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seven ages of jazz recital

First of all, for work. I have been offered the job of Jazz & Piano Specialist at a newly opened musical centre in the emirate. The school is part of the huge "Mall of the Emirates", which also contains a full size ski slope with real snow (I kid you not, have a look at: www.skidubai.com to check I'm not avin a larf). It is also not too far from the famous palm islands, world map and 7-star hotel with built-in helipad and underwater restaurant that you may have heard all about on the Nat Geo or Discovery channels.

In the emirates, I'm looking to do something similar to what was achieved in Mongolia, and then some - setting up and running of a jazz course, plus the running of my own small band, co-ordinating students bands and ensembles, and finally, putting on regular concerts at an appropriate venue, giving the students the chance to showcase their playing at this venue a certain number of times during the year.

I'm also looking forward to checking out the local jazz scene - however much of a scene there may be - and the Dubai International Jazz Festival, which is in early 2008, I believe. I am particularly keen to collaborate with local traditional musicians. There are so many plans and ideas that it should be a very exciting time indeed.

We're going to be living in Festival City, a new development around 20 minutes drive from CMA. The Festival City Residence Complex is a short walk from Festival City Centre, which has all the mod-cons, shops, restaurants, etc, and a waterfront.

As for how long we stay in Dubai, and what we do afterwards, I have no idea at this moment, and it all remains to be seen what will materialise.