Contemporary Music was Showcased in a Room Full of Cowboys!
Houston, Texas is a city with much to offer in the way of entertainment and it leaves little to be desired as a world-class entertainment outlet. As the 4th largest metropolitan area in the United States, Houston also has one of the most diverse populations in the country. The city ranks high commercially, demographically, economically and on the level of sophistication it possesses. But every year during the month of February and March, Houston reverts back to the days of cowboys, cowgirls, bronco busting, chuck wagons, bull riding and anything western. The city has been going through this metamorphous of sorts for 75 years with a variety of country and western attractions, including concert appearances by many different entertainers with the same theme. But over the course of three full weeks of activities, the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo augment their concerts with a tinge of R&B, zydeco and a serving of Tejano music to emphasize the diverse influence on cowboy culture. This year, the event chose to add a touch of contemporary jazz with appearances by KEM and Natalie Cole.
On the night of March 2, 2007, both KEM and Natalie appeared at Houston’s Livestock Show and Rodeo. Although the two artists are more closely aligned with R&B music, both have charted on contemporary jazz charts at various times during their careers. The idea of including jazz and R&B music with country and western music is tantamount to taking castor oil for some; but the overall outcome was pleasant and had a positive influence on the rodeo in retrospect. KEM and Natalie Cole have been to Houston before; however, this was a career first for both. Playing a rodeo has not been on their list of must-do events while planning their concert itinerary. Either way, both singers got into the spirit of the rodeo with a crowd-pleasing rendition of some of their most popular songs. During 60 minutes of soulful impromptu music, KEM and Natalie performed at their level best before both the familiar as well as an unfamiliar audience. Needless to say, a good number of rodeo attendees were cowboys and cowgirls; however, there was a well-represented contingent of fans at the concert for both artists when KEM began to perform.
From the onset of his performance, KEM made every effort to embrace his unfamiliar surroundings. Decked out in a white suit and cowboy hat, he looked every bit the part of a Texas cowboy. For thirty minutes, KEM tantalized the audience with his signature love songs and #1 hits from his two albums. Although he was only onstage for thirty minutes at best, KEM’s performance not only educated the masses, he also pulled his fan base ever closer to his music. On the other hand, it must be said that a performance of this type does two things in a city where the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo is the most spectacular event of the year. KEM’s appearance allowed a cross-section of rodeo attendees to become familiar with his body of work. The rodeo is not just a Houston-only activity; people from all over Texas, the United States and the world visit the city every year. In fact, some parts of Texas have neither jazz nor R&B radio stations in their locales; KEM’s appearance was significant. Although thirty minutes was a relatively short span of time to introduce one’s self, the impact was positive to say the least.
By the time Natalie Cole arrived on stage, the crowd was warm and gracious; however, her fan based was more than enthusiastic. Natalie has been on the jazz and R&B music scene for 30 years. She also has a built-in love affair going with her fans as the daughter of the late Nat “King” Cole, one of music’s most dynamic and popular vocalists. As a singer, Natalie does not depend on the laurels of her father; in fact, she stands alone as one of the finest contemporary vocalists around today. During her performance at the rodeo, she too had a loyal following of devoted fans, which seemed to add a degree of comfort to her appearance. Cole has not had a major hit in quite awhile, but did not stand in the way of her awesome conveyance of talent. During her concert, she sung songs from her recent and not so recent albums, some of which received mixed reviews from the audience. It was her older hits that the audience wanted to hear and some were left puzzled as she sang songs from later releases. Overall, Natalie Cole provedto be the consummate diva and by show’s end, she had also made her presence known just as creatively as KEM. In more ways than one, the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo added additional spice to an event that is dominated by cowboys, cowgirls, livestock and C&W music. After 75 years of rough and ready rodeo action, the appearance of KEM and Natalie Cole was an ever-evolving milestone, as jazz and R&B music showcased at Houston’s most dominant and significant annual event.
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