I got to see him in June 2009 at a beautiful venue in downtown Cleveland. I went with someone who was a good friend at the time (but has since moved away to get married) and when they went into Take 5, the deal was that I was to call another friend in Oklahoma and hold the phone up so she could hear it.

I remember the line of the night was when my date leaned over and said "Look. There's nothing even close to one brown hair up there!" I think the youngest guy was probably 60, and Dave was 88 then. He had to be helped to the piano, and then he sat down and broke into Sunny Side Of The Street, and from there he segued into Somewhere Over The Rainbow, and just totally set the place on fire! Standard after standard came off that stage, with Bobby Millitello playing a great alto sax. One by one the songs went by.. Jimmy McHugh, Harold Arlin, Frank Loesser, Cole Porter, George Gershwin.... just an amazing night of music performed by a group of truly great players. My hands actually hurt from applauding so loudly and so often. He REALLY got me with WHat Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life!

A night I will never forget!