Ledisi delivers positive energy and inspiration to the Keswick Theatre
Some artists are not only born with the gift of song but are lucky enough to be able to combine their voices with the ability to uplift and inspire. On Sunday night at the Keswick Theatre, seven-time Grammy nominee Ledisi (pronounced LED-uh-see) delivered her take on inspiration and self-love, with thrusting vocals, Ella-esque jazz riffs, and grooves funky enough to overcome the technical difficulties that delayed her arrival to the stage. A tight six-piece band, complete with two background singers, provided an intro that renewed the energy of the sold-out crowd. Emerging on stage illuminated by a red spot light behind a sheer curtain, Ledisi kicked off her Be Good to Yourself tour with tunes from 2011's Grammy-nominated album Pieces Of Me. Dazzling in a silver sequined mini with the energy of a sultry Tina Turner, Ledisi presented a 13-song set that included a take-that! version (complete with megaphone) of "Shut Up" her musical ode to naysayers. As she sang the self-congratulatory lyrics of "Bravo," Ledisi stomped, shimmied, and shook her way across the stage, prompting the audience to join in repeating her self-affirming chant, "I'm winning every day."
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Some artists are not only born with the gift of song but are lucky enough to be able to combine their voices with the ability to uplift and inspire. On Sunday night at the Keswick Theatre, seven-time Grammy nominee Ledisi (pronounced LED-uh-see) delivered her take on inspiration and self-love, with thrusting vocals, Ella-esque jazz riffs, and grooves funky enough to overcome the technical difficulties that delayed her arrival to the stage.
A tight six-piece band, complete with two background singers, provided an intro that renewed the energy of the sold-out crowd. Emerging on stage illuminated by a red spot light behind a sheer curtain, Ledisi kicked off her Be Good to Yourself tour with tunes from 2011's Grammy-nominated album Pieces Of Me.
Dazzling in a silver sequined mini with the energy of a sultry Tina Turner, Ledisi presented a 13-song set that included a take-that! version (complete with megaphone) of "Shut Up" her musical ode to naysayers. As she sang the self-congratulatory lyrics of "Bravo," Ledisi stomped, shimmied, and shook her way across the stage, prompting the audience to join in repeating her self-affirming chant, "I'm winning every day."
Leaving the stage for the first of four costume changes, Ledisi returned in purple metallic hot pants and dished out a sexy serenade of "So Into You" to a blushing male audience member who was selected to join her on stage. Showing off her range and lush, vibrant tones, she took on both sets of vocals for the track "Stay Together" — a duet that included R&B's Jahiem on her original recording — in a musical coup that ignited the audience.
In between reaching back to perform cuts from her major label debut in 2007, Lost and Found, Ledisi paid homage to the late Whitney Houston with a tender rendition of the chorus to "The Greatest Love of All" before doling out cautionary perspectives on life, love, and relationships with touching versions of fan favorites "In the Morning" and a slow-paced, scatting-filled, drum-heavy rendition of "Alright."
After returning to perform additional songs from Pieces Of Me, Ledisi sang the title song in high-energy style as she made her way through the aisles, reaching out to touch hands in the audience. A moving intimate performance of the Louis Armstrong classic "What a Wonderful World" rounded out a show filled with positive energy and a voice that just wouldn't quit.