For New Year’s Eve and our Anniversary Eve as well, Audrey and I took Micah and Victoria to the Kennedy Center to hear vocalist Jazzmeia Horn and her Noble Force. The musical energy started high and stayed high, with Jazzmeia leading a full big band horn section with 5 saxes, 4 trombones and 4 trumpets through a series of her own compositions. “Strive” and “Freedom” were particularly powerful. (Listen to Freedom on Spotify....
On a sunny Saturday morning in December, we took the dogs for a stroll in Old Town Alexandria, about 25 minutes from our house. We enjoyed all the colonial-era houses, many with tasteful decorations. Sugar Baby and Ollie enjoyed the walk but reported better odds of finding dropped food on the ground near our house. click to see the photos larger
For a special pre-Thanksgiving treat, Audrey and I enjoyed Billy Joel’s 96th concert in his series at the Garden. His voice was as good as ever, and the band was tight. Billy Joel puts on a good show, with plenty of greatest hits, but also some unexpected covers. He pranced like Mick Jagger to the the Stone’s “Start me up” and crooned “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” among others. Of course, the crowd sang every word of “The Piano Man” – the last song....
We had a wonderful time among the Capulet and Montague families at the Kennedy Center. After the hopeful first half, Audrey wisely noted “This isn’t going to end well.” The closing scene was the best part of the opera, even if the lovers will only be together in the afterlife. The Kennedy Center is a great place to see an opera. Details Location: Kennedy Center, Washington DC Date: November 18, 2023 Attending: Jeremy, Audrey, Eddie, Beth
As the lights dimmed, members of Shakti entered the stage to a thunderous standing ovation. The minimal stage set (a low riser, draped in black, and spread with a few Indian carpets) gave few clues to the amazingly complex music soon to follow. As the musicians took their cross-legged seats, a subtle droning sound filled the room. The musicians tuned their instruments casually and settled into their places, like friends relaxing at home....