Original image by There Stands the Glass.
Introducing his interpretation of a John Coltrane composition at Yardley Hall on Sunday, January 15, Bobby Watson said “this is entitled ‘Dear Lord’- I really need Him tonight.” He wasn’t kidding. Watson visibly and audibly struggled throughout the 70-minute performance. He repeatedly suggested his alto saxophone was malfunctioning.
His tone was off and Watson was able to realize only a fraction of the notes he usually plays. Pianist Roger Wilder, bassist Jeff Harshbarger and drummer Mike Warren supported Watson with admirable sympathy, but the duress of the hometown hero was unmistakable. Acknowledging the calamity, he suggested “I do not make excuses… I play from my heart, that’s all I can do.”
It’s the last thing I expected when I purchased a $25 ticket. I’ve seen the hard bop icon generate fire at dozens of gigs since the 1980s. Watson mustered only a few sparks on Sunday. Yet the audience of more than 400 gave him a standing ovation at the conclusion of the desultory concert.
The cheers were presumably attributable to Watson’s grace under adversity as well as for his impeccable track record. Watson has been the face of jazz in Kansas City for more than three decades. His musical and societal contributions have earned him a lifetime of goodwill.
Setlist: Sweet Dreams, Mind Wind, Love Remains, No Greater Love, Wheel Within a Wheel, Condition Blue, Dear Lord, Bird-ish