First of all, let me put in a few bad words about cell phones — well,
actually not about cell phones, which are just little plastic devices after all.
My bad words are for those who sit among us at concerts, movies, funerals and
other such events, and who cannot be bothered to push the little button on the
phone that renders it mute.
On Saturday, at the final Pops concert of this year's Evansville Philharmonic
Orchestra season, a cell phone erupted in the balcony as soloist Byron Stripling
sang "What a Wonderful World" as part of a tribute to Louis Armstrong.
It wasn't a ringtone, mind you, but a raucous voice that sounded like a
server in the rural South calling a breakfast order across a crowded greasy
spoon to a deaf cook.
If the editors would allow, the expletives would make this review read like
the Watergate tapes.
Was this necessary? No. Was it an emergency? Apparently not, because nobody
got up and headed for the door. Was it rude, stupid, inconsiderate and
disrespectful of the players and the audience? Gentle reader, I think you know
where I stand.
And since Murphy's Law has not been repealed or modified, you could predict
that the concert, which was thus blighted, was simply great. No other way to
describe it. This was a great concert — an evening of jubilant music-making.
Stripling, the evening's soloist, is a first-rate trumpeter who sings with a
clear, husky baritone reminiscent of Billy Eckstine or Cab Calloway, and who has
the ability to make even such a chestnut as "Ain't Misbehavin'" sound fresh and
new.
He brings about 40 tons of charm and humor to the stage, and if he would come
back, I would buy the first ticket. It speaks simply loads about the state of
American musical taste that Stripling is not a household name — but that Eminem
is.
Stripling is clearly a virtuoso trumpeter, as shown by the endless timbres
and effects he drew from his horn, the incredible facility he showed in "Red
Arrow," and the jubilant playing of standards such as "Honeysuckle Rose" and
"Minnie the Moocher."
This program probably wouldn't have satisfied a real jazz aficionado, but as
a quick excursion for the rest of us, it was about as much fun as you can have
at a concert.
And did I mention Stripling is funny?
The jokes about Indianapolis alone were worth the price of admission, and his
tribute to the philharmonic's boss, Alfred Savia, was inspired lunacy.
While I'm at it, allow me to mention the guest conductor, Dan Carwile, who
won an opportunity to conduct the orchestra and led off the evening with the
opening movement of Bizet's "Carmen" Suite.
I have to say that he gave such a polished reading, it was almost as if the
orchestra had played it before.
Bravo!
As you may know if you read my reviews regularly, I am no particular fan of
Pops concerts. But a few more like this one and I'll rethink my position.
http://www.courierpress.com/news/2008/apr/13/final-pops-concert-simply-first-rate/
