While the show marked her continued progress toward a more tasteful, mature persona, Raitt didn't forget to throw the diehards a few perks. She pretty much stuck to songs from her later career, but she enlivened the evening by digging back to her very first album (in 1971) for a cover of Sippie Wallace's ''Mighty Tight Woman," with a scorching harmonica solo from guest and friend, James Montgomery. He also reappeared for the last encores which were a romp through (and tribute to) Junior Walker's ''Road Runner" and Robert Palmer's ''Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor)." The crowd went berserk.
Most of the show, though, was a graceful clinic in supple vocalizing and emotional depth. There were lighthearted tracks such as the New Orleans-style ''Unnecessary Mercenary" and the suggestively funky ''Gnawin' on It," but also elegant soft-pop tunes such as ''I Will Not Be Broken" and ''Nick of Time," plus the prayerful ''I Don't Want Anything to Change" and reflective jazz ballad ''The Bed I Made." The last two were cowritten by Maia Sharp, who opened the show and frequently joined Raitt to harmonize and add saxophone fills. She fit in well with Raitt's veteran band that again included New Orleans keyboard master Jon Cleary and Somerville's own Hutch Hutchinson on bass.
Completing this smooth-running picture was Sharp's warm-up set with her trio, which moved across contemplative fare and a fine version of ''Home," a Sharp song the Dixie Chicks did as the title track of one of their albums.
