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McCOO / DAVIS – STILL TWO / STILL BEST

In today’s popular entertainment, when much of what we see and hear is bland, unimaginative and one-dimensional, Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr. demonstrated last night at the Sycuan Casino in San Diego a style of entertainment that reaches the fifth dimension and beyond. For those who remember the super-popular singing group, “The 5th Dimnension,” it was as though the years never really had passed. These two stellar artists, in vision and voice, have an energy that makes it appear that they are at the beginning point of what has been almost forty years of their musical career and married life.

Marilyn and Billy, accompanied by superb musicians and back-up singers, regaled us with a night of music replete with a plethora of styles, rhythms and moods that animated tittilated and defibrillated. I, for one, was unaware of this outré dimensional aspect of this 5th Dimension alumni. Who knew that Billy Davis, Jr. could get down, wallow and holler in the soul-scorching depths and hues of the blues? Of course, the plausibility is there when one becomes aware that he was bred and nurtured in the bosom of the Kansas City tradition. Then, there is Marilyn McCoo. We were always delighted with the sight and sound of her stunning face and form, reflecting a middle-class Los Angeles upbringing, beltilng out hit after hit in the crossover world of that day. However, the 5th Dimension id not reveal all of her dimensions. Marilyn took us on a journey of styles that could be appreciated only in a live setting such as that. She did a show-stopper from her Broadway appearance as “Julie” in “Showboat”—as well as other obscure and popular torch songs.

McCoo and Davis’s side-men and –women were anything but “on the side.” They were a driving and supporting force that followed the mood and temperament of the singers to a "T'". The pianist-arranger kept the performance at an even and precise clip, as well as to contribute to the vocals. The two back-up ladies also were instrumental in those full, 5th Dimension stylings. McCoo and Davis graciously offered each of the musicians the opportunity to “wail” alone. The pianist, guitarist, base player and drummer took their turn--as well as the all-important electronic keyboardist who was less visible, but provided the strings and other instrument sounds that were effective in turning the rocking combo into a full-fledged orchestra.

Marilyn and Billie maintained a pattern of intimate conversation with the audience throughout the performance. This was a contrasting enhancement to the fully professional, well structured offering taking place onstage. The dynamic duo recognized several individuals in the audience, including Marilyn’s sister Millie, one of the original singers with the 5th Dimension and a former collaborator with Carlos Santana.

They topped the evening off with a duo rendition of a particular favorite of mine: “The Music Never Ends.” That probably is not the correct title, but as far as Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr. are concerned. Let’s hope that it never does.

Their latest CD containing that perennial gut-wrencher—as well as other McCoo/Davis hits—may be found at http://mccoodavis.com/