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Thursday, 8 September 2005
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I've just got home from this wonderful gig!
I was there courtesy of a 50th birthday gift from my sister Margaret,
my brother John, and their respective spouses, James and Helen.
I went alone, but soon found old chums, Charli Holoubek, and his wife
Sue, and Eric Stevenson. Charli and Eric both play in Gumbo Ya Ya.
The audience seemed mostly a little more geriatric than myself, which
is probably about right. I would have been a very young fan of his
songwriting in the sixties. But I always loved the pop music thing done
with the harmonic sophistication of modern jazz, or Debussy, or even
Wagner, that Jim Webb seemed able to pull off.
After an excellent set by the support act, Tania Bowra on guitar and
vocals, and then piano and vocals, Jimmy Webb took the stage and the
piano. Most of the his two hour set was from his new album, Twilight of
the Renegades. The first song was Paul Gaugin in the South Seas, a
beautiful story of the life dream of perhaps any man of Webb's age
(that is to say, pretty much mine; he's nine years older than me), the
pursuit of paradise.
He went on to play several more songs from the new album, interspersed
with scintillating anecdotes from his career and colleagues. He clearly
has much affection for those he has worked with, particularly those who
have since gone to Elvis. He is quite the raconteur.
While he is not a good singer, I think he is a great singer. Much about
his singing is weak, but the strength of his belief in, and commitment
to the song shines through like precious jewels.
Of course, most of the audience was there for the old songs. I thought
Wichita Lineman was a syrupy goo of a song when Glen Campbell recorded
it. Jim Webb's version on Ten Easy Pieces moves me to tears, as did his
performance tonight. This is always assisted for me by the inclusion,
and tonight the repetition, of what I consider to be the single best
couplet in all of pop music lyrics...
I need you more than want you,
And I want you for all time.
Where does that beauty come from?
I'm also fond of the line...
I know I need a small vacation
because I know I do.
His singing may be not that of a great known singer, but his piano
playing was certainly something! He slipped in all kinds of modulations
and excursions during instrumental sections. He did not do any solos in
the sense a jazz player would recognise. Although I'm sure some things
were improvised, the instrumental sections were integrated as part of a
compositional, or at least an arrangement, conception. And it was
beautiful playing.
The surprise song for me was Up, Up and Away.
This is another song I had regarded as a very trivial pop song, but
tonight's performance made me reconsider. Certainly, Jim was only 17
when he wrote this, but the longing, the potential for regret, the
hope, the idealism, the sensuality, the emotional maturity (which I
recognise when I see it, even if I don't actually have it) are amazing.
In a short encore set, the penultimate song was Didn't We (complete
with Sinatra ancdotes and impressions) and I suddenly understood what
has always troubled me about this disturbing song. I have no life
experience that could ever lead me to even think about the ideas and
situation expressed in this song, so I can't imagine how such a
miraculous song could be written. Why miraculous? Because, even though
I have no experience that could lead me to understand this song, I
totally and absolutely do. That's the magic of a great songwriter.
The final encore song was, of course, Macarthur Park. I had been warned
that he had a thing about having to do this song over and over again,
and that, in his last performance in Adelaide, he had started to send
it up. But tonight he gave a beautiful, sensitive, restrained version,
full of sincerity and that kind of belief I have referred to before.
But he belted in the instrumental interlude! It was wonderful. It was like Chopin improvising!
Did I mention I had a good time?
Thanks to my benefactors!
11:49:04 PM 
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© Copyright 2005 Peter Nixon.
Last update: 2/10/05; 8:11:39 AM.
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