After‑Action Report — Memorial Day

I spent Memorial Day playing for the Memory Care and Assisted Living residents at The Carnegie at Washington Square. The theme was patriotic, and I played from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in a small alcove on the Assisted Living side.

I found my groove early. The audience was so locked in they had to be pulled away for lunch. This was the strongest response I’ve had in this part of the facility. Residents asked questions between songs, and even the wait staff gave me more attention than usual.

I also picked up a new lesson: ginger ale and Sprite are not performance drinks. The sugar helped my energy, but my throat didn’t appreciate it. I had to fight off a couple of choking moments during a John Fogerty tune. Once things settled, I shifted into some jazz, bossa nova, and blues mashups.

Here’s what I played while my throat recovered.

A good day, and a good crowd.