My review of “Classical Savion” appeared in yesterday’s Chronicle:

” “Can you get rid of that?” Savion Glover called to a harried stagehand at UC Berkeley’s Zellerbach Hall on Friday night. And then, after the speaker’s hum persisted, “Ladies and gentlemen, we’re going to do this next number ex-amplification.”

No one worried. Just 10 minutes into Glover’s latest touring show, “Classical Savion,” it was clear the onetime “Bring in ‘Da Noise, Bring in ‘Da Funk” prodigy doesn’t need mikes. In fact, it takes a while to adjust to the thunderous boom of Glover’s taps on a hollow wood stage as behind him a nine-piece string ensemble plays everything from Mendelssohn to Shostakovich. But even when Glover’s rhythms were as light and crisp as castanets, the crowd was rapt .

It’s hardly news that you can put a fresh beat under Bach and come up with something swinging, and “Classical Savion” is no longer so novel. The show played Marin Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium in November before coming to Cal Performances for this one-night stand. But to hear the way Glover absolutely infiltrates Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons” — sliding a sunny Latin rhythm beneath the last flutters of “Spring,” letting the lull in “Winter” sway before hitting eighth notes like a sudden storm — is to witness deep musicianship, not gimmickry. This show has reportedly been retooled since its January 2005 unveiling; whatever the past failings, Glover can now keep a vast auditorium spellbound for the better part of two hours without an intermission.”

Click here for the full review.

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