The man of the hour came dapped out in black and gold, immediately letting it be known that this wasn’t gonna be your ordinary Wednesday night affair. Even familiar hits were given a little bit of weird, and a run through a Jimi-styled “National Anthem > Purple Haze” was immediately followed by the always smokin’ “Red Hot Mama,” a song appropriately led by Bernie Worrell. Digs on Parliament staples “Flash Light” and the “Mothership Connection” turned the packed house on it’s side – one that was notably filled with the likes of Big Sam, Leo Nocentelli Papa Mali & Ian Neville – always a sign that you’re in the right place when local musicians are in attendance, acting like wide-eyed fan boys for a night. The funk was red hot, the joint was transformed – here’s hoping that Bootsy and Co. will come back from their galaxy for a Jazz Fest late night in the not-too-distant future. Now that would really be something.
