The trip to Senegal with Tony Vacca in early 2013 was fantastic! Highlights include 5 gigs, two of them with Bideew Bou Bess, who are superstars in Senegal. One of those gigs was on Goree Island, which is the ancient slave port, just off the coast of Dakar. We did the concert in a small amphitheater on Goree near the old slave fortress where the slaves were imprisoned while waiting for the ships to take them to the New World. Intense place. During the show and just as I was about to take my electric violin solo the power went out. Tony Vacca covered for me on the balafon and percussion. I looked out into the audience and everyone had their cellphones raised and were waving their arms creating a sea of swarming blue lights like blue fireflies - so beautiful.