The Rolling Stones' Lisa Fischer Coming to Park Theatre
Ken Abrams, GoLocalProv Music Critic
The Rolling Stones' Lisa Fischer Coming to Park Theatre
You may not recognize her name, but you've definitely heard her sing. Lisa Fischer, who is coming to Rhode Island on April 4th, knows a lot about being a star.
Fischer is a Grammy winning solo artist and a widely admired backup singer who appeared in the 2014 Academy Award winning documentary, “20 Feet From Stardom.” She’s coming to town next week, playing the Park Theatre in Cranston.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTIn 1989, she won a Grammy award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance in a rare tie with the legendary Patti LaBelle. Her song “How Can I Ease the Pain,” soared to #1 that year, and later appeared on her album So Intense, released in 1991.
Fischer knows a lot more about musical stardom. Since the mid-1980’s, she’s toured as a back-up singer with artists as diverse as Tina Turner, Sting and the Rolling Stones. This Spring, Fischer is touring with her band Grand Baton, comprised of a group of accomplished jazz musicians - JC Maillard on guitar, Thierry Arpino on drums, and Aidan Carroll on bass.
Solo and Back-Up
In an interview with GoLocal, Fischer made it clear that she’s not ready to classify her music into a specific category or genre. Her solo material showcases her vocal range reflecting Jazz, R&B, and Pop influences.
“We tend to get lost in rhythms and melodies and stories and moments within the music which allows us the freedom to just share. I wouldn't know what to call this genre but we leave it to the listeners to do so if they wish and welcome it with open arms.”
Her most heralded moment has been her work on tour with the Rolling Stones, in particular her duet with Mick Jagger on the classic “Gimme Shelter.” She’s toured with the band since the late 1980’s – and recalls many unforgettable shows.
“Some of my most memorable performances were with the Rolling Stones on Copacabana Beach, with Luther Vandross on any given night, and with Tina Turner in London.”
Along with Vandross, who she sang for early in her career, she’s played live with Sting, Aretha Franklin and Nine Inch Nails. In concert, she's really more of a guest vocalist than a traditional back-up singer, and she's featured on solos throughout the shows in which she appears.
Accomplished Artist
Fischer seems to delight in both roles – as a backup singer and as leader of her own band.
“As a background singer, I have a set list of things that are required to make the artist happy and comfortable and free, and I adore that process. With this group, I get to freely paint what it is I wish to convey through the melodies and the stories of the songs we choose.”
“I liken it to the vision of a flower and it's stem. As a background singer I feel like the stem that supports the flower, though the flower in its totality feels the rays of the sun, it's the petals that blossom for us all.”
In reference to her own band, she notes “the experience with these musicians is that we are all the petals, stems and leaves all at the same time and this makes me feel grounded in a way I haven't experienced before.”
Playing Newport Jazz
Fischer and Grand Baton will be returning to the area this summer for the Newport Jazz Festival, where she performed in 2010 with popular Jazz trumpeter Chris Botti.
“We are so excited about the festival. It's so wonderful to be around so much wonderful music especially in such an amazing setting.”
Meanwhile, plan to check her out next Saturday at a more intimate venue, the historic Park Theatre in Cranston. Tickets start at $35 for the 8PM show. Tickets and further details available here.
Ken Abrams reviews Root, Rock and Blues for GoLocalProv. E-Mail him here.
Top 5 Spring Concerts
John Mellencamp at PPAC
John Mellencamp is playing the Providence Performing Arts Center April 16th on the final leg of his “Plain Spoken" tour of over 80 cities. Reviews from the tour have been spectacular, with critics noting the singer sounds better than ever. The “Voice of the Heartland” has some great stories to tell. His latest mostly acoustic album, Plain Spoken, has an Americana bent, and has been compared to Bob Dylan’s Blood on the Tracks. Special guest Carlene Carter opens for Mellencamp.
Lisa Fischer at Park
Grammy winner Lisa Fischer will be playing the Park Theatre in Cranston on April 4. You may not know her name, but you definitely know her voice; she’s been a background singer for artists as varied as Luther Vandross, Sting, and most notably, the Rolling Stones, who she’s toured with since the late 80’s. Her vocals on “Gimme Shelter” propelled her career, and landed her a central role on the Oscar winning film “20 Feet From Stardom,” a documentary about background singers (which by the way, we highly recommend). Fischer will be in town leading her top notch R&B/Jazz band Grand Baton.
Kacey Musgraves at Lupos
Country singer-songwriter Kacey Musgraves will be at Lupos Friday March 27. Musgraves is a sassy upstart who made a splash with her hit “Follow Your Arrow,” a song that has become an anthem for many young country fans. The tune comes from her album Same Trailer, Different Park, which debuted at #1 on the Country charts in 2013. The album won a Grammy in 2013 for Best Country Album and Best Country Song in 2014 for “Follow Your Arrow.” Not too shabby a way to start a career!
David Lindley at Lilypads
One of the greatest sidemen in Rock and Roll history will be at Lilypads in Peacedale on May 16. David Lindley is well known for his work with Warren Zevon, Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt and numerous others, live and in the studio. He’s always done his own thing as well, touring with just about every instrument ever fitted with strings. You’ve heard his voice before too, singing falsetto on “Stay” from the classic Jackson Brown album, Running on Empty.
Sandywoods Folk Festival
A new Memorial Day Weekend tradition begins this year with the Sandywoods Folk Festival. The first annual event with headliners like Antje Duvekot and Christine Lavin will be held “in the fields” at Sandywoods, an arts community in Tiverton. There’s a wide variety of talent scheduled over two days and the Festival jabs Newport with its “Pay What You Can” policy. (Not to mention, bottled water for only $1 a bottle!) All the details can be found here – be sure to get out and support some great local and national artists!
Honorable Mention - Rock
A whole bunch of rock shows are coming to town over the next couple of months. Lupos has Neutral Milk Hotel April 19, Scott Bradley's Post Modern Jukebox on May 1 and Of Monsters and Men on May 9. Twin River has shows with Sugar Ray and The Gin Blossons March 20, The Beach Boys April 17, and Steve Miller June 19. The Met has indie-rock supergroup Diamond Rugs on March 28 and legendary guitarist Richard Thompson April 19.
Mellow Rock in Kingston
The Courthouse Center for the Arts in Kingston has an impressive line-up of 70’s rockers this Spring starting this Saturday night March 21 with folk singer Melanie. Follow that on March 27 with the Pousette-Dart Band, Jonathan Edwards on April 18, and Pure Prairie League on May 2. John Ford Coley closes things out on May 30. And in between, the Center has RI’s top tribute band, Forever Young, interpreting the tunes of Neil Young on April 25, and the highly regarding Bluegrass Gospel Project on May 23. The soft rock beat continues into the summer with Livingston Taylor on June 27.
The Coffee House Scene
The local Coffee House scene remains busy until the annual summer break. Common Fence Music in Portsmouth has modern Bluegrass band Lindsay Lou and the Flatbellys on March 28 and The Gnomes on April 18. Head to Stone Soup in Pawticket March 21 for Antje Duvekot and return on April 11 for Gordon Bok. Also, check out the Zoetical Festival with Rhode Island's own Arc Iris in residence at Aurora in Providence every Friday in April. Lots happening!
Rock, Folk, Jazz and More
The Narrows Center has Rock, Folk, Blue and Jazz royalty passing through this Spring. The Fall River venue has original Buffalo Springfield member Richie Furray leading his band on March 19, New Age pianist George Winston April 4, and Paul Barrere, Fred Tackett and the New Orleans Suspects on April 9. Suzzy Bogguss is there April 17 and Bruce Coburn visits May 11. A major Jazz show featuring the Gerry Gibbs Thrasher Dream Trio with Kenny Barron and Ron Carter is scheduled for April 25.
