Friday, Jan. 31, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.
David Clayton Thomas and Blood, Sweat & Tears played to their usual enthusiastic capacity crowd Thursday night in Arizona Charlie's Palace Grand Theatre. Thomas is the ideal vocalist and front man-conductor for the four horns and four-rhythm complement, each a virtuoso in his own right. The ensemble (two trumpets, one sax, one trombone, keyboards, guitar, bass and drums) proves that a group can rock hard softly, use dynamics and be loose but musically tight at the same time -- an aural pleasure.
Billed as "The Heart and Soul of New York City," Thomas & Co. started off with "Evil Hearted Guy," followed with a gospel sing-along, then "And When I Die," "Smiling Faces" (a hit in Poland), a "bad-ass blues" titled "Too Many Dishes in the Sink," "Forty-Thousand Head Men," "Gimme That Wine," "God Bless the Child," "Spinning Wheel" and a demand encore, "You Make Me So Very Happy." The well-selected, played-to-near-perfection, 75-minute program merited a spontaneous standing ovation.
Each member of the musical group had a chance to solo with Glenn McClelland, the actual conductor, outstanding on trumpet and fluegel horn. His Cootie Williams-like use of the plunger on a trumpet chase with Clayton Thomas on the opening set the high standard, maintained throughout. Each of the soloists were rewarded with generous applause.
The next stop is Saturday in Los Angeles, where they will perform with the Long Beach Symphony. It was good to hear they are scheduled to return to Arizona Charlie's this fall, exact date to be announced. We'll be there. Make your reservations early.
JOE DELANEY is a SUN entertainment critic.
