The Herbie Hancock and Christina Aguilera performance and recording of Donny Hathaway’s “A Song For You” is an example of the type of concert I would love to produce. Lose the sixty backup singers and dancers, along with the smoke and fireworks. May not be as exciting visually, but could lead to a different type of musical experience for the audience, where the musicianship of the performers is what counts.
I remember living in New York dropping into Wells for midnight breakfast (Fried Chicken and Waffles) and seeing Joe Williams get up from his table and sing two songs with Willie Bobo’s small band. Moments like this are unexpected and thrilling. It is not just the mixing of the styles, like a classical opera singer singing with Jay Z, it is watching two musicians figuring out how to compliment each other regardless of their discipline.
In this video you can see Hancock watching Aguilera and improvising, supporting and appreciating her. This is magic and gets lost (I think) when there are tons of people running around the stage trying to create excitement for 20thousand people.
If I had my way I would love to see an evening with Cassandra Wilson in a small venue being backed up by John Mayer.