As emcee and pastor Carlton Pearson said during the concert, “Aretha Franklin brings the church wherever she goes.” With luminaries like Berry Gordy in the audience, Ms. Franklin delivered an almost two hour collection of music that shows that the roots of American Soul music is Christian “soul” music.
Lead by legendary conductor HB Barnhum, the orchestra included a 4 member choir, brass and reed section, rhythm section, Hammond B3 player, Count Basie look-alike Richard Gibbs on piano and above all, a Pentacostaly induced tambourine player who had the Holy Spirit moving by the time Franklin walked on stage and drove out the demons with “Higher and Higher” and “Natural Woman.” In impressively clear and strong voice, she demonstrated her church roots on “Chain of Fools” which has a lilt right out of a Sunday service, just before going off stage and letting Pearson’s deliver a bit of a sermonette on “Farther Along” and “We’ve Come This Far.” Gospel singer Melvin Williams then jumped up to the pulpit with Franklin and “had some church” as they both sang spirit-filled spirituals that included voices that praised, called, shouted and howled to the Lord, reflecting all the musical marrow from which we’ve derived blues, jazz, rock and soul.
The spontaneity of the evening lead to Ms. Franklin testifying along with musical and vocal “Amens” from the band on how she recovered from some major health issues and gave all the thanks to God for His mercy. This was not some showy display, but a reflection of her spiritual roots that make up every part of her being. Sitting by the piano, she brought the theatre to a meditative calm with fervent readings of pre-Atlantic readings of “If I Should Ever Leave You” before getting back into the disco fever with “I Will Survive” and Sunday School drenched readings of “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and “My Cup Runneth Over” with glorious voices and keyboards. Closing with a foot stomping “Freeway of Love” and encoring with the iconic “Respect,” Aretha Franklin did what every believer is supposed to do, bring God’s church to the hungry masses.
Upcoming shows include Gladys Knight & The O’Jays Aug 9