Aretha Franklin still qualifies as the Queen of Soul

/ July 19, 2015
Aretha Franklin captures the crowd Saturday night at the M&T Syracuse Jazz Fest.

Aretha Franklin captures the crowd Saturday night at the M&T Syracuse Jazz Fest.

The Queen of Soul still holds courts on a stage.

Aretha Franklin took the 10,000 and more folks who pressed onto the campus of Onondaga Community College for her finale set of the M&T Syracuse Jazz Fest and showed them a thing or two about proper soul singing Saturday night.

And it was very, very good.

Her band of a half-dozen wise and wonderful traveling professionals and more than a dozen dazzled Central New York standouts helped her entertain with a wind-up set of tested classics and covers from her new diva album that proved that this natural woman deserves respect, from the 60s to this very second.

That band warmed the masses with an overture, and then Franklin, splendid in a sparkly gold gown, entered grandly from the flanks sounding strong with “Higher and Higher.”

Her voice was strong.

On “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” all of those in the crowd who agreed yelled in agreement when she wet her finger and ran it down her side to her hip.

Her personality was strong.

On “Think,” they sang along in freedom, and on “Do Right Woman — Do Right Man,” they got quiet to think about what that meant.

On “Chain of Fools,” they danced along with her and for her.

The crowd reacts to Aretha.

The crowd reacts to Aretha.

Of course, Aretha Franklin has had her spells in the past decade, and so she’s following a concert regimen. After seven songs, she waved to the crowd and took a break. During her rest, the story of her life flashe via slides on the video screens and the band played an overture in support.

When Franklin returned, she was ready for her modern touch. And her take on Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” was every bit as scorching as the original

And then she told of her recovery in song style, making it verse, with the clincher: “it’s not on the cat scan anymore.” Hallelujah. Yes, the crowd was ready for some gospel. And for Franklin to move to the piano for a touching version of Simon and Garfunkel’s “Bridge over Troubled Water.”

The night was fine.

I know you can spell “R-E-S-P-E-C-T.”

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66 thoughts on “Aretha Franklin still qualifies as the Queen of Soul”

  11. Wow, I think the last time I saw her perform was at Obama’s inauguration, which was almost 7 years ago. Way to keep on keepin on, Aretha!

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  16. Just too c-o-o-l Terp! Love Aretha-glad she is doing so well health wise and still thrilling the crowds she can draw! Anyone in your area not taking advantage of seeing the Queen of Soul in person, live, on stage, singing it baby is wacky…Hee Hee Good job Mark as usual. The Gatorette.

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