Ike Turner nimbly fingers classics

ST. PETERSBURG -- It takes a flashy dresser like Ike Turner to get a crowd forgetting about his natty opening act Bernard Allison. That's just what Turner, headliner of the final night of the Tampa Bay Blues Festival, did. The fest drew an estimated 35,000 over its three-day weekend, ending with the notoriously stage-shy Turner performing an energetic set.

Turner, 70, more famous for being the ex-husband of superstar Tina Turner -- portrayed deplorably in 1993's What's Love Got to Do With It? -- than for his music, gave a show that was fun in its randomness. Turner got his start decades ago playing lively boogie-woogie piano behind Howlin' Wolf. He demonstrated those chops, sitting center stage at a slim keyboard that seemed awfully flimsy under his hammering hands.

Turner played mostly R&B rockers, many from Here and Now, last year's Grammy-nominated solo album. Turner's snazzily dressed band -- long black coats, fedoras -- backed him with relish on I Need A-Nuddin, a trumpet-and-piano-stomper about "going back down South" to find a-nuddin (another) to take the place of the one who "left me all the sudden."

Turner's tunes are all about the ladies who have broken his heart, are now breaking his heart, or will be soon. He delivers it all with a grin. If his famous ex-wife asks, "What's love got to do with it?" Ike answers: everything.

He was as nimble on the classic Rocket 88, the 1951 gem Turner embellished with piano, by which many claim he invented rock 'n' roll. Toward that song's end, Turner jumped from the keyboard and wailed on his white Fender Stratocaster, merrily hopping around the stage.

Turner also zipped through classics by Chuck Berry, Ray Charles, even the Champ's Tequila. He invited to the stage the singer (and girlfriend) Audrey Madison -- a dead ringer for the former Mrs. Turner -- to sing several Ike and Tina staples, including River Deep, Mountain High.

Opener Allison performed after Lucky Peterson and others. The son of blues great Luther Allison, Bernard played guitar with flash equal to his purple pants, black hat and bejeweled fingers.

To contact Gina Vivinetto, e-mail gina@sptimes.com.

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