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Friday, June 14, 2002

By Nate Guidry, Post-Gazette Staff Writer

Olu Dara may have changed his name and moved to New York, but he still has that Mississippi charm.

His primary instrument is his voice, which exerts its power casually, almost free-style like a rapper or a poet, until you can't help but fall under his spell.

Perhaps that's where Dara's son, Nasir Jones, aka Nas, one of hip hop's most popular artists, gets his skills and style.

Performing with his group, which featured bass, guitar, percussionist and drums, the Natchez-born cornetist, wooden trumpeter, guitarist and lyricist charged up the crowd with songs that transcended the boundaries of time and style.

His music embraced everything from funk and urban folk to world beats and Delta blues.

Dara, born Charles Jones, opened last night's concert at Point State Park, which was part of the Three Rivers Arts Festival, with "Herbman," a song about a knowledgeable young herbs man in New York.

"Red Ant" was followed by "Massamba," a tribute to his longtime percussionist Coster Massamba. Midway through the performance of "Your Lips," he exited the stage and caroused amid fans with his cornet, blowing notes as he circled the grounds.

Dara doesn't play nearly as much horn as he used to, but several times throughout the concert he demonstrated why he was often the trumpeter of choice for musicians ranging from Art Blakey and Sam Rivers to Henry Threadgill.

"Harlem Country Girl" and "Shopping Blues" were moody blends of urban and rural blues. Both songs were wonderfully interpreted and personal.

He performed "Neighborhood," the title track from his latest record with an easy, poetical delivery. "Rain Shower" was laced with irony, imagery and sexual innuendo, and he provided new insight into Joseph Spence's "On the Rolling Sea."