June 26, 2010 Cassandra and Lionel
Lionel Ritchie is the showman, but for me Cassandra Wilson is the show.
She may be the most understated star I’ve ever seen. The band plays a couple of quiet grooves before she walks on and becomes nothing more than another instrument. They share the stage, and are one, she is no more important than the guitar or the congas. Here she is doing Neil Young’s “Harvest Moon”. She doesn’t start singing until about 2:00, but on this one I recommend that you get another coffee or glass of wine and let her quiet elegance brush your soul. The festival highlight for me so far.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRsN-VnZwQg
Lionel Ritchie could hardly be more of a contrast. The crowd is here to hear his hits from the Commodores and the 80′s, and they look it. But they are ready to party, and he stokes the fire, vamping and strutting in a way that would embarrass Mick Jagger. There are snippets of a lot of songs, and a lot of patter that sounds like it has worn grooves in the road, but the crowd jumps to its feet and claps when told, and boogies down. Piker that I am I’d say he’s more appropriate for Vegas, but you be the judge. He plays a full set and the crowd leaves smiling and humming. Here he is on “All Night Long” and yes, that got even me going. But the dancing says it all:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiLziusKW4s
It is going to be a long night of being bitten by ear worms.
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