Summer at Summerstage

So K (another K – let’s say K2) K2 is slowly but surely managing to overcome my aversion to live music, first with bebop at The Village Vanguard and Smalls, now with Summerstage. I’ve come to the conclusion that, yes, while I’m not a particularly music oriented person (I enjoy music but more as background than something to focus on) the whole music experience can be a hell of a lot of fun if it’s the right crowd.

I’d been to a few rock concerts (including Aerosmith with cousin J) and both rehearsals and gigs with ex-boyfriend guitarist(s) and the other cousins (does every guy join a band in their youth?) I don’t know, it just didn’t do it for me. Maybe it’s partly because I’m not a big drinker and alcohol plays a large role in the live rock scene. I really think it has a lot to do with the actual scene and not so much the music – in fact, I found that what I enjoyed the most about all the performances I went to with K2 was the scene and not the music. The music was great, don’t get me wrong, and there’s a certain wonderfulness about being in the presence of art being made right there in front of you. But the scene – it was so fab! I ended up spending a large part of the concert watching all the wonderful Cassandra Wilson fans. And they are wonderful… Such a range of people! All different ages and colors! As K said, you could tell from the audience how cool Wilson was by how cool the audience was.

And she was cool. Or, more accurately, warm. Besides being an awesome vocalist (and arranger and musician) with a voice like good whiskey – smooth and rough at the same time – she was such a warm person on stage. She talked about her trip out to LA to record her latest album and how it they may have a great landscape out there but how NY has a great “peoplescape” – she compared LA to that scene in the Matrix where the same people come walking by all the time.

Her music is also warm and wonderful – one minute she’s doing Bob Dylan and the next Muddy Waters – and each one so perfectly arranged and expressively sung. Her backup musicians were each and every one masters and artists in their own right. Add to the wonderful scene and wonderful music the wonderful company of friends like K and you had a wonderful, wonderful, WONderful evening. Hooray for Summerstage!