Review Summary: "I have a whole bunch of surprises for you tonight".
It’s a warm and sunny afternoon; around six or seven, on July 23rd of 1993. The sun cast golden rays of light as it filters through the enormous Red Wood trees in California; the Shakespeare Festival Glen, in UC Santa Cruz to be more specific. Onstage the roadies have finished their jobs and the crowd is abuzz with excitement as the moment they have been waiting for approaches. As the stage lights suddenly turn on they capture the crowd’s immediate attention as the neon blue lights of a bug zapper would capture mosquitoes. They let out a thunderous mixture of cheers and applause as Windows takes the stage; sporting such a manly beard that would make Jesus himself envious, a red flannel shirt, and his favorite sunglasses, to review Kenny Loggins: Outside From The Redwoods.
Roughly twelve years after his first live album;
Kenny Loggins Alive, Kenny Loggins is back and in top form in this live acoustic show. Not only was Outside From The Redwoods released in CD format, but the initial show was recorded and aired on the PBS network. Due to their work involving the prime time television special Co-Producer Terry Nelson, Peter Kelsey, and Bruce Botnick were nominated for “Outstanding Individual Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Variety or Music Series or a Special”. Kenny Loggins recruited a plethora of talented musicians to help him record and perform this superb album as well as some special guest to spice things up even more.
The Band (excluding the Choirs)
Kenny Loggins (of course) – Guitar / Vocals
Ed Mann – Surdos / Gongs / Vibes / Percussion
Howard Levy – Harmonica / Jew’s Harp / Pump Organ
Steve Conn – Accordion / Pump Organ / Piano
Steve Croes – Surdos / Field Snare / Drums / Tom Percussion
Munyungo Jackson – Shekere / Percussion / Shaker / Birimbau
Chris Rodriguez – Guitar / Vocals
Marc Russo – Pump Organ / Saxophone / Bass Drum
Lynne Fiddmont-Linsey – Background Vocals / Shaker / Bells
Kevin Ricard – Percussion / Vocals / Djembe / Batas / Chest Board
Alvino Bennett – Drums
Herman Matthews – Drums
Sonny Landreth – Slide Guitar
Steve George – Piano / Vocals / Synth Organ
Freddie Washington – Bass / Vocals
Outside From The Redwoods also includes special guest performances from former Doobie Brother frontman Michael McDonald and R&B singer / songwriter Shanice. Michael McDonald is only performs one song which also happens to be one of the stand out tracks off the album.
What A Fool Believes starts off with Kenny Logins introducing Michael McDonald who receives a nice warm welcome from the crowd. Michael is all business in this song and does not disappoint. Song starts out with Kenny Loggins gently picking away at his guitar while serenading the audience with his tender voice. Next the rest of the band slowly starts to join in as the song build a little bit toward Michaels first lines. Michaels powerful and soulful voice, really help make this song shine. The vocal harmonies of this song are very well done and help to really make this song come together, but just when you think things can’t get any better cue Marc Russo who lights up the stage with a fiery saxophone solo to finish out the song.
Shanice is featured on only two songs on this album which are
I Would Do Anything and
Love Will Follow. Both of these songs are beautifully written and the only way I can describe them is to say that they are the equivalent of Kenny and Shanice just outright making passionate love on stage in front of a live audience.
I Would Do Anything is one of the longer songs on the album and is also the slowest.
Love Will Follow on the other hand is a tiny bit more upbeat and includes yet another nicely done saxophone solo.
The crowd was very much a part of this experience and can be heard throughout it clapping, screaming and at one point yelling thank you to Kenny Loggins. You can see by looking at the pictures inside the album booklet that it was a very intimate show. Outside From The Redwoods has everything you could ask for in a live album and will flat out make you feel like getting up and dancing. Also this album was is dedicated to Kenny Loggins brother Robert who sadly passed away in 1992.
