As 2013 drew to a close, the Seneca Niagara Casino stepped up and delivered one of its biggest shows of the year. A woman of many talents, Vanessa Williams gave a memorable performance to a nearly sold out crowd this past Saturday night.
With a 9-piece band backing her, that includes her daughter Jillian Hervey on backup vocals, the beautiful and joyful Williams showed she still has what it takes to deliver the goods. As she took the stage about 10 minutes after 8pm, she and her band opened up with the title track off her last record “The Real Thing,” which was released a few years back. Coming out in a tight form fitting black sequin blouse, the former Miss America star looked every bit the part. Williams also acknowledged the crowd by saying “Hello Niagara Falls, Buffalo and all of WNY!”
There is an affinity with Williams and the Buffalo area. Why you may ask? Well her mother is originally from here and she did say she was in attendance and had her stand up and say hello to everyone. Helen Tinch is her name and she is co authoring a book titled, “You Have No Idea,” with her daughter. Of course Williams had to honor her mom, and did so by way of the Christmas song “Starbright.” She also paid homage to one of her idols, Chaka Khan, by performing “Everlasting Love,” which she then proceeded to hit right out of the park.
Williams’ voice sounded precise. She was able to hit the high notes with clarity and sing the songs with perfect pitch throughout the set. Highlights for this reviewer were “Comfort Zone” and a duet with one of her male backup singers, Darius de Haas, entitled “Just Friends.”
Her band was spot on and it also included the writer and musical conductor Rob Mathes who wrote the song “Starbright” for her. He was handling multiple keyboard facets along with an acoustic guitar on occasion.
Before “Send One Your Love,’ Williams did a quick costume change and she even looked more radiant then before as she donned a bejeweled silver evening gown.
Perhaps I now think of her as more of an actress, as she has been starring in various TV roles and Broadway plays in the last handful of years, but she can still bring it as a vocalist and her performance in The Falls shows she is still capable to sing with the best of them and is as powerful as ever.
Setlist:
The Real Thing
Deamin’
Love Is
Colors of the Wind
Sweetest Days
The Way You Love Me
The Comfort Zone
Everlasting Love (Chaka Khan cover)
Just Friends
With You I’m Born Again (Billy Preston & Syreeta cover)
Send One Your Love
Constantly
Starbright
Any Place I Have to Hang my Hat is Home/Come Rain or Come Shine/Peel Me a Grape (Johnny Mercer covers)
Work to Do
Oh How the Years Go By
Save the Best for Last
Encore:
Betcha Never
We would like to thank Tony Astran from the Seneca Niagara Casino for the credentials to review the show.
