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Tuesday, February 5, 2008
News Live Review: Solomon Burke, The Dixie Hummingbirds
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Tue, Feb 5, 2008 at 10:42 AM
Solomon Burke w/ The Dixie Hummingbirds
Duke University
Feb. 2, 2008
Review By Grant Britt
It was billed as "The Definition of Soul: Solomon Burke with The Dixie Hummingbirds" at Duke University’s Page Auditorium. Part of a two-month long program Duke calls "Soul Power: From Gospel to Godfather," the Feb. 2 show was an electrifying presentation of the roots of soul.
The Dixie Hummingbirds' blend of gospel and secular music paved the way for future generations of soul and r&b performers. 82–year-old Ira Tucker is the sole original survivor. "I'm glad to be here tonight, but in reality, I’m glad to be anywhere,” Tucker quipped. Between tunes, Tucker struggles to string sentences together, but when he sings, he’s transformed into a much younger man, hitting the high notes with ease, his delivery smooth and mellow.
The youngest member of the group, 22-year-old Durham native Cornell McKnight shows off an impressive range from rumbling in the bassment to a mellow tenor on "Standing in the Need Of Prayer." The group's big hit was backing Paul Simon's '73 hit "Loves Me Like A Rock," with lead singer Tucker influential in bringing rock star flash to gospel, leaping from the stage, getting in the face of the audience. Now it took the assistance of three of his comrades just to help him to his knees and back up again, but the fire in his voice was still as strong as ever.
After a short break, as "Take My Hand Precious Lord" burbled from an organ on the darkened stage, you could catch a glint of a wheelchair being wheeled up to a large throne. When the lights came up, King Solomon Burke was revealed in all of his glory, resplendent in a sequin-spangled red suit fit for a king.
He sang a few bars of "Amazing Grace" before admitting he always wanted to do country music, referring to his latest release, Nashville, an all-country album featuring a Grammy-nominated duet with Dolly Parton. He offers up Tom Waits' "Always Keep a Diamond In Your Mind," from his 2002 Grammy-winner Don’t Give Up On Me, then tore into "Cry to Me," featured in the movie Dirty Dancing, clearly enjoying himself, shaking, rattling and rolling around on his throne. "I’ll bring my big, fine self on home to you," he promised on a searing, soaring soul rendition of "If You Need Me."
Unable to stand or walk because of his girth, Burke's voice is still as sweet and strong as it was when he ruled the soul charts decades ago.
Burke showed he can be the king of country as well with a version of Jim Reeves' country classic "He'll Have To Go" that out mellows Reeves. He transformed Bobby Bare's gritty "Detroit City" into a funk throw-down with a slinky bass line and a rocky backbeat.
The King interacted with his subjects, summoning them onstage to dance on "Proud Mary," inviting every lady in the audience to come up and get a long-stemmed rose from the vases on stage. After a heart-rending version of Ray Charles' "I Can’t Stop Loving You," he urged the crowd to vote: "convince yourself — this is the year we make the difference," Burke decreed. But as long as King Solomon is onstage there's only one candidate for the job: long live the King.
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