From the moment someone in the adjacent terrace box looked down toward the front section and spotted Golden Globe winning TV star Tracee Ellis Ross, the die was cast for an amazing evening at the Hollywood Bowl with Diana Ross. Certainly not shy about admitting she’s now 81 (during a rousing turn on her disco-era classic “Upside Down”), the legendary singer and entertainer would be making her two-hour multi-media enhanced extravaganza not only an expansive nostalgic journey through all the phases of her iconic multi-decade of hits and splendid album cuts, but a full-on family affair.
Though she waited until her second night (Saturday) to bring Tracee up to play Lionel Richie on the love ballad to end all love ballads “Endless Love,” the actress turned singer joined her siblings (and what looked like some happy to participate grandchildren) on Friday night for frolic and introductions onstage at the boisterous fade out of the ever showstopping “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” which led to a dancing Ross Family jam of Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive.”
Earlier in the show, Diana invited her other multi-talented daughter Rhonda Ross onstage for “Count on Me,” a powerful duet (penned by Rhonda) from her most recent album Thank You. Rhonda took the spotlight with one of her own affecting tunes, and a word of advice to “stop gaslighting ourselves,” during one of her mom’s trademark colorful costume changes – this one from red to gold after an initial shift mid-show from bright yellow to fire engine red.
The family vibe – or more appropriately, an invitation to join Diana’s - extended to the audience multiple times throughout the show, most prominently during the cell phones lighting up, swaying singalong through her always unifying classic “Reach Out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand)” and the cheerful, gratitude filled encore “Thank You.”
Because legendary artists are always obligated to run through their greatest hits, Diana – still in great voice, backed by four singers, four blazing horns and an ever-grooving ensemble – performed and array of instantly singable tunes. Seemingly everyone at the sold out Bowl knew them instinctively and respectfully, though a few were shortened a bit and some, like “Touch Me in the Morning,” featured colorful new arrangements and phrasing - “I’m Coming Out” (always the best opener), “Love Hangover,” “Theme From Mahogany,” “The Boss” and the aforementioned “Endless Love,” “Ain’t No Mountain high Enough,” “Upside Down” and her whimsical take on “Why Do Fools Fall in Love.”
Oh, and let’s not forget the exuberant, danceable and singable Supremes medley near the top of the show, featuring “Baby Love,” “You Can’t Hurry Love,” “Come See About Me” and “Stop! In the Name of Love.” That segment of Holland-Dozier-Holland Motown delights could have gone on an hour with no objection from the eager audience.
For all those whirlwinds of joy, what made this show transcend many other Diana Ross live experiences was the unique mix of excellent repertoire beyond those, from her percussive romp through Lebo M’s African- flavored Lion King -related “He Lives in You” and the hopeful ballad “If We Hold On Together” from the film The Land Before Time.
Perhaps best of all, perhaps in the spirit of the late Quincy Jones and the popularity of the film Wicked, the singer performed a glorious rendition of “Home” from The Wiz, followed by that ultimate funky skip down the yellow brick, “Ease on Down the Road.” The spiritual/emotional centerpiece of the evening was when she slowed everything down for an exquisite, chill inducing rendition of “Amazing Grace.”
Throughout the show, which was the unofficial kickoff to her Celebrating Timeless Classics tour, Diana was backed not only by her killer ensemble but large screens alternately full of glittery glow, celestial imaginings and, most effectively, amazing clips of performances from her career and scenes from her life offstage.
It was an effective, almost surreal then vs. now presentation, as if the giddy mature woman at center stage, singing her heart out, was daring the audience to notice any change in her excitement, energy level, eagerness to entertain and most of all, sense of gratitude. If she’s aging at all, it’s truly with amazing grace. In that moment when she revealed her age, she added, “Move it or lose it.” She moved it!
Top photo, from a previous show, taken by Raph_PH, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.
