Meeting and listening to the improvisations of the legendary Marian McPartland (93 years old). Seeing her sit across from her portrait in the famous Harlem 1958 photo by Art Kane (she was one of the very few women in the picture). This was a precious, extraordinary experience.

Then to share sets with Ms. McPartland and other luminaries and rising stars. Kenny Barron, Mulgrew Miller, Bill Charlap, Larry Willis, Dado Moroni, Jon Weber, Ted Rosenthal, Helen Sung, Aaron Diehl, Adam Birnbaum, Christian Sands, Grace Kelly, and more. It was three lifetimes worth of knowledge and experience and energy crammed into one evening. A Monday evening at that.

All thanks to Todd Barkan, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, and Jazz at Lincoln Center.