Photos by Andy Argyrakis

Sometimes Lyle Lovett performs all by his lonesome, on other occasions he teams up with a famous friend like John Hiatt, or perhaps brings a band in the unplugged format. All are excellent opportunities to fully appreciate the singer/songwriter/guitarist’s clever turns of phrases and six-string skills, though anytime His Large Band is on the bill, longtime listeners know they better buckle up for a bonanza.

Lovett of course played a multitude of those at Ravinia before, but with impeccable chemistry between collaborators, heavenly weather and an endlessly uplifting spirit, it may have quite possibly been his best.

For the latest installment of what’s become a Ravinia tradition, Lovett with no less than a dozen accompanying players spent nearly two-and-half straight hours switching between Texas swing, county, blues, bluegrass, gospel and jazz. There were also shades of the four-time Grammy winner’s outlaw side, humorous storytelling (including growing up around the grounds of a family-owned cemetery) and an all-around affable personality that’s simultaneously fueled a fruitful acting career.

“Pants Is Overrated” was peppered with many bits and pieces of the above, revealing the 61-year-old’s ageless voice and the giant wall of sound that would flesh out over two-dozen selections beyond their sparser studio recordings. His Large Band really got a chance to glide throughout “My Baby Don’t Tolerate” and the Muscle Shoals-influenced brass section in particular ably substituted for the absent Asleep At The Wheel on “Blues For Dixie.”

Outside of his own songbook, Nat King Cole’s “Straighten Up And Fly Right” and the hymn “I’ll Fly Away” both reached rivaled altitude, while Lovett even let recent solo album releasers Keith Sewell and Luke Bulla tackle the southern comforts of “Sweet Magnolia” and “The Temperance Reel” respectively. When she wasn’t scatting, backing or trading lines with the boss, Illinois’ very own vocalist Francine Reed completely conquered Ida Cox’s “Wild Women Don’t Get The Blues,” complete with a plea for men to always please their ladies.

“If I Had A Boat,” “She’s No Lady” and “That’s Right (You’re Not From Texas)” kept the momentum climbing, culminating with an encore of the hand-clapper “Church” and Townes Van Zandt’s hauntingly lush “White Freight Liner Blues.” Lovett of course played a multitude of those at Ravinia before, but with impeccable chemistry between collaborators, heavenly weather and an endlessly uplifting spirit, it may have quite possibly been his best.

Click here for more photos of Lyle Lovett at Ravinia.

For additional information on Lyle Lovett, visit LyleLovett.com.

Upcoming concert highlights at Ravinia include “Weird Al” Yankovic (Jul. 28); ABBA The Concert (July 30); Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band and The Beach Boys (Aug. 3-4); Chicago (Aug. 10-11); Sarah McLachlan (Aug. 12); Nickelback with Buckcherry (Aug. 13-14); Pentaonix (Aug. 15); Sting (Aug. 23-24); O.A.R. with American Authors (Aug. 30); Queen Latifah and Common (Aug. 31); Steely Dan (Sept. 1-2); Lenny Kravitz (Sept. 7); Kesha (Sept. 8); Mary J. Blige (Sept. 13) and Morrissey with Interpol (Sept. 14). For additional details, visit Ravinia.org.

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