Bass players do not often lead bands, but then again, Marcus Miller is not your average bass player. It was a treat to bring Audrey’s brother’s family—Gene, Laem and Cliff—to the Birchmere Music Hall in Alexandria, VA to see Marcus Miller lead a long and energetic set. A rendition of Mr. Pastorius was a high point of the set, although it was also the only swing jazz tune. More typical to the set was Detroit, a funky, energetic composition which Marcus renamed “Detroit DMV” for the evening. ...

The best young jazz drummer in the UK played DC’s historic Howard Theater, and this was the perfect occasion for 13-year old Charlie’s first concert. Charlie is Audrey’s nephew and an aspiring drummer. After fortifying ourselves at Ben’s Chili Bowl with Half Smokes, we join a young and diverse crowd waiting through a DJ’s set to get to the main show. We positioned our selves in the standing-room-only crowd with some space by the sound board. ...

A night at the opera! Audrey and I took Mom and Paul a double first: their first time at the Kennedy Center and our first time at the opera. The night was warm and beautiful, so we enjoyed people watching outdoors before the show. We also really enjoyed the opera. It was unexpectedly funny, and of course, romantic and tragic. The sets and costumes were not overdone, but still made for a spectacle. Audrey was ready to go again. ...

David Sanchez came on to the stage and immediately turned on the rhythm and intensity, and continued to play powerfully throughout his set at Blues Alley. At times, he joined on percussion for Latin rhythms jams. The other musicians, mostly from Puerto Rico, also were excellent. Great set! I also enjoyed some tasty shrimp and grits. Details Location: Blues Alley Date: May 23. 2023 Attending: Kirk Walters, Jeremy

At 88 years, Abdullah Ibrahim drew a huge crowd, filling the concert hall at the Kennedy Center on a Sunday evening. He began on solo piano, with floating melodies over hymn-like harmonies. Later, he was joined by a band of four horn players, a bass and a sax. The pattern throughout the evening was that Ibrahim rarely played with the band; rather, he played to set the mood for a tune or to bridge between tunes. ...