Congressional Blues Fest

Last night I was lucky enough to attend the very tony Congressional Blues Fest, a fantastic and free event celebrating the best in jazz and blues. The festival was outside on the South Side of the Kennedy Center, overlooking the Potomac. Now I don't know what I did to get in the good graces of whoever is watching out for me, but the night couldn't have been more perfect.     After meeting up with my friends, we made our way outside to the patio, into the fading light of dusk. The weather was at that perfect point when it stops being weather and it just, Is. We could hear the music coming from the large white tent and for a moment, with all the young hill staffers in their jackets and ties and their dates in sundresses, I felt like i was transported back to another era--the 50's--and the atmosphere felt new and electric and full of a youthful energy, innocence and hope. Inside the tent we were treated to "complimentary"(read: FREE!) food and drink, and we were quick to oblige ourselves many times over.     After eating and drinking and more drinking, we hit the dance floor. It was an eclectic mix of overgrown hippies and hill yuppies which definitely gave me, a professional people watcher, a lot to enjoy. The most exciting moment came when the horns from Mudcat got in a line and marched off the stage and into the crowd, blurring the lines of performance and creating the ultimate interactive musical experience. Again, I felt transported into another era, only this time I felt like I was in a crowded and smoky dance hall in Harlem in the 1920s, jostling up against all the other patrons pushing in so close to the musicians that I could touch my nose to the tip of the trombone. By this point it was probably the free booze that was clouding my vision and thoughts, but nevertheless, it was a great feeling.     Unfortunately I left before I got to see Robert Cray do his thing, but Tapes n' Tapes were playing at 930 club. Although fun, it definitely wasn't as intense a sensory experience as the blues fest. Probably the highlight of Tapes N' Tapes: hitting on the keyboardist post show and making googly eyes at the lead.