January 25, 2008
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Donna
Summer is an American Diva who, like her Disco-era hit singles,
works Hard for the Money with Hot Stuff!EARTH, Wind and Fire: Retro 1969
BY JOAN CARTWRIGHT
In
their fourth decade of making music that unifies music-loving Americans
of all races, creeds and colors; and people the world over, Earth Wind
and Fire remains one of the tightest, funkiest, most rhythmic bands to
grace a stage. People from 11 to 70 were dancing at their seats, in the
aisles and at the back of the theater.
Starting with “Boogie Wonder-land,’’ Philip Bailey commanded the
audience to “stand on your feet!” We obeyed him, shooting straight
up and standing during most of this exhilarating retro 70s concert
Friday, April 18 at the new Fillmore at the Jackie Gleason Theater in
Miami Beach.
Fans sang along on the next hit, “Sing a Song,’’ easily
demonstrating our knowledge of the lyrics to every tune the “elements
of man” brought to our lives.
From “Shining Star’’ to “Reasons,’’ concert goers were
en-grossed in the music that had us jumping in the ‘70s and, now, has
teenagers thrilling to its groove.
Three young girls, Lou (11), Lena (12) and Ilidja (13) are proof that
great music stands the test of time. They left the Fillmore smiling,
intrigued by the music their mothers shared with them that evening.
Light was in the eyes of attendees who poured out of the theater -
satiated by EWF’s excellent musicianship.
The band has three original members – Verdine White on bass, former
drummer turned vocalist Ralph Johnson and lead vocalist Philip Bailey,
also on percussion. The group’s creator, Maurice White, who is
Verdine’s brother, was absent from the tour due to a health condition.
White’s other brother, Fred White, played drums from 1974 to 1983. To
date, Verdine remains the only brother on tour.
The members are phenomenal musicians, each bringing a crucial part to
the whole. But it’s the songs that are golden, even platinum, and we
recognized every one.
Verdine lay flat on his back as he plucked his bass to tumultuous
applause on “Serpentine Fire.’’ Then, with his trademark high
energy, threw kisses to the packed house before skipping stage right
like a 20-year-old rocker.
Guitarist Morris O’Connor set off the blues during “Deliver the
Message,’’ a song that assured us that what we considered EWF’s
purpose 40 years ago is the same today - keep our heads to the sky!
On timbales, Ralph Johnson echoed the congas of Phil Bailey, while
Reggie Young gave an incredible trombone solo. The message was
delivered!
Reggie Young on trombone, Bobby Burns on trumpets and Gary Bias on tenor
sax form the horn section, “rivaled only by the James Brown Band,”
according to Juanita Hernandez, a concert attendee. This 12-piece
musical caravan features Myron McKinley on keyboards and young drummer
John Paris, born one year before EWF was formulated.
Famous for his falsetto, Bailey sang lead on “Devotion,’’ “Head
to the Sky,’’ “Reasons’’ and “Fantasy.’’ Rounding out
the group are Bailey’s sister-in-law, vocalist Kimberly Johnson, and
percussionist and vocalist B. David Whitworth, who joined the group in
1996 (making him the group’s forth front man.)
Ambassadors of peace and unity, the group’s goal was to “bring
theater to Rock & Roll,” said Bailey. His assertion that “when
it’s right, it’s real” sums up the value of the music spun by EWF.
The group’s seventh album, That's the Way of the World, was the most
successful release in the band's history, reaching #1 on Billboard 200
and Billboard Top 100 R&B charts.
At last week’s concert, we recognized the ability of EWF to cross not
only generations, but cultures too. The music’s Latin flavor
electrified the Hispanic patrons enthralled with the band. The joint was
swaying with Afro-Cuban beats, not surprising to EWF’s multi-ethnic
fans.
Folks 60 and 70 were rocking back and forth. A man sat while his wife
danced. Then, on a reprise of “Boogie Wonderland,’’ he jumped up
and stayed on his feet until the encore.
The band bid us goodbye and left the stage, but we weren’t having it!
They came back with more of the happy music we can never forget,
“Fantasy,’’ then segued into “Hearts of Fire’’ and we were
done, through, satisfied. They could go.
Verdine, however, was jumping up and down on the stage, and Phil said,
“come on, jump, ya’ll,” until we joined in, feeling young again,
like back in the ‘70s!
Photos of Joan Cartwright with B. B. King
