Having taken my usual aisle seat, I was appalled by the usher’s request that I move over one to allow room for a latecomer to sneak in. I just said no. (I’m good at that.) After all, I paid for the aisle. Not really, of course, as tickets were free and seats unreserved.

So, instead of sitting to my right, the only person in the room who sat down and then lowered his mandatory mask, sat to my left. After I gently poked him, he lifted the mask back up and left it there, so that, thereafter, I only had to put up with his occasional unsolicited commentary and attention-seeking slow clapping.

As for the excellent performance from the 17-piece band, the freshman trumpet player set the tone by wearing sunglasses during his big solo; the only musician wearing a mask was, unpredictably, the baritone saxophonist, whose solo belied any notion that the barrier would be an impediment; and, during his solo, the piano player made swing look easy, just like golf pros do during their swings, which I also can’t emulate.

A vocalist magically, and unfortunately, appeared for two songs. If I could have turned off his mic, I would have. But he couldn’t detract from an otherwise enjoyable concert, including the director’s background stories about the Duke Ellington and Count Basie bands, and all that jazz.