I first remember seeing Carol Burnett when she made her debut on television with a new comedy variety show.  I was but a lad of 10 and my mom turned on the TV (it was a old black & white back then)  to a show that fast became a tradition to watch on a weekly basis in our household, and here comes this girl who lets go a Tarzan yell that would make Edgar Rice Burroughs tingle. I know it made me tingle. And I was only 10 then. I am 52 in a few days, and it still does.

1967 was the debut of “The Carol Burnett Show” and the beginning of  a long 11 year television love affair with Carol Burnett, Harvey Korman, Tim Conway, Vicki Lawrence and the wonderful costumes and wardrobe of Bob Mackie (who can forget the classic drapery rod/drapes from the spoof of Gone With The Wind called “Went with The Wind”)

One of the highlights of “The Carol Burnett Show”, besides the legendary skits and interaction of the cast (complete with adlibs and improv from legendary masters of the craft), was the Question & Answer segment of the show which ran for 3 minutes or so at the beginning of each show.

During this segment, the house lights were turned up, and the audience had a chance to ask Carol darn near anything. And they did. From whether she took acting lessons to if they could sing with her, the Q&A fast became a highlight of her show.

One also was always up to date with Mrs. Miller, an elderly lady who I believe was at each and every taping of the show during its run. During this evening, we once again got to relive an episode where Mrs. Miller was not able to get a seat close to the stage, so a lady offered to switch seats. Well laughter ensues. I will not give it away for those who never saw it, but it was and is priceless.

And that kind of interaction between audience and Carol Burnett was the basis for tonight’s performance. Carol Burnett and the 1716 adoring fans in the Winspear Center doing the Q&A from “The Carol Burnett” show. And when I say adoring, I really mean ADORING. You could simply feel the love in the room for this legendary comedian, actress and singer even before the house lights dimmed.

The show opens with a video montage of great moments from “The Carol Burnett Show” and after a few minutes, The Spotlight appears and there she is…Carol Burnett herself. Oh my gosh. The applause and love in that house was, incredible. Carol, dressed in a red Jacket and Skirt looking absolutely fantastic. Seriously folks, it is hard to remember that Carol celebrated her 74th birthday only this past April. She looks fantastic. Radiant.

Carol thanks the audience and then pays tribute to her good friend, the late Harvey Korman whom we in Edmonton had the pleasure to share a laugh with, along with good friend Tim Conway, in December 2006. Sadly, Harvey passed away in May of this year, and Carol pays tribute to him and then a video clip is shown of Harvey and Tim in a classic moment, a classic sketch from the show. The audience once again shared a laugh, and a tear, with a legendary comedian and actor. Those who love Carol, also loved Harvey. I know I did, and will also forever remember him in the classic Mel Brooks movie “Blazing Saddles”.

The house lights have come back up and the Q&A begins. And from the very first moment that Carol invited questions, the audience was into the show asking questions, hanging onto her responses and stories and laughing and laughing, and did I say laughing? A joyous sound emitted from the Francis Winspear Center this night and I have to admit, I was contributing whole heartedly to it as well.

Carol entertained questions from those who got to use one of the microphones available throughout the Enmax Hall of the Winspear, but as well from those close enough to the stage to simply shout out their questions of Carol, which she would repeat for the whole audience.

A montage of the movie spoofs that were done on “The Carol Burnett” was shown and more audience questions and wonderful answers by Carol.

Carol Burnett, and let me just say this now, is quite simply the classiest act I have ever encountered in my life. Why do I say this? Carol Burnett is quite simply a down to earth,  feet on the ground, REAL person who knows where she came from, where she has been and who is the reason she does what she does and why she does it.

She even acknowledges the importance of how hearing people laugh, how entertaining people makes her feel good. She sure made all of us feel good this night.

And, she shows patience with those asking questions. And here is the class I speak of. One young lady in the 1st balcony waited patiently to ask Carol a question. It was obvious to those nearby that she was special. And to me, she surely was and soon many in the audience would find out how special she was. She was also extremely nervous as Carol meant alot to her.

Carol acknowledged her, and this young lady tried to tell Carol a story about how, when she had a brain injury, the one thing she could always remember was “the lady who did the ear thing” as she tugged on her left ear. She then said how she used to do that as well to let her family know she was okay.

It was difficult for this young lady to ask her question, she tried and stumbled a few times, but Carol listened closely and when she understood what the girl was trying to say,  she was able to respond to her, thank her for sharing her story and as well, gently segue into the next segment without the girl feeling she was not able to finish. I know, I was the person holding her microphone. And I saw her tears of happiness at being able to share her story with Carol, and those nearby who could actually see this girl.

In closing, there is once again a montage from the TV series, and Carol singing the classic closing song. You know the words, and I think many in Winspear were singing them, and if not, they were shedding a tear of reflection on a happier, simpler, and more innocent time in their lives. Remembering, and singing together…

I’m so glad we had this time together

Just to have a laugh and sing a song

Seems we just got started and before you know it

Comes the time we have to say,

“So long”

And in closing, we have Carol Burnett, using a microphone that was hidden nearby, singing in sync to the video behind. One last time, we hear the infamous theme, once again we recollect, once again we laughed and once again, we shed a tear.

Yes Carol Burnett is a totally class act. A truly sincerely Classy Lady. And a performer that I highly recommend everyone should make an effort to see at least once.

I give Carol Burnett…An Evening of Laughter and Reflection a resounding 10 out of 10!!!!!

Thank-you and God Bless Carol.

In what I do now, I do sometimes get the opportunity to do things and go places many wish they could.

On Thursday, I got an email from the PM of the Winspear Center for Music with a request for a Spot Op for Carol Burnett. Well I read the email and further down, was a note that they were looking for 3 volunteers to be the microphone holders for the Q&A segment of her show.

Without hesitation, I called and got my name in as well as my g/f. The PM thanked me profusely and told me I should be at the rehearsal at 1:30PM on Monday and we would actually get to meet the 74 year young legend of TV comedy herself!!!

w00t!!!!

I must admit, it has been quite a 7 days for Edmontonians. First we had Carlos Santana and his band wow 8,000 fans with his latin influenced guitar licks, then Sir Elton John had 17,000 fans bouncing, dancing and singing to his masterful show.

And tonight, it was Neil Diamond. What can one say, with Neil you have to know it is going to be a Vegas type show and very tight in the presentation.

However, it was not perfect. And with Neil that is what one fully expects. Prior to the start of the concert were 2 announcements which we basically Neil reading the “riot act” to his fans. “Once the opening number begins no one will be seated during the song. The lights will go out suddenly. Absolutely no cameras, video cameras or cell phone use is permitted. You are to turn off your cell phone immediately”. Well, I noticed right then, that the Rexall crowd enthusiasm seemed to fade a bit. The concert was scheduled to begin at 8:00PM, but infact it did not start until 8:16 PM. Could this be the reason the encore was shortened?

But, the lights did go out, the “Neil Diamond Band” was announced and then the lights dimmed again and when they came back up, Neil Diamond was onstage center.

The “Diamond” had arrived and it was to be HIS show. The Neil Diamond Band has been performing together for 34 years with a couple of members only a part of it for as Neil said “for only 15 years”. And they indeed were tight.

But, so was Neils voice in the beginning. Or it could have been the sound settings too. But Neil did not sound good and there was a few times he seemed to stumble over the lyrics, as well as seemed to have times when his voice was giving out. Even once, I felt like he forgot a line and he really stumbled bad.

The crowd at Rexall did not “really” get into the show until Neil Diamond did “Forever In Blue Jeans” which had a majority of the crowd standing, clapping and singing along. But not everyone. I did notice a lot of very subdued people in the audience. In fact for the most part the whole response of the Rexall audience WAS subdued. Respectful. But subdued.

“Forever In Blue Jeans” got the crowd into it, and Neil seemed to be so impressed, he repeated the opening verse and chorus. Then he sat down and delivered the story of his life, and “Brooklyn Roads”.

A few more “classics” and then it was off the stage for the encore call. Now I had seen some set lists from previous concerts, so I was expecting the following to be played….”Cracking Rosie”, “America”, and “Brother Loves Traveling Salvation Show”. I was, and many others in Rexall were unfortunately and sadly disappointed. He DID do “Crackling Rosie” and “Brother Loves Traveling Salvation Show” but he did not do America.

To be honest, overall, I was disappointed with the show. I felt that Elton John did a much better job connecting with the audience, and interacting with them as well. Neil Diamond tried to interact, but it felt staged and insincere. Elton formed a connection early, and built on it. Neil did not really connect with his audience until it was practically too late.

The stage was interesting with the moving risers and even the lift which elevated Neil when he did “Man of God”, but the light show was uninteresting, sound was better at the end of the show, but overall not as good as one would expect from a man who demands perfection from those around him.

This was Neil Diamond’s last tour. This was my only time seeing him live and I will be able to say I did. But, I feel I did not see the “real” Neil Diamond one comes to expect to see.

I give the Neil Diamond concert at Rexall Place in Edmonton, a 6.5 out of 10.

The set list…..

“Holly Holy”
“Beautiful Noise”
“Street Life”
“Love on the Rocks”
“Play Me”
“Cherry, Cherry”
“Thank the Lord for the Nighttime”
“Home Before Dark”
“Don’t Go There”
“Pretty Amazing Grace”
“Crunchy Granola Suite”
“Done Too Soon”
“Brooklyn Roads”
“I Am, I Said”
“Solitary Man”
“Kentucky Woman”
“Forever in Blue Jeans”
“Sweet Caroline”
“You Don’t Bring Me Flowers”
“Song Sung Blue”
“I’m a Believer”
“Man of God”
“Hell Yeah”

ENCORE

“Cracklin’ Rosie”
“Brother Love’s Travelin’ Salvation Show”

One comment from my girlfriend last night pretty much summed up my feelings. He is now “Sir Elton John” and when he came back for his encore, I am sure many in the audience also felt as she did. That we in the audience should all be bowing to him

Sir Elton John made his triumphant return to Rexall Place in Edmonton and simply put, wowed a sold out audience of 17,000 people.

Nothing beats watching a master showman at work. This was very simply an Excellent show over all.

There was a bit of a glitch with sound a couple of times through the show, but over all, sitting in row 27 on the floors, it was very clean. Give Sir Elton John a 9.5 out of 10. btw…I thought this show was better than the one he did in 2006. And to hear him do Pinball Wizard totally made my night. To hear that song by both The Two and Sir Elton within 2 years….awesome!!!!

Here is his playlist from last night….

1. Funeral For a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding
2. Madman Across The Water
3. The Bitch Is Back
4. Take Me To The Pilot
5. Tiny Dancer
6. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
7. Levon
8. Daniel
9. Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word
10. Sacrifice
11. I Guess Thats Why The Call It The Blues
12. Believe
13 Honky cat
14. I’m Still Standing
15. Rocket Man
16. Philadelphia Freedom
17. Bennie And The Jets
18. Sad Songs Say So Much
19. Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me
20. Candle In The Wind
21. Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting
22. Crocodile Rock

ENCORE

22. Pinball Wizard
23. Your Song

AS some may know, JT has a new CD of “Cover Versions” of classic songs, and as well it now touring to support the release.

Well. I got a pair of tickets below box office price via TicketsNow and tonight myself and my girlfriend went to see him at Rexall Place in Edmonton.

Sound over all was okay…not spectacular, but okay. Sometimes the backing vocals were overpowering JT to the point you could not hear him and other times the sound was such he sounded mumbled.

The backing band and singers are some of the best in the biz. The band included “Blue” Lou Marina (Blues Brothers Band) & Walt Fowler, Luis Conte, and stellar vocals from Arnold McCuller and And James did acknowledge that as he introduced each member or they were featured in a solo.

As for the concert, the first hour was kinda well….starts with a JT spin on the Temptations “It’s Growing” and seques into The Silhouettes “Get A Job” then into a “country set” featuring “Why Baby Why” originally done by George Jones  and well…those in the audience were all beginning to get impatient to hear a “James Taylor” song. 45 minutes into the show, we still have not heard anything originally done by JT but we hear a Buddy Holly song that actually sounded the closest to any James Taylor song of those played so far. “Everyday” had those in attendance bouncing and dancing. I leaned over to my girlfriend and said that should be the first single off the CD. But I doubt that will be the case.

After about 50 minutes, we finally get a James Taylor song. You’ve Got a Friend and then we are taken to “Mexico” before the intermission. Yes I said intermission. It is about 20 minutes long and at the end, James signs autographs for a bit then enters into what I felt was the best part of the show.

Classic JT songs abounded in the 2nd part as well as excellent remakes of Hound Dog (based on Big Mama Thornton’s original blues version) and even a cover of “Knock On Wood” which James shared lead vocals on with Arnold McCuller.

Die hard JT fans were in tears and those who were not as familiar with his music still appeared to enjoy themselves. Many fans were impatient to hear the classic James Taylor songs and would call out names of tunes they wanted to hear. One gentleman, who asked to hear “Up On The Roof” said his wife wanted to have a baby and that drew a chuckle from the over 10,000 in attendance and even an embarassed moment for James Taylor who quickly recovered and continued on with introducing more band members.

Two encores with the 2nd encore being topped off by the classic “How Sweet It Is”. Some other centers got to see 3 encores but the crowd in Edmonton quickly dispersed at the end of the 2nd encore.

Overall. This was a concert for diehard fans and those who enjoy music in general. There was not enough mixing of those songs James Taylor is known for, and those tracks off the new CD he is promoting.

I feel if he had mixed more “James” into the first set, there would be less of the kinds of feedback we saw and heard. Thing is, this is something that was reported on in Montreal, Toronto and Ottawa. And we saw it here as well. If I was the promoter, I would have revamped the playlist (which James held up on at least 3 occasions as he “chatted” with the audience) so that a classic James Taylor song would have appeared in the first 5 tracks played and not 50 minutes into the show.

On a scale of 10, I give this show a 7 and that is ONLY because he made people wait for the music they came to see. And as well, he did here as he had reportedly done in other centers almost verbatim which if one read an review from a previous concert, they would know what and when to expect his commentary.

Next on my list of Concerts to see, Crue Fest, Elton John and Neil Diamond with a little Alice Cooper thrown in for good measure.