Last night was a strange mix of old-timers and spirituality,
which was fitting. Sting himself has built his brand on
feel-good world music that aspires to spirituality, but
cannot be identified as belonging to any particular group
in his multicultural musical casserole. For urban hippies,
like myself, for the hour and a half that he took the stage,
the former Police singer entertained and charmed the fans
with songs that spanned his career, from his recent CD
'Sacred Love' to everyone's favorite 'Roxanne'.
Dressed very casual, with the loose white collar and
cuffs out of the tight-fitting sweater. Sting is in
remarkable shape, a look legions of female fans in
attendance appeared to appreciate.
He began the set strumming a giant bass for 'Walking on
the Moon', but quickly followed that trip into the past
with the new 'Send Your Love'. A dance number lifted beyond
club-floor mediocrity by a lifting guitar line and Spanish-
influenced drumming, the song was accompanied by projected
images of dancers from around the world, Bollywood heroines
and heroes followed by women twirling in spectacular Chinese
red silk dresses. The global world theme resurfaced several
times during the show, such as during 'Desert Rose', the much
remixed dance hit that borrows from Arabic music, and on
the playful and delightful 'Stolen Car'. It was a non-stop
eclectic drunken visual stupor. 'Fragile', 'An Englishman
in New York' all classics with beautiful projected images,
it was all very spiritual.
A note about the opening act, 'Chris Botti', a trumpeter
from the jazz school of 'Miles Davis'(the father of cool!).
He did an homage to Miles' 'Happy Valentine' made the ladies
in the front rows squeal. I enjoyed him so much I got an
autographed CD at the intermission. All in all, it was one
very pleasing outing.
* Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but
by the moments that take our breath away.
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