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Jean Showcases Many Talents For Good Cause
submitted by: Lisa D.
source: Variety
Date: January 29, 2001
By DAVID SPRAGUE
(CARNEGIE HALL; 2,872 SEATS; $ 150 TOP)
NEW YORK Presented by the Wyclef Jean Foundation. Musicians: Wyclef Jean, Eric Clapton, Whitney Houston, Stevie Wonder, Mary J. Blige, Macy Gray, Destiny's Child, Charlotte Church, Third World, Steve Marley, Melky Sedeck, Bliss, the Rock Steady Crew. Reviewed Jan. 19, 2001
Wyclef Jean has been categorized many ways, but none more apt than the self-description he let slip midway through a tour de force in which he paid tribute to Duke Ellington, conducted his own arrangement of a Bach violin concerto and somersaulted through some spot-on old-school breakdance moves.
"I am," Jean said, with a wink, "the new Sammy Davis Jr."
While the all-star extravaganza he staged for the benefit of his children's foundation had all the earmarks of yet another stuffy media event, Jean's mercurial vision transformed it into something different --- a hybrid happening that was equal parts rent party, be-in and telethon.
Despite the billing as Carnegie Hall's first hip-hop show, that music played little part in the program, apart from an electrifying mic battle pitting Jean against Fugee compatriots Pras Michel and John Forte and a surprisingly fresh interlude spotlighting veteran dance troupe the Rock Steady Crew.
There weren't many other stones left unturned during the 2 1/2 hour perf, however. Jean managed to showcase his multiple talents --- dashing from guitar to piano to conductor's podium --- without hogging the spotlight. In fact, he seemed eager to cede center stage to special guests like Stevie Wonder, who scatted sharply through "Gone 'Til November," and Charlotte Church, whose "Summertime" benefited from Jean's wispy classical guitar accompaniment.
When Jean left the stage (which, to be fair, was not often), the show drifted into stagnant waters. That was evident in the contrast between Eric Clapton's tried, true and totally treacly rendition of "Wonderful Tonight" and the burnished power Slowhand and Jean wrung from the new "Is This Romance?"
But for every segment that fell flat --- like Destiny's Child's tape-sweetened two-song sequence which seemed more suited to a shopping mall than Carnegie Hall --- there were a bevy of winners.
In contrast to the much-discussed slip-ups of recent perfs, Whitney Houston was in terrific form, rousing the audience with a gospel workout before segueing into the Jean-penned "My Love Is Your Love." More surprising still was an unbilled walk-on by Macy Gray, who joined Jean on a languid, spacy version of Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here."
As for the beneficiaries of his foundation, Jean didn't merely pay lip service to "Clef's Kids," he integrated several young talents into the program, including a jazz combo, a budding torch singer and Caribbean drummers who flooded the hall's aisles during the closing "Guantanamera."
By treating the teens with the same respect and enthusiasm as the stars, Jean proved he's walking the walk as well as talking the talk of empowerment.
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