The Grand Rapids Press
Wednesday, September 18, 2002
By Terry Deboer
Singer-songwriter Amy Grant sampled music from four decades in shaping her two-hour concert set Tuesday in Sunshine Community Church.
Yes, she's been around that long.
Hard to believe. But the nostalgia was evident among the crowd of more than 1,000 -- many of whom appeared to have been fans most of the way along her 25-year career.
Grant and her players -- who included her husband, Vince Gill -- performed her hits from "El Shaddai" to "Baby Baby." They also played several hymns from her latest "Legacy" album.
But the scope of the 23 musical selections was impressive as it went back to the early days.
"You're dating yourselves ... this is from '79," Grant remarked as fans recognized the opening strains of her ballad "My Father's Eyes."
The five-time Grammy winner, dressed casually in blue jeans and flip-flops, was a relaxed presence and carried an informal air that set the evening's tone.
Gill even got to sing a couple of his songs along the way.
Grant told a few stories behind some of her songs. As a 9-year-old, she first heard Joni Mitchell's song "Big Yellow Taxi." Later she recorded a version herself.
Her pop hit "Baby Baby" was actually a reference to one of her daughters, who was born shortly before she wrote the song over 10 years ago.
Her youngest child, Corinna, just turned 18 months old last week. The toddler trotted out on stage Tuesday to hear some of "Daddy's music." Gill responded by playing his country hit "Liza Jane." Earlier, he had indulged an audience request to sing a love song to Amy. Gill chose "Tryin' To Get Over You."
"That's a wide definition of a love song, if you ask me," quipped Grant after Gill finished.
With a song list that included "Angels," "Takes a Little Time" and her Gill duet "House of Love," Grant did tunes from nearly every one of her albums. She did leave out songs from "Lead Me On," which some critics call her best overall album.
But to dwell on that is to quibble. Grant and band (coordinated by keyboardist Tim Akers) did five songs from her latest hymns album, but all the rest provided a time line over her quarter century of music.
She even performed "Simple Things," the likely title track of her pop album targeted for release next year.
Other of her offerings included "Good For Me," "Lucky One," and "Find a Way."
If this had been a Grant crowd of 10 years ago, fans would have been on their feet and possibly dancing in the aisles to some of the uptempo material.
But Grant is 10 years older -- 41 now -- and so are many of her fans. And with her hymns and ballads in the evening's mix, the feeling was more reflective than frenzied, so the crowd remained seated.
Except for the end, when the audience finally rose, calling Grant back for an encore.
"Thank you for all the years you've let my music be a part of your lives," the singer told the crowd before starting her final song, "Helping Hand," from "House of Love."
Grant is still a charmer, just as she was in the early days as a teen with a guitar and a pack of songs sprung from her faith.
Opening act Fernando Ortega delivered seven tunes during his set, including "Traveler," from his recent album, "Storm." He and his three side players also performed "Children of the Living God," Ortega playing the accordion rather than his usual piano. Ortega's genuine stage presence and artful music continue to be winner with audiences.
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