THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 19, 1995 TAG: 9511190153
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B6 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Music review
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: HAMPTON LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines
Alan Jackson, the long-legged country boy with the long string of hits and awards, hit Hampton Coliseum on Friday, beautifully accompanied by Faith Hill.
The two have been going together - professionally - for two years.
Often, as they did Friday, they perform before a sellout crowd.
The crowd, a mixed bag as far as age is concerned, was politely raucous as they cheered their ``Entertainer of the Year.''
What is the criterion for that title? Jackson is a very good singer. For fans who like their country on the pure side, he is an answer to prayer.
From that point of view he is quite entertaining, but if you are looking for high energy and a gimmick or three - forget it.
Friday's concert featured a decent light show and enough videos - including fuzzy puppy and baby pictures - to fill a Country Music Television presentation.
Otherwise, it was Jackson and his music - enough to keep his enthusiasts well-satisfied.
Enough to net the Entertainer of the Year title?
His greatest strength, of course, is his voice - a close second is the songs he sings, some of the best on the market.
Jackson's current hit, the Cajun-flavored ``Tall, Tall Trees,'' a Roger Miller oldie, is as good an example as any. The audience faves seemed to be ``Chattahoochee'' and ``Don't Rock the Jukebox.''
One of the night's highlights was the gospel offering, ``What Kind of Man?''
There was enough cheering for the expected encore, but it was a short one, a jazzed-up version of ``Mercury Blues.''
For the most part, the singer offers a show that could fill a couple of ``best of Alan Jackson'' albums. He seldom deviates - no '50s rock pieces, no oldies, no surprises.
And, not much talking. Jackson is still the ``shy guy'' who stumbles around trying to find the words he is looking for, an appealing ``aw, shucks'' approach.
That was not the reaction when Faith Hill pranced onstage, clad in a two-piece leather outfit.
More important than her garments - he said, trying to look professional - was that voice, the second-strongest voice of all the female country singers.
As good as Hill is on record, she can only be fully appreciated in concert.
Constantly moving from one end of the stage to the other, she feelingly belts out the ballads showing a beautiful understanding of the storytelling lyrics.
When she asks you to ``Take Another Little Piece of My Heart'' you are ready to grab.
When she sings ``You Can't Lose Faith'' you toss in an amen. This Faith is a winner with a good, healthy career ahead of her.
She is one of country's best. by CNB