THREE times in quick succession, American impresario David Gest has brought his soul revue show to the city he now calls home, and the nights grow better and better, drawing a full, singalong house to York Barbican on Sunday night.
Gest moves in music's high society – friend of the late Michael Jackson, promoter for Al Green, ex-husband of Liza Minnelli – and when he doesn't know someone, he knows someone who does.
Host David Gest. Picture: David Harrison
That's why Bill Medley, the lower-register half of The Righteous Brothers, is touring Britain for the first time at 75, with his song from Dirty Dancing giving the show its title of David Gest's (I've Had) The Time Of My Life.
Gest asked a certain Dionne Warwick if she could put him in touch with Medley, one thing led to another, so David had his headliner for his latest exuberant package of vintage soul hits.
The show has the perfect formula for today's fidgety, twitchy listener with a penchant for retro and a need for constant change. There's nostalgia galore and hit after hit from an ever-spinning merry-go-round of American acts, to the accompaniment of a seven-piece soul band, two backing singers and Gest's introductory patter with his reverence for his acts, soul power and York and irreverent story-telling about assorted bizarrely named cousins.
Freda Payne. Picture: David Harrison
The Tymes, in snappy black and silver-lined shirts, executed delightfully smooth harmonies and dance steps in Miss Grace; Freda Payne gave "the female national anthem", alias I Will Survive, a righteous workout before her own anthem, a burnished account of the peerless Band Of Gold; Atlantic Starr's Barbara Weathers teamed up with The Tymes' Russell Gore and next Gregory Abbott for two hand-in-hand, eye-meets-eye duets.
Billy Paul. Picture: David Harrison
Returning from last time, Billy Paul was just as dapper in suit and tie and after loosening up with Let'Em In, he hit the hot spot with the exquisite ache of Me And Mrs Jones.
Anything he can do, Dorothy Moore could milk even more on her one number, Misty Blue. Her hair now grey, her feather boa red, the song was still wholly, deeply, beautifully blue, a first-half highlight.
Dorothy Moore. Picture: David Harrison
Sheila Ferguson went hi-energy through The Three Degrees hits, coupled with advice on good sex and better divorce, and the interval rushed by until Gest introduced CeCe Peniston, not once but twice, before...Finally, she turned up and blew the house down.
Sheila Ferguson. Picture David Harrison
CeCe Peniston. Picture: David Harrison
Gregory Abbott. Picture: David Harrison
Gregory Abbott brought a change of pace with his mellow lovers' rock; Deniece Williams took the breath away with the vocal tightrope walk of Free and Medley paid homage to his late "little brother", Bobby Hatfield, as he duetted with his daughter Michaela on You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' and the audience on Unchained Melody.
Right there, right then, we were having the time of our life. Sunday nights never used to be this entertaining.
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