Even the most cynical of fans doubted he would come back reminiscent of the Voodoo guy we once knew, but the soul sensation who changed the game back in 1995 came with one thing to prove.
The stage was equipped with a full drum kit for Chris Dave, two backing vocalists, one multi-keyboard player, three guitarists, the lead one being Jesse Johnson of Prince and The Time, Pino Palladino and an additional one for the man himself.
Looking like Jimmy Hendrix from where I was sitting, which was FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR, he was on the stage with some uncombed hair, leather jacket (which he did take off to reveal those rather firm biceps) and these... these baggy, trouser/pant combustion which was just beyond me!
Before he got on stage the crowd were sweating with anticipation, giving a stand ovation five minutes before he even got to the stage. And after that first note.... sighs and cheers of relief to hear that D'Angelo's still got it! Some
But he is the talented, multi-instrumental singer/songwriter that we remember. He still has the Barry baritones and the Prince falsettos and opened the show with his new music.
Now, this was not the concert of D'Angelo: Live at the Jazz Cafe album I was hoping for, but this was D'Angelo revamping himself and being a aggressor of the blues/funk era. With his iconic band member firmly planted in that genre and being blossomed from Minneapolis they FUNKED UP the venue! They had people dancing, not one seat was sat on for the first hour of his performance and for his cover of Parliement's I've Been Watching You.
What he did, and his talent was immense to say the least, BUT... he was tooo self indulgent. In trying exhort all the funk and the Prince-like elements of his music, he didnt give the audience what they wanted enough, with many leaving before his unoriginal version of Brown Sugar!!! YOU CARRRRNT DO THAT! One of his most iconic tunes, you have do a version that equates the tone of the original- at least at the beginning, especially as it was the finale show, causing many leave dissapointed without staying for the encore.
If he incorporated his signature sound with his specialised band, I'm sure it would have been more than welcomed to experiment with the arrangements and be a side of Prince with an undertone of Rick James if that's what he wants to be these days. But as it's so rare for people to see him, he needs to remind them with a just a few tastes of why they bought the tickets playing things a bit like they were, especially if he wants to bond with a fan base for any new music coming.
In saying that, his 15 minute keyboard solo set was stunning. Almost worth it in itself. But you heard the reaction to the way too short snippet of How Does It Feel...the roof lifted off!!! And with only a verse and a half of Crusin', can you imagine if he did just that one song with the full band...the crowd would have gone home happy securing his legend status and he could have played rock funk for the rest of the set. Instead many didn't get what they came for.
Personally, I thought it was a tad selfish to pull a whole concert like that when you take so long to do a concert. If you went to for the soul, i hope you had a seated ticket. But if funk is your thing, make sure you get one of those tickets at the door for tonight!
