Patti Smith scared me. Reasonable, enough. Anyone who’s seen her on stage knows she’s a formidable force, breathing fire and brimstone into her timeless songs. In person, however, she couldn’t be gentler and nicer. Chatting with her was probably the highlight of the tour, so far, as she freely talked about her seminal music - as well as her intimidating persona. “It took me a long time to understand that,” she said when I confessed my initial fear. “But I love the press.” Smith also performed a couple acoustic numbers for the press - “Grateful” and a homage to William Blake that I didn’t recognize. It was also her 62nd birthday.

The other musical treat was a lesson in the history of Latin music conducted by percussionist Bobby Sanabria. Jimmy Smits, who narrates the upcoming special “Latin Music USA” was tickled pink that Sanabria got critics to get up and dance, the most exercise most of the 65 people in the room have gotten all week. “I never thought I’d see that,” he said, cracking himself up.

Coming up on “American Masters” this season: Tributes to Harry Belafonte, John Muir, Odetta, John Lennon and Johnny Carson.

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