Laura Nyro at the Troubadour. Sweeney Todd on Broadway. A sub-Saharan band I never learned the name of I saw in Marrakesh. Television at the Whiskey. Pianist Andre Watts at the Dorothy Chandler.
If you could, what live performances would you enjoy re-living?
I have interest in hearing about yours. I can think of some great concerts over the years in many great buildings, from Hancher in Iowa City, to Fisher Hall in New York, to some bars in Copenhagen.
Something I have noticed....performers have times they are more "on" just like us, and it can make their concerts be perceived at different levels. I know the three times I saw Jackson Browne, each was much different and most of that was his intent. Having a good sized group with very talented back up singers to the time I saw him solo....all great, but very different. He is a better guitar player than he may be given credit for.
The live Jazz I have been to in NYC is near the top. Sweet Basil and the Blue Note through the years have been very good to me, but in a much different vein, the lakefront festivals in Milwaukee are a somewhat unknown to most of America.
I did see a few artists before their success and fame, saw a famous British singer at a bar in Rapid City many years ago..and he has done well since.
Take care,
Something I have noticed....performers have times they are more "on" just like us, and it can make their concerts be perceived at different levels. I know the three times I saw Jackson Browne, each was much different and most of that was his intent. Having a good sized group with very talented back up singers to the time I saw him solo....all great, but very different. He is a better guitar player than he may be given credit for.
The live Jazz I have been to in NYC is near the top. Sweet Basil and the Blue Note through the years have been very good to me, but in a much different vein, the lakefront festivals in Milwaukee are a somewhat unknown to most of America.
I did see a few artists before their success and fame, saw a famous British singer at a bar in Rapid City many years ago..and he has done well since.
Take care,
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- 112 posts total
there are many, but four immediately come to mind keith jarrett trio w peacock and dejohnette at san fran masonic center roughly 2008 - played three encores, we sat in 10th row could hear the instruments without amplification dianne reeves and her band at sf herbst theater in 2011 she was performing brazilian music ... lovely concert, then for the last two numbers and encore, she sang with acoustic guitarist romero lubambo without microphones... it was an awesome experience to hear the natural sound in a beautiful hall bobby mcferrin with a full choir at herbst in 2012 - he orchestrated the voices and did his amazing thing... stunning artistry and naturalness of massed voices in amazing improvised arrangements, we visited with him afterwards with my family and a friends, he did a little sing along with the kids after, just amazing ... he is an angel walking this earth with us chick corea and bela fleck at the sonoma state university green center in 2015 just awesome artistry and skill |
Charles Lloyd at the Village Vanguard around 1978 or so. Just an incredible evening! -- though he is always inspiring. Oh, and I just thought of Leon Thomas, singing at CBGB (yes, that one) around the same time, maybe a few years earlier. What verve! The band had both a drummer and a percussionist that night; wonderful. And one I didn’t attend, but would have loved to have been a fly on the wall: The historical evening of string quartets with the following personnel: First Violin: Joseph Haydn Second Violin: Baron Dittersdorf Violoncello: Johann Vanhal Viola: W. A. Mozart. |
Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band opened for by It's a Beautiful Day, circa 1971 at the (abandoned) Fox West Coast Theater in Long Beach, California. The Mothers at the Phoenix Star Theater, circa 1968 (shortly after the release of "Freak Out"). Rotating stage and a "theater in the round" format. Another was Jethro Tull at the Phoenix College Gym somewhere around 1969. Open seating on the floor. I also have extremely fond memories of Blodwyn Pig at the Splinter Brothers and Sisters Warehouse (yet another abandoned building) in Phoenix, also circa 1969. Open floor standing/seating. Another music venue I really do miss are the 1960s "underground radio" stations (e.g., KCAC and KDKB in Phoenix). Free-form and whatever the DJ was in the mood for playing. No commercials. Hours long sessions. No interruptions. No excessive gabbing. Interesting goings on in the broadcast rooms when the microphones were off and the music was playing. Concert warnings, "Don't come bust-able or you're going to get burned" and so on and on. |
- 112 posts total