The Garden Rocks with George

 

The Garden Rocks with George, Ravi 

By Patricia O'Haire

Daily News (New York, NY)

December 21, 1974

    The music was good, and the musicians were fine. For once, the sound system actually worked well at Madison Square Garden Thursday night for the first of the three benefit concerts given by George Harrison and Ravi Shankar. The other performances took place yesterday at four and again at 9pm.

     So why did the concert seem so uninspired? Blame the evening's major star, George Harrison, himself. Former Beatle Harrison was undoubtedly the attraction that lured most of the 20,000-plus fans to the Garden, but for a good portion of the evening, the other musicians on stage outplayed Harrison, outsang Harrison, and far outperformed Harrison.

     Too bad because Harrison could very easily be the most interesting of the four lads from Liverpool who did so much to shake up the music world a decade or so ago. He is the one who seems to be walking down the most open road, the one most agreeable to new musical ideas, the one who doesn't seem to be afraid of doing something different. And incredibly, he is also the one who doesn't mind sharing the spotlight with other artists.

     That worked to his disadvantage Thursday night. He opened the show half an hour late with "Something", and right away, it was obvious that he was not in top form. His voice cracked several times. He sounded tired, and he strained to reach the higher notes and didn't make them. His guitar playing sounded almost indifferent compared to the suburbs strumming of Robben Ford in the background.

     After a few other numbers, including "In My Life", written by "two old friends of mine" (John Lennon and Paul McCartney, whom he didn't name), he introduced Billy Preston for one number then brought out the 16-piece Indian Orchestra led by Ravi Shankar. They were excellent.

     The group has recorded an album entitled The Shankar Family and Friends, and most of the numbers they performed were from that album. Joined by some of Harrison's musicians, saxophonist Tom Scott and percussionist Emil Richards, the band managed a quite unusual blend of styles that might possibly be defined as raga jazz, especially the last number "Dispute and Violence". It was very easy to take.

     Later, the Harrison group returned to reprise some of his better-known songs and some he wrote for a new album. Finally, the group seemed to get everything together, and the musical excitement began to build. "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" got it started, and it reached a peak when the very fine keyboard man, Billy Preston took over the stage to play, sing, dance around, and get everyone moving. For the time he and Harrison did a few dance steps together on stage, the audience was on its feet screaming with joy. "My sweet Lord" put a fitting cap on the evening.