There are Detroit music stars. There are Detroit music icons. And then there is Stevie Wonder.

Wednesday, September 13th, 2007

By BRIAN McCOLLUM

Returning to his old stomping grounds for a Wednesday show at Meadow Brook Music Festival, the Michigan native had much to live up to: Back on tour for the first time in 12 years, he arrived as a decorated hometown hero, bringing with him four decades' worth of venerated music. And he delivered with one of the best concerts Detroit has seen this year.

A sold-out, amped-up crowd awaited Wonder, who pulled generously from a bag of classics in a night that rode a smooth, casual flow while depositing a performance that was tight and seamless. Wonder, clearly feeding off the night's emotional energy, gave as good as he got, offering a spirited, sometimes spiritual set.

The venue buzzed while awaiting Wonder's entry, 35 minutes later than scheduled. Taking the stage accompanied by daughter Aisha Morris -- the now fully grown and quite attractive baby of "Isn't She Lovely" fame -- Wonder spoke of his desire to get back on the road after the death last year of his mother, Detroiter Lula Mae Hardaway.

Seated at piano and synth, and with the Rev. Jesse Jackson looking on from the stage wings, Wonder rolled into a low-key opening stretch ("Love's in Need of Love Today," "Too High") before picking up the pace with up-tempo material such as "Living for the City" and "Master Blaster." He teased at "Higher Ground" before launching into an improv funk jam with his crack nine-piece band.

Cozy Meadow Brook, nestled in the woods on the Oakland University campus, made for an ideal setting. With a capacity of just 7,700, supply was limited and demand high -- frustrating for the many area fans who couldn't land tickets, but just fine for those who got to witness an intimate Wonder performance at one of the area's most appealing venues.

The 57-year-old star was in a typically amiable mood, playing to the audience like familiar old friends. But it was his voice that most impressed: Rich and agile, his timbre varnished just enough by time to add a new layer of color, Wonder displayed masterful range and control as he rolled through the scheduled 2-hour-plus set.

On a night that lured a diverse cross section of metro Detroiters, it was a show far superior to his lethargic 2001 performance at Hart Plaza. At times quiet and reflective, elsewhere buoyant and upbeat, Wonder skillfully navigated moods in a tastefully designed set list.

Absence might make hearts grow fond, but it can also breed restless souls. Here's hoping we won't be waiting till 2019 to see Wonder on a Detroit stage again.