing from Vilnius, going to Tallinn, then Copenhagen to catch a train to Halmstad. And one might be right. But we are ten people and fourteen plane seats, because some of us must bring instruments on board, which means you’re looking first for an affordable and only then for a reasonable travel solution.

Sadly, that means a lot of traveling these days isn’t done with CO₂ emissions in mind — because many simply cannot afford to go green. Isn’t that ironic? Alanis would agree.

This time, however, we’re going a bit further with our green travel plans. Yes, we’re flying in and out, but after that — public transport only. Five cities and concerts, five very different locations, and ten of us hitching rides on trains and buses.

Green Pilots Touring an initiative by Europe Jazz Network has accepted our application under their wings and is teaching us how to become more considerate while touring. We’ll be capturing our journey’s mood swings and experiences in hopes that it can help someone in the future.

But now, now we're walking around Halmstad and getting to know this part of Sweden. Crossing various bridges and contemplating this opportunity, which for some might be just a little tour, but for us it's the most precious experience. Something we've worked two years towards. The exceptional hospitality of our hosts amazes us and the friendship we have with one another charges us.

All we can do now? Play. Play well and be honest and true to our skill and musicianship.

We will do our best and anyone around Halmstad is cordially invited.

See you tonight,

Yours,

Dorotėja