Plan? what plan! We started with Michael Weis in Hatch at 5:45 with the hall at maybe 2/3 capacity. He is a very fine Jazz solo pianist, but even in the second row his speaking was hard to understand. About 25 minutes in we had had enough and finally, and a bit rudely I must admit, we got up from our aisle seats and left in the middle of a number. We crossed the street to Max which we had planned for 10 PM to hear Dan Wilson on guitar. His set was less about his guitar playing than his music with brilliant performances by piano, drummer and bass. Near the end he brought up a guest performer Nabate Isles on trumpet. We will return to hear him tonight. 

We skipped out the back door to get to Ms Lisa Fischer at the Temple. We almost got shutout. They closed the entry behind us as the hall as at capacity. It took us a while to find seats, initially two singles. Although the sound in the hall is still less than ideal, she filled it with her powerful voice, sense of humor and wonderful musicality. We left at the finale missing an encore and found dinner on the street. Carol got her salad at Ludwigs and I was back to Robs Kabob. Those sweet plantains are just too wonderful. I’ll have to avoid them tonight to try something else.

But onward to Kilbourn for Melissa Aldana Quartet. The music was very much modern and not really to our taste. Carol noted that in the opening number it was not clear that the quartet were all playing the same charts. I noted that Melissa, on saxophone, never stopped moving. She was doing deep knee bends and stretches with every change in pitch. Even when she stepped out to give the stage to the sidemen she was gyrating. We left after 35 minutes and crossed the corner to The Big Tent for Bill Warfield’s Hells Kitchen Funk.  We might have stayed for the set but the AC in the Tent was intolerable. They had it set for a full house on a hot night and the place was at 10% of capacity and it was cool out.

We went home and enjoyed a special cake Carol had made for our 58th Anniversary which is today June 21.

A special note: This day 58 years ago my college roommate and friend Jonathan Kerner married Peggy. I  miss him and cannot let our anniversary go by without acknowledging the friendship. I am so glad we are still in touch with Peggy. He was supposed to have been my Best Man until they chose the same date.

The Plan: Nabate Isles at Max at 6:15 (see above); Peter Bernstein Theater at innovation Sq at 8:30; Jeremy Pelt at Kilbourn at 9:00 and Brubeck Bros at Hyatt at 9:45. Just looking at this it isn’t going to work as there are several overlaps, but this is who I think we want to hear.