It's a sturdier Big Tent this year, and I'm pretty sure the added rigidity has helped acoustically. The Dee Dee Bridgewater took the stage in a hot pink wig before shedding it for her hot bald head, but I'll let Ron fill you in on that one ‘cause I was jonesin' for another dose of Stephanie McKay.

Bronx beauty McKay is so genuinely sweet. Her voice was coquettishly gentle, yet still packed a wallop as she took it all over the map. She sang beautifully, and even when her songs took on a tight dub clip they maintained their melodic air. At both sold-out High Fidelity shows she was engaging and utterly believable. She took the air out of the room one minute when she announced her mother had passed away last week, and re-inflated the joint with joy the next with a dedication. Her band was tight and funky and generated all kinds of hip action. The crowd danced along, sang along told the drummer "Yo Manny, drop that beat!" and ate her up. She better come back.