Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Ententiainmer Doobie Brc O our By James Rokosny Staff Writer Representing two very different musical and performance styles, it's hard to believe that Pat Simmons and Michael McDonald are in the same band. But somehow these two, along with the rest of the Doobie Brothers crew, join to produce a most impressive contemporary musical performance. The Doobie Brothers' concert at the coliseum Thursday showed why they have maintained a high level of success by running through a song list that could have been the sound .T->.7^r??~J l~rt~-J77r-:?:ir.'^-TfX~'t'T.y~ yy^| v='-' Bhwb?^BH|^K IHHHR ft ? t% .. <*3HBnfe*: :":|| V i^^^^BHHHBH|u :<||raV tfH* \ ' 4 * i W i i WHF ll -i **'" M < -m&- " :<->: ,,:- B / V &*#$*&$ JBWgl^ The oldest and newest members of the Doobie Brothers jam during the Thursday night concert. Pat Simmons (left), one of the Doobies founding members. duels with John McFee (right), who recently joined the band. (Photo by David Cauthen) Ferguson leads By Amy Leary At 52, the Canadian staff writer trumpeter has captured the , ^ ... sophisticated ear of the Maynard Ferguson and his young forming a unique fourteen-member jazz band sound by combining jazz and entourage are perhaps the pop music only big band with a young audience. HIS PROGRAM included Friday at the Township, jazz material from his two Maynard offered his albums. One, audience an avenue of "Conquistador," is a bestPPfllCP frnm thn r/vb-' ?' r>.r? 11 ?' i? i iuii mjiiui. uiuer music came that has been bombarding from such artists as Chuck the music business. Mangione, Stanley Clark, Wl,y : j Canadian jazz trumpeter Maynord Ferguson puts body and soul into d solo. Ferguson and his band performed Friday at Township Auditorium. (Photo by Chip Lowell) > >s. id producing cleaner, m track of a movie called "Evolution of a Rock Band" or "How A. _ n? - t*T!il At m? % iuv/fiange wun me t imes. The recent addition of John McFee, who plays acoustic and electric guitar, violin and pedal steel, adds some very vital dimensions and widens the spectrum of sound available to the band. During a superb version of the Doobie classic "Black Water " in a very casual manner McFee added a colorful touch with his violin. But, as frequently happened, guitarist and vocalist Simmons wanted the spotlight to himself. SIMMONS IS not as great as he seems to think. With members like McFee, McDonald and Cornelius Bumpus in his band, he should learn to share the spotlight. "The Doobie Brothers... ran through a song list that could have been a soundtrack of a movie called 'Evolution of a Rock Band' or 'How to Change With the Times.' " Occasionally though, he does have a powerful stage presence. For instance, while performing "Jesus is Just Alright," he took off into the crowd in a reach-out-to-theaudience gesture that worked well for him. The concert wound down with a flash into the past with energetic versions of "Takin' it to the Streets" and "China jjri uve. v^orneuus wumpus made me tormer one of the best songs of the night by rocketing a crisp saxophone lead at the crowd. After Simmons made one last effort to prove he is the main man by pounding out those all too familiar chords of "China Grove," the band exited temporarily. Coming back with the commercially successful "What a Fool Believes," McDonald's voice once again rang through the coliseum. Ending the evening with another journey into yester-year with "Listen to the Music," the Doobie Brothers left the fans believing they had enjoyed performing as much as the crowd enjoyed listening. MCDONALD, who joined the band in the absence of Tom Johnston, has helped the band produce cleaner, more polished compositions through his songwriting. t 'sophisticated m Weather Report and an another form of jazz ? the arrangement of the Beatle's blues..Ferguson said, "If you "Hey Jude." haven't played the blues, you The first half of the haven't paid your dues." program began with a piece Ferguson seemed to pour called "Give It One." most of his energy into Ferguson set the rhythmic producing the sound, beat afire with his high-note Although not as fun as the trumpeting, warming up first half of the program, it Jeff Kurk who performed a was intense and serious. solo on alto saxophone. While not playing, the Solos by Ferguson and high-note virtuoso is a other band members conductor of style. He leads dominated this part of the his band through each performance. movement, strutting around the stage to the beat, THE FIRST number was a motioning with his hands high and low notes. He only when member is center staee. voorinp thp ; ^ M exciting percussion toward a j compelling solo. , Solos highlighted the show. Although Maynard is the [ v-;'Vk r; main attraction, he did not j dominate the stage. He steps aside, encouraging each of j his band members to per- I . form their talents. FERGUSON is proud of HP^S his band. They are highly talented musicians collec- A tively producing Kfjf sophisticated jazz. However, ^RHHKBsWi' j q Ferguson reaffirms this wiLuigiuwim^ lionu via me?|| , solo. XU, The pulse-racing first half ended with a titillating sound arranged by Ferguson's j protege, Nick Lane. The new single, "Dance To Your | = Heart," is a light, mellow tune which moves into an exciting beat Ed Maina ; performed the alternative flute and piccolo backed HHHHHHHflHHHHHHI tin hv ;>n <>vnti/? cnhtW.K/ i\f ^ percussion instruments. Maynard Ferguson ana The second hall ol the positions at Township Au program opened with beginning of Jazz Fes\ ore polished sound [SSfeHP^ ^ v;f-' -i k 4^^ " > I Michael McDonald crouches over the keyboards during the Doobie Brothers concert Thursday. McDonald joined the band in 1975 after leaving Steely Dan. (Photo by David Cauthen) It seems odd that, with the success the band is having with its new music, such as "One Step Closer" currently number min ?r. ? W~ I > ?11! OA ? ? ' " v/ihj un me ixuniiig oionu AiDum i^nari, mey still put so much emphasis on their earlier music in a concert. It's not that songs like "Listen to the Music" are no longer popular, but when people go see a band, they expect to hear what the band is doing now, not what they did six years ago. La Roux, playing Top 40 music and rock 'n' roll, warmed up the crowd as the opening act for the Doobies. They got good crowd response playing "New Orleans Lady," their major commercial hit. They were called back for one encore. jazz' concert slow-tempo instrumental by seemingly in the song. Ferguson and guitarist Tom Without the amplification, n: ?- ' ? ruzzo. ruzzo s periormance Ferguson's trumpet was captivated the audience, clear and pure. His Skillfully, he produced ex- movement from highs to tremely high notes, only to lows was a compelling, drop to low ones. The range flawless sound, was impressive. To conclude the show, During the next number, Ferguson got back to some Ferguson roamed through fun with the over-optimistic the audience while playing theme from "Rocky," his trumpet. David Ramsey, "Gonna Fly Now." This on stage, followed the robust tune pulled the beautiful lone sound with audience out of the blues keyboards and synthesizer, with a bang.and ended the Ferguson's heart was night on a jubilant sound. i' -5--- -J''~r_ _'~v ^ * 1 Br r 1 1 his band belted out numerous jazz and blues coniditorium Fiiday night. Ferguson's appearance marked r at USC. (Photo by Chip Lowell)