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Sunday, October 24, 2004
Jill Scott’s ‘Golden’ at DeKalb Atlanta Centre
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
If one were to list on paper what makes a recording artist great it would include much of what Jill Scott is on stage.
First, the R&B singer has an exceptional voice. Where many of her peers seem to focus on atmosphere, effect or theatrics, Scott brings warmth, technical ability and power in appropriate doses. A gift made even more evident Saturday night at the Dekalb Atlanta Centre, where the acoustics were particularly complimentary.
Second, the exceptional vocalist has occasionally incredible things to sing. Key word: occasionally. Though Scott’s two studio albums are dotted with simple, “sister-girl” tracks like “Gettin’ In the Way,” writing, melody and emotion make powerhouses out of singles like “He Loves Me,” “Rasool” and “I Keep.”
Third, her eight-person musical accompaniment was instrumental in making her concert a better-than-the-album experience; reworking the soulful “The Way” into a rock scorcher; and closing dance single “Golden” with a jazzy piano vamp.
And finally, Scott makes her audiences feel good - in that gushy, Oprah kind of way. At the end of “Slowly Surely” she asked her fans to yell “I do love me!” and hug themselves. A pleasant gesture especially needed after many in the capacity crowd endured an hour-long line, or more, only to spend three more on their feet for the standing-room-only show.
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