March 28, 2024

Virtuosos give us reason to celebrate

Joe Satriani, Janis Joplin and Prince are musicians who give us a reason to celebrate.

One of the dictionary definitions of a virtuoso is a person who excels in musical technique or execution. I refer to all three in the present tense because their work lingers infinitely, even if it was produced long ago.

My recent exposure — in different ways — to some of their talents has made me appreciate further multi-talented fine arts performers.

Seeing “A Night With Janis Joplin” at Des Moines’ Hoyt Sherman Place, along with a recent trip to see Joe Satriani in concert and chat with Twin Cities-area residents about encounters with Prince or his music helped my girlfriend, Jacqui, and I realize why some individuals receive such adulation.

This unique set of three experiences allowed us to follow the path of someone who died just before we were born (the Joplin musical is a story told autobiographically by a talented singer/storyteller), a living legend in Satriani and, even though we never saw him live, being in the Twin Cities the week before Prince passed away was surreal.

Throw in a recent viewing of the play “Sister Act” at the Des Moines Playhouse, and we’ve seen quite a few virtuosos recently. We haven’t had a chance to catch any Newton Community Theatre productions yet, but I’m sure there have been many talented virtuosos on that stage as well, even if more of a part-time basis.

Joplin reminds us of a historical time when a lot of our national innocence was lost. When rock stars were held to almost no standards at all and military veterans were treated poorly at best. It’s both fascinating and grueling to hear and see her story played out on stage in song and dramatic interpretation, knowing nations are repeating many of the same mistakes made in the era when Joplin’s music was taking off.

As perhaps one of the best-remembered members of “The 27 Club” to die at that age in either 1970 or 1971, along with Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morrison, Joplin’s powerful, soulful music legacy is portrayed passionately by another virtuoso, Mary Bridget Davies, who went on to win a 2014 Tony Award in “A Night With Janis Joplin.”

Davies took over the role in the Joplin musical in 2012 — the year after singer Amy Winehouse, another 27-year-old, died of alcohol poisoning. Maybe those with the power to make changes are either ignorant or blind to history lessons.

Alexandra St. James-Gray is similar to Davies in playing the role made famous by Whoopi Goldberg in “Sister Act,” but she is not nationally known. It will be great to see her vocal power and range and stage presence develop through the years.

Compared to the raw force of the singer-actresses we saw in Des Moines-area plays, Satriani brings a completely different type of presence. As an almost completely all-instrumental guitarist (very few of his pieces have any vocals), Satriani is not as multi-talented in the traditional sorts of ways as most famous American performance artists.

Satriani seems to be almost wandering anew every time he plays his hits such as his signature piece, “Always With You, Always With Me.”

We spoke with some well-educated music lovers in the Twin Cities — some who love and respect their local pride and joy, Prince, who was in the news that weekend after having been rushed to the hospital.

We had been back in Iowa for several days when we heard the news about Prince’s death. It was unique to see video of Minnesotans filling the streets to celebrate a virtuoso’s life on the same streets where we had been just days prior.

Contact Jason W. Brooks at

jbrooks@newtondailynews.com