It is hard to comprehend that Ringo Starr has turned seventy and that his ex bass player Sir Paul is two years behind him at sixty eight. Both are still exhibiting performances that artists from any age can learn from. Another artist of lesser fame is approaching sixty in December,her name Joan Armatrading.
While not as high profile as say Joni Mitchell (but just as talented) she has been around the scene for almost forty years.
The 1976 smash hit "Love and Affection" became an instant classic for soft mood lighting and a easy passage to the bedroom. After a torturous day of listening to the Mel Gibson tapes one was deservedly entitled to a night of artistic integrity for good cheer.
It's a barmy summer's night and,Me,Myself,I is in Times Square with 70's punk raconteur and star photographer Richard Longo Burrows. The audience reminded me of the characters on Antiques Road Show, only they knew what the night was worth.
Joan appeared in only what could be described as a mandarin collared pair of pyjamas and sensible fitting sandals clearly comfort over glamour. Over the decades gravity has tamed her famous helmet Afro into a brushed down look more in tune with a history professor.
But don't let that fool you, strapping on her Tom Anderson guitar and augmented by a stealth band comprising of bass, drums and keyboards they slid into "Show Some Emotion" the 1977 jazz flavored hit.
While not as high profile as say Joni Mitchell (but just as talented) she has been around the scene for almost forty years.
The 1976 smash hit "Love and Affection" became an instant classic for soft mood lighting and a easy passage to the bedroom. After a torturous day of listening to the Mel Gibson tapes one was deservedly entitled to a night of artistic integrity for good cheer.
It's a barmy summer's night and,Me,Myself,I is in Times Square with 70's punk raconteur and star photographer Richard Longo Burrows. The audience reminded me of the characters on Antiques Road Show, only they knew what the night was worth.
Joan appeared in only what could be described as a mandarin collared pair of pyjamas and sensible fitting sandals clearly comfort over glamour. Over the decades gravity has tamed her famous helmet Afro into a brushed down look more in tune with a history professor.
But don't let that fool you, strapping on her Tom Anderson guitar and augmented by a stealth band comprising of bass, drums and keyboards they slid into "Show Some Emotion" the 1977 jazz flavored hit.
From there, without pause she broke into songs from her new album This Charming Life.These songs noticeably had a more blues feel to them and displayed some wonderful Clapton type playing which came as something of a surprise.
With her faint warm Birmingham accent she greeted the audience and lay hints to some of the songs we would be hearing. The hits ? of course, we are here to make you happy she beamed.
With that she put her twelve string Ovation guitar on and plucked the opening chords to "Love and Affection". Brilliant as it was, it wasn't the show stopper as she ran through many of her well known songs "I love it when you call me Names","Me, Myself, I", "Willow" and "All the way from America".
With her faint warm Birmingham accent she greeted the audience and lay hints to some of the songs we would be hearing. The hits ? of course, we are here to make you happy she beamed.
With that she put her twelve string Ovation guitar on and plucked the opening chords to "Love and Affection". Brilliant as it was, it wasn't the show stopper as she ran through many of her well known songs "I love it when you call me Names","Me, Myself, I", "Willow" and "All the way from America".
It was "The weakness in Me" that showed the soulful yearning in her voice that hasn't over time been lost.
There was a new song that she wanted to get the audience participation on "Best dress On" .It is a great pop stomp that invites the crowd to shout out the chorus until the band decides to finish the song. All along the tour she has been measuring the crowds response to this song and posting the city with the best collective lungs on her website.
There was a new song that she wanted to get the audience participation on "Best dress On" .It is a great pop stomp that invites the crowd to shout out the chorus until the band decides to finish the song. All along the tour she has been measuring the crowds response to this song and posting the city with the best collective lungs on her website.
Naturally New York took up the challenge and tore off the roof. The energy level had increased and after nearly two hours,this almost sixty year old was was launching into her final song "Drop the Pilot" a wonderful climax to a fantastic show full of warmth, fun and admiration.
If there are any youngsters out there who want to know what professionalism,endurance and real talent is like, and what it takes to have that, then look to the artists who are travelling for half price on Municipal transport.
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