Stevie Marvel’s Innervisions
(Jules Buckley Orchestra/ Cory Henry. Royal Albert Corridor. 21 August 2023)

Will it work? How is it going to work? Who will do it…will they be as much as it? Maybe the simplest factor is to theorize, to surprise upfront about whether or not a large-scale live performance involving a full studio orchestra doing a “re-creation” of an album by an artist who remains to be alive and nonetheless performing really is smart.

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The reply: the sheer vitality and the standard of the individuals behind this endeavour – there have been a lot of them – made this Promenade really feel very worthwhile certainly.

Maybe the overwhelming impression of this night was one of many inventiveness, the standard, the sheer vary of this music and simply how good it’s. There by no means gave the impression to be an issue at any second to interact, stimulate enliven the viewers. The cumulative impact was that by the point the ultimate scheduled quantity (“Don’t You Fear ‘Bout a Factor”) and the primary of the 2 encores (“Superstition” ) got here, it felt we had skilled one thing particular.

Perhaps the sound engineers will are likely to favour the radio recording fairly than the reside expertise, however time and again there have been moments when you may simply really feel the groove, and likewise the familiarity of specific songs carrying the entire viewers with them. Songs like “Residing For the Metropolis”, “Greater Floor” or “Don’t You Fear ‘Bout a Factor” have an entire irresistibility in-built. It turned out that the band additionally had a secret weapon. Stanley Randolph has been an everyday drummer in Stevie Marvel’s bands for a few years, and his presence and understanding of this music have been clearly including authenticity and oomph. The truth that so many orchestra members when not taking part in gave the impression to be dwelling each beat appeared to sum up the vibe of the entire event.

Maybe the most important accountability was on the shoulders of Cory Henry,  ‘jazz organist, pianist, gospel musician, music producer and former member of Snarky Pet’. He was there on nearly each quantity, however his singing, his fabulous Moog/synth taking part in and his responsiveness to all the pieces occurring round him dispelled all doubt. And giving him a ultimate solo encore with piano, a gospelly “If it’s Magic” was a pleasant contact: for the primary time it introduced him correctly into contact with the viewers on his personal phrases.

Among the many singers, I used to be notably struck by the extent of ardour and perception that Laura Mvula gave us. And by the superhuman sostenuto and stage presence of Shelea. The arrangers – full record under – embrace stylish names like Tom Richards and Callum Au. And there have been massive and necessary roles for Gareth Lockrane and Ross Stanley. Graeme Blevins bossed it with a storming alto sax solo hovering over the total band proper on the finish of the night. Sure, it wants saying: there may be an abundance of high quality on this endeavour,

For the Proms to have positioned this programme – dominated the 9 songs from Stevie Marvel’s “Innervisions” – at a degree within the season the place it was instantly preceded by Mozart’s final symphony, and adopted by Schumann’s solely opera clearly units out to problem assumptions in regards to the worth of this music. It was additionally the precise factor to do.

SET LIST FOR PROM 48 (tracks marked * are from Innervisions)

One thing Out of the Blue arr. Tim Davies Greater Floor arr. Jochen Neuffer I By no means Dreamed You’d Go away in Summer season arr. Tim Davies with Sheléa Don’t You Fear Bout a Factor

1 Too Excessive* (arr. Rob Taggart)

2 Visions * (arr. Callum Au )

3 Residing for the Metropolis * (arr. Jochen Neuffer)

4 Golden Woman * (arr. Jochen Neuffer )

5 All in Love is Truthful* (arr. Tommy Laurence)

6 Superwoman/ The place have been you Final Winter (from “Music of my Thoughts”- arr. Jochen Neuffer)

7 They Gained’t Go (arr. Tim Davies with Laura Mvula)

8 Jesus Kids of America* ( arr. Tim Davies)

9 He’s Misstra Know-It-All* (with Lianne La Havas)

10 Creepin’ (from Fulfillingness’ First Finale – arr. Rob Taggart)

11 One thing Out of Blue (from “The place I’m Coming From” – arr. Tim Davies )

12 Greater Floor * (arr. Jochen Neuffer )

13 I By no means Dreamed You’d Go away in Summer season (arr. Tim Davies with Sheléa/ from “The place I’m Coming From)

14 Don’t You Fear ‘Bout a Factor * (arr. Tom Richards with Sheléa)

Encores

1 Superstition (From “Speaking E-book”)
2 If it’s magic (from “Songs within the Key of Life”)