Photos by Andy Argyrakis

She may permanently wear the crown of a disco queen, but Gloria Gaynor’s career keeps on surviving, if not thriving, thanks to her ongoing expansion into R&B and gospel terrain. At 71-years-old, the singer/songwriter/actress keeps right on recording with “Testimony,” an uplifting album featuring Yolanda Adams, Bart Millard (MercyMe), Melinda Doolittle (“American Idol”), Jason Crabb and many more that was the impetus for a vastly awaited return to the road.

There was no possible place to put “I Will Survive” other than the final slot and Gaynor gave it her all, despite being at least the billionth performance, though it felt refreshed by a funky breakdown and the audience’s attempt at the anthemic chorus.

Chicago’s charming and acoustically ideal City Winery was the site for two shows that of course incorporated her days on the dance charts, alongside covers from the surrounding 1970s scene and general influences of inspiration. For the late set, Gaynor quickly settled into her royal status, offering up personally popularized smashes such as “I Am What I Am” (from Broadway’s “La Cage Aux Folles”) and “Never Can Say Goodbye” (completely reimagined from The Jackson 5).

The veteran swapped the secular for the sacred come a handful of originals, plus Casting Crowns’ “Who Am I” and Bob Dylan’s “Man Of Peace,” while her soulful fingerprints permeated Christina Aguilera’s “Beautiful,” Roberta Flack’s “Killing Me Softly With His Song” and even The Police’s “Every Breath You Take.” A tribute to fellow diva Donna Summer was perhaps the most effective of them all, merging “Last Dance,” “MacArthur Park” and “Heaven Knows” as the headliner traded lines with two background vocalists and bounced to the rhythms of a kick-butt band.

There was no possible place to put “I Will Survive” other than the final slot and Gaynor gave it her all, despite being at least the billionth performance, though it felt refreshed by a funky breakdown and the audience’s attempt at the anthemic chorus. It absolutely justified an animated encore of Chic’s “Everybody Dance,” which put additional sparkle in an exemplary City Winery evening filled with a bonus takeaway of maintaining unflinching optimism in the face of any adversity.

Click here for more photos of Gloria Gaynor at City Winery.

For additional information on Gloria Gaynor, visit GloriaGaynor.com.

Upcoming concert highlights at City Winery include Ross Mathews presents Dragtastic Bubbly Brunch (Aug. 11); Jim Brickman (Aug. 11); Talisk (Aug. 12); Dave Mason (Aug. 13-14); Ari Hest (Aug. 15); Mindi Abair & The Boneshakers (Aug. 16); The THE BAND Band – Tribute to The Band (Aug. 18); Matt Wertz (Aug. 19); Omar vs. Mark De Clive-Lowe (Aug. 20); Surabhi Ensemble (Aug. 21);  John Waite with Daniel Correa (Aug. 22); Max Weinberg’s Jukebox (Aug. 23); Howard Hewett (Aug. 25); Peter Collins (Aug. 26); Lalah Hathaway (Aug. 27-29); MPG (Aug. 30) and John Gorka (Aug. 31). For additional details, visit CityWinery.com/Chicago.

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