Raphael Saadiq - review

'Of a soul revue 60': Raphael Saadiq to Shepherd Bush Empire. Photography: Andy Sheppard/Redferns

Dressed sharply human finger-alignment on stage on tour with the Prince in adolescence, became a pop star in the United States in his twenties, produced a handful of records classic in his thirties and is now settle smoothly in its role of courteous soul-pop of copyright. Raphael Saadiq is on the edge of the stage, surround his ear for more applause; He shakes hands with the first row, twice; It has same Bagatelle mobile phone of a person and fiddles with it, every inch of the star.

Saadiq is not exactly a household name in the United Kingdom, but his last records - Pierre Rollin album ' of the last month and its predecessor, The Way of 2008 I see It - the Crown a Zelig-like rich career in the pleasures of vintage rhythm and blues. It is the kind of guy who can out Stevie Wonder of the bed at the heart of the night to fix a track in the studio. Last great gig of the Saadiq before this tour led the band to the Grammy in February, when Mick Jagger made his tribute Solomon Burke. Brandishing his guitar, the exuberant Saadiq delineated more undeferentially about Jagger the same before the scene as well as to say, "this is my music buddy".

This evening, Saadiq leads a strong seven outfit that could have been lifted a soul revue 60 - men in berets-, armed in the white go-go boots and corresponding hairband Chorister of tunes that all sound as forgotten classics. What is Saadiq "hope you mean, of course hope you love me girl," sang doo-woppishly. It is the temptation? No, it's just a return of flame, "Ensuring Hope You mean It" from her latest album, a recording steeped in Motown and Philly soul.

"Don 't mess with my man, Don' t mess with my boy," raising the Saadiq Go - Go girl. This looks like another canonical work, but it is the eye-catching and unique insured by the former group of Saadiq, Lucy Pearl. "Don't Mess With My Man" made in the top 20 UK in 2000, and she is greeted with a roar of recognition. The gig is bookended by two episodes of "staying in Love", knock-down, standout followed by The Way I see it, a fabulous song on how it is easy to fall in love, and how tricky it is in this way remain.

It could almost be a metaphor Saadiq set tonight. The vintage of the works of Saadiq authenticity is never in question. Its laid-back sound is therefore very easy to fall. Saadiq is a master of the art, tending the flame of the vintage soul diligently well until it was fashionable to do so. Back to Black Amy Winehouse (2006), opened the doors on retro, the Saadiq born in Oakland, based on the had already been at it for years. Its late 80 certified R & B group, Tony! Toni! Tone!, star of real instruments and a feeling of song and dance of survival. Saadiq then to lend to various clients its expertise in the 1990s, culminating in troubled charming neo-soul of Angelo, who released two albums classic and then plunged in darkness drug-related. Saadiq co-author "Untitled from Angelo (How Does It Feel)", which won a Grammy Award in 2001. Saadiq tells the, he cheekily reason in the studio to cadge a spliff out Angelo, eventually penning minimal masterpiece of neo - soul.

In a two hour show, however, the Saadiq implacable perkiness may flatline a little. nostalgia a-embellished so may seem a bit trivial. Pierre Rolline - latest album of the Saadiq - offers up to take a black pop and Rock 'n' roll, which is the next logical place for the revivalist Saadiq go. But the Beatles-y "Radio" feels light, as a less interesting "Hey Ya OutKast's" rediffusion. You yearn for a bit of the mischief that Saadiq displayed to the Grammy. It is the eve of the royal marriage, and it can sometimes feel like we are witnessing the marriage tips band on Earth.

And then, suddenly, a switch is fired, and Saadiq all comes alive once more. "Good Man" is one of the outstanding tracks of the new album, a meditation on lost love and allowing including excellent video, includes incidentally, Cutty of The Wire. The drama tonight is only slightly compromised by an extended guitar solo which attempt to invoke the Prince does not succeed.

Saadiq returns to the still a man changed. He has swapped her wedding band for jeans, a red t-shirt, a hat natty threads and more Stone irresistible Rollin on the dark side. "over you" is a fantastic psychedelic soul track. Everything ends with "Go to Hell", a rousing music in which Marvin Gaye trades large loom. It puts naked a few of the internal workings of a man whose smoothness feel otherwise a little plastic.

J. Lo: Love? -review

In recent years J - Lo s been busy emoting radiant (as a judge on American Idol) and childbearing flourishing (magazine People paid 6 m $ "to" its twin in the world), but it ends its hiatus registration of four years with a load of turbo-product bangers. "Lambada" - sampling "On the Floor" - a huge pop building built on the House, Latin, and techno - is a particular triumph. The only thing hindering dancefloor abandonment is the hilarity of the words of the record: "Don ' T you want me to your baby?" She sings on "Good Hit" before failing to emphasize its ability of reproduction with this non-sequitur rappe: "Bracelet Cartier with my Prada bag."

R. Kelly - review

Terrible tease... Kelly r. spreads love at the Hammersmith Apollo, London. Photography: Christie Goodwin/Redferns

This is more than a decade that R. Kelly, King's self-proclaimed of R & B, passed through London last - time enough for his original fans to have grown up and has remained faithful despite the charges of child pornography (which he was acquitted), who has spent six years paw spawn a path in the Court. Fans embedded Lycra and bling of packaging on the first of the two dates UK have one thing in common: rose coloured glasses that transform a speed average 44 years with a small paunch in a prince among men.

"I was just simply too afraid to get on a plane", he said, to explain the gap of 12 years since he last spread the love to the United Kingdom. How did he overcome his fear of flying? Realizing that British women "deserve to see Kells, too." It is therefore here, sipping a cognac and give it what they want. "When you leave my room, you are going to be walking bow-legged," he sings, and they howl. "" "". If you want to return to my hotel, holler, "he suggests, and they duly holler." You can only wonder how room service will face.

Her self-confidence priapic is so complete it is 75 minutes from half - sung songs he gets rarely below a verse and a chorus before going on to day - an absurdly entertaining ensemble. His confidence is the result of a talent that positions him as the Burt Bacharach of R & B: he is a producer and screenwriter masterful, and the point of view of the works which pop melodies and funk rhythms are not opposing forms. The dozen hits he revisits this evening, if retro reek such that when a woman loves (from her new album Love Letter) or as Fiesta and ignition club bangers, incorporate melody and beats in a way that will still be appreciated a decade from nowWhile I Believe I Can Fly treacly ballads is guaranteed years of life as a song for the hearing of American Idol.

The latter requires as much energy to the belt that Kelly has to sit. Until that time, his endurance has been remarkable: he is an artist who rarely move constantly and frequently fires on the flights of a cappella, improvisation, which is of such a company sweat it breaks off the coast of clothing layers. But he is in fine voice tonight, and as a scarf, jacket and sunglasses are discarded side he did not miss a note.

Kelly is a terrible tease and never made good on his promise of all-back-to-mine: after a version bubbling people happy, he left the scene without a Word and the lights turn on. But for a show which is foreplay, it is not bad.

Album review: Booker t. Jones - the road to Memphis

Musician Booker t. Jones is a true legend that has identified as the leader of the Group of Booker t. and the MGS. But a less known fact is that he has also recorded four solo albums, including his last, the road to Memphis, who came out to the United States may 10, 2011. On the road to Memphis, Booker t. spreads its wings a little, not only to record remakes of songs by artists such as Lauryn Hill and Gnarls Barkley contemporary, but by working with artists, that he has never worked with before, as singer fame Sharon Jones (Dap-Kings), and hip-hop, the members of the Group The Roots. For more information, click the link to read the full review of the road to Memphis of Booker t. Jones.

Connect with R & B/Soul Music on Facebook.

Image ? ANTI-Records.

Jennifer Hudson: I remember me - review

If an of R & B/soul diva must overcome the tragedy, Jennifer Hudson is well on its way. A summary of its progress so far is sure to mention the murder of his mother, his sister, his nephew in 2008, eclipsing that Grammy (for his debut in 2008) and Oscar (for the movie Dreamgirls; his next role is Winnie Mandela). Huskier than most, thrums voice of Hudson with a richness that eludes a large portion of its competition (Beyonce, say). That said, the songs from his second album do not require lots of it, and even the title song struggles to be sufficiently poignant.