José Feliciano is quite the old pro. He has a trunk full of songs to his credit, ready to perform at a moment's notice. He is a true crossover artist, appealing to fans of pop, rock, jazz, and various kinds of Latin music. He's known as a singer who plays the guitar, but he can hold an audience as a guitar soloist in ways that most performers can't. And, he performs about equally (and equally well) in English and Spanish.
All of these qualities were amply on display Friday evening as Mr. Feliciano performed an extended set with his band and members of the San Diego Symphony at the Summer Pops concert held at Embarcadero Marina Park South, behind the convention center. Opening with some romantic music for guitar and orchestra, Mr. Feliciano's set ranged through music for solo guitar (including his own melodic composition, "Preludio Azteco"), traditional Latin music ("Oye Guitarra Mía," "Señor Bolero," "Mi Niña") to romantic standards in both Spanish and English, to some of his big hits ("California Dreamin'," "Softly, As I Leave You," on which he was joined by violinist Robin Olson). He even did "[Listen to the Falling] Rain," and a light drizzle began to fall right on cue.
Perhaps the emotional center of his set was a jazzy version of Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean." Displaying his greatest level of guitar virtuosity of the evening, Mr. Feliciano's fingers flew over the strings as if his very life depended on it. His performance exposed "Billie Jean" as a solid piece of pop musical writing that stands on its own in covers by artists other than the late Mr. Jackson. There is a version of Mr. Feliciano's performance of this number online here. While this performance lacks the emotional fervor Mr. Feliciano displayed on Friday evening, it will give you some clue as to its power.
Despite his excellence as a musician, Mr. Feliciano's voice is fraying at the edges. Particularly in his upper range he is shouting now more than in his prime. So, he sings less and plays the guitar more. Still, his diction in both Spanish and English is exemplary. I am not a great Spanish speaker, but I can following Mr. Feliciano's sung Spanish fairly well because of his crisp consonants and pure, clear, vowels. At this point in his career, he's a romantic rocker, as demonstrated by his choice of encores: "Let Me Try Again," and one of his big hits, "Light My Fire." It will be interesting to compare Mr. Feliciano's version of this latter song with the version that members of the Doors will perform with the symphony next Thursday.
Summer Pops Conductor Matthew Garbutt opened the program with the most sophisticated music of the evening, George Gershwin's "Cuban Overture." A kind of Latin "American in Paris," this piece in the style of the rumba reflects the same kinds of urban dissonances that pervade its more famous cousin, albeit with Latin rhythms. The orchestra caught many of the colors of this piece, and Sheryl Renk's clarinet solo was a marvel of sophisticated playing. What a fine musician Ms. Renk is! The orchestra is very lucky to have her on its roster.
In addition to the Gershwin, the orchestra performed lush, cinematic, arrangements of three Latin favorites: "Brazil," "Carioca" (from the film, "Flying Down to Rio"), and "Tico-Tico no Fubá."
There will be one additional performance of this concert, on Saturday evening, August 22, at 7:30pm.
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