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In an event space that looked more like a spacious living room than a club, Keith Richards looked out into the audience and grinned mischievously. “So I have to follow Mavis Staples,” he said of his thankless position. But like Staples, Norah Jones and Warren Haynes also rocked he performed the latest edition of the New York Soho Sessions with flying colors.
These private live concerts have long been among the most sought-after events in the city. Only around 150 lucky people get tickets for one of around ten shows per year.
The fifth-floor loft has a legendary history: it was once home to Chung King Studios, where hip-hop classics from Public Enemy, Beastie Boys, LL Cool J and Run-DMC were recorded.
Legends and new voices on one stage
Since launching in 2021, the Soho Sessions have offered intimate performances by greats such as Paul Simon, Elvis Costello, Nile Rodgers, Taj Mahal, Steve Earle as well as younger artists such as Marcus King, Yola and Maren Morris. Each show also supports a charitable initiative. For example, the Stanford project to cure hearing loss.
Yesterday’s edition was dedicated to Bruce Willis, who has been suffering from frontotemporal dementia for two years. The goal was to raise funds and awareness for the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD). Among the guests: Kevin Bacon, Michael J. Fox, Kyra Sedgwick, Steve Guttenberg and Willis’ ex-wife Demi Moore. His wife, Emma, said her husband was “here in spirit” and shared one of his favorite quotes: “Can we please have some fun?”
Norah Jones, Mavis Staples and Keith Richards rock for a good cause
Norah Jones picked up the guitar and played “Come Away with Me” and her version of Tom Waits’ “Long Way Home”. Mavis Staples got the audience singing along with “City in the Sky” and “I’ll Take You There.” “Norah, where are you?” she shouted – and brought Jones on stage for the duet “You Are Not Alone”.
“Bruce and I have been neighbors for years—beach guys,” Richards said later, laughing. Accompanied by Larry Campbell, Steve Jordan, Joey Spampinato and Ivan Neville, he played three songs: the blues classic “Key to the Highway”, the Stones number “You Got the Silver” and, for the finale, Chuck Berry’s “Run Rudolph Run”. Casual, humorous – and completely in keeping with the spirit of the evening.
Warren Haynes closes the night with blues
Warren Haynes concluded: “Keith had to follow Mavis, and I have to follow Keith,” he joked. With BB King’s “The Thrill Is Gone”, “Soul Shine” and “Statesboro Blues” he proved that music can provide comfort – if it doesn’t bring healing. The evening became a loving tribute to Bruce Willis and the unifying power of music.