Oh God, my ears… Fantastic. Without exaggerating, on Saturday evening Axelle Red had the entire audience at her feet. The idea behind 'The Soul of Axelle Red' was to pay tribute to soul music, the music she'd discovered as a young girl thanks to her mother's record collection. But in truth there was only one real star standing on the Sportpaleis stage, and that was her.

There will be only two performances of 'The Soul of Axelle Red': one last Saturday in Antwerp and two days later at the Palais des Congres in Paris. The Sportpaleis accommodates about ten thousand people and it was sold out, resulting in scenes of chaos on the outer ring road around eight o'clock.

The biggest name on the bill was of course Wilson Pickett. But he only appeared in the supporting programme. There were two reasons for this. In the first place, the man was plagued by a heavy dose of arrogance and didn't really want to participate in the show as a whole. Secondly, he wasn't worth more being the support. Choosing not to start off with old hits such as 'Mustang Sally' and 'Land of 1000 Dancers', he preferred instead to spend half an hour whining and being a caricature of himself.

The real show started about fifteen minutes later, with Axelle herself presenting it. She was really nervous she said, and apologised on behalf of Isaac Hayes. Carla Thomas did not put in an appearance either. The excellent orchestra, conducted by arranger-pianist Lester Snell, was based on Hayes' band, supplemented with a few players from Booker T. and a section of Belgian string players. Axelle Red had already worked with the American musicians on her album in Memphis.

Of the stars of yesteryear, the most lasting impression was made by Ann Peebles ('I Can't Stand the Rain'). Also Sam Moore, ex-Sam & Dave ('Soul Man') and Eddie Floyd ('Knock on Wood'), were both very much in great voice. Clarence Carter ('Slip Away') tended to be a little static, but then again one can hardly blame someone who is blind for that. Percy Sledge continues to be a legend, but has trouble with the high registers.

The duets of soul artists and Axelle Red gave the concert an extra dimension. Highlights were undoubtedly 'Never Found a Girl' with Eddie Floyd, and 'Soul Sister, Brown Sugar' with Sam Moore.

But it was Fabienne Demai a/k/a Axelle Red herself who ensured the real high points in the show, going through 'Carwash', 'Who is She and What is She To You?' and, six months pregnant, giving us a few special few moments when she accompanied herself on piano with just strings as backing. The finale, with Otis and Axelle being joined by the rest of the artists on stage, consisted of Otis Redding's 'Sitting on the Dock of the Bay'. The Sportpaleis expressed its gratitude by giving them a standing ovation.
Het Belang van Limburg — 16/11/98 -