Robert's Review of Ray Charles at Harrahs , 5/27/99

Order CD * NCBlue - Carolina Blues Newsletter * Robert's Reviews Home Page * COMMENTS*

Ray Charles and his orchestra played a quick hour at Tahoe's Harrahs to a crowd of gamblers and yet the biggest applause was for "America the Beautiful". A strange event, but Ray can still play and he sure as hell can sing.

He led an orchestra of about 20 strings, 20 horns, and a rhythm section in a brief selection of his tunes including "Georgia", Hank Williams "You're Cheating Heart", and a funky instrumental where he switched to electronic keyboard for some eighties synthesizer solos. He also played a version of "Eleanor Rigby" that had always sounded corny on record but live it sounded great. However the highlight was his version of Leon Russell's "A Song for You" which was about perfect.

I just wish that he played longer and let the band loosen up. There was room for only one sax solo from the band (Ray also played a sax solo) but I think he could really take off in a different setting and a little more time.

For other related sites visit Links

Click here to order Ray Charles CDs & Cassettes at discount prices. Book Mark this page for future orders

A review of ordering CDs at Robert's Review of CDNow

Profits from advertisers now to go to blues societies and foundations. If you like the reviews and CDNow, please bookmark this page for all future cd orders. If you have any have comments about the service let me know. - thanks Robert.