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Thanks to some good friends of ours, a few weeks ago they treated me and my wife to one of the best concerts I’ve ever seen. It was the legendary Chic Corea and Bela Fleck performing at the historic Majestic Theater in Dallas. Their extraordinary virtuosity is something that’s unforgettable. The entire concert was just them with no support from other musicians. There weren’t 50 backup dancers, no guest rappers, no profanity, no twerking, no flashing lights, no fireworks, and no political sermons. Just two guys with a piano and a banjo and yet one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to.

I’m sure there’s a wide variety of opinions on what constitutes the best concerts. But for me the best and most memorable concerts have had a few things in common. First, they were small ensembles and often just a duo or solo performer. Next, the venues were never overly big which allowed for an intimate vibe and good seats for everyone.  And most importantly, the performance was truly about great music and exquisite musicianship. I’m talking about performances where you feel something almost transcendental and of a higher realm beyond mere mortals. These are the kind of performances which either makes a lesser musician totally inspired to practice much more or to sadly quit playing because of feelings of inadequacy. These are the kind of performances where you feel like you’re walking on a cloud when you leave the venue and then for weeks can’t stop thinking about what you just encountered.

For example, there was the pianist Ruth Slenczynska who performed at SMU when I was a teenager. The tiny woman must have been less than 5 feet tall, but her huge sound while ripping through Rachmaninoff and Chopin was spell binding. Then there was a percussionist in a trendy pedestrian area in downtown Atlanta (I never got his name) which gave a new meaning to playing conga drums as he captivated a huge crowd for hours. And a few years ago, I witnessed the great Manuel Gonzalez at a basilica in Barcelona playing solo classical guitar. The classical musician could easily be referred to as a classical magician as he sounded like 2 guitarists and created nothing short of a spiritual and exhilarating experience. I probably drove my wife crazy as for days I couldn’t stop talking about his concert. I could list more examples but you probably get the idea.

Please don’t get me wrong. I have been to some great concerts with big fancy productions and lots of musicians. Some of those shows, especially the ones which incorporate multi-media, can really hype the atmosphere while creating a sensory extravaganza. But when it comes down to just pure music with raw talent which seems to defy human understanding, it’s clearly the master soloist, or the brilliant duet, or the creative trio which is the most mesmerizing and memorable for me. What about you? Comment below and tell us about one of your most memorable concerts or what you think makes the best concert.