A loving tribute to Neil by Jay White
by Rich on 7/14/25Tennessee Theatre - KnoxvilleRating: 4 out of 5Jay has his show firmly rooted in Neil Diamond of the early to mid 80's and he nails not only the voice, but the stage movements and gestures (and of course, the sequined shirts). He, along with his very capable band do justice to the Neil Diamond catalogue and in fact, improve upon the live versions delivered by Neil himself post-1980's. "Thank the Lord For the Nighttime"and "Love On the Rocks"are two examples. Wisely dispensing with the changes in melody and phrasing that characterized Neil's performances of those songs in the later years, Jay adheres closely to the early 80's versions that clearly inspired his tribute. A particular treat was the presence of band member, Nick Bennett (son of veteran guitarist Richard Bennett, who toured with Neil for 17 years). Watching Nick enthusiastically rocking out to "Cracklin' Rosie"and other Diamond classics was pure joy. If there is a misstep, it is that Jay's between-song patter seems more suited to the Vegas lounges where he honed his interpretations and not particularly representative of Neil's personality.