The house lights stayed low. The stage was empty.
But no one moved.
The crowd just stood there, clapping, cheering, hollering for more — hoping for just one more song.
Then — the bass player walked out. He grabbed his instrument, turned to leave… and stopped. The crowd roared.
He came back to the front of the stage, put his finger to his lips, and whispered:
“Shhh. They turned off the PA — you have to be quiet.”
And then, in the stillness, he started strumming “Isn’t She Lovely.”
Moments later, the star himself walked back on stage — now in a different outfit, holding a melodica (like a mini piano.) The audience erupted.
He pulled up a stool, joined the bassist, and started to improvise.
Suddenly, this massive open-air venue with 4400 people on San Diego Bay felt like a private jazz club jam session under the stars.
Nobody left.
We stayed. We filmed. We sang.
What an unforgettable way to end the night, soaking in this unscripted encore.
Thank you, John Batiste, for giving us one more song, one more memory, and a little more magic. I walked out a bigger fan than I walked in.
Lesson: Sometimes the most powerful moments happen after the lights go out — when you stay present, stay engaged, and give just a little more.
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