Ray Charles
Live In France 1961
Reelin’ In The Years
www.eaglerockent.com
By George W. Harris

Here’s a dvd you just don’t want to miss out on: Brother Ray Charles,
in concert at the 1961 Antibes Jazz Festival with his classic and hard
swinging band that included David “Fathead” Newman and Hank Crawford,
as well as the feisty Raeletts. Charles is just on the cusp of apexing
his talents, as he was still riding the crest his big hit “What’d I
Say.” The two sets here from July 18 and 22 capture the band and leader
in a perfect amalgam of R&B and gospel, with songs like “Hallelujah, I
Love Her So” and “Let The Good Times Roll” never sounding better.

Charles’ piano chops are on excellent display here, as on “Sticks and
Stones” and “Hornful Soul,” while Newman’s tenor is red clay earthy on
“Doodlin’.” On “Georgia On My Mind,” Charles’ mournful voice is
gracefully supported by Newman’s obliggato’s on flute, while the
Raeletts are sweaty and sweet on “My Bonnie” and “With You In Mind.” It
seems so effortless here to make music that hits you in the pit of your
stomach, feeling so good you don’t want it to stop. How did we get from
here to gangsta rap?