Tavares - BB King’s, NYC, 9.9.16
by Michael Sherer
Posted: Sep 2016
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Tavares - photo by Michael Sherer
Before I discuss this show, let me provide some background. Tavares are a group of five Cape Verdean brothers from New Bedford, MA. They’ve been around since the late ‘60’s, and started to get successful in the mid ‘70’s while on Capital Records. A big further break came with their inclusion of the hugely popular Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, released in the last days of ‘77. They had a version of “More Than A Woman” on it, with the Bee Gees original version being more successful, but both are strong and defined the sound of the time of disco type sounds at their best. Unfortunately the group didn’t sustain more big hits after that, but could continue touring. With some hiatuses throughout the decades since, they still tour. Currently it’s with four of the five guys.
With this show they performed to a music track with no live band. Without live musicians any group will be lacking that key human element, so this was an issue. Also, their set was only about forty minutes. Although they could sing their biggest hits in this time, it should have been a full set of at least an hour and fifteen minutes. There were two opening acts, though. Most of those hits sung were “Whodunit,” “Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel,” “A Penny For Your Thoughts,” “Turn Your Love Around,” (by George Benson) “Don’t Take Away The Music,” and “It Only Takes A Minute.” They sounded good, although not with the full range and clarity of their youth in the ‘70’s. Few can sound as they did in their twenties and thirties when in their late sixties. And of course they’re not as slim and agile as they were then, except one of them, the youngest brother who still dances like he’s a teenager. (And featured singing in photo.) Choreography has always been a part of the R & B singing milieu and this group uses it.
While their peak is forty years in the past, these brothers exude what it’s like for family to harmonize, sing and share a long career together. This is a timeless treasure to hold dear. Catch them when you can.