Bruce Hornsby has been a favorite of mine since childhood, and so it was a fantastic experience to see him on a perfect summer night, outside on the sprawling lawn of The Oregon Zoo. As I understand it, the Oregon Zoo pioneered the concept of zoo concerts and others around the country followed suit. They are one of the highlights of the summer. Hornsby played my favorites, "The Way It Is" and "Valley Road," the latter with a bluegrass twist, developed at Tennessee's Bonaroo Festival. Hornsby is a one-of-a kind piano player with a truly unique and instantly identifiable style.
I also learned a lot from his stage-patter between songs, such as how he toured with The Grateful Dead" in his early career, and he threw in that his son was an Oregon Duck, much to the delight of the crowd.
Also of note was local guitarist Tony Frutado a great fit for Hornsby. They seem to share that aforementioned singular style. Witnessing such artistry from all-involved was an unforgettable privilege.
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