"The first time I sang this in New York," said Sting in his distinctive rasp, standing onstage in Central Park's East Meadow Tuesday night, "was in October 1978. I was in a little club in the Bowery called CBGBs. I'd never seen America, and America had never seen me. And I sang this song just like this," he said, breaking into the opening of "Roxanne."

The 25,000-plus in attendance, many of whom had been in the park since mid-afternoon, and who had sat through an opening set by Algerian rai singer Cheb Mami's ensemble, cheered as if they had been there in the legendary -- and tiny -- club the first time around.

Comedian and Monday Night Football commentator Dennis Miller came out to introduce Sting to an increasingly restless crowd, following speeches by a New York City official who listed previous park concerts from Barbra Streisand in 1967 through Garth Brooks in 1997, and a representative of sponsor Best Buy. "I'm gonna do an acoustic set tonight," Miller wisecracked, promising, "I'll get off in a second -- I'd be pissed off, too, if I were you."

The large band, mostly made up of players from the recent Brand New Day album, filled the massive, if spartan, stage. Sting's set ran from his earliest material with the Police through a large sampling of his latest solo work, highlighted by the appearance of special guests. Sheryl Crow, in a sparkly bare midriff outfit, sauntered out to sing a verse on "Fill Her Up," followed by blues whiz kid Jonny Lang, who ignited the crowd with the evening's most pyrotechnic guitar work.

Drummer Manu Katche, replacing Vinnie Colaiuta from the CD, propelled the band, particularly on a boisterous "Every Little Thing," while pianist Jason Robello reprised his role and added extended, two fisted jazz/funk solos.

Sting, in black pants and a black muscle t-shirt showing off his yoga-sculpted biceps and triceps, worked the full stage, playing to the fans on the sides as well as in the center of the massive field. His audio bottom end may have been lost in the trees, but he wiggled his hips and bobbed his head from the far corners while other members soloed.

"Moon Over Bourbon Street" was played to a full moon high over the park (and a second full moon on stage, projected on a lantern) on a perfect, balmy Indian summer evening in Manhattan. Trumpeter Chris Botti blowed high and hard, reworking Branford Marsalis' moody sax solo from the original recording as Sting dipped into a throaty sound, calling to mind Louis Armstrong and evoking the rowdy spirit and flavor of N'Awlins.

An abstract New York City skyline projected on the rear curtain introduced "Englishman in New York," bringing some of the biggest cheers of the night and a clap- and sing-along chorus.

Near the end of the set, Cheb Mami returned to the stage with a percussionist and violinist from his band for "Desert Rose," the single from Brand New Day on which he duets with Sting. His high, keening ecstatic vocal educed an equally ecstatic response from the crowd as young women were suddenly hoisted on shoulders and enthusiastic dancing spread across the lawn.

"If I Ever Lose My Faith" was the first encore, and if Sting was getting horse and warbling off key, no one seemed to notice or care. "Every Breath You Take" had the audience clapping along, while the second encores of "Message in a Bottle" and a delicate "Fragile" featured Sting on acoustic guitar, first solo and then with band. For the latter tune, the black curtain behind the stage suddenly filled with stars to match the lyric ("Like tears from the stars . . ."), though only a single star was visible in the night sky above.

CHRIS RUBIN
(September 13, 2000)