Bobby McFerrin.What if we could take the energy in the room at a Bobby McFerrin concert and put it in a pill that would be given to everyone in the world? Rare is the artist that is so uplifting while in possession of such immense talent. Sports rivalries would end. There would also be peace in the Middle East. And the person who figured out how to do it would become fabulously wealthy in the process. That’s the kind of joy that the 10-time Grammy winner exudes during one of his performances.
McFerrin’s performance last night at the Kennedy Center was typical for him, only in the sense that the audience had no idea what to expect and was simply along for the ride. He was at the tip of a very talented seven-piece band that was in town to support spirityouall, his latest release that comes out today and which explores the American spiritual. In concert, the concept manifested itself through an ensemble that approached this most traditional of genres from multiple angles. Hymns and gospel standards were set in the context jazz, blues, bluegrass and other forms of endemic roots music.
After starting with “Everytime”, the opening track to spirityouall, McFerrin went immediately off script to poke some lighthearted fun at the evening’s late arrivals. While Esperanza Spalding sang background vocals on the recording, Madison McFerrin—daughter of the night’s headliner—filled the role quite ably on stage, first introducing herself in a jazz ballad interpretation of “Swing Low Sweet Chariot”. She also played a key role in the show’s most touching moments, singing duet with her father on the jazz standard, “Lullaby of Birdland” and leading the band through a humorous take on The Beatles’ “Rocky Raccoon”.
The hymns and gospel standards that dominated the set had place settings ranging from the hills of Appalachia to the red clay of the Mississippi Delta. Among the talented musicians with whom McFerrin surrounded himself, keyboardist Gil Goldstein deserves special recognition. Not only is he responsible for the many of the arrangments, but his understated playing was the glue that bridged the rhythm section’s pocket with the vocalists’ flights of fancy, most notably on the cover of Bob Dylan’s “I Shall Be Released”. David Mansfield also added a strong bluegrass influence to the proceedings, playing a multitude of instruments, while Armand Hirsch‘s blues guitar was a centerpiece of “25:15”. A highlight of the set, the song put that passage of the Book of Psalms over the greasiest groove ever.
Along the way, other Bobby McFerrin trademarks reared their heads. He invited members of the audience to join him on stage to sing “He’s Got the Whole World In His Hands” and also included solo numbers like “Sweet Home Chicago” that featured his unique body and vocal percussion. After giving each of his band members a chance to solo on “Jesus Makes It Good”, the night concluded with “Rest/Yes Indeed”, which brought the audience to its feet with its playful, odd-metered groove.
