Gordon
Well-known member
My wife and I took in a show last night at the Blues Alley in Washington D.C. It really is in an alley. We walked past it twice before I had to do the unmanly thing and ask for directions The guy I asked just laughed and pointed about 25 feet away and said "Not from around here are you?"
The venue is a very small and old building. It holds about 135 people at max seating but there were only about 120 people for the this show. Tickets were $43 each, the drinks and food were a bit on the high side for what one got but very good. Our seats were center stage about 10-15 feet back.
The show is called Lee Ritenour and Friends and the show blew us away!! I believe I have all of his Cd's, but he played music I'd never heard him play. He did play a few of his more known works, especially from his new CD 6 String Theory. He played nonstop for 1 hour, 45 minutes. The bassist played for Earth, Wind and Fire with a 7 string bass. Never seen or heard one of these and it really added a new dimension to mid-bass! The drummer was the original drummer from Chakka-Khan and several other big bands from the 70's and 80's. The show was over much to quickly and could have sat through the 10 o'clock show had it not been sold out!!
So which was better? Listening at home or live? Both!! There is something special about a live event. From the feedback to the slightly overdone bass or the slight timing mix-up. All those things make a live event what it is. No chance for a second take. Listening at home gives me the perspective of the way the artist WANTS it to sound. They both sound the same musically for the most part but the home listening has been massaged to a point. I love them both!!
Gordon
__________________
The venue is a very small and old building. It holds about 135 people at max seating but there were only about 120 people for the this show. Tickets were $43 each, the drinks and food were a bit on the high side for what one got but very good. Our seats were center stage about 10-15 feet back.
The show is called Lee Ritenour and Friends and the show blew us away!! I believe I have all of his Cd's, but he played music I'd never heard him play. He did play a few of his more known works, especially from his new CD 6 String Theory. He played nonstop for 1 hour, 45 minutes. The bassist played for Earth, Wind and Fire with a 7 string bass. Never seen or heard one of these and it really added a new dimension to mid-bass! The drummer was the original drummer from Chakka-Khan and several other big bands from the 70's and 80's. The show was over much to quickly and could have sat through the 10 o'clock show had it not been sold out!!
So which was better? Listening at home or live? Both!! There is something special about a live event. From the feedback to the slightly overdone bass or the slight timing mix-up. All those things make a live event what it is. No chance for a second take. Listening at home gives me the perspective of the way the artist WANTS it to sound. They both sound the same musically for the most part but the home listening has been massaged to a point. I love them both!!
Gordon
__________________