Huey Still Has It

Huey Lewis, June 18, Wolf Trap-Filene Center, Vienna, Virginia

Ladies screamed; people danced; some had their young kids in tow to share their childhood music with them. Such was the scene Thursday night at Wolf Trap, where Huey Lewis played a 90-minute set packed with his 80s hits. These songs seem to remain timeless, probably because they're steeped in jazz and blues. In recent years, he has played quite a bit of blues, and he threw a couple of those songs into this set.

He opened with "Heart of Rock and Roll," but the crowd didn't really get to their feet until a few songs in, when he played the Back to the Future classic, "The Power of Love." The band featured a four-piece horn section and included several original members of "The News" as well as a young, guitarist heartthrob.

Lewis rocked out with high energy and charm, playing the classic versions of his hits, including: "I Want a New Drug," "Hip to Be Square," "If This is It," "Jacob's Ladder," "Workin' for a Living," and "Doin' It All for My Baby." It was a fun musical journey "Back in Time."

Marsalis Family Jams at the Kennedy Center

The first family of jazz played a rare show all together for a special occasion. The four musical Marsalis sons--Wynton, Branford, Jason, and Delfeayo--and their non-musical brother Ellis, Jr. gave their daddy Ellis, 74, a lifetime achievement award and honored him through song and poetry.

Ellis Sr. was part of the band, who played songs dear to Ellis from throughout his career, starting with Louis Jordan's "Choo Choo Cha Boogie." Other musical highlights included "Sweet Georgia Brown," which I affectionately call the Harlem Globetrotters song, and "Monkey Puzzle," the title track from a 1963 album of the same name.

Ellis Jr. came out midway through to read a beautiful poem he'd written paying homage to his father's grace. The boys also honored their mom, Delores, who sat in the first balcony. Ellis Sr. beamed and chuckled as his sons each shared memories of their parents, many of them heartwarming and humorous. During the evening, among the tidbits we learned: Jason demonstrated he is a prolific whistler with perfect pitch; Mama Delores taught her boys the importance of respect and literacy; Ellis recalled first meeting Harry Connick, Jr. when he was an 11-year-old precocious kid but was immediately impressed by his talent; Wynton let a then 18-year old Harry stay at his New York apartment for a bit, as Harry panicked if he might ever get a gig; Ellis Sr. took pride in fulfiling every commitment and even played gigs where only one or two people showed up, even if, Branford recounted, both attendees were sleeping.

As if the stage wasn't already overflowing with greatness, two special guests came out during the second set to perform: Billy Taylor on piano and Harry Connick, Jr. on piano and vocals. It was an exquisite evening of music.

(from top) Wynton marches up the aisle during the New Orleans second line parade that ended an incredible evening of music; Ellis at the Steinway; Branford and Wynton jam.

SET LIST (courtesy of Delfeayo)
choo choo cha boogie
donna lee
monkey puzzle
over in the gloryland
syndrome

body & soul (piano duet, Ellis w/ Dr. Billy Taylor)
sweet georgia brown (piano duet, Ellis w/ Harry Connick, Jr.)
stardust (Ellis on piano, Harry Connick, Jr. on vocals)
Ode to E - poem
teo
at the house, in da pocket
2nd line

Elvis Costello: Sugarcane is Sweet!

Elvis Costello, Wolf Trap's Filene Center, June 11

Recommended Beverage: Bring yer 'own. I think I paid $9 for my snobby Affligem.

I’d seen numerous incarnations of Elvis Costello live: solo, he and keyboardist, with the Impostors, with the Attractions, with Allen Toussaint and the Crescent City Horns. But I’d never seen him up close, and was proud to sit in the second row at Wolf Trap to experience Costello’s newest musical exploration—his foray into bluegrass.

Costello just released a 13-song bluegrass album, a spectacular effort produced by T-Bone Burnett, titled, Secret, Profane, & Sugarcane. And he is touring on it with his new band, the Sugarcanes, a six-piece band complete with mandolin, accordion, fiddle, and upright bass. Of note are bluegrass legends Jim Lauderdale, a singer-songwriter-guitarist from Nashville, and dobro player Jerry Douglas.

The 2 ½+ hour set featured most tracks from the new album and a few classics, all of which fit effortlessly into the new format: “Delivery Man,” “Alison,” “Red Shoes,” and “Peace, Love, & Understanding,” among them. For good measure, he also threw in a cover, a great rendition of the Grateful Dead’s “Friend of the Devil.”

Costello was in good spirits and sounded in top form, though at one point he apologized for his voice sounding scratchy, which be blamed on New York’s air quality. From my perspective, the view from the pit sure was sweet!