Dionne Live

(Dionne Warwick, Thebarton Theatre, 12 November 2016)

They make them tough in Jersey.  Dionne Warwick wowed (and at times, admonished) a rapturous Adelaide crowd on a rainy Saturday night with a legendary set of songs, belted out with feeling, exquisite timing and surprising resonance from the seventy-something star.  Dionne was warm and funny, kindly but firmly asking several rude or ignorant people to zip-it (‘I’ve got the microphone’) and to stow those annoying, flashing camera-phones.  You’re at the show, folks!  No need to get a grainy, washed-out snap to enjoy the moment!

Dressed elegantly in golden shantung with purple drapery, floating about the stage or perched on a stool, she drew tears from our eyes with timeless songs, some pleasingly re-worked, to the polished backing and orchestration from Todd Hunter on piano, with Danny DeMorales on bass guitar and Renato Brazo on drums (and occasional Brazilian whistle during a very boppy Brazilian medley). From her opening classic, Walk on By to the closing That’s What Friends Are For, she made the old new again, and got a sedate and predominantly elderly audience to stand and cheer.

Highlights: Anyone Who Had A Heart, Message to Michael, This Girl’s in Love with You, Alfie, Heartbreaker, I Say a Little Prayer, I Know I’ll Never Love This Way Again, Aquarela do Brazil, Do You Know the Way to San José, I’ll Never Fall in Love Again, 99 Miles to LA and What The World Needs Now.*

[*One of the outstanding songs featured in the film Love Serenade.]