Soul Fusion
Myron’s at the Smith Center, Las Vegas, NV, August 28, 2025
Reviewed by Jeannie Carroll
A rousing jazz fusion instrumental of “Trains” (Mike Mainieri) from the album Steps Ahead showcased the virtuosity of every Soul Fusion band member from the get-go. What an intro this was to an upbeat and inspirational evening full of songs we all love. Dave Siegel, keyboardist and music director, practically gave us a stand-up comedy routine with one-liners (complete with rim shots) to introduce his wife, Rita Lim. She regaled us with “Touch Me in the Morning” (Ron Miller/Michael Masser_, made famous by Diana Ross. Her sultry voice had rich lows and sweet highs, and she looked regal and gorgeous draped in shimmering blue Japanese silk.
Ashley Fuller, a Las Vegas diva, entered wrapped in red and softly began “Against All Odds” (Phil Collins). She rose to an emotional crescendo with her superior mixed-voice belt and knocked it out of the park. Rick Keller wailed on sax and added his chops to enhance all the feeling in the song. Fuller was joined onstage by Sina Foley, another dazzling diva shining in red, and they performed the “When You Believe” (Stephen Schwartz, from The Prince of Egypt). Their voices melted together as if in conversation that was natural with exquisite vocal ease and intense energy. Foley then soloed on “Skyfall” (Adele/Paul Epworth) with aplomb. Her voice, with her warm vibrato and effortless riffs, sailed over the audience.
We are so lucky in Las Vegas that talent lands here. Alli Starr, however, got her start here at 16 and has since performed with many greats, from Barbra Streisand to Evelyn “Champagne” King. In 2012 Jazz Icon Michelle Johnson founded The Desert Angels Choir and recruited Lim to sing behind Streisand during her Vegas Tour. Starr pulled out her R&B prowess with a set of music by SWV (Sisters with VLoices) that included “Rain” (Brian Alexander Morgan/Jaco Pastorius) and “Weak” (Morgan). Then she invited Fuller, Foley, and Lim back to the stage for “Right Here” (BAM!), which became a mash-up with “Human Nature” (Steve Porcaro/ John Bettis). The four divas together were dynamite!
Lim gave a stellar, peaceful, and heartfelt performance of “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” (Ewan MacColl). This tune was covered by The Kingston Trio and Peter, Paul and Mary before Roberta Flack recorded it in 1972, which led her to Grammy Awards for Record and Song of the Year and a Billboard Hot Number One.
Fuller, now in black sequins, crooned “I Feel Like Making Love” (Eugene McDaniels) in a smooth lounge-flavoured way. Lim and Foley held a conversation with “Where Is the Love?” (Ralph McDonald/William Salter) that was replete with harmonies. Then Starr continued the Flack tribute with “Killing Me Softly with His Song” (Charles Fox/Norman Gimbel) in an intimate and emotiionally soulful style. (When one singer was soloing, the other three sometimes served as her background singers.)
A riotous Donna Summer set ensued in which each of the songstresses pulled out all the stops! Fuller OWNED the high notes on Jimmy Webb’s “MacArthur Park!” People rose to their feet as she sang “cause I’ll never have the recipe again…oh nooooooooo.” Lim joined her for the Streisand/Summer duet of “No More Tears (Enough is Enough).” Urban legend has it that songwriters Paul Jabara and Bruce Roberts penned this smash hit song in 10 minutes. Alli Starr certainly was “Hot Stuff” (Pete Bellotte, Harold Faltermeyer, Keith Forsey) as she showed her impressive power and range. Sina expressively worked hard for the money as though it was a proclamation. Foley’s flexible voice ran the gamut from vulnerable to commanding. Lim warbled “I Feel Love” (Giorgio Moroder/Pete Bellotte), which showed off her higher range; Siegel used the sounds of his Moog Synthesizer during his virtuosic solo. Perfection.
On guitar was the incomparable Steven Lee, who works with the best of the best and is himself the best of the best. YL Douglas, one of the most requested drummers in Las Vegas, was his phenomenal self once again. RJ Reyes, from the Arcade Bops Band, kept the funk alive on bass, and the incredible Rick Keller was on sax and flute. It is such a pleasure when these talented musicians and vocalists come together. The audience relished this show. Kudos to manager/producer Steve Arnold for providing a sensational and extraordinary spectacle.
