Every evening was electric. My husband and I were front and center, bare toes buried in the cool sands of Mexico’s shores. There’s an unstoppable energy in the air, not unlike that found walking the streets of Manhattan. Only take that throttle and kick it up a notch. Wrap it up in starlit oceanfront nights. Toss in family-, pooch- and picnic-friendly, along with a pulsating backdrop of the world’s most cutting-edge music and mind-boggling special effects. Now we’re jammin’.

The Yucatan Peninsula is host to the sizzling Riviera Maya Jazz Festival each year during Thanksgiving week

By Lisa Codianne Fowler

Published on March 14, 2011 in TravelWorld International Magazine

Music in Paradise

Each November, 14,000 “jazzophiles” make a pilgrimage to Playa del Carmen—the heart of the Riviera Maya, located just south of Cancun, Mexico—for the explosive concerts at the world-renowned Riviera Maya Jazz Festival. Living legends wow the crowds with musical performances ranging from old-school swing to hip hop and fusion.

During our visit, the festival once again featured greats from across the globe as well as several nationally known Mexican bands, among them, Narima, Malo Agua and The Royal Band, one of the country’s most popular. All are wildly creative and formidable contenders for the most sought after sounds in the international jazz scene.

But the major draw for us was being able to get up close and personal with some of our own jazz heroes: Al Jarreau, Herbie Hancock, Sergio Mendes and Spyro Gyra. We were privileged to be among the 60 journalists from around the world permitted in the roped-off press area near the stage to photograph and videotape one minute (only) from each performance, capturing some of the best national and international jazz acts of all times.

Al Jarreau opened to deafening cheers with his rendition of Elton John’s “Your Song,” ended with his classic “Take Five,” and playfully engaged the crowd throughout his set. Sergio Mendes brought down the house with an updated, hip hop version of “Mas Que Nada,” a 40-year-old mega hit reborn in a recent collaboration with Black Eyed Peas.

Pat Martino’s riffs were spot on, despite serious health issues and memory loss that forced him to re-learn the guitar mid-career. Spyro Gyra rocked with funky, urban sounds, and Herbie Hancock gave us delicious tastes of the many musical phases he’s moved through over the years.

What to Expect

The Riviera Maya Jazz Festival takes place outside on the beach at Mamita’s Beach Club. “Doors” open at 6 p.m.; the first concert begins at 7; the last usually ends at midnight. Entrance is absolutely free, and though the festival typically draws a crowd of 10 to 14,000, people are friendly and respectful of each other and the grounds. Bring a blanket, towel or chair to sit on the beach; alternately, if you arrive early enough, you can claim a table at one of two restaurants with al fresco dining. We varied our viewing venues nightly. Since the stage is built to include a super sound-system, multiple mega-screens and strategic lighting, there really isn’t a bad seat in the house.

Mi Casa es Su Casa

The evenings were magical, but so too were the days, as we simply luxuriated at Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun, an all-inclusive resort located 30 miles south of Cancun. A complimentary 40-minute shuttle ride brings guests to and from Playa del Carmen for the festival.

Most afternoons we sampled Secrets’ restaurants, shopping venues and, of course, aqueous amenities, such as the meandering pools and sun-splashed beach. Mornings began with a breakfast buffet that included everything from tamales and pancakes to green health juice and Bloody Mary cocktails. What a grand and unconventional way to spend Thanksgiving.

“Welcome Home!” We heard it a lot. The staff at the resort greeted us this way each time we entered the lobby from an off-property excursion. It always made us smile. Though one can’t help but smile, gush even, at the lavishness of this sprawling adult-only, all-suite resort.

The property certainly lives up to its moniker, “Unlimited Luxury,” featuring seven restaurants, eight bars and lounges, a fitness center, spa, tennis courts, shopping areas, an expansive waiter-attended infinity pool and 12 smaller plunge pools throughout the resort. There are themed parties, live entertainment nightly and big screen movies on the beach. Nestled between more than 500 acres of unspoiled coastal strands and lush rain forests, it retains a feeling of intimacy as well as exclusivity.

Some of the ground floor suites are “swim-out”—step from your room into the refreshing pools that wind around the grounds. Our balcony suite was slathered in marble and featured a whirlpool tub for two; net-draped, four-poster, king-sized bed; step-down sitting area; and all the amenities you would expect from a first-class resort.

We were members of the VIP club, which means we had access to the concierge room with its endless array of gourmet snacks and full bar. But you don’t have to be a VIP to find food and drink at every turn, even if it’s delivered via 24/7 room service. There’s nothing like sipping champagne on a balcony overlooking manicured gardens, lighted fountains, a white sand beach and turquoise waters. Late at night, all you hear are crashing waves. During the day, songbirds serenade.

Beyond the Festival

Few places on earth cause as much amazement as Riviera Maya. What makes the area so different from other coastlines around the world is that here you can completely escape from the outside world. It’s filled with natural wonders: ecological reserves; an emerald-green jungle, a turquoise-blue sea hugged by miles of sparkling beaches and countless lost cities of the ancient Mayan civilization.

Riviera Maya is located within the state of Quintana Roo on the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. The terrain is flat and covered by low tropical jungle. Lying hidden amid the intense green is a habitat rich with indigenous flora and fauna and geological formations not found anywhere else in the world. Facing the coast is one of the largest coral reefs in the world, with colorful tropical fish and various types of coral, making the Great Mayan Reef ideal for scuba diving and snorkeling.

Our visit came to an end all too soon. My only complaint about the experience is the weight I gained, courtesy of all-inclusive Secrets Maroma Beach. Still, on a “scale” of one to five, this was a six-star stay, awash in exotic beauty, gracious people, pampered luxury, and, oh yes—all that jazz.

If You Go

* Riviera Maya Jazz Festival www.rivieramayajazzfestival.com
* Secrets Maroma Beach www.secretsresorts.com/maroma
* Riviera Maya information www.rivieramaya.com
* Visit Mexico www.visitmexico.com

Lisa Codianne Fowler is a veteran travel journalist, travel video host and travel radio co-host. She resides in sunny Sarasota, Fla., with her chef-husband and two adorable dogs.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY PATRICK FOWLER AND JUDY EBERSPAECHEN.

Reprinted from Travelworld International Magazine (c) 2011

A down economy may mean a decline in spending, but it doesn’t have to equal a decline in fun. Sarasota has many ways for visitors to explore and make long-lasting memories, even without a lot of padding in their pockets.

Let’s count the ways to have fun for free or nearly free despite the recession. Here are 20 things you can do with less than a 5 dollar bill.

Puerto Rico is a hotspot for music lovers, thanks to its diverse musical and dance traditions. An excellent place to sample five important aspects in one night is at the Le Lo Lei Festival, a weekly performance, sponsored by the Puerto Rico Tourism Company. This VIDEO highlights the impressive performance that takes place very Tuesday night, when the Guamanique dance company takes to the stage at the Castillo San Cristobal, a colonial era fort that dates to 1783. For the price of a $3 admission to this historic site, you get a lively show in a beautiful location.

While local Mariachi bands are a year-round treat in Riviera Maya, the area becomes a sizzling spotlight for jazz luminaries at the annual Riviera Maya Jazz Festival each November. We were among the priviledged journalists permitted to get up close and personal with the likes of Al Jarreau, Sergio Mendes, Pat Martino, Spyro Gyra and other national and international acts. We were also enthralled with our headquarters… Secrets Maroma Beach Resort; our new favorite upscale, all-inclusive respite from reality. Admittedly, the other guests were younger – mostly honeymooners. But the incredibly romantic ambiance made us feel like newlyweds.

Travel video produced by Lisa Codianne Fowler

“You’ve always got to remember, rock and roll’s never been about giving up. For me, for a lot of kids, it was a totally positive force… not optimistic all the time, but positive. It was never, never about surrender.” ~ Bruce Springsteen

DANCING IN THE DARK

Live music pulsates. The room is packed and dimly lit. Like everyone else, my husband and I are helplessly captive to the beat. In town for a conference, we share the floor with dozens of colleagues, all reveling in this unplugged reception at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Unexpectedly, the others gradually shrink from the dance floor. Suddenly the two of us are alone, jitterbugging, hopping, bopping, twirling and dipping. We sense all eyes on us. It’s just, well, eerie.

The medley of high-octane songs seems interminable… my heart rate approaches stroke levels. No matter. Just call me Proud Mary. The show, such as it is, must go on. If I’m going down, it will be in a blaze of glory.

Finally, the music ceases. There’s deafening crowd applause (or so it seemed at the time) and an announcement from the stage. We won the couples dance contest!

GLORY DAYS

This was one of many memories made here that we will carry with us as we hobble past our baby boomer prime. Being huge fans of The Boss, the new Springsteen exhibit was a serendipitous and unforgettable discovery. Two sprawling floors of Bruce-obelia captivated us at every turn.

His guitars – including the Fender Esquire on the cover of “Born to Run” – clothing, furniture, even pages of hand-written lyrics, scratched out and doodled on, delight ardent fans and intrigue even those whose interest is less than obsessive. Videos, including archival footage, demo tapes and listening stations complete the multi-media display, one that easily entertains and educates for hours.

Don’t miss seeing the 1993 Oscar awarded for his haunting “Streets of Philadelphia”, nor listening to the audio of an early 70s performance in Cambridge, Massachusetts that prompted music critic Jon Landau, who later became Springsteen’s manager, to write: “I saw rock and roll future and its name is Bruce Springsteen.”

Delve into Springsteen’s music, from such early bands as Child, the Castiles and Steel Mill through his work with the E Street Band and as a solo artist. The exhibit also includes Springsteen’s 1960 Chevrolet Corvette, which he purchased after the success of “Born to Run”.

Titled, “From Asbury Park to the Promised Land: The Life and Music of Bruce Springsteen”, it is the first major artifact-driven exhibit about Springsteen’s career. It will run through the spring of 2010.

BORN IN THE USA

Rock and roll is such an integral part of Americana, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame makes that crystal clear; or rather, a Whiter Shade of Pale. The exhibits take visitors on a fast-paced journey through the history of rock and roll music, from one-hit wonders to legendary inductees, from its roots in gospel, country and blues to the important local music scenes in such cities as Memphis, Detroit and San Francisco.

Other exhibits are devoted to the pioneering rock and roll artists of the Fifties, the soul artists of the Sixties, the political protests against rock and roll and interplay between fashion and rock.

Plan on spending a full day here – at least – to appreciate what we found to be an overwhelming display of interactive exhibits, intimate
performance spaces and artifact and costume displays. The Motown exhibit is a perennial favorite. Don’t be surprised if you feel compelled to break into dance. I did, and I was not alone!

Some of the many highlights of the museum’s collection include (forgive the laundry list that follows – it’s actually a fraction of what you can expect to see): Prince’s Purple Rain coat; Madonna’s bustier from “Like a Virgin”; Roger Daltrey’s fringed leather outfit from the Rolling Stones’ Rock and Roll Circus; David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust jumpsuit; Bono’s Zoo-TV “Fly” costume; John Lennon’s and Ringo Starr’s Sgt. Pepper uniforms; the telegram from Paul and Linda McCartney to Neil Young in 1982; Jimi Hendrix’s handwritten Purple Haze lyrics; Hendrix’s 1965 Fender Stratocaster guitar; handwritten lyrics to the Beatles’ In My Life and Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds, John Lennon’s grammar school report card and Buddy Holly’s high school diploma.

The Museum also presents public programming, including the popular Hall of Fame Series, which features Hall of Fame inductees in an informal interview and performance setting. The annual American Music Masters Series is dedicated to the exploration of an early influence inductee’s music and enduring impact on popular music.

Designed by internationally celebrated architect I.M. Pei, the building is a striking state-of-the-art facility that rises above the shores of Lake Erie. It is a composition of bold geometric forms and dynamic cantilevered spaces that are anchored by a 162-foot tower. The tower supports a dual-triangular-shaped glass “tent” that extends (at its base) onto a 65,000 square-foot plaza, providing a dramatic main entry facade.

“In designing this building,” says Pei, “it was my intention to echo the energy of rock and roll. I have consciously used an architectural vocabulary that is bold and new, and I hope the building will become a dramatic landmark for the city of Cleveland and for fans of rock and roll around the world.” Indeed. It already has.

MY HOMETOWN

Not surprisingly, Cleveland has bred many notable musicians and songwriters; among them, Tracey Chapman, The James Gang, Chrissie Hynde and The Pretenders, Eric Carmen, The O’Jays, even Dean Martin. In this city, where the term “rock and roll” was coined, you can feel the beat in everything that happens.

The House of Blues is always jumping. We spent an evening devouring tasty southern-inspired cuisine – crunchy fried chicken, mac and cheese casserole, roast beef and more – before dancing our hearts out to rock and roll sung by a gospel choir. The event was punctuated by the dozen or more costumed singers descending from the stage to join in the dancing and shower guests with hugs. Hallelujah!

If symphony is more your style, check out The Cleveland Orchestra at Severance Hall (the magnificent hall itself is worth a visit), at an outdoor concert, or during The Cleveland Orchestra Blossom Festival from July through September. It consistently ranks as one of the top ten orchestras in the world.

On another traditional but very different musical note, Northeast Ohio is home to The National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame, 247PolkaHeaven.com and the Polka Polka Polka Television Show.

And, each Thanksgiving weekend thousands of polka fans convene in Cleveland to partake in Tony Petkovsek’s annual Thanksgiving Polka Festival.

More Cleveland highlights – some quirky, some not – include “A Christmas Story” House and Museum, where you can relive Ralphie’s adventures from the beloved movie of the same name; Big Fun, a treasure trove of trolls and other vintage toys, whoopee cushions and “just plain silly stuff” and b.a. Sweetie Candy Company, where you’ll find old-fashioned goodies like button candy, Pixy Stix, wax lips and PEZ dispensers.

Cleveland’s culinary scene is as savory as it is sweet. From the decadent pastries of Little Italy to the hipster hangout eateries and pubs of Tremont, Cleveland’s neighborhoods reflect the character and ancestry of its residents. The West Side Market is a culinary extravaganza, recently rated one of 10 Great Public Spaces in America. East Fourth Street is the city’s newest entertainment district, lined with an eclectic mix of cafés along a brick-paved walkway.

Though we didn’t have the opportunity to spend time on Lake Erie, our lakeside room at the luxurious DoubleTree Hotel afforded us a spectacular view. The lake offers swimming, sailing, winter surfing and, we’re told, some of the best walleye fishing in the country.

Cleveland also boasts numerous arts and cultural venues, such as SPACES contemporary art gallery and Playhouse Square, the country’s largest performing arts center outside New York City; Cleveland Botanical Garden, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, the Cinematheque, the Western Reserve Historical Society and, of course, the Cleveland Institute of Music.

I admit when we first arrived we wondered what Cleveland could possibly have to offer. But within just a few days we discovered first-hand that this city’s moniker is positively true…Cleveland Rocks!

For more information about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, call 216-781-ROCK (7625) or visit www.rockhall.com. To learn more about Cleveland and its attractions, call Positively Cleveland (CVB) at 1-800- 321-1001 or visit www.positivelycleveland.com.

Reprinted from Next! Magazine