Absolute Earth Wind and Fire The Stables, Wavendon.
5 March 2005.

Wow! For someone who seems to spend an awful lot of time at ‘tribute’ concerts these days, I have to say even I was stunned by the flawless delivery, unity and superb musicianship of Absolutely Earth Wind & Fire.

The band’s debut show at The Stables tonight was a truly marvellous affair. At the heart of the performance was the outstanding skill of each and every one of the players, 12 in total, and their supreme devotion and knowledge of all things Earth Wind and Fire. Take my word for it; this band is, without doubt, Earth Wind and Fire absolutely.

The band is in a class of its own being less imitators, more innovators. A look at the biographies section of the band’s impressive website reveals each and every one has at some stage played with the world’s top recording artists and performers from Cliff Richard to Craig David. These are seasoned professionals, session musicians of the highest calibre and my goodness, you can tell!

To begin, guitarist Jeff Barnes aptly sets the tone for the evening in the brilliant but all too brief opener, ‘Rock that!’ Indeed, the band would play all but two of the songs from Earth Wind & Fire’s ground-breaking ‘I am’ album before the night was through.

Vocalists Derek Green and Tommy Blaize then join the band on stage to get proceedings underway for a night of great music, starting with ‘Saturday Nite’.

These are two very talented and experienced singers, Derek taking most of the Phillip Bailey lines, Tommy covering Maurice White’s vocals. Derek and Tommy’s voices are the perfect match and very much the band’s focal point.

The first half includes an instrumental highlight from the ‘All in All’ collection and features an impressive solo from Andy Greenwood playing flugel horn on ‘Brazilian Rhyme’.

During the break, Andy tells me the band has been together for five years but has only really started to play in theatres this year, having been kept very busy to date, by corporate clients.

The second half is something of a ‘game on two halves’ with a back to back hits section on the home straight preceded by some strong instrumental foreplay. On ‘Getaway’ the spotlight moves from percussionist Frank Ricotti, bassist Steve Stroud, Danny Marsden on trumpet and the superb Pete Beechill on trombone.

In the true traditional of Earth Wind and Fire ‘Reasons’ is the live highlight of the night and in many ways sums up the sheer professionalism and versatility of this Absolute tribute. Derek Green’s vocal on this highly challenging piece is spotless complemented by a great sax solo from Pat Clahar.

After several calls from Derek and Tommy for the audience to get up from their seats and dance, the band’s hits mega-mix section finally coaxes most of us to stand up and party on down. Indeed, there’s even a move by some to storm the front of stage area. Hurrah! Let’s face it; this music is virtually impossible to listen to, sitting down.

Snatches of lesser known numbers like ‘Magic Mind’ and ‘Let Your Feelings Show’ are tactically deployed in this second set to great effect, the latter providing the perfect gateway into ‘Let’s Groove’.

The first encore is an acoustic version of ‘I’ll write the songs’ featuring Green, Barnes and Murray. The full band returns for the outro ‘Sing A Song’ and a standing ovation from the audience.

First Set: Rock That!; Saturday Nite; Serpentine Fire; Got To Get You Into My Life; Jupiter; That’s The Way Of The World; Brazilian Rhyme; Can’t Let Go; After The Love Has Gone; Star; Fantasy.

Second Set: In The Stone; Shining Star; Getaway / Magic Mind; Can’t Hide Love; Reasons; September; Let Your Feelings Show/ Let’s Groove. Encores: I’ll Write A Song; Sing A Song

Playing for Absolute Earth Wind and Fire tonight were: Tommy Blaize (vocals); Derek Green (vocals); Dave Arch (keyboards); Pete Murray (keyboards); Steve Stroud (bass); Frank Ricotti (percussion); Pete May (drums); Jeff Barnes (guitar); Danny Marsden (trumpet); Andy Greenwood (trumpet); Pete Beechill (trombone); and Pat Clahar (sax).

Check out the band’s first-class website at www.absoluteearthwindandfire.com for more information on the band and its hectic schedule. Do go and see them if you can!

Reviewed by Alan Howard for howardtowers.com
 

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