Still Sassy
Martha Reeves is practically inseparable from her Vandellas, a pair of women who harmonize with the diva and round out Reeves’ gospel-influenced girl group sound.
Image credit: Photo by Patrick Dunn
Motown is in its death throes. But there are a few signs of life in the record-label-turned-genre – the perpetually touring Temptations, the lingering influence of performers like Gladys Knight and Marvin Gaye, and the neo-funk revival being led in part by Erykah Badu.
Martha Reeves, one of Motown’s shining stars who, is also still holding her own, as anyone who saw her at the Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant on Wednesday night now knows.
PHOTO GALLERY: MARTHA REEVES AT THE DAKOTA
Reeves is practically inseparable from her Vandellas, a pair of women who harmonize with the diva and round out Reeves’ gospel-influenced girl group sound. Many singers have filled the role of Vandella since 1974, but two of Reeves’ younger sisters (she and her ten siblings were born in southeastern Alabama) are working the backup mics now, and they know just how to play off of their big sis.
Reeves, the Vandellas, and the eight-piece band – a lot of people to fit on the Dakota’s fairly small stage – really came together during the love ballads and blues cuts during the first of their two-night stay at the Minneapolis club.
On “Love (Makes Me Do Foolish Things)” and “My Baby Loves Me,” Reeves showed off her perfected smoke-n-rattle jazz voice and the band’s contributions were more dynamic and expressive. The baritone sax player, a woman about the size of her own instrument, was especially impressive, and the snappy blues song “Watch Your Back” was probably the highlight of my evening.
Hearing the big band chart-toppers like “Nowhere to Run,” “(Your Love is Like a) Heatwave,” and “Dancing in the Street” was really fun, but, at 70-years-old, it understandably took a while for Reeves’s voice to warm up to them.
Reeves still has the sass of her early twenties, even though it is understandably tempered by years touring, working in government, falling in love, and—perhaps most importantly—falling out of love.
You’ll hear all the hits if you head out tonight, which for me was an invigorating breath of music history and nostalgia. Maybe Motown has another life to live after all.
Setlist: Wild Night // Come and Get These Memories // Nowhere to Run // Love (Makes Me Do Foolish Things) // Jimmy Mack // Watch Your Back // (Love is Like a) Heat Wave // My Baby Loves Me // Dancing in the Street
+ Martha Reeves and the Vandellas perform at the Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant at 7 p.m. Thursday. For tickets and more information visit dakotacooks.com.
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