Small venue. Smooth Jazz. And it wasn't being blown away by her talent, which I was... it was the experience.
Took place on a summer's evening... outdoors venue, on the banks of the San Joaquin River, beneath towering oak trees... huge, you have to think "Mallorn" trees of Lothlorien in Lord of the Rings. Perfect temperature, perfect skies, perfect music.
Runner up, if not equal, Fats Domino at some casino in Reno. I wasn't expecting to be awed... to be entertained for sure because I loved the guy... but this was much more.
Lot of my all time favorites are concerts that caught me a bit by surprise.... another example: I liked the Mama's and the Papa's a lot... but a top favorite? No. Then I saw them at the Fillmore West in SF.... changed my life.
ZZ Top... saw them when they opened for WAR.... totally unknown at the time... and they were the 'intro' group... a much more known group was between them and WAR.
Most amazing musicians? Jeff Beck was so far over my head I had an 'out of body' experience.... and then there is:
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. Then, and now, I truly believe the most 'combined' talent of any group that ever played music. - JamesJM