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Now it's
getting a bit complicated here. Because this here is not the Original
Earth Wind & Fire band, but a so called splittergroup, which is led
by one forme member of the legendary soulband. This Al McKay, who was
part of Earth Wind & Fire between 1973 and 1981, and it was him and
Maurice White who had written all these famous tunes of the Band, like
'September' and 'Singa Song'- After he had quit the band, he dedicated
most of his time as a full time daddy to his son.
In the beginning of the 90s, he had the idea to form a new live project
named the L.A. All-Stars and later on the Al McKay All-Stars. For that
one he got himself back Andrew Woolfolk
(Saxophon), Johnny Graham (git), Fred White (drums) and the Phoenix Horns.
Today 61 year old McKay names his band verison simply the Earth Wind
& Fire Experience and he tours constantly throughout the world. (maybe
I should mention, that also in the original Earth Wind & Fire, who
are also still going, are only 2 original members left)
However, tonight we got Al McKay and his band here at the Tollwood
festival. But despite the high nostalgic level, there are only about 300
people here, maybe due to the, still disasterios weather conditions,
which keep going on for weeks now.
But first of all it's soul legend Solomon Burke going on....
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And for
all of you out there, who are asking now - who the hell is this, I only
say - or better sing: "Everybody needs somebody to love....."
and I'm sure, all of you know this song from the legendary Blues
Brothers movie, - written and composed by Solomon Burke. This man is now
69 years old, has got 21 children and has just become a
grandgranddad.Musically he started out in 1962, and he's got 34 albums
in his back catalogue. 'Like A Fire' is the title of the latest record,
which was released last year. On this album Eric Clapton has contributed
some stuff.
Anyway, Burke has been an idol for musicians like Mick Jagger, Tome
Jones and Rod Stewart. And he is a brilliant singer himself indeed,
despite the fact, that he seems not to be able to move around, and only
sits on a hug thrown, placed in the middle of the stage. Can't tell you,
whether this is due to his enormous body masses or some kind of illness.
But I presume it's the weight.
Before he is literatually carried on stage, blind Rudy Copleland sits
already behind his organ and starts his solo version to 'Amazing Grace',
just to change then to the electric piano to perform with the other
musicians 'What I'd Say'. Eyes closed and you almost believe it's Ray
Charles personally up there. Guitarist Sam Mayfield, beeing in Burkes
band since 1973, does a phantastic solo. And when Burke comes on stage,
they are handling this so tricky, that you don't actually catch, when
the place him on his thrown. Both pretty backgroundsingers are his
daughter and granddaughter. And they always look after him throughout
the show, wiping the sweat of his forhead, reach him drinks and take his
jacket off and more....
Medley of “If You Need Me”, “Tonight’s The Night”, “He’ll Have
To Go” und “I Can’t Stop Loving You”, takes you back in time.
And the track
“I Can’t Stop Loving
You” is known by all of us, ain't it? The end of his set, which is
overdone makes Louis Armstrong's 'What A Wonderful World' followed by...
yes of course.... "Everybody Needs Somebody.....“ And like
in the beginning of the show, the audiance don't get to see, how some
helpers carry Solomon Burke off stage again....
Long live the nostalgic dream and most of all sweet soul music....
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http://www.thekingsolomonburke.com/
But now problems are going ahead.. Because of the miles too long set of
Solomon Burke, who played for more than 90 minutes, Earth, Wind &
Fire have not enough time to do a fulls show. This might have led to
some discussions backstage, I could imagine.....
They
are starting off at strike 9 p.m. and have got just about 60 minutes for
their show. And as I told you before, concerts have to be finished by 10
p.m. here at this venue.
Al McKay has recorded an coproduced seven successful albums with Earth
Wind & Fire, and he received 5 Grammy Awards. These are reasons
enough to wake these songs up to new life. I call 'em milestones - which
is „Shining
Star“, „Fantasy“, „After The Love Has Gone“ or “September”.Therefore
McKay has recruited 13 of the best live and studiomusicians of the US
Funk- and Soul scene to transfer the right feeling. And the 3 frontmen Claude Woods, Tim Owens and Devere Duckett
take care for the right groovy heat.
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Apart
from that, there are 2
Keyboards, Percussion, drums guitar, Bass, Sax and 2 trumpets getting
the right rhythm in. I discover 3 teleprompter while taking pics in the
pit. You can think about it whatever you want. But at least it shows,
that this ain't a playback show. I mean, why else do they need the
lyrics shown on a screen inside the monitor boxes in front of them? Sax
player Ed Wynne is going for a musical dialoge with Tim Owens, and
Michael Harris (trumpet) is one of the famous Phoenix horns.
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The mood and atmosphere is great in here and the 300 guests are dancing
along to the soul classic tunes. And it could have been so nice. And it
is 'till exactly 10 p.m. But despite loud protests of the audiance and a
band on stage, apologizing at least a dozen times for some circumstances,
which our town authorities are responsible for.
„It’s
Not Our Fault“ Al McKay say: „we would love to play more“...But
id doesn't help....Therefore the band is giving away dozens of CDs for
free and comes out after show to sign them...
Not sure, who's fault it is in the end... either it's Solomon Burke who
over did his set for too long, or the local promoter, who didn't take
care, that the time schedule is kept in place...
At least musically the whole event has been a real goodie for all
friends of classic soul and jazz. That's it and not more to say about
it.....
http://www.almckay.com/ |
