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Carly Simon didn't let a little laryngitis stop her from giving a dynamite performance at DAR Constitution Hall last week. |
By EMILY GILMORE
For Carly Simon, performing has become a family affair.
This fall, she brought her children Ben and Sally Taylor along as she toured, crooning standards from her latest album, "Moonlight Serenade."
Simon breathed new life into such familiar tunes as "Alone Together," "The More I See You," "I Only Have Eyes for You" and "Moonlight Serenade" before launching into a series of hits at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington last week.
Ben and Sally, Simon's children from her marriage to singer-songwriter James Taylor, exhibited their inherited talent as they opened the show and sang backup for their mother.
Simon was equally gorgeous in a white sweater and skirt that made her "feel like the Sugarplum Fairy" and the black outfit she changed into midset. She charmed the audience as she sang with a wide smile plastered across her face, the microphone gripped in both hands and hips swishing gracefully.
Simon said she had a little laryngitis, but it was almost impossible to tell. A few notes sounded strained, but, for the most part, her voice sounded remarkably like it does on her recordings.
Simon was accompanied by a full band of gifted musicians, and she played piano on "Haven't Got Time for the Pain" and guitar on "Anticipation" and "You're So Vain." The latter earned Simon her first standing ovation of the night, near the end of the regular set.
Ben and Sally joined Simon center stage for "It Was So Easy," and Ben, who looks and sounds uncannily like his dad, supplied vocals for "Mockingbird."
Other highlights included a strong and upbeat "Jesse," a hushed "Let the River Run" and "Are You Lonely Here With Me," which was written by Sen. Orrin Hatch.
During the encore, Sally and Ben stood up front with Simon as she acknowledged that her children have another parent and "he happens to be one of the greatest singers and songwriters of all time." They then performed James Taylor's "You Can Close Your Eyes."
Simon vowed to "squawk" out one more song before ending with "Nobody Does It Better," the title of which sort of says it all.
To reach EMILY GILMORE:
Email: egilmore@freelancestar.com
