The Jazzcat

"My Fair Lady" at the Walt Disney Concert Hall with Dianne Reeves, Micheal Stokes, Steve Houghton, John Williams and more!!

by on Dec.07, 2005, under News

 

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No doubt about it, it pays to be on time for performances at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. I was a bit tardy to tonight’s performance, but the music exudes through the walls and you can still watch the performance from the monitors in the hallway while you patiently wait to enter the hall.

 

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I was allowed to enter on the second tune, as applause roared for the prior solo, just in enough time to see Carl Saunders flowin’ like water on the trumpet. Such a refreshing sound; so clear, cool, calming and an easy osmosis into mind, body and spirit of the life of the music.

 

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Steve Houghton led his quintet from the drum chair, and the band featured some fine players about town. Carl, as I mentioned, and Chuck Berghoffer on bass are the cats that I am most familiar with. The band also includes Tom Rainer on piano, Gary Foster on saxophone and of  course, Steve Houghton on drums.

 

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Brian Stokes Mitchell comes onto the stage to sing with the band. He is known for his incredible Broadway career and has won the Helen Hayes Award as well as a Tony nomination. He sang, smiled and scatted and even joined the front line as a third instrument on, “It’s Alright with Me”.  His presence takes you back to a time when show was key!  A Vegas iconoclastic style that entertains with vocals and visual theatrics as well.

 

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When Brian was done singin’ and bringin’ Broadway to the Disney, out walks Brian and in walks Dianne Reeves!  The two artists control the room in different ways: Brian with the feel of a play in a grand theater and Dianne, who changes the room into her own intimate cabaret.

 

Listening to Dianne is like being lullabyed; soothing, clear and warmer than brandy, “How High the Moon”!  From standard to classic holiday tune, the vocal control and power, Dianne “lets it snow” all season long.

 

The break comes so very quickly, especially when you are a few minutes late, but for the second half of the performance, the stage fills up with the rest of the orchestra and “My Fair Lady” begins.

 

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John Williams enters and plans to blow the roof off of the Disney. He talked about longtime friend and great jazz drum icon Shelly Manne and his version of the great classic. Shelly asked John to arrange “My Fair Lady” for him back in the day, which featured artists like Andre Previn and LeRoy Vinnegar. The piece is a continuous idiom with three parts stitched into one. John was quite generous in his introductions of all of the musicians, which shows his enthusiasm for the piece and the performers.

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John conducts the big sound of the orchestra as they set different moods for the different parts of the piece. Brian and Dianne are back on stage singing their respective parts and blending their two effortless styles into delicious vocal cuisines. Perfection and transition play major roles to make the music work as intended. The drama, suspense and dynamics all work together, creating a synergy that is only accomplished when all players are at their peak. So powerful and peaceful is the music. The result is a spectacular musical success.

 

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I spoke with Dianne afterwards and you should have seen her glowing. I usually see her after every one of her performances here in Los Angeles and tonight was really special. Dianne expressed how well the rehearsals went for the performance.  She said that it is the great respect that all the musicians have for John Williams and his dedication to the music that kept the players on the top of their game.  Everyone loved the music, from the audience to the people behind the scenes.  She said that she is very interested in doing this performance again.  I think it is scheduled for 2006 in Paris, so get ready!

 

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LeRoy Downs


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