Discovery 7

There's more of course.  A cruise ship is an indulgent mass of entertainment, food and drink if perhaps not an intellectual fervour.  But it is interesting to speak to different cultures.    This ship has masses of US, Canadian, UK citizens.  Its a challenge to get all the states and areas.  French Canadian, French now US in Houston, pro-/anti- whoever might be in power, listeners and self-listeners (I try to train myself to the first, but none too successfully).  Aussies who don't continue around the coast.  All manner surprised by the chilly NZ summer but the weather is all over these days.  Three more solo acts to mention: Colby Green, guitar strummer with hat, playing country-ish but also Cold Chisel and more and features shows on Dylan and others;  Douglas Berti, solo piano with standards and vocals; Robert Deans on solo piano with endless medleys of jazz standards played with an individual style and fascinating linkages.  He spoke of once knowing 500/600 but now just improvising 100 easily from memory.  Then another few shows.  Rock edition, a rock'n'roll retrospective by tenor Thomas Armstrong-Robley with the Resident band behind (slightly altered: 2 violins, no horns, as I remember).  Then TA-R with a full stage show, the Rock Opera, with 4 singers (2 male, 2 female), dancers (6 female, 5 male) and the resident band.  This disappointed a little: I could see no story to hold it together; more a capable and exciting but meaningless Voice extravaganza.  Perhaps my fave tune was the Nescafe theme from Carmina Burana (I could look it up but you know it), oddly out of place amongst belter operatic and rock styles, like Sounds of silence, Total eclipse of the heart, JC Superstar, I don't know how to love him.  There's another show tonight.  I was not the only one who found Spotlight Bar the best and most inviting stage show, with its tunes and dances that told a story of one night of love and loss and friendship in a local US bar.  Maybe expect a final to finish this series.