About eight years ago, we saw her at the new Oakdale. I remember liking the show, but I was more impressed by the opening act and backup band, Jon Cleary & the Absolute Monster Gentlemen. I was an immediate fan. Once I began to annually attend Jazz Fest in New Orleans, I got to see Cleary often, both at the Fest and at the Maple Leaf Cafe. Well, this year Bonnie was back at Jazz Fest's 2nd weekend and I'm in love again. The setting was perfect. She was backed by Cleary & the Gents, had a killer horn section of Big Easy musicians and pulled out lots of old material. She was fabulous, forcing me to see her complete set when I planned to cut early to catch Patty Griffin (luckily, I still managed a good chuck of Patty's).
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Taj takes the stage first, backed by the Phantom Blues Band, and plays an eclectic, energetic set. Really good horns. Plays for about an hour, then a short break. Bonnie comes on looking fit, sounding strong, sampling songs from all over her vast catalog. Also backed by an excellent band (no Jon Cleary this tour), which includes Ricky Fataar on drums (Bonnie notes he has been with her since her Green Light album), Rick Peterson on keyboards (newly available after being fired as Mets pitching coach), Don'tknow Marinelli on guitar, unknown guy on base. Bonnie is both cool and hot on slide. Nice version of John Prine's Angel From Montgomery. She gives a shout out to the old Shaboo Inn! Speaking of Bonnie's underrated Green Light album, the highlight of the night for me is NRBQ's Me And the Boys with special guest guitar by CT's own Big Al Anderson! Very cool. I'm less taken with her tepid version of Something To Talk About.
This thing lasted almost three hours! The grand finale is a joint collaboration of both bands with Taj and Bonnie for about a half-hour. Nice finish and, keeping with the theme set the previous night by Sarah Borges, no encore!
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