English

For decades, Eastern Europe has been taken more as a satellite of the Soviet Union than as a campground for jazz. Jazz, however, has some roots in most Eastern countries and, from a political point of view, has played a significant role in the fight for freedom and human rights during the decades of totalitarianism.

Audiences at Wolf Trap's Jazz and Blues Festival witnessed jazz history live and jazz history kept alive.

The Thursday-Sunday concert event hosted almost 30 artists on two stages – as well as some showers of rain that unquestionably should have been edited out of the worthy program.

If you ask me how it all started, I'd have to tell you that I don't know. If you ask me how it will end, I'd say, who knows?

For some of them it is the richest gift life may ever offer, for others it is just an interesting story. Most see it more practically - as a chance to develop their skills in a free and open society.

So they came to the Washington area to learn more about the American way. They temporarily joined the staffs of congressional offices, the print and electronic media and other private businesses.