THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, November 7, 1995 TAG: 9511070049
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E7 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: MUSIC REVIEW
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 56 lines
SHELBY LYNNE had a cold Saturday and told her manager she would perform for no more than 40 minutes.
She was onstage at the Bait Shack in Waterside for 90 minutes, a no-charge appearance that was part of a tribute to deejay Joe Hoppel, who was celebrating his 40th anniversary with WCMS.
The free concert lured about 1,000 people into the club, fans who got much more than they bargained for.
They came to hear country but stayed to enjoy jazz and pop. Lynne is as much at home with standards in those categories as she is with Nashville offerings.
She works with the same intensity and has a range similar to one of her heroines - Barbra Streisand.
Even with a cold, Lynne hits notes you were not sure existed, sounding better than singers with normal temperatures.
Her remarkable voice was enhanced by a trio of excellent instrumentalists, adding to the jazz feeling: fiddler Jonathan Yudkin, who usually accompanies Kathy Mattea; guitarist Pat Burgeson, who works with Chet Atkins; and Allison Krauss's brother, Victor, who plays standup bass, another reminder of jazz.
Lynne proclaimed ``country forever'' while happily performing such songs as ``Ain't Misbehavin' '' and ``Cry Me a River.''
The latter was a hit by Frank Sinatra, whom the South Carolina singer emulates in her phrasing and lyric interpretation. It's a swinger, as is a tribute to that type of music, ``Swingtown,'' featured in Lynne's current album, ``Restless.''
Also from that release comes her hit single, ``I'm Not the One'' and ``Slow Me Down,'' which elicited a near-frenzy response.
Lynne has the strongest voice in country and is its most exciting performer.
Another performer paying tribute to Hoppel was Rob Crosby. He pleased the audience with a strong, impressive voice.
The newcomer performed his single, a lovely tearjerker, ``Lady's Man,'' but the highlight of his set was the rugged, gutsy ``The Story of the Blues,'' penned by a Virginia Beach resident L.G. Walker.
Cruzin Coyotes, an Elizabeth City-based trio, offered high-energy, a lot of excitement and some excellent vocal and instrumental work.
It was a good night of tribute to Hoppel, the longest-running morning announcer in large-market country radio. ILLUSTRATION: MUSIC REVIEW
Shelby Lynne, Rob Crosby and Cruzin Coyotes on Saturday at the
Bait Shack in Waterside
by CNB