A Labor Day Weekend smooth jam party took place Saturday night at the Greek Theater when MAZE hit the stage nested in the Griffith Park hills. The sold-out concert was rocking back and forth like it was 1981 when they dropped the hit we all love “Before I Let Go.”
As soon as the lights dropped, folks jumped out their seats knowing the party of the weekend is about to go down. From the first note, the hips were swaying back and forth with hand claps from the front to back terraces.
The living legends MAZE featuring Frankie Beverly, a true funk band from the Bay Area in San Francisco, California has been rocking cities like Los Angeles for 40 plus years and counting.
Frankie Beverly wearing a white shirt, pants and hat matched the crowd getting to wear their white outfits for one last time this season. He was really feeling it this night during the show.
“I will be 73 this December,” said Frankie Beverly while he was talking to the fans on stage.
I’m still asking myself who jammed more Frankie or people in aisle two stepping to every song they played.
Some folks might not know the MAZE was originally named Raw Soul when they started the group in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1970. But a whole lot changed when singer Marvin Gaye crossed paths and influenced them to change the name when he took them on the road and let’s say the rest is history.
Jubu Smith played a solo that was so amazing and mesmerizing all the ladies after wanted to know the name of the lead guitarist. The song “Golden Time of Day” is his time to shine and Smith took it.
When the party was winding down and almost over, the fans still were giving the band the same energy back that was played for them all night. The standing ovations were without question after a great performance.
The MAZE tour has nine more tour dates along with five more other appearances lined up from now till November.
If you have never been to a MAZE concert yet you better find a way to get you a ticket. Their lineup of songs you will sing hit after hit till it’s time to go home.
Regina Belle jumped on stage dress in all-white ready to party, she encouraged the crowd to welcome her back. She sang with tracks to allow for easy quick transition for the headliner.
She told the fans let’s go back to my first album “All by Myself” (1987) to kick this off, before giving a shout out to the queen, Aretha Franklin and sing a part of “Rock Steady” in her honor.
Regina finished her with “If I Could” and the crowd was on their feet giving that energy back. It was truly a cultural affair.
Comedian Donell Rawlings opened the show with jokes that got the crowd in good mood to start. Rawlings being a season comedian for over 25 years had a set for all ages in the crowd. He even gave a history lesson on the great Shirley Caesar and all that she can cook.
Maze and Frankie Beverly will travel to Philadelphia, and Irving, TX next this week.
