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By Frank Scheck
NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - More than a little bit of country
came to the city Monday night, when the Grand Ole Opry appeared at
New York's Carnegie Hall as part of its 80th anniversary
celebration.
Broadcast live like every other Opry show -- it is the
longest-running radio program ever -- the evening was a terrific
opportunity for Manhattanites to enjoy the distinctive experience
without having to make a trip to Nashville.
As usual, the Opry presented an informal, down-home concert that
freely mixed revered legends with younger performers and current
stars, none of them performing more than two or three numbers. An
announcer from Nashville's WSM radio was on hand to provide
dulcet-toned commentary during band setups. The house lights were
kept on throughout, at times providing the audience more exposure
than the performers.
Hosting was Vince Gill, whose charmingly self-deprecating and
amusing introductions kept the audience laughing.
Although no doubt many in the crowd came to see such current
stars as Alan Jackson and Trisha Yearwood, the evening was
particularly notable for its exposure of such little-seen (at least
in New York) country veterans as Little Jimmy Dickens, Bill Anderson
and Charley Pride. The reverence exhibited by their younger
contemporaries was obvious in such collaborations as Dickens and
Gill's playful turn on "Bird in Paradise" and Anderson and Brad
Paisley's duet on the former's satirical "Too Country." Pride,
performing classic hits like "Kiss an Angel Good Morning," well
demonstrated the reasons for his amazing career longevity.
Bluegrass music got its due in performances by Alison Krauss with
her band, Union Station, and Ricky Skaggs with his, Kentucky
Thunder. The latter provided a show highlight with their rendition
of Bill Monroe's classic "The Walls of Time," featuring a
beautifully soulful intro from klezmer clarinet virtuoso Andy
Statman.
Such stars as Gill, Yearwood and Martina McBride wowed the crowd
with their signature hits "Pocket Full of Gold," "She's in Love With
the Boy" and "Independence Day," respectively, as well as classic
songs by the likes of Patsy Cline and Tammy Wynette.
Paisley, clearly an audience favorite, scored with his ironic ode
to "Alcohol" and with his gorgeous duet with Krauss on "Whiskey
Lullaby." Jackson, given the coveted closing slot, delivered sturdy
renditions of such trademark hits as "Feet on the Ground" and
"Chattahoochee."
The show's conclusion found the entire roster onstage
collaborating on a spirited medley of such country gospel classics
as "I'll Fly Away," "I Saw the Light" and "Will the Circle Be
Unbroken?" It was a joyous celebration, well befitting country
music's highly successful weeklong incursion into the Big Apple for
concerts and Tuesday night's Country Music Association Awards.
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
© Reuters
2005. All Rights Reserved.
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