Warning to the reader: There are many gifted and talented music writers on the tableau staff. I am not one of them. But don't worry. I've written lots of other articles, and I've even satisfied the College's crucial first and second writing requirements. Plus, I've got resident music goddess Molly Seltzer looking over my shoulder, so this shouldn't be too painful for either of us. Here goes...
Jason Mraz returns to Charlottesville this Friday with a performance at the Pavilion. Mraz first came to the University in 2002 when he played the very intimate Tuttle Lounge. The University Programs Council organized both that show as well as the upcoming Pavilion performance, which is part of Mraz's tour promoting his newest CD, Mr. A-to-Z.
I sincerely believe you should not attend a concert before familiarizing yourself with the artist or group's work. Yes, that statement is intended to guilt trip those of you who went to The Rolling Stones concert without knowing that they -- not Britney Spears -- were the original singers of "(Can't Get No) Satisfaction." Acting on this belief, I bought Mr. A-to-Z and proceeded to enjoy.
The CD is as fun as you might expect if you've heard Mraz's hits such as "Remedy," "You and I Both" and "Wordplay." Surprisingly, are some down-tempo tunes are mixed in with the songs that attempt to break Bone Thugs-N-Harmony's land record for the most words crammed into one minute. "Bella Luna" skips Mraz's famous wordplay and concentrates heavily on the music rather than the lyrics.
Although this assortment is great for the album, I'm not sure how I feel Mr. A-to-Z will play out in a concert setting. Another of my Concert Commandments is that I should be able to scream 70 percent of the lyrics with the rest of the crowd. Between the quickly-spoken cadence of "Wordplay" and the calmness of "Bella Luna," I am not convinced Mr. A-to-Z is worth my screams.
That said, as a theater enthusiast, I do know that performance quality can seriously improve the material.
UPC PK German Committee member Katie Coan, who was involved in the organization of both of Mraz's visits to the University, is fully convinced his performance will be worth the price.
"He is an amazing performer, with an absolutely incredible voice," she said.
So, while Mr. A-to-Z is not a jump-around-your-room-and-get-really-revved-up type of album, you'll still probably enjoy the concert.
UPC chose twelve students, picked both from PK German and through a lottery of ticket holders, to meet the man himself before the concert. Even if you're not one of the lucky few, Coan's confidence in Mraz's performing ability is backed up by his ticket sales -- Friday's show is sold-out. The moral of my story is that while the album may not be scream-worthy, Jason Mraz just might be.
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