The New York Pops Has Them Dancing In Their Seats With “Hitsville: Celebrating Motown”

Music review by Andrew Poretz . . . .

When is the last time you saw an entire audience clapping, singing along and dancing to a 78-piece orchestra? The New York Pops orchestra has had some of the most thrilling seasons in its 41-year history under the direction of Maestro Steven Reineke. Hitsville: Celebrating Motown, was no exception.

This jukebox concert celebrated songs by such artists as Stevie Wonder, The Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, and more. While the celebrated team of Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland composed four of the evening’s selections, it was surprising to learn that Nicholas Ashford and Valerie Simpson wrote five, with four for Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell and one for Diana Ross. (They later became stars themselves, as “Ashford & Simpson.”)

After an overture of some beloved Motown hits, the concert got a huge injection of Motown soul from two major voices with just the right cred: Broadway and television stars Bryan Terrell Clark and Valisia LeKae, who portrayed Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross, respectively, in Motown the Musical. Supporting vocalists Stephanie Fisher, Melodie Ray, and Charlyn E.M. Willis quite effectively provided the familiar Motown “girl group” harmonies.

The charismatic Reineke related some Motown history before introducing Bryan Terrell Clark, making his Carnegie debut in a dazzling white suit and black shoes. Mr. Clark quickly raised the temperature in the auditorium with The Four Tops’ “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch). After Mr. Clark noted that he played a Temptation on Broadway before getting cast as Marvin Gaye, he performed The Temptations’ hit “My Girl,” with the help of the backup singers and audience participation. Mr. Clark threw roses to several lucky women during this number.

The songs had arrangements that stayed true to the original records. Rather than reimagining any of the source material, everything was “supersized” by having a world-class orchestra behind the singers. (They did not impersonate the Motown stars, but were faithful to their vocal phrasing.)

Ms. LeKae arrived to the stage looking stunning in black gown, her hair long and straight. She cleverly answered Mr. Clark’s “My Girl” with “My Guy,” written by Smokey Robinson for Mary Wells. When Ms. LeKae sang Diana Ross songs, it was like a Supreme reunion, as on an outstanding “Where Did Our Love Go.”

After Mr. Clark’s pitch-perfect performance of Marvin Gaye’s biggest hit, “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” Ms. LeKae joined him for a pair of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell hits, “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing” and “Your Precious Love.” Ms. LeKae wowed with the gospel-like Gladys Knight smash, “If I Were Your Woman” (with female Pips). Her crescendo in the second half was powerful, reaching-for-the-sky singing at its finest.

The pair closed out the first half of the program with a bang with Stevie Wonder’s “Sir Duke,” asking the audience to “help us out and sing.” The audience obliged.

Post-intermission, the orchestra played a new overture of Diana Ross songs, “The Symphonic Sounds of Diana Ross,” which included a lovely segment of flute and harp playing the melody to “Touch Me In the Morning.”

The Pops’ generous donors always make it possible for high school students to attend their concerts. Some 300 students were in the balcony, and Mr. Reineke gave each of their schools shoutouts.

Ms. LeKae returned in a sparkly, white jumpsuit for a set of Diana Ross songs. “I Hear a Symphony” (played BY a symphony) was sensational, with a hot sax solo. But it was the gospel-tinged “Reach Out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand)” that stole the show. Ms. LeKae had the audience repeatedly sing the refrain, “Reach out and touch/somebody’s hand/make this world a better place/if you can.” Wireless mic in hand, she left the stage and worked the hall, finding volunteers to take a solo turn on this refrain. While a few brave souls shyly sang into the mic, one imposing woman in a red Sunday dress worked her way down the aisle to get Ms. LeKae’s attention and boldly sang. A handsome fellow in the first row had quite a voice on him.

Mr. Clark, now in a red suit with Marvin Gaye’s face painted on it, nailed a medley of Smokey Robinson chart toppers, “The Tracks of My Tears” and “The Tears of a Clown.”

The vocalists reunited (and it felt so good) for two more songs written by Ashford and Simpson for Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, notably “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” which brought the entire audience to their feet to sing and clap. A sustained standing ovation garnered a surprise encore, not listed in the program, of “Dancing In the Street,” with audience doing the dancing.

This concert was a tremendous success for the New York Pops and Steven Reineke. With so many great Motown classics to consider, it would be impossible to cover everything. There are easily enough top Motown hits for another concert (or five). Here’s hoping that happens!

Hitsville: Celebrating Motown took place on March 15 at Carnegie Hall, West 57th Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues (https://www.carnegiehall.org).

Photos: Richard Termine