“Jennifer Hudson” Her Gala appearance

Somewhat Recommended ** Tonight was a highly anticipated one for Ravinia and the sponsors of the Ravinia Women’s Board as they welcomed back, Chicago favorite, Jennifer Hudson, but this time with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The night was a thing of beauty. I am speaking atmosphere and weather. In the turbulent, wet summer that we have experienced to date, it was a pleasure to enjoy what some might call, a perfect night on the North Shore’s finest “treasure” Ravinia. Jane and I arrived around 4 p.m. and chose to dine at the Lawn Bar, a small plate dining spot that makes you feel as if you are on vacation. Next trip, I think we are going to move up to the second floor for their new BMO Club. We were seated on the patio in very comfy chairs and our server, Gloria made sure that we were well attended to. Many people come to Ravinia to picnic, so there were many people wheeling their dinners and chairs and stuff past us. This is pretty much the “Ravinia Way” and many people love doing this. Over the years, they have added additional dining areas to make life easier, and we prefer not having to carry our “stuff” in. I will say that on our walk to the Pavilion, I saw many great looking dinners being consumed! There are some people who truly know how to do a picnic.

Being a Gala, we say many guests dress to the gills. Tuxedos and formals of every type and style. Both young and old, dress to the nines. After all, this is a fundraiser for their “Reach, Teach and Play” programs. These are designed to make music available to those who would not be able to enjoy the beauty of same, without the help of this organization.

The actual performance was to begin at 6 p.m. and to make it easier to see Ms Hudson, a jumbo screen was placed on the lawn area so they could see her every more. This is the screen they use for the movies ( where the soundtrack has been removed and the symphony plays-great idea), but there was a slight delay in getting the people into their seats, which for the most part were sold out.

Ms. Hudson, does bring her own people to the stage with her and has the master of the keyboards David Jackson and his band on stage. Marcus Phillips on guitar, Jan Ozveren on bass and key bass and Qyu Jackson on the drums . Her background singers are there as well, George Huff, Sibhan McNear, Chelsea West and one more gentleman who was not listed in the program. The program began with a bang and her entourage emerged from the park down aisle 4 towards the stage. The dancers truly move well and the security guys, doing their job, appeared to be having a ball while maintaining the safety of the evening’s star. She is beautiful, stunning in every way and we all want to hug her and call her our own. She is “Chicago”, but I for one, and several people seated in my area were unhappy with her choice of music.

There were many loud and almost screeched pieces of music. A few church-like ( perhaps Gospel would be the word) but not enough of the songs that many of the audience members wanted to hear. She is an Academy Award winner ( were there songs in “Dreamgirls”?) and I know that she can do love songs as well as jazz.  This is a caring woman, who has established a foundation to help kids in the poor areas of Chicago get school supplies, She wants to be all “Chicago” and appeal to all of “Chicago”, so maybe she should mix her music up so that the older people who attend Ravinia ( there are many very senior citizens who would truly love to hear her sing music they might know or understand). She did get the audience involved and some audience members  who might have been family or close friends) did come up and do some belting as well. Again, it was belting, not singing!

I know that her idol, Aretha Franklin’s music would be well appreciated with the older crowd at Ravinia, so maybe doing her music, again with the” Symphony” would be something to consider for her next trip to Highland Park. Her show is good but could have been great! At least there was a lot of money raised so that more inner city kids will get to learn about music, the appreciation of same and perhaps one day, one of these young people will be standing before us on the stage at Ravinia performing a special event.