The predictability of the phenomena that transpired at Westport Coffee House on Wednesday, February 9, didn’t make the event any less remarkable. Exceptional musicians typically magnify the brilliance of their recordings while celebrating the release of new albums.
The rousing performance of Adam Larson, Clark Sommers and Dana Hall was no exception. Renditions of selections from With Love, From Chicago were even more rewarding than the superlative studio versions.
Larson embellished his stupendous playing with a few flourishes not on the album. The performance of the rhythm section was commensurately outstanding. Sommers and Hall applied a substantially different approach from what’s typically heard in Kansas City.
The sense of occasion was enhanced by an attentive capacity audience of almost 100. The cover charge for the general public was $15, but students who made up about half of the attendees paid only $5 each. Invaluable lessons were dispensed at the de facto masterclass.