On February 6, my girlfriend Samya and I went to Keystone Korner to see Arturo Sandoval, and we had a lovely experience. I had been meaning to visit Keystone since I first joined WJHU, and I’m glad I didn’t wait any longer. This was my first time seeing live jazz, too. We arrived at Keystone right before the set started, and my friend Kaori showed us to our seats at the bar. We had a fairly unobstructed view of the stage, giving me the opportunity to try and take photos with my new digital camera (they didn’t turn out great, but it was fun to try). There were also TVs around for anyone who didn’t have the best view. The bartender James was very kind to us; Samya and I ordered our drinks and settled in for the show. I have heard about different people’s experiences going to Keystone. When my friend Hunter saw The Blackbyrds play in October, he told me that the whole place was rocking and people were dancing. Maybe I expected something similar going in, but that’s not how things turned out. Instead, people stayed in their seats and focused on the music. I don’t want this to come across as disappointment; Samya and I had a blast letting the music take us on a journey. It was meditative in the way that my thoughts would drift, but the music was always there to recenter me. And as for the music, it was electric. To call Arturo Sandoval a trumpeter is to limit him–he can do it all. He went from whacking the drums to singing basslines to playing the piano; it was pure energy, and the crowd ate it up. Every musician on that stage ripped, and they all ripped in a way to let each other shine. The set was a joy to watch, and the changes in feel kept the audience engaged throughout. Samya said she really liked the lighting, and I agree–it added a lot to the performance. Seeing jazz played live has changed the way I listen to it on my own; it’s helped me realize the life in the music. I’m thankful for the opportunity to have gone to Keystone Korner, and I will be returning soon.
