Doo Wop Reunion Concert at Mellon Arena

PREVIEWS AND REVIEWS

By Steve Chess
December 14, 2007

In recent years, the term Doo Wop has been used to describe a genre of music that flourished in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. Technically, Doo Wop is “…a vocal style of Rock and Roll characterized by the a cappella singing of nonsense syllables in rhythmical support of the melody.” Lately, nebulous boundaries have allowed the term to encompass a broader range of popular music from that era. In some (cynical) circles, the term has been used almost as a pejorative…implying music that is somehow of lower quality. Nothing could have been further from the truth in describing the Friday, December 7th, Doo Wop Reunion Concert at Mellon Arena.

Opening the musical portion of the show was the vocal duo, Johnnie and Joe. Joe is a tall, lanky gentleman, meticulously dressed in suit and tie, while Johnnie, the feminine half of the duo, brings energy, humor and a strong clear voice to the mix. Their numbers were included a light hearted, romantic repartee’ that seemed to enhance every song. Prominent in their brief set were the songs, “Over the Mountain” (which in the duo’s heyday was particularly popular with their Latin fans) and “I’ll Be Spinning.”

Local Favorites, Jimmy Beaumont and the Skyliners opened their set with “Pennies From Heaven.” Understandably, the band’s personnel has changed over the years, but the current configuration delivered journeyman’s work on their trademark numbers. There were less upper register vocal passages than one might have heard from them 30 years ago, but the present interpretations had no trouble pleasing their many fans in attendance. Donna Groom’s vocals were particularly strong and lent an additional element of excitement to the band’s 15-minute set. Finishing with their classic ballad, “Since I Don’t Have You,” Jimmy and his Skyliners delivered as promised.

Next up was Phil Spector discovery, The Crystals. Original core member, Dee Dee Kenniebrew led her two younger protégés into the girl group’s hit, “Da Doo Ron Ron.” The powerful vocals of the trio were combined with an energetic choreography, which had the three women taking full advantage of all four directions on this stage in the round. Performing an additional 4 songs including, “Then He Kissed Me,” Rescue Me,” “He’s Sure the Boy I Love,” and “He’s A Rebel,” this historic group gave all present a taste of a bygone era… when girl groups regularly graced the a.m. airways and populated the charts.

Kenny Vance has a diverse resume’ that is much too extensive to catalogue here…singer, composer, musician, movie and TV actor and music director, to name a few. This night it was Kenny Vance the singer that showed up for work. Kenny Vance and the Planotones performed as a vocally tight, polished, professional ensemble. Shining above even the other great voices of the Planotones, Vance dominated the stage. From the band’s opening number (“Oh What A Night”), Vance’s voice seemed to find a range of resonant frequencies(from low to very high) that set the entire Mellon Arena into harmonious vibration. Kenny Vance and the Planotones 6 song set was probably the most pleasantly surprising (to me) of the evening.

Following a brief intermission, Jay and the Americans took the stage. This band sang with the same quality and enthusiasm as when they first recorded their string of hits, more than 30 years ago. Though they are on their third “Jay” (Jay Reincke), the voice of this new frontman blended perfectly with the seasoned veterans of the band. Particularly, the three up-tempo numbers of their set (“Only In America,” “Come A little Bit Closer” and “This Magic Moment”) sounded like the original recordings, only vocally richer.

Gene Chandler moved the evening in a decidedly more R&B direction….with all of the attendant subtlety of emotion and expression. Chandler dedicated the slow ballad, “Daddy’s Home,” to our troops serving abroad. Since 911, many artists make similar dedications during concerts, but this seemed particularly poignant. The snappy, up-tempo, “Groovy Situation,” followed and Chandler delivered it with the crisp energy of a 25 year old (something his is not). Leaving the darkened stage for a few moments, Gene Chandler returned sporting a cape, a scepter and a top hat to perform his signature hit, “Duke Of Earl.” Though there were no backup singers to fill out the sound, the audience still loved this final number.

The longest set of the evening (though it didn’t seem so) belonged to Jerry Butler. Joining Butler on stage were two backup singers, male and female. They were sitting to one side of the stage, illuminated only by subdued light. Jerry Butler is another R&B master. He warmed up with the mid-tempo, “He Don’t Love You.” Butler then slid into a Jazzy/R&B version of “Moon River.” He used some interesting rhythmic phrasing that offered a new way of appreciating the old standard. “Let It Be Me” was performed skillfully by Butler and in the song’s traditional fashion. He finished the set with his huge hit, the up-tempo, “Only The Strong Survive.”

After Jerry Butler’s set, all of the shows artists returned to the stage to perform the two-song finale set consisting of “Shout” and “Goodnight Sweetheart.”

I must admit to a little apprehension upon seeing the promotional advertising for this show. I feared experiencing embarrassment for some of the (presumably) over-the-hill artists slated to perform. I needn’t have been concerned. Being delighted by the level of serious talent at this show, I found it an evening well spent.