Photo by Joe Landry
Guitarist Thom Enright, left, and neon artist George Kaprielian at the Hi Hat in Providence today.

Nearly everyone I've known outside the Journal since 1970 showed up last night for the toast to musician Thom Enright at the Hi Hat in Davol Square.

The parking lot was like Warwick Mall at Christmastime, cars following early arrivers as they left, drivers hoping to snag their vacated spaces. Inside, the crowd density resembled the old Met Cafe on a Saturday night -- packed, but the Hi Hat is easily 10 times larger. Snaking through the bodies tapped old, nearly forgotten skills. Amazingly, there were lines out the door for the men's room but not for the ladies'.

Thom Enright, the honoree, was there, accepting good wishes and sharing a dance with his lady, Olga Jansen. The bands he has played with over the years played for him this time. (Brain cancer has left Thom unable to work.)

The concert was an amazing event -- not just for the energy the musicians brought for Thom, but also for the reunions it set up. People who hadn't seen each other in decades met up, and often remembered each other's names. Their grown children came along, too. One daughter said she was having a great time, this was completely unlike the current club scene.

Photo by Sheila Lennon
Duke Robillard

Photo by Sheila Lennon
Roomful of Blues.