Symphonic rap: Frzy and the PSO deliver groundbreaking fun in Heinz Hall concert
PITTSBURGH ― Swagger and humbleness; homegrown talent backed by world-class musicians.
Pittsburgh rapper Frzy and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra teamed up Wednesday on a groundbreaking performance that prompted a Heinz Hall audience to wave its arms in the air and on a few occasions get up and dance.
Concertgoers understood it wasn't a typical symphony concert, as they were encouraged to bring sippie cups of beer or wine into the theater and were told by ushers they could come and go to their seat as they pleased, even in the middle of a musical selection (though almost everyone stayed put). A preshow email greeting from Heinz Hall to ticketholders advised there might be explicit language, which Frzy delivered early and somewhat often, introducing the symphony with a praiseful adjective that would have caused considerable pearl-clutching in any other setting.
But here's the thing: It worked.
The show absolutely worked, providing one of those nights of live entertainment where performers and patrons palpably fed off each other's energy and took the proceedings to a higher level.
The show began with "The Frzy Theme," composed by Hollywood film score ace Christian Kriegeskotte, who got the Pittsburgh Symphony sounding cinematic, evoking a superhero movie vibe.
Then out came Frzy, commanding the stage, wearing a custom-made, light purple and gold jacket and matching knickers. Think Mozart-meets-'"Bridgerton" (its designers, upscale Pittsburgh clothiers Larrimor's, were one of the concert's recognized sponsors).
Built like a basketball power-forward, Frzy gracefully glided back and forth across the stage, doing vocal calisthenics with his fleet-lipped rhymes, performing selections from his two, week-old albums, "Success" and "Popularity."
The concert erased genre boundaries, as Frzy's confident rapping got a sonic punch from his four-man rock band, The Faculty, while the Grammy Award-garnering PSO, led by dynamic associate conductor Moon Doh, supplied the strings, brass and symphonic percussion that elegantly widened the soundscape, drawing from Kriegeskotte's arrangements.
An all-star chorus led by Dwayne Fulton from Mount Aratat Baptist Church provided heavenly vocal touches. Guest saxophonist Jason Kush added a few distinguished and soulful solos.
Frzy encouraged spectators to wave their arms to the rhythms as he energetically rapped fresh originals like the street-toughened "Trouble Man," and more gleeful "You Ain't Got No Money" that elicited a sing-along from fans recognizing a song getting local radio attention.
The East Liberty native's lyrics stayed true to rap's roots, with boastful couplets outlining his quest to be the best, with lessons on how hard work and authenticity pays dividends.
As a frontman, he brought an engaging mix of panache and positivity, establishing a welcoming vibe and making sure many other emerging vocalists shared the spotlight.
Reminding everyone hip hop celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, Frzy said it's important to boost the next generation as he brought out young female rapper Bird, a Hill District native who dazzled with her vocal flow and charm. Frzy and Bird's sassy duet referenced "Bird-watching," and indeed one got the sense local rap fans will want to watch much more of her.
Fresh off this weekend's Pittsburgh Winery performance at a Joni Mitchell tribute, vocalist Megan Paullet joined Frzy, as she does on his "Success" album, for "I Got All Day," a fun and sweet love song with a catchy mid-tempo melody that had spectators bobbing in their seats. The symphony's strings accompaniment gave that song extra heft and grace.
The celestial singing of another guest collaborator, Mychole Starr, elevated the moodier, more muscular "Hell and Back," with its Kanye-like line, "the devil's trying to break me down."
Joining Frzy's team of beautifully dressed vocal powerhouses was Zuly Inirio whose operatic singing mightily fueled a few selections.
The 90-minute performance seemed to breeze past, and near the end of it Frzy fought back tears, swept up by the audience's warm reaction.
When he announced there was just one song left, parental guardians let a few young boys, wearing dapper suits, rush toward the stage to high-five Frzy and dance in the aisles. A truly touching moment not lost on an audience likewise on its feet ready to dance.
A big part of the mission, Frzy said in an exclusive interview last month with The Times, was to make Heinz Hall and the PSO feel more accessible to non-traditional symphony attendees.
Mission accomplished.
It felt like a carefree party as Frzy encored with 2019's "Gold in It," a song inspired by his home city where the support has helped him garner glories like an Eat N' Park smiley cookie with his likeness; a regional Emmy-winning rap cover of Fred Rodgers' "Won't You Be My Neighbor"; and becoming a fashion ambassador for famed designer Steve Madden.
While his personality and talent make you root for Frzy to become a more nationally known presence, he accomplished another special thing locally Wednesday, partnered with the PSO.
Scott Tady is entertainment editor at The Times and easy to reach at stady@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Frzy & the Pittsburgh Symphony deliver groundbreaking fun at Heinz Hall
