Kelly Delivers a Cabaret Revelation
Review of Meet Me in the Middle of the Air
Standout performance: Australian Art Orchestra
Ask most fans what they would expect from a Paul Kelly concert and the answer would be two words: Dumb Things. But Meet Me in the Middle of the Air, his contribution to this year's cabaret festival, the iconic tune was nowhere to be found. Instead, the show a was, literally, a religious experience.
Kelly, who performed last year with an A-Z of his songs, teamed up with jazz maestro Paul Grabowsky to create a song circle themed around God and spirituality. And with numerous references to everything from Satan to the Bible and a healthy dose of hand clapping, all that was missing was a sermon and someone wearing a funny collar.
What got this concert - which also featured Adelaide's own Cat Scratch Choir - over the line was Kelly's singing, on-stage personality and slightly odd dance moves, which created an intimate and relaxed atmosphere.
There were no screaming lyrics from Kelly or over-the-top antics. Rather, the audience was in the company of a reserved star, who wore his casual suit throughout the show and didn't seem to break a sweat. The was no guzzling from water bottles at every opportunity (that we could see anyway!) to replenish body fluids and no crowd incitement. He didn't even try to get his fans to clap along with him as he sang. It was more of a "join in if you feel like it. I'm having a good time anyway" aloofness. In fact it was quite refreshing to listen to a concert and be able to understand all the words to the songs.
The 90 minute concert included a dozen songs with titles such as Passed Over, Kelly walking off stage after each one in the first half, leaving it to special guests Vika and Linda Bull to entertain until he reappeared.
Grabowsky, who arranged all the songs, made a fine fist of his sixth consecutive festival, with the former Steve Vizard tonight show band leader combining everything from a classical piano to a laptop computer to enhance the night's sound and rhythm.
Despite almost catching the violinist off guard twice, the 10-piece Australian Art Orchestra was faultless. Double bass, violin, trumpet, trombone, drums, cello and others combined to provide a brilliant harmony to the evening.
The Bull sisters provided the major vocal back-up, as well as performing several solos and duets. In fact, this pair took a major hand in the show and nearly overshadowed Kelly - if not in performance, then certainly in stage time. These girls can belt out a tune, but I was there to see Kelly and would have been happier to see (and hear) more of him.
- Sunday Mail (John Merriman), 11 June 2006
Reviews of Meet Me in the Middle of the Air
