There is perhaps no greater recent testament to the healing power of music, than the plight and eventual triumph of the Queen of Nu-Soul, Sharon Jones.
Last June’s diagnosis of Stage II pancreatic cancer and subsequent surgeries to remove a gall bladder and other organs, followed by preventative chemotherapy would have understandably sidelined most, but not Jones.
With current album,
Give The People What They Want (Daptone Records) already in the can, the scrappy 57 year-old admirably fought her way back, appearing on a Macy’s Thanksgiving Day float, before finishing chemo on New Year’s Eve, then returning to the stage regularly, soon after.
 State Theatre marquee
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That background story only added to the raucous spirit of joy that was evident as Jones and her crack band, The Dap Kings, brought down the house with a rebirthed performance at the State Theatre in Minneapolis, earlier this week.
 Paul Cebar and The Tomorrow Sound
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Milwaukee’s Paul Cebar and The Tomorrow Sound opened this and three other area shows, with their varied journeyman palette of R&B, island, zydeco, Latin, and soul sounds. The band’s latest,
Fine Rude Thing (Groovesburg Joys Records) brings all those sounds together in a rhythmic synthesis; while live, the band is a fun bundle of laid back energy, appropriately closing their night with song, ‘I Love Soul’.
In typical Daptone Super Soul Revue style, the main set began with a full, drama-building lead up to Ms. Jones’ appearance. Hypeman and guitarist Binky Griptite incited the crowd, taking his time to intro the star of the show, as ringleader bassist Bosco Mann and the full band, with three-piece horn section, properly warmed themselves and the crowd up, for the evening ahead. “It’s not a theatre tonight, it’s a dance club”, Griptite exulted, immediately getting the crowd to head forward and fill the aisles with moving people, to the chagrin of staff security.
 Sharon Jones
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Background singing duo, The Dapettes, then each got a turn in the spotlight with a showcase song each, to prep the crowd for the five foot dynamo that is Sharon Jones. “She wanted to be here a long time ago, but she had to take time to kick cancer in the ass”, Griptite intro’d, to rave applause. Despite looking somewhat thin and with shorter hair than before, Jones exploded out of the gate with energy, starting with single, ‘Stranger to my Happiness’, one of several songs that has taken on additional meaning since her cancer ordeal.
The new, ‘You’ll Be Lonely’ hastily followed, with Jones barely catching a breath or standing still, clearly more grateful than ever, to be doing what she does. ‘Calamity’featured a voice vs. bass duel with Mann, who gracefully bowed down to the voice that can shake windows.
 Sharon Jones
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‘She Ain’t a Child No More’ referenced a heavy topic about abuse, but Jones and her inimitable spirit, turned it to a stirring ray of hope. The new, ‘Now I See’ had Jones bobbing to the banging bass drum, wishing afterwards she had her full hair back, to swing back and forth.
Two women were plucked from the crowd to dance on each side of Jones for ‘I’m Not Gonna Cry’, with Jones taking time to serenade both, with the verses.
‘I Got the Feeling’ followed, a cover of fellow Augusta, GA native James Brown’s, that would have made the Godfather proud, which then segued into ‘Fish in the Dish’ prefaced by her story of living in Brooklyn but traveling to New Jersey just to fish, embellished with full casting and reeling in motions. “Nothing tastes better than a fish you caught”, Jones proudly ended the song with.
“Two months, ya’ll… going strong!” Jones remarked after ‘Retreat!’, another song that has taken on additional meaning. Proving that point, the classic Dap Kings Dance Medley had Jones showcasing all the great dance moves of the 1960’s (such as the Boogaloo, Pony, The Swim, and Mashed Potato) that had the crowd mimicking the same, from their seats. Tempo after that workout understandably slowed briefly for ‘Slow Down Love’, then accelerated again for the set closing hits, ‘I Learned the Hard Way’ and ‘100 Days and 100 Nights’.
 Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings
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A stretched-out ‘Get Up and Get Out’ was saved for the encore, with Jones mimicking Tina Turner to intro the song; then taking off her shoes, which anyone that has seen her before knows, that she’s about to turn it loose dancing. “I’m a shout that cancer out!”, Jones proclaimed gospel-like before the beat got quicker, audience clapping sped to double-time, and the five-foot fireball got her church on, by moving non-stop in a manner that people half her age, would have trouble with.
The healing power of music had prevailed, both with Sharon Jones and her personal health struggles, and by beaming a cathartic light of joy and salvation for anyone there to witness it all. Amen!
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