Pop Review : Grand Divas in Spotlight

“Fluffed, flawless and fierce,” was top diva Sheryl Lee Ralph’s description of the performers in her “Divas: Simply Singing” benefit concert at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre on Saturday. And it would be hard to find a more accurate characterization of a lineup ranging from the classic Linda Hopkins and Delores Hall to the awesome Chaka Khan and CeCe Peniston.

In the four years since Ralph began producing the series, the presentation has progressed rapidly from the occasionally uneven initial programs to Saturday’s slick, professional production.

Many of the high-visibility younger performers were upstaged by veterans, by “divas-in-training” and by comedians.

Hopkins and Hall, for example, offered stunning re-examinations of the blues, while Mavis Staples and Ann Bennett-Nesby vividly recalled the gospel sounds that are the foundation of much contemporary pop singing. Tiny Raven-Symone and 12-year-old Jessica James, in particular, sang with energy, authority and creativity that belied their youth.

Khan, impishly choosing “Alfie” as her showcase number, demonstrated why she is viewed by many as the diva of divas.

But the most impressive show-stealers were the vocal group For Real, singing an audience-rousing a cappella number, and singer-comedian Jenifer Lewis. Perhaps a more complete talent than any other performer on stage, Lewis perfectly defined both the camp and the creative aspects of diva-ness.