Manhattan Transfer On The Bandstand

Saw these guys a few months back (http://www.tmtfanclub.com/tmt3.shtml), and have been meaning to write it up, but just got busy with kids, sports, etc.

As always, a great show by consummate musicians and professionals. It was clear they were long familiar with their craft and their art, and comfortable enough with themselves to joke around, to actually have fun, and to share that with an appreciative audience. It was a great show, probably the fifth or sixth time we’ve seen them, and was just as good or better than any time prior.

It was clear that they’re friends. None of it was forced, none of it canned, scripted or fake (like the ridiculous band antics of the last Sting show I regretfully paid money for), either that or I’m the most gullible guy in the world. Sure, they use the same jokes and gags on audience after audience, each new venue a completely blank slate. Can’t blame them for that, as I’ve done it myself. But at the same time, it was clear that they were just plain having fun, singing on their own, drawing out portions for fun, making explorations as they came up, etc. It was a joy to watch them work/play together.

I’m thankful that they’re still together after all of these years. Is it friendship and a desire to continue collaboration, or a purely business-oriented realization that their sum is greater than their individual worth? I hope it’s the former, and from what I think I perceived, I think it’s true. So many other bands have come together for amazing collaborations only to spin apart, ruin a truly wonderful artistic collaborative relationship. But I guess that’s part of the dynamic tension of creativity, who owns what, who leads, who is in charge, etc. But I didn’t get that sense from them, and never have. I’m glad they’ve stayed together and continued to do their work together. Good stuff.

As always, Cheryl Bentyne knocked me on my ass. What a total hottie: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/artist/glance/-/247108/ref=m_art_dp/103-1945598-1716623, http://www.tmtfanclub.com/cheryl.html. My age calculation has her at 51 (I apologize for any gross inaccurary), and she looks absolutely fantastic, just magnificent. I’ve always loved that red hair, her sense of style, wardrobe, that smile, the whole bit. Up there was a deliciously attractive older woman, doing her thing, proud of herself and her work, and it made her all the more sexy. Good on ya, Cheryl. Sorry, but I can't/won't leave my wife for you, but I'd be happy to lay my jacket down in a puddle of mud just to watch you cross.

Their band was a simple three-piece jazz combo, bass, keyboard, and drums. Their voices filled in the rest, but man, did I want to hear that fat, fat sound that would come with a fuller band. I love my jazz electric, with both rhythm and lead guitars, and an electric bass. I like horns, too, and so many of their original arrangements were with really strong horns. That was a big miss, but their arrangements here filled it in just fine.

They did “Killer Joe,” “Java Jive,” “Operator,” “Killer Joe,” “Route 66” as their opener, and of course “Birdland” near the end, along with a ton of other songs. Each of the four got their own time up on the bandstand alone to work their own tunes, and to push their own solo releases. I’ve always really wanted to hear “Speak Up Mambo (Cuentame),” “Soul Food To Go,” “Baby Come Back to Me (Morse Code of Love),” “Mystery,” and a few others, but once again was sadly denied. Oh, well, maybe next time.

I had to ask myself how many times have they sung these songs? They’ve been together since the early 70s, which gives them roughly 35 years together. Take a song like “Tuxedo Junction,” one of their classics: given rehearsals, shows, etc. they had to have sung this song probably 50,000 times. How can you work up enthusiasm for something like that? I applaud them for doing it, and making it truly look like they were still enjoying it (which I do believe).

Also had to wonder: what kind of life do they lead? Tim gave a brief rundown on how he’d rented a car and just spent a day driving through the Virginia springtime, out into the Shenandoah Valley and back. Man, what a great way to exist, to be able to do things like that during the day, then head to the club in the evening for a gig that you know like the back of your hand, the only thing different being the venue. The word “freedom” floated into my head, and I couldn’t help but think that sounded like an incredibly free life.

But then again, I know a guy like that is busy, heavily scheduled, etc. I’m always so curious as to how other people, especially the prominent/famous, live their lives. How much different is it than my suburban existence? Once again, that path is long since closed to me. Those forks in the road were 20+ years ago, and there’s no way to get there. They do their thing, and I do mine.

Check out their new album at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0002VEXAU/qid=1114690613/sr=2-2/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_2/103-1945598-1716623. Also, you’ve gotta get their anthology release, at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000032VC/ref=m_art_li_9/103-1945598-1716623?v=glance&s=music.