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Still happy

Bobby McFerrin+Gimme5
The Fox Theatre
Tucson, AZ
January 20, 2019
Bobby McFerrin+Gimme5 Bobby McFerrin+Gimme5 Bobby McFerrin+Gimme5

Review and photos by Frances Sealy

Ten-time Grammy Award winner, Bobby McFerrin, closed the 2019 series of the Tucson Jazz Festival performances on January 20 with a sold out show. This has been a turbulent year for the festival due to the sudden death of the Yvonne Ervin, the Artistic Director of the festival since it's inception five years ago.

The show is called Bobby McFerrin+Gimme5: Circlesongs. Gimme5 is based on 'Circlesinging,' a musical practice and philosophy that assigns vocal parts to his audience forming impromptu choirs. The music is jazz, R&B, classical and world music rolled into one.

McFerrin's Grammy Awards include "Song of the Year" and "Record of the Year' won at the 1989 Grammy Awards. The worldwide success of that song changed McFerrin's life forever. He has collaborated with musical legends including Chick Chorea, Keith Jarrett, Herbie Hancock, and Yo-Yo Ma.

He often rapidly switches between falsetto and modal registers performing the melody and adds percussion with his voice and his hand on his chest at the same time.

You might remember McFerrin performing the theme song on the beginning of "The Cosby Show" for many years.

There are no scripts. Not only that, many of the songs have no words, only vocal sounds. McFerrin would typically improvise a few sounds that would evolve into a pattern. It is impossible to create a set list as a result. There are snippets of songs like "When the Red, Red Robin Comes Bob Bobbin' Along," "Lay My Troubles Down," and "Don't Worry, Be Happy," and "The Mickey Mouse Theme."

Don't expect a full version of "Don't Worry, Be Happy."

McFerrin even milled through the audience during one song encouraging the fans to sing.

There was an unusual encore. Instead of more singing, McFerrin conducted a question and answer period from the fans.

One fan asked McFerrin "What is your favorite musical instrument to emulate? McFerrin responded, "I've never thought of myself vocalizing instruments. I was more fascinated by the different nuances and textures of different languages of the voice. The voice is the original instrument.

Another fan suggested that he run for president in 2020. His response, "Don't Worry, be president."

The Gimmie5 singers are a part of McFerrin's larger Voicestra collaborators and some of them have been with the 68-year-old since 1989.

McFerrin introduced his cohesive singers during the encore as David Worm on percussion and bass. Worm created sounds that at times seemed to emulate a didgeridoo. Joey Blake kept the percussion going throughout the concert. Rhiannon and Judi Vinar were the female elements of Gimme5. Both singers were extremely inventive, brilliant and fun improvisational vocalists.

McFerrin introduced himself, "I'm Tony Bennett."

Gimme5 was very adept at picking up on McFerrin's improvisations, sometimes repeating, harmonizing or getting into his groove. Many times they would interweave their voices to create a complex tapestry of sound.

McFerrin's mission has been to connect people through the unending possibilities of music. The Tucson audience answered the call with aplomb. Not only did they sing, but they sang very well. One would almost think they had rehearsed with McFerrin ahead of time. That was not the case. At one point McFerrin requested that some people sing with him on stage. More people answered his call than he expected. He attempted to stop the onslaught of participants, but he realized that it was futile to limit the number.

A Native American participant started a chanting thread that McFerrin gracefully continued with the fans while on stage.

There is a conversational element between McFerrin and the other singers and that's when the show works best. McFerrin would change chairs to converse with separate members of Gimme5. He would give a large grin of approval at the end of their 'conversation.'

One never knows what will happen at McFerrin's shows. His fans come prepared for the unexpected and they are ready to participate.

This was a truly interactive, collaborative experience between the singers and the audience. McFerrin said it best, "There is always a golden moment in each performance."

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