Review: WHAT'S GOING ON NOW at Kennedy Center

The National Symphony Orchestra’s intent this weekend was to pay tribute to the 50th anniversary of native son Marvin Gaye’s classic “What’s Going On” album, a high water mark for both social commentary and Motown soul. 

Never mind that the hit album came out in 1971; a 40th annual tribute concert with John Legend and Sharon Jones came in 2012, commemorating the anniversary of Gaye’s one concert performance of the work at the then-new Kennedy Center in May 1972. Which made this the 52nd anniversary of the album; at best, the 51st anniversary Gaye’s concert here.

Whatever the year, though, the care with which the classic material was handled, matching solid contemporary R&B soul singers with a tasty combo, the full orchestra and backing singers, was so elevating that there’s a good case to be made to present the work annually — like those for Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus.” Such an annual event would not only keep alive the memory of the major soul artist born in D.C., but continue to raise the timeless messages of social import in his breakthrough song cycle. 

Sellout crowds over the weekend would indicate the continuing popularity and effectiveness of its songs. And as framed by poet Marc Bamuthi Jospeh, who has the title of Vice President of Social Impact and Artistic Director of Cultural Strategy at the Kennedy Center, it retained an immediacy and import solidly into the present century.

With the snappy conga-led music vamping behind him, he unleashed the first of his verses about Marvin Gaye, and what his reactions would be to today’s scene, and even tied him to the namesake of the performing arts center: “Kennedy chose the moon; Marvin chose the music.”

An even stronger element to what was titled “What’s Going On NOW: A Tribute to Marvin Gaye” was the addition of a handful of astonishingly talented young poets, most too young to have a drivers’ license, speaking eloquently about the horrors they see every day in their world, particularly the threat of gun violence in their schools, and a nation of politicians who do nothing about it.   

Interspersing the swirling, swelling music sung in suites by Broadway’s Joshua Henry, and recording artists Luke James, Cory Henry and Bilal gave an extra impact to a set of songs that have never let us down. 

But first, the evening began with a first half of duets Gaye had recorded with Tammi Terrell, another high point of his career when the simplicity and joy of the songs soared as much as songs from “What’s Going On” would simmer, muse, cry out and challenge. 

It was also a way to get more female voices involved, so Michelle Williams of Destiny’s Child and Emily King were paired up with the men on splendid confectins from “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” and “You’re All I Need to Get By” to “Your Precious Love” — showstoppers each. 

Some of the tunes, almost all written by the team of Nicholas Ashford and Valerie Simpson, were a little similar, such as the speculative “If This World Were Mine” and “If I Could Build My World Around You.” And the comparatively obscure song that was chosen to close the set, “California Soul,” may be better known in versions by The Fifth Dimension and Marlena Shaw. 

If the sound in the first half was a tad tinny, and the orchestra seemingly underused, the “What’s Going On” half certainly built to the proper stirring of strings, horns and soaring voices that Gaye originally conjured. Conductor Steven Reineke certainly seemed to be having a blast doing it.

Soul music doesn’t often get a live presentation with such a full sound, and full complement of musicians, and it was thrilling to hear just for that reason. But the yearning echoes of the still-timely songs from “Mercy Mercy Me” to “Inner City Blues” stepped up the evening to an even more celestial realm. 

When Gaye did his 1972 Kennedy Center concert, he famously did songs over again because he hadn’t presented them quite the way he wanted. When the cast of singers reunited for a reprise of the album’s title song, it was only to revel once more in its poignant, urgent questions, so triumphantly put.

Running time: About 110 minutes, including a 15 minute intermission.

Photo credit: Joshua Henry and Michelle Williams at “What’s Going On Now: A Tribute to Marvin Gaye.” Photo by Derek Baker. 

“What’s Going On NOW: A Tribute to Marvin Gaye” was performed June 16 and 17 at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. More information available online. 

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