"they love us in Italy"

See these three jazz musicians? They all have one thing in common. They love to play in Europe. Jazz is big there and they are treated like demigods. Their favorite country is Italy.

The guy on the top, Larry Ridley played with John Coltrane and Thelonius Monk. Black artists have always had a warm welcome when playing in Europe. Is it just less racism over there or a more refined taste in music? I don't know and don't care to speculate. All I do know is that dudes can play and I got paid to both take their pictures and enjoy their music.