1) The sound quality of the show was very poor. For the first few numbers, near the back of the room you could barely hear Hutcherson and Cables’ piano sounded like a toy. By about mid-set they brought up the vibes to appropriate level but the piano never did sound right.

2) Why was George Cables’ piano situated so that he had to sit with his back to the audience? Every other jazz show I’ve ever been to (and that’s many, including at the Vanguard in NYC and many other top flight venues), the piano is situated so that you can at least view the pianist from the side. This just seemed totally bizarre – it was a like a form of protest or something.

3) The Yoshi’s staff ought to be chastised severely for the way they treated the audience. To casually walk out front and say “It’s going to be another 20-30 minutes” without allowing people in for a drink or just to sit and talk is inexcusable in my view. Again been to jazz shows at the finest venues in the U.S. and have never been treated this poorly. I drove 1.5 hours each way to see this show. Which leads me to the most severe criticism…

4) The musicians played for maybe 40 minutes, tops. So the audience got penalized for someone screwing up and making the show start so late. Totally ridiculous and a frank rip off. Never has $28 bought such a dinky, foreshortened evening of music.

It’s sad when legends fall…I’ve loved these guys’ music for years but other than Mr. Hutcherson, who was as professional and inventive and charming as one would expect from an old pro (the only saving grace of the evening), I was completely underwhelmed with this show, and shocked by the total lack of respect Mr. Haden showed for the audience.