Youssou N'Dour, Hammerstein Ballroom, New York City (2002 or thereabouts)
Amazing event. New York's West African community turned out in style, dressed to the nines. Huge men and women, beautifully dressed, all ages. There was a dinner downstairs, and an older woman wanted to be sure I got enough "you look too thin" . . . very sweet.
Performance didn't start till late, 11 PM maybe, and went till after 2, pissing off the management, but N'Dour and his crowd certainly weren't going to shut it down for union rules.
The most musically gifted audience I've ever been in . . . they were dancing in the aisles and it was impressive; grannies can clap in 14/17 time, apparently.
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