April 12, 1976 review: Laura Nyro at Kleinhans Music Hall

 


As a big fan, I was overjoyed to see this artist back on the stage after a long layoff.

April 12, 1976 

Laura Nyro Gives Reason to Smile 

          In a long dress as red as the cover of her “Smile” album, Laura Nyro has the air of someone who’s been asked to a concert at Kleinhans Music Hall because her friends don’t want her to spend Saturday night alone.

          Such friends she has. Among those nearly filling the hall is Buffalo Philharmonic maestro Michael Tilson Thomas. On stage, it’s the most polyglot band one could imagine. Women playing bongos and two of the three horns. On drums, gleefully bionic session ace Andy Newmark.

          Newmark rides herd as this happily swinging crew puts the kiss of affirmation on Nyro’s solitary, jazz-toned musings from “Smile,” plus selected early favorites.

          It’s said they’re recording this for a live album. Hope so. This hour ought to be relived, if only for the spellbinding conclusion to “I Am the Blues” and Nyro’s piano with just guitar for a playful “Sweet Blindness.”

          Now one understands why she wasn’t afraid to follow a toughie opening act like Ellen McIlwaine. Nyro is called back for twice for encores, closing solo with “When I Was a Freeport and You Were the Main Drag.”

          McIlwaine, aggressive under blond ringlets (“You won’t like this next song,” she announces), does things with a wired-up acoustic guitar and a wah-wah pedal that would’ve spun Jimi Hendrix’s head around, but nearly ruins it all with her cool and demanding demeanor. That’s no way to treat friends and Laura Nyro.

* * * * *

IN THE PHOTO: The red cover of Laura Nyro’s “Smile” album.

* * * * *

FOOTNOTE: Laura Nyro had retired in 1971, but the breakup of her marriage and the death of her mother prompted her to come back with the “Smile” album, then with a four-month tour, her first with a full band. A live album, “Season of Lights,” followed in 1977.

          In addition to drummer Andy Newmark, who worked extensively with Carly Simon, the band included hot New York session guitarist John Tropea, jazz bassist Richard Davis, percussionist Carter “C. C.” Collins, conga player Nydia Mata, vibraphone innovator Mike Mainieri, saxophonists Jeff King and Jean Fineberg (also on flute), and trumpeter Ellen Seeling. Tropea, Mata and Collins had played on the “Smile” album.

          The set list from this night on setlist.fm is woefully incomplete. Here’s how it looks:

Sexy Mama

(unknown)

And When I Die

The Confession

I Am the Blues

The Cat Song

(unknown)

Encore

(unknown)

Midnite Blue 

A better reflection is the list of songs from her Carnegie Hall concert on March 31. It was broadcast live on WNEW-FM, was widely taped off the air by fans and is available on an import CD.

Stormy Love

Money

Sweet Lovin’ Baby

And When I Die

Band intro

Upstairs by a Chinese Lamp

The Confession

I Am the Blues

Sweet Blindness

Smile/Mars

Timer

The Cat Song

Emmie

When I Was a Freeport (And You Were the Main Drag)

Midnite Blue

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