Today: Bobby McFerrin
I can place myself back in the hall for every Bobby McFerrin concert I ever attended – with jazz bands, with orchestras, solo, and with his CircleSong group. Every one of them was life changing, because the man breathes music like air.
In recent years he’s done some residencies close to home in San Francisco, but I think I caught him on his last tour, just weeks before the pandemic stopped all music. Standing with my family, singing along with his improvisations, was a balm through those silent months and remains a touchstone.
Lucky for us all, there are many live recordings and videos on YouTube. Here’s a favorite, with various collaborations, solo work, and even him playing and singing. (Did you know he was a pianist before he started singing professionally?)