jobeterob
10-02-2011, 11:21 PM
Originally Published: 10/3/2011 Share13
REVIEW: Ross charms crowd with hits as well as cover tunes
The 67-year-old offers a revue of her recordings in addition to a trip through popular black music of the 20th century.
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Reading Eagle: Ben Hasty
Diana Ross and her 13-piece band perform Saturday night at the Sovereign Performing Arts Center.
Ben Hasty on Facebook
Entering her sixth decade of music-making, Diana Ross has more hits to her name than almost any other artist.
So it was a bit surprising to hear her tackle so many covers during her show Saturday night at a frenetic show at the Sovereign Performing Arts Center.
Backed by a tight 13-piece band, which included a four-piece horn section, Ross helmed a nearly nonstop revue of her biggest hits that also doubled as a trip through popular black music of the 20th century. Motown gave way to funk, which gave way to jazz, which segued into disco and all of it sounded great.
At 85 minutes, the show was on the short side, but because many of the songs performed were succinct nuggets from the '60s, the set list contained a healthy 21 songs.
The 67-year-old still looked great, wearing a smile and no fewer than six outfits during the evening: all dresses, almost all of them glittery.
Her voice remains strong as well, ranging from powerful to sultry to innocent.
An instrumental introduction kicked off the evening while photographs, album covers and song titles from throughout Ross' career whizzed by on the screen behind the stage.
Ross then took the stage and launched into solo hit "I Love You [[Call Me)" and a cover of The Spiral Starecase's "More Today Than Yesterday," before pelting the audience with a relentless string of six Diana Ross & The Supremes hits.
Although "You Keep Me Hangin' On" was unfortunately not one of them, spirited renditions of "Baby Love," "You Can't Hurry Love" and "Stop! In the Name of Love" were included.
Much of the rest of the show featured Ross interpreting other artists' work: Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive," Billie Holiday's "Don't Explain," Dusty Springfield's "The Look of Love," Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers' "Why Do Fools Fall In Love."
The mostly older audience at the nearly-sold-out show rarely sat still, frequently leaping to their feet, clapping, swaying and singing.
Show closer "Reach Out and Touch Somebody's Hand" featured, at Ross' urging, crowd members waving their hands back and forth to the music, turning the theater into an undulating sea of arms.
The backing band was quite good; if you're going to take on Funk Brothers arrangements you need to have chops. And the musicians showed them off while Ross was changing outfits, most notably the thick Latin groove that closed "Love Child."
The band subtly paid tribute to Michael Jackson by sneaking a few riffs, such as the ending guitar lick in "Billie Jean," into the arrangements.
REVIEW: Ross charms crowd with hits as well as cover tunes
The 67-year-old offers a revue of her recordings in addition to a trip through popular black music of the 20th century.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reading Eagle: Ben Hasty
Diana Ross and her 13-piece band perform Saturday night at the Sovereign Performing Arts Center.
Ben Hasty on Facebook
Entering her sixth decade of music-making, Diana Ross has more hits to her name than almost any other artist.
So it was a bit surprising to hear her tackle so many covers during her show Saturday night at a frenetic show at the Sovereign Performing Arts Center.
Backed by a tight 13-piece band, which included a four-piece horn section, Ross helmed a nearly nonstop revue of her biggest hits that also doubled as a trip through popular black music of the 20th century. Motown gave way to funk, which gave way to jazz, which segued into disco and all of it sounded great.
At 85 minutes, the show was on the short side, but because many of the songs performed were succinct nuggets from the '60s, the set list contained a healthy 21 songs.
The 67-year-old still looked great, wearing a smile and no fewer than six outfits during the evening: all dresses, almost all of them glittery.
Her voice remains strong as well, ranging from powerful to sultry to innocent.
An instrumental introduction kicked off the evening while photographs, album covers and song titles from throughout Ross' career whizzed by on the screen behind the stage.
Ross then took the stage and launched into solo hit "I Love You [[Call Me)" and a cover of The Spiral Starecase's "More Today Than Yesterday," before pelting the audience with a relentless string of six Diana Ross & The Supremes hits.
Although "You Keep Me Hangin' On" was unfortunately not one of them, spirited renditions of "Baby Love," "You Can't Hurry Love" and "Stop! In the Name of Love" were included.
Much of the rest of the show featured Ross interpreting other artists' work: Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive," Billie Holiday's "Don't Explain," Dusty Springfield's "The Look of Love," Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers' "Why Do Fools Fall In Love."
The mostly older audience at the nearly-sold-out show rarely sat still, frequently leaping to their feet, clapping, swaying and singing.
Show closer "Reach Out and Touch Somebody's Hand" featured, at Ross' urging, crowd members waving their hands back and forth to the music, turning the theater into an undulating sea of arms.
The backing band was quite good; if you're going to take on Funk Brothers arrangements you need to have chops. And the musicians showed them off while Ross was changing outfits, most notably the thick Latin groove that closed "Love Child."
The band subtly paid tribute to Michael Jackson by sneaking a few riffs, such as the ending guitar lick in "Billie Jean," into the arrangements.