Royce show produces mixed results
By Daily Bruin Staff
Sept. 30, 2001 9:00 p.m.
 MARY HOLSCHER Elvis Costello and the
Mingus Orchestra perform at Royce Hall.
By Chris Moriates
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
It was an experiment.
Bringing together two very dominant and commanding musical
elements on the same stage, Elvis Costello and the Charles Mingus
Orchestra, was indeed an exciting way to kick off the new
performing arts season at Royce Hall last Thursday night.
Sometimes it worked. Sometimes it didn’t.
The Orchestra sincerely amazed the capacity crowd with its
compelling musical performance, and Costello was without a doubt on
top of his game as a singer/songwriter.
However, Costello’s powerful vocal delivery seemed to be,
at times, fighting against the strong sound of the Mingus
Orchestra, whose compositions were written to stand up by
themselves.
Nevertheless, as a whole the show was an amazing and
extraordinary experience.
Costello took turns as a singer, narrator and spectator during
the two hour-plus performance; he controlled the center stage one
minute and disappeared into the shadows on the sides of the stage
the next.
Throughout the first and second sets Costello retreated to a
stool on the side of the stage, where he listened to the
Orchestra’s unaccompanied pieces.
The concert included Mingus Orchestra songs, featuring Costello
singing his own lyrics with some of the pieces, as well as a few
Costello tunes that were rearranged for the 11-piece ensemble.
Some of the most interesting moments of the evening were when
the Mingus Orchestra performed alone, displaying their unique
music. Filled with exciting trumpet, drum and bass solos,
Mingus’ compositions were made to entertain, and are an
amazing addition to the legacy of American music.
The crowd, which was mostly there for Costello, responded loudly
to Mingus’ compositions, especially the stirring
“Haitian Fight Song.”
Costello appeared for the first time in his capacity as
UCLA’s first artist-in-residence. He emerged onto the stage
to loud cheers from the crowd and seemed to feel right at home at
Royce Hall.
“It is nice to be back,” Costello said to the
audience.
Costello was extremely relaxed as he seemed to turn the
otherwise ostentatious Royce Hall auditorium into a more intimate
venue. He swayed about the stage while singing and discussed the
music with the crowd on multiple occasions, even taking the time to
explain some of his lyrics.
The second set picked up the energy a little, starting off with
Costello’s song “Chewing Gum,” arranged by Roy
Nathanson. Costello also performed his song “Almost
Blue” during the second set and included his tune
“Watching the Detectives” in the encore.
The evening came to a close with the entire audience on its
feet, giving the performers a well-deserved standing ovation.
The fact that the combination of Costello and Mingus did not
present the ideal results that were hoped for should not detract
too much from the significance of the event.
David Sefton, UCLA’s performing arts director, brought an
experiment that would be presented onstage in front of a full crowd
and, like most scientific experiments, received some mixed
results.
Nonetheless, UCLA Performing Arts, Costello and the Mingus
Orchestra deserve to be commended for their audacious spirit and
willingness to present something new to a curious crowd.
