POP REVIEW : Too Much Revue, Too Little Ike at Strand

The Ike Turner Revue billing seemed incomplete--we’re just so used to & Tina being in there. But there was no need to miss Tina when Ike brought his nascent comeback to the Strand on Thursday. In fact, he should have pared it down even further, as the show featured way too much Revue and way too little Ike.

When Ike did step forward, either to let loose a scorching guitar lick or to take the lead vocals on the buoyant R&B; bouncer “Baby--Get It On,” there was no question that he’s in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for more than just bringing Tina to the world. He’s a legitimate talent in his own right who would do just fine with a gritty R&B; show focused on him. It doesn’t matter that he isn’t much of a singer. At 60, his spirit--amazingly fresh after long bouts with ego, drugs and the law--would have been more than enough to carry the show.

But then, you can’t really blame him for surrounding himself with a classic soul Revue, including--of course--a young crop of tail-feather-shakin’ Ikettes. It’s what made him famous; he was never a front man, always a talent-shaper and bandleader, even well before he discovered Tina in the late ‘50s.

And, though he tried to re-create the old format, he had the good taste not to try to re-create Tina. Featured singer Marci Thomas only attempted to be a Tina surrogate a couple of times, though she didn’t really have much else to offer as a singer or performer. During the one real Ike & Tina hit dredged up--”Proud Mary,” done (what else) nice ‘n’ easy to nice ‘n’ rough--she seemed a bit lost.

But maybe this is just a step, a confidence-builder for a man used to being overshadowed. Maybe next time he’ll step out and put the spotlight on himself. Just the taste in the current Revue was plenty to show that there’s a lot about Ike to like. The Ike Turner Revue appears tonight at the Cinegrill in Hollywood.