SAM CARDON and MICHAEL DOWDLE in concert, Wednesday evening, Aug. 28, Deer Valley. One performance only.
Utah has attracted some of the best national artists in concert this past year.Yanni; Sting; Peter, Paul and Mary; the fabled Ray Brown Trio; and the Queen of the Blues, Koko Taylor.
But two Utah artists - Sam Cardon and Michael Dowdle - delivered a stunning performance Wednesday night at Deer Valley that rivaled and in some cases outshown some of the more famous names.
Both have albums that have grabbed prestigious spots on the national charts, and Cardon has landed an Emmy for his work. But there is always, as Cardon put it, the "can anything good come from this place?" stigma to overcome when local-artists-who-have-made-it-in-the-big-time play on their own home turf.
It was one of those nights when everything seemed in sync. Even the weather took a break from rain and hailstorms to provide a clear, starry sky for fans sitting on the mountainside.
The concert was perfectly paced, and the majority of the pieces were upbeat, zippy and fun. Both played from their two new albums - Cardon's "Serious Leisure" and Dowdle's "From the Hip," creating a breezy, ain't-life-great atmosphere. Fans also enjoyed the jazzy familiarity of pieces like Cardon's "Higher Road" from his popular album "Impulse."
The duo's talent for comedy shone in their campy version of "Misty." Cardon dressed in an unbelievably tacky red velvet jacket while Dowdle donned a black leather jacket and sunglasses. With deep passion, Dowdle played his electric guitar, shook his gorgeous long, blond locks and looked meaningfully into Cardon's eyes as Cardon swooned back and forth on the piano. It's a good thing they weren't serious about this act, which they referred to as their "sleeze and cheese" routine. It would be impossible not to laugh.
Cardon, who established an easy rapport with the audience, conceded that he was probably born the wrong color because of his passion for blues. The group then performed Cardon's soulful version of Bill Withers' "Ain't No Sunshine," which received enthusiastic applause from the crowd.
But there were also quieter moments in the concert. Particularly effective was Dowdle's solo piece, "In the Quiet Place." Throughout the evening, Dowdle switched from playing acoustic to electric guitar, showcasing his versatility and comfort with his instrument. His technical precision can't be beat.
As Dowdle wrapped up his solo, Cardon and other band members joined him on stage to perform Cardon's engaging piece "Into a Brighter Day."
Cardon praised the talents of their backup group, comprised primarily of Utah artists. Ray Smith, director of Brigham Young University's jazz program, deserves kudos for his incredible saxophone wizardry. He also provided a richness to the overall performance as he played a remarkable instrument, the electric woodwind. This gave the impression woodwind and string sections were on stage. Jim Stout on bass, Todd Sorensen on drums, Ken Hodges on percussion and Vince Fratis on keyboards contributed to a beautifully blended concert.
As Cardon said following the concert, "We were all communicating together. It was one of the most fun times I've had performing."
The warmup to Cardon and Dowdle was Utah comedian Johnny Biscuit. A sampling of his humor: "I avoid yelling, `Single! Single!' when in line at a ski resort because I feel like I'm crying, `Lonely! Fear of commitment!' "
He pointed out the lunacy of a sign he saw printed on a bus stop bench: "Learn to Read." Biscuit added just the right comical touch to an evening of serious fun.