Sting thrills 2,000 fans at Cologne's E-Werk...

One thing you certainly can't accuse Sting of is constantly reproducing himself. Gordon Matthew Sumner, his real name, likes to reinvent himself.

The former Police frontman has been pursuing a solo career since 1985 and has undergone numerous transformations since then. Most recently, he discovered the intimate musical world of English Renaissance musician John Dowland and toured with an entire symphony orchestra as part of the Symphonicities project.

At the sold-out Cologne E-Werk, he presented himself under the motto "Back to bass," back to his roots, so to speak. With short hair, jeans, and a T-shirt that accentuated the 60-year-old's well-toned upper arms, he took the stage. With his rather worn Fender bass in hand, he starts off by singing 'All This Time', a rocking beginning with powerful guitar riffs and bone-dry drums.

He is accompanied by a five-piece band, including Sting's companion Dominic Miller and his son Rufus, drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, violinist Peter Tickel, and singer and violinist Jo Lawry. Police classics are also part of the set: With 'Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic,' the second song of the evening, he instantly wins over the 2,000 fans at the E-Werk.

The "Back to Bass" program is entirely without showmanship. A few spotlights illuminate the black backdrop. That's all it takes for a fantastic evening, which the fans experienced yesterday in the almost intimate club atmosphere of the E-Werk. Naturally, it goes down well when Sting delivers his sometimes very detailed announcements in relatively fluent German.

The music is almost as down-to-earth as the stripped-back show. Nevertheless, he gets the most out of the songs. His obsession with detail is evident here in the best possible way. In songs like 'Seven Days' or 'Fortress Around Your Heart' things get a bit jazzy, with drummer Vinnie Colaiuta easily shaking out the most complex rhythms, while Sting himself plucks the bass with virtuosity.

'I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying' is a foray into country music – complete with a matching fiddle (which is usually a bit annoying). Rufus Miller provides the powerful rock. In the uptempo number 'Driven To Tears,' he delights the audience with a magnificent guitar solo. And always Sting's characteristic voice, which sounds warmer today, not quite as cutting. The music is doing well.

(c) General-Anzeiger by Bernhard Hartmann