Curtis was one of the first musicians I went to see in a bar the summer I turned 21 (1987). It was a week night in August at the now defunct Dandelion Pub in the Uptown Shiopping Center in NW just a few days before I left town to return to college. I was by far the youngest person in this crowded, tiny pub. I had just seen Curtis at the Mt. Hood Jazz Festival a couple of weeks previous where, in an afternoon set, he completely blew me away.

It was an eye-opener for skinny young kid to see all these "grown-ups" out late on a "school night" gettin' down and funky on a dance floor that was really just a miniscule area cleared of two or three of the regular tables. I had a blast dancing with women a couple of decades senior to me.

Curtis was awesome. He had the crowd eating out his hand. His harmonica work was awe-inspiring. I still remember my favorite song of the evening, Bluebird (I think that is the title of the song).

Thanks Jack. I had forgotten about the benefit show tonight. I may just have to mosey on over to the Rose Garden.