As a music fan, you hit a certain point in your life where you know it’s time for jazz. You start to develop a palate for say, a seated show in a jazz club downtown … Friday evening was my first experience at Minneapolis’ jazz club, The Dakota, to see Robert Glasper.
It was his first of six performances that weekend at Dakota. I was led to my seat at a dark wood bar facing the stage, awaiting the start of the sold-out show by candlelight with other twenty-somethings who have decided that now is time for jazz.
As soon as I settled into my seat, the show started, perfect timing. The show opened with a DJ, who welcomed us into the atmosphere with a perfect choice, Marvin Gaye’s “Mercy Mercy Me.” I was already having a great time.
Everyone around me was having a glass of wine or a nice cocktail, dressed up, smiling. It was everyone’s ‘night on the town.’ The DJ only played for a couple of minutes before Robert Glasper and his band took the stage. Even before the show started, I couldn’t stop thinking to myself, “Wow, I’m having such a great time, I’m at the jazz club.”