live music

Editor's rating

Venue: 1Xtra presents, Bloomsbury Ballroom, London
Gig played: 13 October 2008

R'n'b is enjoying a healthy revival in the US, with a number of male singers spreading love and good melodies to charm their way to the top of the charts. Among those is John Legend, a five-time Grammy award winner whose musical achievements and CV of celebrity collaborations (Kanye West, Lauryn Hill, Alicia Keys, Estelle) speak for themselves.

In person, Legend combines the fervour of gospel and r'n'b with his trusty piano and a vocal ability that can move mountains. Then there are the love songs - therapeutic, entertaining and quite often flirty. It's little wonder, then, that at this exclusive 1Xtra show, his female fans are first to kick off the name-chanting and - as he serves up songs from albums Get Lifted, Once Again and forthcoming third album Evolver - they don't hesitate to let him know he's the one that they want. But Legend, who looks quite dashing in a black leather jacket and blinged-up Barack Obama T-shirt, is quite the tease: he simply smiles and winks back.

At times, the 29-year-old is more a musical director than showman, but this gig makes way for plenty of grand moments, thanks to a fantastic band and some sassy backing vocalists. The singer's own voice is husky and enormous, whether he's singing the buoyant 'Know That I Love You' or dropping on his piano bench and working the ivories to the classy 'Save Room'. He even throws shapes as new single 'Green Light' pumps up the crowd before settling down to deliver the biggest hit of the night, 'Ordinary People'. The crowd's response clearly indicates the magnitude of Legend's talent and thankfully, the r'n'b market has paved the way for a virtuoso who's rapidly making steps towards superstardom.
 
Matilda Egere-Cooper

Picture: PA Photos