Boy was I disappointed. After a brief 15-minute set of horse-themed numbers by the orchestra sans-Burt (Bacharach's a big Del Mar fan...and the orchestra needed to warm up, I can only guess) and an intermission, the show started. I don't have the whole set list, but I can tell you there were only about 3 full songs the entire night. The rest of the evening consisted of medleys with various themes ("My first 4 hits", "Music from shows", etc.). Who comes to concerts to hear medleys?! Obviously, I don't. I know that the best songs have key lyrics or riffs that hook you in and make the song unforgetable, but, especially with Bacharachs music (as this Skip Heller article describes well, it's how the entire song plays out and changes that is key to Bacharach's genius. In most cases, being a Jazz fan, I want to hear a new interpretation of a song, but with a show like this, just hearing a new vocalist and a symphony live performing these tunes would be enough inspiration for me. But it was not to be.

Another gripe that I have with the show was the use of a synthesizer, played by the musical director (who I scapegoated for the show's medleys), to play string parts during some of the songs, especially near the end of the show. How ridiculous to hear synth-strings when there are 20 real-live-breathing-strings with players right next to him! The strings and orchestration are such a huge part of these songs, that it was just an obviously bad decision to make...whoever made it.

And while I have the utmost respect for Burt, his vocal performance style left a lot to be desired. During the snippets he sang on, he did a Steve Wonder-style head-bob that left most of his vocal unheard and unintelligible (not that most in the audience didn't already know the words). It would have been nice to hear what he sounded like, but maybe not if he felt he needed to hide it in such a way. I have to admit I haven't heard his voice much, so I'm not an expert here.

I'll end by contrasting Burt's show with a Richard Rodgers show I saw with the same symphony a couple of months ago. In a full two hour (or so) show, not one medley. And the Rodgers songbook (an excerpt) could fill a month of shows. And yes, you don't get to hear that 'favorite' that you came hoping to hear, but you also were surprised to hear others you liked but hadn't thought of. That show was the inspiration for seeing the Burt show...and they couldn't have been more different shows and impressions on me.

Although I will say that the lack of a fix of full Burt songs has inspired me to go out and get Rhino's Burt Box Set, although I'll wait until after my birthday...hint hint! Maybe that was his intention all along.
6:33:43 AM    comment []  Google It!