An Enchanted Evening With Anita Baker
“We’re gonna sing some old songs for ya, cuz that’s all we’ve got!”
It’s 8:40pm, the curtain goes up and the band comes on the stage. The stage was draped in romance including two chandeliers. The opening notes to “
Mystery” begin to play. One of the
Perry Sisters sings the opening notes of the song and then the dynamo, the songtress, the powerhouse,
Anita Baker, took the stage welcomed by a rush of loud applause from the audience. She crooned and looked stunning in her black dress with the mean split that she would whip around throughout the evening. The first thing we noticed was that she has taken wonderful care of her instrument during her seven year hiatus which seemed like an eternity. Her contralto is more intense, powerful, and brilliant than ever. She sang note for note and often brought a little extra on every song. There was no holding back. She gave us her all and them some. You could see from her graciousness, gratefulness, joy, playfulness, and warmth that this is a woman at peace. She is enjoying her life and still very much in love with the music that she has been bringing to us for over 20 years. Every singer should be able to take some time off and come back being this strong.
“I am so happy you are my audience.”
After “
Mystery“, she playfully directed her band as they opened “
Sweet Love” which rolled into “
Been So Long.” She followed with “
No One In The World” and “
Same Ole Love.” Before singing “
Just Because“, she brought her angelic background singers centerstage to introduce them and give them love. The
Perry Sisters (Sharon, Darlene, Carolyn, and Lori) aka
Perri have been touring with Anita since her early concerts and have sung with a vast roster of other artists. They looked and sounded wonderful. In between songs, Anita continually expressed her gratitude to the audience and let us know she was singing for us. She was concerned that people would not come out for her shows after being away for so long. The Friday night show in Oakland sold out three hours after the tickets went on sale. Oakland has a very special place in Anita’s heart because her first time on the big stage was here opening for
Frankie Beverly & Maze. A fan asked “What had she been doing during her time away?” She laughed and said, “I’ve been doing what you’ve been doing. You’ve been away too! I’ve been raising my kids and taking care of my family.” Of course, the inevitable question of “When is your next album coming out?” was asked and she responded “That’s a big controversial thang” and moved on. The audience loved her and we let her know it. She encouraged us to sing along with her and we did but unlike many concerts where the artist just stands there and cheers while the audience sings the words, Anita matched us and embellished every note.
Barry Eastmond performed a sensational solo piano introduction on “
Lead Me Into Love” as Anita lead us deep into her miracle of love. She kept us swaying with a spirited “
Caught Up In The Rapture” and “
Giving You Best That I’ve Got.” On “
Watch Your Step“, she was joined by saxophonist James Carter who gave a powerful solo. Anita truly blew on a spectacular call and response session between her and Carter towards the end of the song. Afterwards, she sat down and closed out with “
You Bring Me Joy” and received a standing ovation at the end. As she left the stage for the first time, she shook hands and waved goodbye to us. The applause was so loud that she could not help but come back out for an encore and what an encore it was. She asked us what we wanted to hear and someone shouted back “
You Belong To Me” but she said the band did not know it but she wonderfully sang a verse of it acappella. She then took us back to 1983 and sang her first solo hit “
Angel” and closed out the night with “
Fairy Tales.” Every time she would sing “The story ends, as stories do. Reality
steps into view” she would graciously step forward whipping that split around again. Her spirit and energy were high throughout the evening. As she left the stage, she high-fived fans and even gave out roses.
There is a warm rush that comes over me when I hear good music. I beamed in wonder and amazement throughout the evening. Thank you Anita for giving us your best and for bringing us joy.
This entry was posted on Sunday, April 6th, 2003 at 7:28 am. It is filed under Concert Reviews.
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oh, wonderful review, james. thanks for letting us live vicariously through you.
excellent post. i almost saw her in your words! sounds like you a wonderful time. wow.
Coolness. Interesting quote re: her next recording.
such an excellent review. felt like i was there after reading it. sounds like a wonderful evening!
I’m at a lost for words — The concert read as a love affair between Anita Baker and the audience — Thanks James!
Oh how you made us feel as if we we’re there with you.
I’m so jealous that I (once again) missed James Carter. 🙁
Thanks, James, for the wonderful review.
There is a streaming video of Anita’s live performance on the CBS Early Show. Check out this link: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/12/03/earlyshow/leisure/music/main531522.shtml.
James,
Thanks for a wonderful review, it made me fill as if I was there with you. You have such a great love of music and it shows in your reviews. Chicago ’86 was a wonderful concert. Your reminder of it really makes me sad that I missed her when she was Star Plaza in Dec. 02. Keep up the great work.
TT
Okay, Just make me feel like was in the house with the entire thing. A wonderful piece of writing that made me just feel warm reading it. Let us not mention, I love me some Perri.
Wow! See, that’s why I need to be strolling up in here more often! First Sassy, now Anita!
Yeah, Dee, I LOVE me some Perri, too! I got their 12″ for “Someone Like You” …
Brother, what a great review! I adore Ms. Baker and am disappointed that she will not be coming to Baltimore. Vicariously, I attended one concert through you.
James James James, ditto from a Pittsburgh fan. Anita’s concert here was Saturday, June 21 and my husband and I attended. I have no doubt that I would have the exact feelings for her performance had it not been for our performance.
What was extremely disappointing and I’m embarrassed to say that Pittsburgh fans began leaving long before she even hit her stride. She was in perfect voice as were the Perry sisters. Her band was polished and poised and hadn’t even broken a sweat yet not to mention Gerald Albright on sax.
Our weather, just like most of the northeast had been rainy and cool, with cooler evenings. It had rained the morning of the concert and not rained since around 9am. Are we that friggin spoiled that we cannot stand a cool evening with our favorite female jazz vocalist?
I apologize, which, incidentally, she did not perform yet due to audience departure, to Anita Baker and all her accompanyists who came to deliver what was to be a fantabulous concert only to be walked out on by Pittsburgh fans.
Just saw Anita in concert in Raleigh, NC. Best show of my life. The only singer who sounds better in concert than on cd.
MS. ANITA BAKER WAS TRULY THE DIVA OF 2003
CONCERT – ST. LOUIS WAS VERY PROUD TO WELCOME
HER BACK W/OPEN ARMS,AND LOVE.
MS. BAKERS BACKUP GROUP AND MUSICIAN DID JUSTICE
IN THEIR PERFORMANCE THIS EVENING.
I CAN NOT WAIT FOR THE UPCOMING CD
ANITA BAKER! WHAT A TALENTED AND PHENOMENAL SUPERSTAR. OVER THE YEARS, I HAVE REALLY MISSED HER ABSENCE FROM THE MUSIC SCENE BECAUSE IT FELT AS IF A VOID HAS BEEN MISSING. EVEN THOUGH RADIO STATIONS DIDN’T STOP PLAYING HER SONGS,SHE WAS STILL MISSED. ALSO, R & B WILL NEVER BE SAME IF WE DO NOT HAVE ANITA BAKER PERFORMING BECAUSE SHE IS PERSONIFICATION OF TRUE R & B. A VERY CLASSY LADY AND SOMEONE WHO IS QUITE COMICAL AS WELL,I WOULD LOVE TO SEE HER PERFORM LIVE BECAUSE SHE CAN RELLY SING LIVE. FINALLY, I REALLY LIKED THE REVIEW BECAUSE THE WRITER MAKES ME FEEL LIKE I WAS THERE TOO.
What about the Perri Sisters, need more infomation
i am a close cousin of perri,”anita baker’s longtime backup-vocalist” and they are phenominal…so was mrs.bakers performance i attended at the classic chastain park amphitheatre in atlanta…..this waz the greatest performance ive ever seen in my life time…we really had a party, and, it really showed anita’s wildside!!!