Solomon Burke - The King Live At AVO Session Basel

Everything comes up roses with King Solomon

Solomon Burke has always been big on presence. As if to prove the point, you hear his unmistakably rich voice before he makes his way on stage, as the band crank out the intro and get the show rolling on this live DVD. With its glossy TV broadcast style, Live At AVO Session Basel was shot in November 2003 when Solomon was riding the crest of a wave courtesy of his Grammy-winning comeback album Don’t Give Up On Me. Backed by a super-slick, tuxedo-clad big band, the ever dapper Burke makes his entrance in his trademark robes, promising to sing “a little blues, a little rock’n’roll, a little gospel and a little country”, taking his place on his throne surrounded by red roses (for all the ladies in the house, you understand).

Throughout, Burke walks in the footsteps of Redding, Pickett and Cooke, and even throws in a Little Richard medley for good measure. The real highpoints come with his reading of Tom Waits’ Diamond In Your Mind and perennial crowdpleaser Cry To Me.

Glitzy, schmaltzy and even a touch cheesy, as live DVDs go this is fine, but falls some way short of the superb documentary, Everybody Needs Somebody, released earlier this year.

3 stars 3 stars 3 stars

MVD Visual | MVDV 4608

Reviewed by Grahame Bent
<< Back to Issue 341

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