It’s been a long time since I’ve experienced pure awe in a theatre. Sure, I’ve seen some pretty spectacular events over the years both on PEI and in the big cities, but last night, was by far the best thing I’ve been part of in years.

Been part of. Key.

It was the finale night of the very successful PEI Jazz and Blues Festival and David Clayton Thomas was the bill. I was a tad late so I had to stand at the back of the theatre until the song was over before I went to my seat, and I could already feel the vibe in the house. Already Thomas had everyone in the palm of his hand. That’s magic. Some people could be up on stage all night and never make a connection with the audience, never extend themselves far enough to reach anyone.

Last night’s show was no phony. Thomas is pure genuine showman. He treats his audience like friends and doesn’t hold back anything. What a treat! And what a gift.

Congratulations to all of the hard-working volunteers and sponsors who made the PEI Jazz and Blues Festival possible. And a special hats off to the PEI Jazz and Blues Festival organizing committee; Doug Millington, Mark Car-Rollitt, Bob Nicholson, Sue Williams, Myrtle Jenkins-Smith, Chas Guay, and many others.

19th century cultural critic Matthew Arnold quips culture as being “a pursuit of our total perfection by means of getting to know, on all the matters which most concern us, the best which has been thought and said in the world”.

The PEI Jazz and Blues Festival is culture at it’s best.