Birmingham Symphony Hall: back to Burt

nowmedical · Post by **nowmedical** » Thu Jul 02, 2015 2:08 pm

After the disappointment of the Festival Hall snooze-fest, Birmingham was just perfect. He added Little Red Book, Hush, I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself, and On My Own. He dropped God Give Me Strength (which I always find a bit heavy going). John, Donna and Josie nailed every song. And he introduced his new violinist - a very fit looking lady whose hispanic name I didn't catch. Also instrumental with sax and euphonium (Love Theme from Butch Cassidy ATSK). He played Be Aware again, this really is a forgotten gem.

I've seen maybe 10 Burt concerts, and I can't remember one I've enjoyed more. Great venue, perfect sound (no hum or hiss in the quiet bits). Oh and Burt asked to shake my daughter's hand from the stage at the end - spose not many 15-year-olds go to his concerts these days (PS her favourite song is They Don't Give Medals TYH).

Blair N. Cummings · Post by **Blair N. Cummings** » Thu Jul 02, 2015 2:49 pm

"Be Aware" is not a forgotten gem to me. I would nominate it for best Bacharach/David song.
Did he sing it or was it an instrumental interpretation?

blueonblue · Post by **blueonblue** » Thu Jul 02, 2015 3:34 pm

Blair N. Cummings wrote:"Be Aware" is not a forgotten gem to me. I would nominate it for best Bacharach/David song.
Did he sing it or was it an instrumental interpretation?

It was a stunning rendition by Miss Josie James.

"blue"

nowmedical · Post by **nowmedical** » Thu Jul 02, 2015 4:04 pm

Blue, were you there? We could've had a beer.

blueonblue · Post by **blueonblue** » Thu Jul 02, 2015 4:35 pm

nowmedical wrote:Blue, were you there? We could've had a beer.

No, I wasn't at Birmingham last night, but I saw Josie perform "Be Aware" at the Manchester Concert in The Bridgewater Hall on Tuesday night.
Yes, I'd love to have a beer with you sometime, maybe at one of Burt's future UK concert's (hopefully)

Take care,
"blue"
PS
I'm glad you enjoyed the Concert and that your daughter got to meet Burt !

nowmedical · Post by **nowmedical** » Thu Jul 02, 2015 4:50 pm

Blue, so on what CD can I find Be Aware?

vincent.cole · Post by **vincent.cole** » Thu Jul 02, 2015 5:00 pm

Bonjour.

The young lady playing the Violin is; Marlyse Martinez. She is the daughter of Josie James.

Marlyse has a Masters Degree in music and plays with the San Diego Symphony.

Take care.

Vincent

Blair N. Cummings · Post by **Blair N. Cummings** » Thu Jul 02, 2015 5:09 pm

"Be Aware" can be found on the final B/D produced album, Dionne (`72) or, more easily, here:

blueonblue · Post by **blueonblue** » Thu Jul 02, 2015 5:21 pm

nowmedical wrote:Blue, so on what CD can I find Be Aware?

There are two versions by Dionne Warwick that are great.
One is from her 1972 album "Dionne" IMHO her best.
The other is from her 2012 album "Now"
Lauro Nyro is among several other artists who have recorded it.
I hope Josie James records the song.

Burt and Hal originally wrote it for Barbra Streisand be she never released it.

Here's Barbra's "live" version on a Bacharach TV Special.....

"blue"

Blair N. Cummings · Post by **Blair N. Cummings** » Thu Jul 02, 2015 5:50 pm

Laura Nyro gave it the typical Laura Nyro treatment, gorgeous for her own material but toxic to Burt`s melody.
BTW, Burt was just sucking up to Streisand when he told her that "Be Aware" was written "just for you." It had already been composed (along with too few others) for the Dionne album.

blueonblue · Post by **blueonblue** » Thu Jul 02, 2015 6:41 pm

vincent.cole wrote:Bonjour.

The young lady playing the Violin is; Marlyse Martinez. She is the daughter of Josie James.

Marlyse has a Masters Degree in music and plays with the San Diego Symphony.

Take care.

Vincent

Vincent,
Thank you for the info...what a talented family !

"blue"

Blair N. Cummings · Post by **Blair N. Cummings** » Thu Jul 02, 2015 7:13 pm

I just corrected the above link to Dionne`s original version of "Be Aware".
Here it is, if you don`t want to go back:

I hate digital technology.

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Birmingham Symphony Hall: back to Burt

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