I saw Roy Haynes pull this "frailty" act - comes out all feeble and slow, starts pitter pattering around with brushes and just when he's lulling you into a snooze, he EXPLODES.
Other artists (witnessed personally) include: Dave Brubeck, Elvis Costello (doesn't look so old but becomes, like, 19), Itzhak Perlman, Stevie Wonder, Ravi Shankar.
I can testify to EC and Stevie Wonder for sure... when I was at the DNC I didn't cheer at all, I was there to work, but when Stevie Wonder came on all decorum went out the window. He played for three minutes, 0-60 in 1.2 seconds, acted like we all paid to see him.. amazing
We last saw him 6/7 years ago and he was great-pretty amazing prancing around the stage telling racy jokes (compared to BB King who had to stay seated last time we saw him)
Saw John Lee Hooker play a club late in his career. He sat in a chair whole night, bass player and drummer just staying out of his way. Phenomenol performance, electrifying, and on the last song, he stood up out of chair, guitar thrumming, and it was like a miracle, everyone there rising in the air.
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