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OKAY SO MAYBE I'M THE LAST person in the county to finally catch a Mumbo Gumbo concert. That was sure a mistake. (The waiting, not the catching.) The local favorites returned to The Palms stage in Winters on Friday, Feb. 14, and the house was packed. It's hard to get The Palms' crowd on its feet, but not for Mumbo Gumbo. A dance floor was cleared out and it was packed with swaying bodies, and plenty of smiles.
The music is easy to move to, but a little harder to define: Mix together equal parts zydeco, blues, rock, country and reggae, and you'll love the easy, breezy, bouncy blend. The harmonies and vocals of lead singers Chris Webster and Tracy Walton were like velvet, and Webster even did a phenomenal slow, jazz number in which she played lead trumpet -- using only her voice. You'd have to hear it to believe it.
Mumbo Gumbo has a huge local following, and there's good reason this band sells out every time it plays the Palms. The next time they come to town, don't you be one of the last people in the county to find out why. Mumbo Gumbo really knows how to "stir it up, little darlin'... stir it up.."
Find out more about Mumbo Gumbo at www.mumbogumbo.com.
WOW. JUST WOW. How did one stage hold so much talent? The Broadway smash hit "Bring in 'Da Funk, Bring in 'Da Noise," starring tap-dancing phenom Savion Glover, exploded onto the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts stage on Sunday, Feb. 16. The entire performance was breathtaking, particularly that of the star. Through just his body and the staccato of his feet, Glover communicates the entire spectrum of human emotion, from joy to passionate rage. He is truly art in motion.
Then there's singer Lynette DuPree. It's astounding that so much beautiful, powerful melody could emanate from a human body. And 13-year-old Cartier A. Williams, a tap-dancer since age 4 and Washington D.C. honor roll student. Remember his name, this kid's star is on the rise.
With an entirely black cast, the show features song, tap dance, narrative and percussion, set against the backdrop of the black American experience with slavery and discrimination over the course of U.S. history. Although the sheer talent and physical skill of the dancers and actors entertain, the more serious, thought-provoking message comes through loud and clear. Your spirit and your mind will both be moved. In every way, this is a performance you'll never forget.
From every angle, Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk is simply stellar. The performance is further proof that if you live in the Davis area and aren't taking advantage of the world-class performing artistry offered at the Mondavi Center -- in your own back yard -- you're throwing away an opportunity to see human brilliance at its finest.
Find out more about Mondavi Center performances at www.mondaviarts.com.
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