June 3 - 7, 2003

Fantastic, wonderful, what a night.

These are just a few of the comments heard after the jazz ambassadors worked and performed in Kosovo from June 3 - 7, 2003. Students and local musicians who studied with Bob Albanese and Café Simpatico profusely thanked representatives from the U.S. Office for allowing them the chance to meet, learn from and play with American jazz musicians. "Personally, I am so grateful for this opportunity," said one local saxophone player. "To be in this atmosphere of sharing and collaboration and learning from each other. It has been just…I can't even describe it."

The band worked with more than 30 students and professors from the University of Pristina and also had a chance to meet local artists. Albanese asked two of them, a saxophonist and a vocalist, to perform with him at several of the concerts. The group also joined some local musicians on stage at a local nightclub, making fast friendships with many locals. Some Kosovars even proposed that Albanese return next year to conduct a summer course in jazz music at the University.

In addition to conducting a workshop and giving impromptu music lessons, the band performed three times in Kosovo, twice in the capital of Pristina and once in the historic town of Prizren.