Previews and Reviews

Previews and Reviews

By Steve Chess
The Weekly Recorder
April 25, 2008

Billy Joel hasn’t released a new album in 15 years. As he confessed at his April 18th show at Mellon Arena, “I guess it was a good career move.” The show was sold out. The capacity audience spanned three generations...each equally enthusiastic.

The set opened with, “Prelude/Angry Young Man.” Joel already had them in the palm of his hand. Five numbers into the set was, “Zanzibar,” Which really kicked the show into high gear. We might well have been sitting in New Morning(Paris) or the Blue Note(New York City). This was first rate Jazz. Particularly outstanding on this song were the solos performed by Carl Fischer, first on fluegal horn, then on trumpet.

A little throat spray and it was off to “New York State of Mind.” This performance (of the song) seemed more contemplative than past performances, which had almost a sense of swagger. “She’s Always A Woman” had hundreds of female voices singing in unison (though, at least an octave higher). On “Movin’ Out(Anthony’s Song),” saxman, Mark Rivera played a trumpet for part of the song, then later grabbed his tenor sax and played beside percussionist,Crystal Taliefero on alto sax and Carl Fischer on his tenor sax for a dynamic visual as well as audio effect. “You May Be Right” afforded all the opportunity for all present to enjoy blistering solos by guitarist, Tommy Byrnes and tenor(this night) saxman, Mark Rivera. Joel got to stretch his legs and strum a six string guitar while singing “A Matter Of Trust.” He danced with the mic stand while singing “Still Rock And Roll To Me” and spun the stand like a baton during the tenor sax solo of the song.

The 58 year old Billy Joel performed his up tempo numbers with the same characteristic passion and enthusiasm that one might have witnessed from the artist at 35. Billy Joel’s musical powers, both vocal and keyboard, appear to have remained solid. He isn’t known as the “Piano Man” for nothing. Appropriately, “Piano Man” was Billy Joel’s third and final encore. sporting a harmonica rack around his neck, his sat down to the grand piano one last time. Facile fingers, seasoned by thousands of gigs, effortlessly played the familiar passages of this poignant anthem. By the coda, it seemed that most of the Arena was singing and a lasting musical memory for many Pennsylvanians was created.