06/23/08
LIVE SUPPLEMENT
BETTY BUCKLEY at Ravinia’s Martin Theater: Being a good ol’ gal from Texas, Buckley must have been born with a horseshoe up her butt. Playing an indoor concert at 4 pm at what’s known for being an outdoor venue on one of those sunny, Sunday afternoons Chicagoans jealously guard, a wave of vindication swept through the audience when the sound of a noisy, wet thunderstorm went rolling over head. One testimony to Buckley’s depth is the rest of the crowd was there to see Grisabella, I was there to see Dixie Scott. Despite a well documented and well decorated 40 year Broadway career crowned by owning one of the inarguable, all time showstopper performances, it seems wrong to call her a grande dame or a doyenne. Despite flaunting her gray hair and aversion to botox, it seems condescending to say she still has it when in fact, she is it and has enough it to spare that “American Idol” is blowing it by not hiring her as a mentor to teach those nascent car alarms little things like mic control, nuance and all that stuff that adds up to an enjoyable performance. With more than enough accomplishment to earn her the right to have an attitude a mile wide, if she has one, she didn’t display it over the course of the performance by singing directly to you, being pumped about signing copies of her new cd after the show and turning on the personality between songs. While we all know Buckley knows how to project to reach the back of the house, unless you get to see her in an intimate setting, you really don’t get to appreciate her understated and probably underappreciated genius as a performer. The show was a quick, two hour romp through personal bests, personal faves and a cabaret/boite mix of material from show music, jazz and boomer play lists all served with unassailable charm and voice. The four piece crew of long time compadres bringing up the rear was in synch every step of the way putting this jewel in a very proper and often swinging setting. If you’re any kind of pop vocal or jazz vocal fan, you owe it to yourself to see Buckley before life on her Texas ranch tugs on her sleeve harder than the pull of the road. She’s earned her spot in the Mt. Rushmore of American entertainers. (Now if we could just get her to put “Over You” back in the song list…)
Volume 31/Number 236
June 23, 2008
MIDWEST RECORD
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Lake Zurich, IL., 60047
CHRIS SPECTOR, Editor and Publisher
©2008 Midwest Record