Bettye Lavette‘s musical abilities span an eclectic range of genres that run from blues to disco to rock to soul and country. Last Friday she put on a performance at Central Park’s SummerStage Festival that ran the gamut – and back again. Telling the crowd “It’s been a good year!” Ms. LaVette wowed the crowd as she launched into a soulfully hot set. Performing “A Change is Gonna Come”, which she had sung for President Obama during the inaugral celebration was one of the early highlights and you could (almost) hear a pin drop as she clearly moved the audience. LaVette also offered a rapturous cover of Sinead O’Connor’s ‘I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got’ and went on to sing Willie Nelson’s ‘Somebody Pick Up My Pieces’
While Bettye Lavatte‘s career may have taken a number of unexpected turns along the way – but her performance in Central Park’s SummerStage last Friday clearly proved that she taken that life experience into a formidable repertoire of vocal skills. She can belt out a big number with all the exuberance of any of the great soul divas – and then bring the crowd close to tears with a civil rights anthem. Her ability to combine musical sensibilities and styles, while taking the audience with her every step of the way, is a tribute to not only her huge talent – but also a heart just as big to go along with it.
I am sorry to say the concert here was SO LOUD that we could not understand what Ms. Lavette was singing throught 9/10 of the program! What a terrible disappointment!! We had so anticipated the concert, and then were fully disappointed!! The two guitars and drum were SO LOUD, and seemed to be competing with each other to see whose volume was greatest!!! We moved to the top of the auditorium, but still found the lyrics undiscernible. Singletary Center has great acoustics, and the addition of the band’s speakers (one for each musician!) was JUST TOO MUCH! We went in anticipating a great show, as fans…and we left, early, because it was SO LOUD. I have spoken to others who were there, and they felt the same way: completely disappointed in the show. Ms.Lavette was singing her heart out, we thought, but none of us could tell what she was singing about because we could not understand her except for a few numbers when it was only she and the piano. A sad experience, to say the least!!!! We wonder if sound checks had been done with Ms. Lavette and the band together. They surely would have made some changes, if they were interested in a good performance. We left regretting the evening had turned out as it had!
The concert I wrote about was outdoors in Central Park. Last month. The acoustics were perfect. I DON’T KNOW WHAT PERFORMANCE YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT.
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