Actor and singer TC Carson will bring his rich baritone vocals to the stage Thursday at St. James Live.
“This is really about an evening of music that, hopefully, will touch people’s spirit and hearts,” said Carson, who also celebrates his birthday Nov. 19. “Right now, things in this country are so negative. I want people to come out, leave all that at the door and roll with me.”
Carson, who began his career in theater, is best known as the unflappable and sophisticated Kyle Barker on “Living Single,” but his resume is really quite extensive. It includes roles on “Greenleaf,” “The Quad,” and films like “U-571” and “Bricked.”
He’s also the voice of Kratos in the “God of War” video game series, and Mace Windu in “Star Wars: The Clone Wars.”
Carson said the audience can expect to hear “jazzified” versions of contemporary tunes from the likes of Prince and Teena Maria mixed in standards like “Midnight Sun,” and a few songs from his first solo album, “Truth.”
Carson, though, doesn’t want to reveal his whole playlist.
The concert, “TC 2.0: A Night of Jazz and Celebration with TC Carson,” will include special guest performances by Grammy-nominated jazz guitarist Doc Powell and King Leo Bakari.
It amuses the Chicago native that people are still surprised he can sing. He hopes to release an EP soon and begin a multistate tour.
After all, he sang during a few episodes of “Living Single,” and in stage plays.
And, really, what would you expect from that voice, which he describes as a baritone with tenor tendencies.
These days, he said, baritones are practically “screamed” out of existence by tenors. He wants to bring back the rich vocal vibes of performers like Barry White, Lou Rawls and Isaac Hayes.
His favorites today are Ledisi, who is a “beast on stage,” and Gregory Porter, an “old soul.”
Though some pop and R&B artists might get more attention, “people who enjoy musicality love Ledisi and Gregory Porter. The intent of the music is there. They’re not doing it for likes. They’re doing it because they love the music and have a story to tell, which they are telling through music. That’s what I’m working to do as well.”
Carson said he prefers theater, where he gets to do it all -- act, dance, sing.
He loves the personal connection with an audience, the immediacy and intimacy of a performance and the fact that what happens one night will not be repeated exactly the same way tomorrow.
Carson now makes Atlanta home, having moved from Los Angeles about five years ago.
And, yes, the question did come up about a reboot of “Living Single.”
How could it not?
Carson would definitely be reunited with his castmates and friends, whom he still keeps in contact with.
“Why wouldn’t I be,” he said. “Why wouldn’t I want that check, c’mon. The issue is how to move it (the show’s storyline) forward so that it makes sense.”
EVENT PREVIEW
Singer and actor TC Carson performs jazz
7 p.m. Thursday. $15-$45. St. James Live Jazz Club, 3220 Butner Road, Suite 240, Atlanta. 404-254-3561, stjamesliveatl.com.
