After 12 years, D’Angelo and his nine-piece band, The Testimony, landed in London for the the first of two sold out shows and proved that organic funk, of all shapes and sizes, is alive and well.
The two and a half hour set included covers, tracks from Voodoo and Brown Sugar and four new songs that may or may not be included on a new album due later this year.
Throughout the 13 song set, P-Funk, James Brown, Prince, Dilla and sweet 70’s soul all made appearances, twisted through D’Angelo’s own vision and that of a band on top of its game.
The last time D’Angelo was in Brixton, he was joined by the Soultronics, often considered one of the finest bands ever assembled for a major tour.
This time around, The Testimony banished any thoughts that they would pale in comparison. The backing vocalists and keyboards took on the horn parts to great effect and the whole unit grooved like a mother.
Kicking off with the Voodoo opener Playa Playa behind a curtain of red light, the band – and D’Angelo – were unseen until they switched to an upbeat version of Feel Like Makin’ Love and the lights revealed Mr. Archer brandishing a guitar alongside his two other six string players – Isaiah Sharkey and Jesse Johnson of Prince Fame.
Guitars were the dominant sound of this set. Jesse Johnson took a number of searing lead breaks, coming on like a cross between Eddie Hazell and Adrian Belew in his 1980 Talking Heads mode while Isaiah Sharkey got his chance on Chicken Grease and nailed it.
Sh*t, Damn, Motherf****r was given a new treatment, much more laid back than the overheated epic of the Voodoo Tour.
It also gave Pino and Chris “Daddy” Dave the chance to stretch out, something that was much appreciated by the large gathering of some of the UK’s top session musicians who made the trip to Brixton.
One of the highlights was D’Angelo’s own solo spot. It was just him alone at the retro Yamaha electric grand piano. The medley included Jonz In My Bonz, Spanish Joint, Dreamin’ Eyes, Cruisin’, Higher, One Mo’Gin & Untitled and proved once and for all that the man can still sing, play the piano and can groove like no other.It was a delight.
The new songs gave an indication of where the new album may go. The Charade is totally Prince in design and boasts a magnificent keyboard hook live. Another Life kicks off like something from Parade but soon develops into a sweet 70‘s soul ballad.
Sugah Daddy is the strongest of the new material with a great groove and a lovely ascending riff that keeps the interest.
Overall the new songs seem to have a more melodic approach than most of the Voodoo material but they still keep that irresistible groove that underpins the best of D’Angelo’s work.
A storming 15 minute revamped Brown Sugar brought the evening to a triumphant conclusion.
After 12 years absence the question on everybody’s lips was whether he still had it.
The answer is a big yes.
Now we need that new album dude.
Set List:
Playa Playa
Feel Like Makin’ Love
Ain’t That Easy*
Devil’s Pie
Chicken Grease
The Line Intro>The Root
The Charade*
I’ve Been Watching You
SDMF>Bass and Drums solo>SDMF
Pookie Keyboard Interlude
D’Angelo Piano Medley
Another Life*
Sugah Daddy*
Brown Sugar
*New Song
The Band:
D’Angelo – Vocals, keys, guitar
Jesse Johnson – Lead guitar
Isaiah Sharkey – Guitar
Cleo “Pookie” Sample – Keys
Pino Palladino – Bass
Chris “Daddy” Dave – Drums
Robert Lumzy – Percussion, Vocals
Kendra Foster – Vocals
Jermaine Holmes – Vocals
Charles “Red” Middleton – Vocals
Links:
You Tube Videos:
Zenith Show
I WAS at paris/Zénith! It was AAwsome! HE was AMAZING! HE’S BACK 4 fu*k*n’real trust me!
He just keeps real soul/funky alive! in our generation, he is the only one who does music the way he did in 2000 and, still the only one in 2012, mo…re in live, he is a real showman!!! I saw him trust me, he is really back!!!
His voice and his talent is better than never!!!
Watch all the paris/Zénith live songs on Youtube (better quality than Stockholm), it’s Awsome!!! so YES we want to hear this New album!!!
Thank U D’!!! We missed U sooooo much and, most important, MUSIC missed U!!! Music need rare people like You, U heeeeeear?!?
We lost amy, but this year, we find D’angelo again!!! Hope the futur still lightin’ in a positive way for him! like it or not, this is real music, nothing else!
“Untilted” Live – Paris Zénith (29.01.21012): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xs_2JKTHYJU&feature=related
*NEW* Song:
… It’s just a pure BOMB! Back in the 20′s original blues piano rythm loops! Real Funky Music!
“Suggar daddy” (Live @ Zénith Paris) [2012-01-29]: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMS3pEIxDZo