Monday night; wait, there is more!

After Dianne Reeves, it's dinner. When we get there, the little table for two we had found last night is taken. We cannot find another one. So we sit by the window at a table for 8. I'm not in a mood to chat, other than with dad. Of course, although I had wrapped my arm around the chair next to me to ward off potential neighbors, a couple sits next to us. And they talk, and talk, and talk.... They are Canadian, he a retired chair of a university science department exuding the satisfied confidence of a successful life. And yap yap yap. Of course, the subject comes to NIH funding.... They commiserate, but I'm not really ready to think about this now. They are also veteran cruisers, and explain to us that this is the best cruise line, pointing out the fresh flowers on each table, the linen (not paper) napkins etc. I guess we are really spoiled, the best cruise line and an exceptional line up. Don't think I'll ever be able to cruise again! Just like the souvenir of my first Crème Brulée, eaten at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Burgundy, ruined all the following ones. Just like my first.... oh, never mind. 

The Canadians are really nice, but talk too much for me. Even trying to have a conversation with dad in French doesn't shush them. Another couple, have joined us. The guy is wearing a funny knit hat and is very knowledgeable about jazz. All warmly recommend tonight's act, Keb'Mo.

Dad waits until the end of diner, and our cheese plate, to finish my glass of Marlbrough shiraz - to make sure he doesn't break the three-hour rule of the masseuse...

We go back to the room to freshen up a bit, then it's off to the Vista Lounge again for the 10:45-12:15 (another full show) Keb'Mo concert. Keb'Mo is a blues man from Compton. I have of course never heard of him, but that's clearly not saying much. He was actually featured in Martin Scorsese's "The Blues" miniseries documentary. He has collaborated with everyone from Eric Clapton to Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, or the Dixie Chicks; has been in an episode of the West Wing; and has written one of the theme songs for the Martha Stewart Living show... So it's my lack of culture, not his lack of a career!

Tonight, he is accompanied by the Marcus Miller band. The band is huge and it takes the sound engineer for ever to balance all the instruments. Huge drum set for a mad man named Poogie Bell. At least three keyboards arranged like a fortress. Marcus Miller's bass. A guitar, a lanky white dude with scraggly blondish hair, who is also their music director, and looks like he's been partying with the Stones and the Who and Rod Stewart every day since the '70s. A trombone. An inca-looking guy named Patches on the trumpet. A sax tenor and a young geeky-looking, but brilliant, kid on alto sax, whose name is Alex Han, and will be unfortunately nicknamed Han Solo by Marcus Miller for the rest of his life. A crazy harmonicist from Switzerland, Gregoire Maret. And, of course, Keb'Mo' guitar and mike. Phew.

When they finally start, it's worth it, even though at the beginning Miller's bass is way to strong and it hurts your eardrums and pounds your chest. If it stays like that I'll just leave. But then, they find a better balance, and the bluesman from Compton is just phenomenal. Marcus Miller is the host for the cruise, so he's the one who chose the line up. And it shows - obviously he wanted to jam with the guy and they are clearly having a blast. Keb'Mo is a tall, thin smooth talker, with a cool hat, and the moves of a jungle cat. His act is as much comedy as it is music. He looks like an up and coming kid, but I will learn later that he is really 58. He writes a lot of his own songs, a mix of blues and humor. The first one he sings is "goat milk cheese", and he gets every one in the public cracking up and yelling "goat milk cheese" when he pauses on purpose before the chorus.

Apparently many in the public have followed him over the years and call out for his standards. Aficionados recognize the first few bars of a song, and scream "Suitcase".  Or "France". Of course, he sings a song about loving "women". Poor woman on whom he'll settle, or has settled. 

Anyway, quite a show. Time for bed. Although, if we wanted to, we could still catch the end of the Alonzo Bodden's comedy act or head to the Crow's Nest for DJ Logic until dawn. This vacation thing is exhausting.