“I’ve got to say, you’re the funkiest crowd we’ve ever had…”  Music legend Nile Rodgers with Chic at Fox Theater in Oakland on Saturday night, playing not only through hits by Chic but number one hits Rodgers has produced over the past several decades with top, iocnic artists.  Watching Nile Rodgers and the amazing Chic on stage really underscored how he is all about collaboration; he seems to have found his purpose in life early on in bringing the best out of other artists who were truly gifted in their own right… helping them make art that transcended what either could do on their own.  Not just a beautiful way to create, but also an inspired way to go through life, bettering other people as well as yourself in the process.  And then there is that music… all of it markedly up beat and happy and optimistic.  But Nile Rodgers also appears to be a humble man on stage, and that reflects his life’s work as well, working in the background to help other artists and their songs and talent shine.  So it was quite special to see Nile Rodgers and Chic do a full concert live on stage (they will also be performing with Duran Duran in their upcoming tour).  What music, what talent, and what a way to bring it all to life in a way that makes the crowd feel that they are part of it.  Though it is early into 2016, this will certainly be one of my own favorite and most memorable shows of the year.

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