October 17, 2005
Sacramento Concert Review: “WOW!”
All I can say is “WOW!” This tiny demure woman with the genteel Southern voice packs a powerful wallop on the piano. The night was a magical night and the house was filled to capacity (145). Beegie Adair had fans come from as far away as Redding and and Livermore [2-3 hours away] to see her. As I met each of them at the door they told me of how happy they were that we had brought her to Savanna’s, many having been fans for years
Ms. Adair is endorsed by Steinway and a local piano company delivered a Steinway, placing it centerstage so that she could be seen from all angles of the room. So now that I have given you a mental picture of the setting, let me tell you about the night. Beegie Adair plays like a dream, her fingers floating over the keys and the magic that came out had everyone hanging on every note.
She brought along local musicians Mat Marucci on drums and Bill Douglass on bass, and you would have thought they had played together for years (which is a comment I heard repeatedly as I made my travels though the room). Bill Douglass, always a lyrical player made his bass sing, with all eyes on his hands as he put down his layer of this wonderful feast of an evening. Mat Marucci complimented Ms Adair, trading accents and emphasis with ease as if they were inside each other’s minds, knowing exactly where they were going at the same moment.
Beegie joked and talked with the audience, telling a few of those “southern anecdotes” that I love about people from the South, while playing some of our favorite standards — “Take The A Train,” “It’s Alright With Me,” “Moonglow” (with touches of the theme from Picnic) — her interpretations coming straight from her heart. She closed the evening with her signature “We’ll Be Together Again” as I am sure we will because the night was so wonderful, we must do it again.
Vivian Lee
Scarlett Productions
Sunday Evening Jazz at Savanna’s