Davell Crawford

Let’s face it. The main draw for this past weekend’s shows at Bohemian Caverns was Roberta Flack. The legendary vocalist, who got her start here in the District, was not even the featured artist on the bill. Taking the mic prior to the start of Sunday night’s early set, with her characteristic regal presence, Flack announced that she would not be performing that evening, and would only introduce her godson and protégé, the “Piano Prince of New Orleans,” headliner Davell Crawford.

The crowd was the largest we have ever seen at the cave, and the venue is clearly not used to handling so many people. Though it might have been a disappointment that Flack had come down with the flu and would not join the night’s main attraction on stage, she did so on each of the previous three nights at the historic club, we had nothing to fear. The audience instead had a warm introduction to one of those prodigious talents that strikes like a bolt of lighting, creating one of those “I saw him when…” moments that every music fan covets.