Mariah soars at Grammys

BY RAFER GUZMÁN | NEWSDAY STAFF WRITER

During her Grammy performance Wednesday night, Mariah Carey tried to find that magic musical space between the carnal and the spiritual that often defines soul music. For the most part, she succeeded.

In a light-colored dress, -- with a decidedly profane neckline -- Carey sang with Hezekiah Walker & the Love Fellowship Choir, the long-running New York City gospel group headed by an honest-to-God pastor. Whenever Carey inhaled the occasional breath, Walker jumped in with split-second sermons. "He said He'll never forsake you or leave you alone," he intoned at one point. "Trust Him."

Whether all this had a higher meaning is unclear, but Carey used her voice to excellent effect. She eased off the glass-shattering notes and concentrated more on passionate growls and whimpers. She began with "We Belong Together," singing mostly on her own. But as she launched into "Fly Like a Bird," the choir joined in with warm, mellifluous tones. By the song's end, Carey's voice was soaring, swooping and skidding.

For once, those upper-register ear-splitters seemed appropriate.

It was left to the following presenter, actress Teri Hatcher, to sum it up: "That was amazing. I feel like we've all just been saved."