Wonder at center of jam at Woods event

Kirk Baird

Monday, May 23, 2005 | 8:17 a.m.

Stevie Wonder should perform more often.

The 55-year-old music legend hasn't toured since the mid-1990s, playing only sporadic shows since then. He also hasn't released an album of original material since 1995.

With a new album due next month, however, the ageless Wonder took the stage Saturday night at the Mandalay Bay Events Center as headliner for "Tiger Jam VIII," a charity concert benefiting the Tiger Woods Foundation.

In front of a crowd of 7,750, Wonder proved, even a decade away from the stage, that he can groove with the best of them.

While many in the crowd no doubt relished the rare opportunity to see Wonder in concert, it often seemed as if the performer was having the best time of anyone, routinely flashing his iconic smile while directing his talented band through his extensive catalog of hits.

"Tiger Jam VIII" opened with a burst when opening act Counting Crows took the stage for a rollicking set led by frontman Adam Duritz, looking thicker around the waist since the band broke big in the mid-1990s. Then again,the same could be said of many of us.

The band's nearly 50-minute set was heavy on crowd favorites ("Mr. Jones," "Miami," "Mrs. Potter's Lullaby"), with many of the songs so loosely constructed they bordered on jams. The freewheeling approach to the music had as much to do with skilled Dave Matthews Band violinist Boyd Tinsley sitting in on several songs, as it did the band's obvious comfort level with and mastery of its material.

Tinsley's addition to "Rain King," the first song in the set, was particularly impressive, providing the melancholy piece with a potent injection of Nashville twang, via violin.

By the time the Crows left the stage, the crowd was on its feet.

After the briefest introductions by Conan O'Brien, (perhaps he had to get on a return flight to New York for his show), Tiger Woods came out and thanked the crowd for its support of "Tiger Jam VIII" and his Tiger Woods Foundation.

Then he introduced the "22-time Grammy Award-winning" Wonder to the crowd, which immediately stood and applauded the icon as he was led to his keyboard and piano setup located at front and center stage.

Wonder didn't disappoint.

After telling the crowd to feel free to sing along to the songs, even if they didn't know the words, he started the show with an overlooked gem from 1973's "Innervision," "Golden Lady."

Then he blistered the crowd with a fiery version of the reggae-tinged "Master Blaster (Jammin')," followed by the infectious, funktastic grooves of "Higher Ground."

Sensing most of the crowd was sitting passively in their seats, Wonder turned his next song, "All I Do" into a sing-a-long contest between genders. While his ploy dragged well past 10 minutes, the results were impressive nonetheless, as the crowd slowly responded with enthusiasm of its own.

A few songs later, Wonder's masterful delivery of "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours," "Sir Duke" and "I Wish" proved to be the evening's highlight, and had everyone on their feet and, at the very least, gently swaying in place if not bursting into a full rump shake.

Instead of following this terrific triumvirate with a knock-out blow of funk -- the gritty "Living for the City" no doubt would have elevated the crowd to ecstasy -- Wonder opted to back off from the danceable songs and slow down the proceedings with ballads: "Overjoyed," an unidentified song from the new album and "Ribbon in the Sky."

Many in the crowd seemed bored by the sudden downshift to a slower pace and into pop-driven love songs.

They were on their feet minutes later, however, with "Superstition," featuring a surprise appearance by Prince halfway through the song.

Considering "Superstition" is driven by down-and-dirty guitar riffs, it was disappointing that the audio mix of the song all but buried the guitars.

Prince did manage to pump life into the classic, though, with some improvised guitar jamming with Wonder's funked-out keyboard sound.

Strangely, though, Wonder halted the song just as it seemed he and Prince were getting into a groove, and launched into another song jam.

A few minutes later, Wonder took the same approach and cut short another jam by he and Prince. Clearly befuddled -- and perhaps irritated -- by the sudden changes in musical direction by Wonder, Prince gave up trying to jam with the band and quietly exited the stage.

Wonder, who was in good voice and form throughout the evening, closed out his nearly two-hour set with the socially and politically charged "So What the Fuss?" followed by the Latin-flavored "Another Star" for the sole encore.

It was a Wonder-ful end to a wonderful cause, one that raised a million dollars for the Tiger Woods Foundation.

For most in attendance, though, Tiger Jam VIII was the best -- if not the only -- opportunity to see a true living legend at work.

Unless, of course, Wonder decides to tour again.

We can only hope.