Concert review: A Night for Ray Charles
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - It started slowly and ended abruptly, but in between, the concert tribute to music legend Ray Charles, Genius: A Night for Ray Charles, featured some fine performances from a multitude of eclectic artists.
Charles passed on from liver disease June 10, but a tribute to this music giant was long overdue no matter the circumstance. Hosted by actor Jamie Foxx, who plays Charles in the upcoming big-screen biography "Ray," the 150-minute performance was a mixed bag of goodies. (The concert will air as a CBS special at 9 p.m. Oct. 22.)
A glowing 15-minute spoken introduction to Charles was nice, but got the proceedings off to a sluggish start as the two-thirds filled arena audience begin to grow restless. Without an introduction, Elton John, backed as each artist was by a house orchestra, delivered "(Night Time) Is the Right Time," which featured a scorching vocal by Mary J. Blige and some tasty sax by longtime Charles collaborator David "Fathead" Newman.
Country singer Kenny Chesney was next and delivered a somewhat bland version of the Eddy Arnold-penned "You Don't Know Me." His vocal was strong, but his wardrobe designer should be fired, as he was dressed like a villainous country version of a World Wrestling Federation grappler. Actor Morgan Freeman introduced Steve Wonder, whose horn-driven R&B version of "I've Got a Woman" was a highlight. Wonder played piano and blew some mean harp. In the heat of the moment, he rose from his piano to lead the audience in some righteous hand clapping. Norah Jones was a follow-up let-down with a ghostly, transparent take on "Drown in My Own Tears."
R&B/pop sensation Usher attempted a well-intended version of a Charles signature, "Georgia On My Mind," but his high-pitched singing just didn't match up with the gruff and gritty vocal delivered by Brother Ray. Usher's heart was in the right place but his voice was not; it was the wrong song choice for the wrong artist.
Wannabe rocker Bruce Willis combined with blues legend B.B. King and keyboardist Billy Preston on "Sinner's Prayer"; King and Preston trading off on vocals while Willis got down on some pedestrian harp. The marvelous King sat in a chair between his two cohorts and picked off some trademark stinging licks that drew appreciative audience applause.
Al Green took us back to Charles' gospel roots with "What'd I Say" before Reba McEntire cooled things down with a solid country take on "I Can't Stop Lovin' You." Preston did a great Charles vocal impression on his soulful cover of "Unchain Your Heart" and British pianist/vocalist Jamie Cullum stirred things up with a rollicking "Hallelujah, I Love Her So." Blige came back to tear it up one more time with a wailing "Come Rain or Come Shine."
The show ended abruptly with a video screen version of Charles singing "America the Beautiful" that had the crowd murmuring in confusion as they exited. It was a hackneyed, poorly produced ending that didn't do justice to the show that preceded it.
CLICK HERE to discuss in our forum.
Charles passed on from liver disease June 10, but a tribute to this music giant was long overdue no matter the circumstance. Hosted by actor Jamie Foxx, who plays Charles in the upcoming big-screen biography "Ray," the 150-minute performance was a mixed bag of goodies. (The concert will air as a CBS special at 9 p.m. Oct. 22.)
A glowing 15-minute spoken introduction to Charles was nice, but got the proceedings off to a sluggish start as the two-thirds filled arena audience begin to grow restless. Without an introduction, Elton John, backed as each artist was by a house orchestra, delivered "(Night Time) Is the Right Time," which featured a scorching vocal by Mary J. Blige and some tasty sax by longtime Charles collaborator David "Fathead" Newman.
Country singer Kenny Chesney was next and delivered a somewhat bland version of the Eddy Arnold-penned "You Don't Know Me." His vocal was strong, but his wardrobe designer should be fired, as he was dressed like a villainous country version of a World Wrestling Federation grappler. Actor Morgan Freeman introduced Steve Wonder, whose horn-driven R&B version of "I've Got a Woman" was a highlight. Wonder played piano and blew some mean harp. In the heat of the moment, he rose from his piano to lead the audience in some righteous hand clapping. Norah Jones was a follow-up let-down with a ghostly, transparent take on "Drown in My Own Tears."
R&B/pop sensation Usher attempted a well-intended version of a Charles signature, "Georgia On My Mind," but his high-pitched singing just didn't match up with the gruff and gritty vocal delivered by Brother Ray. Usher's heart was in the right place but his voice was not; it was the wrong song choice for the wrong artist.
Wannabe rocker Bruce Willis combined with blues legend B.B. King and keyboardist Billy Preston on "Sinner's Prayer"; King and Preston trading off on vocals while Willis got down on some pedestrian harp. The marvelous King sat in a chair between his two cohorts and picked off some trademark stinging licks that drew appreciative audience applause.
Al Green took us back to Charles' gospel roots with "What'd I Say" before Reba McEntire cooled things down with a solid country take on "I Can't Stop Lovin' You." Preston did a great Charles vocal impression on his soulful cover of "Unchain Your Heart" and British pianist/vocalist Jamie Cullum stirred things up with a rollicking "Hallelujah, I Love Her So." Blige came back to tear it up one more time with a wailing "Come Rain or Come Shine."
The show ended abruptly with a video screen version of Charles singing "America the Beautiful" that had the crowd murmuring in confusion as they exited. It was a hackneyed, poorly produced ending that didn't do justice to the show that preceded it.
CLICK HERE to discuss in our forum.
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