Quelques infos supplémentaires glanées sur le concert en hommage à James Brown chapeautée par Christian Mc Bride avec la participation de D'Angelo.
"James Brown, “The Hardest Working Man in Show Business,” “The Godfather of Soul,” “Mr. Dynamite,” was celebrated at the Hollywood Bowl recently when Christian McBride gathered several members of James Brown’s former bands to put on a ‘funky good time.’ The multiple-award winning jazz bassist/composer/arranger also invited vocalists Bettye LaVette, Aloe Blacc, Angelique Kidjo and D’Angelo to keep it funky, filled with soul and super bad. A surprise appearance and performance by Chadwick Boseman, the actor/musician who is currently portraying James Brown in the film Get On Up, made the night even more exciting when he joined D’Angelo on Brown’s hit called “Soul Power.”
With over 14,000 fans feeling good and on their feet during most of the show, the Hollywood Bowl was fortunate to not have a roof this evening since it would have been gone the next morning! These musicians really brought the funky rhythms of Brown’s major hits like none other. The James Brown Alumni Band looked dazzling in their sequined jackets and was led by Christian McBride who donned his sequined jacket with the help of two gorgeous dancers. After a brief introduction by Christian McBride, the night featured a slide presentation of photos from James Brown in performance on the giant screens as well as spoken excerpts from Brown’s biography. But the fun really kicked in when the Alumni Band launched into “Ain’t It Funky Now?” and “Funky Good Time.”
One of James Brown’s original emcees- Danny Ray- introduced Betty LaVette who sang awesome interpretations of “I’ll Go Crazy,” “Try Me,” and “It’s A Man’s World.” Her soulful voice and gritty blues inflections was a sure indication that she had learned how to “defend herself on stage” from the Godfather of Soul himself.
Aloe Blacc tore the house down with his set! He performed “The Payback,” “Super Bad,” and “Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag,” with authority and threw in a few of Brown’s famous dance steps for added pleasure. This young man is one to watch as his vocals match any of today’s soul singers with the same great emotion, tones and believeability. The audience loved him and gave a roaring, standing ovation.
When Angelique Kidjo took the stage you knew something special was about to happen. She really impressed the audience with her amazing vocals and renditions of “Cold Sweat,” “Say It Loud,” and “I Feel Good.” Kidjo danced, moonwalked, shared her snappy repartee, and gave one of the best performances of the evening. She left a lot of great impressions and truly deserved the amazing applause she received.
D’Angelo closed the show with “I Don’t Want Nobody,” “Maybe the Last Time,” and “Soul Power” with actor/musician Chad Boseman joining him on "Soul Power." His set was funky as it wanted to be and the audience let him and Chad Boseman know that their screams, shouts, grunts and dance moves were truly appreciated. When all of the musicians came out for a group bow, by now the audience was on its feet shouting for more. But this funky night was over and the trip down memory lane via an array of James Brown’s greatest hits gave this audience a funky good time and left them feeling very good.
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A noter la présence de Pee Wee Ellis, Fred Wesley, Jab'o Starks, Clyde Stubblefield, Bettye Lavette, Angelique Kidjo et Eric Leeds.