I was almost giddy to see and hear Don McLean at the Count Basie Theater, Red Bank, NJ on Sept. 28 -- another stellar show by Sammy Boyd Productions. Pure Prairie League, the show's opener, guaranteed I was in for a good time.
PPL brought pure country sound and texture. They delivered a perfect set of just the right length; you know that show biz adage, always leave 'em wanting more? These seasoned musicians did just that! They delivered impressive pure country chops with pitch-perfect vocals like those I've loved of The Eagles.
I mention The Eagles, one of my favorite bands, because jazz singer that I am, I hadn't listened to or seen many country/country rock artists earlier in my life. I knew of the name PPL, but never consciously listened to them. It’s another reminder of what great music a lot of people miss when they limit their listening to one music genre.
I see there is a quite large country music fan base in NJ, and especially in Monmouth and Ocean Counties. PPL's fans are a well-behaved, adoring audience that know the words to their songs and sing along. That evening brought a love-fest set to the vintage theater.
Don McLean is SOME songwriter. His band was large---and loud. I was glad when he performed a couple songs with sparse instrumental accompaniment. In sweet, coded remarks, he let us know that he was going to play all the songs we wanted to hear; his big hits. For me, that meant And I Love You So, American Pie, and Vincent. He played a good variety of country blues, country rock, and what I think is his forte, beautiful ballads. I grew weepy eyed during Vincent, because I know the Van Gogh story, and McLean's lyrics so perfectly explored the sad life of the tortured artist.
As for And I Love You So, I wanted to tell him that even though my main experience is as a jazz singer, I had performed the song probably a thousand times over nearly 50 years, because it is a gorgeous song with his signature sensitive, heart-felt lyric.
As expected, McLean brought down the house with American Pie, another perfect piece of songwriting. The audience was on its feet and singing with him in what seemed to be reverence and pure joy!
He and his band with impressive musicianship, have been traveling the world in one configuration or another for 50 years, he said. I first saw McLean in the '70s at the Club Bene Dinner Theater in Parlin, NJ. Pure Prairie League has been around for as long, both acts still busy touring.
I gotta say...Sammy Boyd knows how to book a perfect artist pairing to create a knock out show. Watch for more great shows he's got coming our way, including a Christmas Show at the Basie featuring Darlene Love with Remember Jones on Dec. 20.
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Rosemary Conte, Matawan, NJ, is a popular singer, recording artist, voice coach, veteran writer, hypnosis therapist and counselor. She has been a nationally syndicated columnist, and her writing has been featured in NJ newspapers; a columnist in the Monmouth Arts Council newspaper; All Music Magazine which she founded and published; and the Aquarian Weekly. Her column Inside Music has appeared in NewJerseyStage.com and it’s eMag for 3 years.  Email her at [email protected]. Find her on Linkedin, Google Plus, and Facebook, www.Facebook.com/RosemaryConte and www.Facebook.com/RosemaryConteSinger
