Jamila Woods finally got to play Toronto last night.
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Jamila Woods finally got to play Toronto last night. The sold out event postponed from May, was moved to Radio, the updated Adelaide Hall, a 500 person capacity below ground venue. It was a comparatively small stage for the respected r&b singer, regardless Woods and her band, standing what seemed to be nearly shoulder to shoulder delivered an excellent performance.
From the warm up it was clear, these guys were gonna kill this shit. Woods’s four-piece band is a revelation, showcasing a versatility able to make it through last album Legacy! Legacy!’s diverse arrangements. Bandleader Ami, Matt Skillz, Justin Canavan, and noted gospel chops drummer Leonard Maddox Jr, put on an incendiary, dialled performance providing worthy accompaniment. Woods herself put on a relaxed, if not focused performance waxing poetic with conviction, but most importantly, happy with the overwhelmingly positive crowd reception. The charismatic leading lady showed characteristic humility and poise coming out victorious over the venue’s cheap sound system. The music was powerful, with Maddox and Skillz’s rhythm section having the crowd dance all night.
Jamila Woods’s two records: Legacy! Legacy!, and the soundcloud released HEAVN are graceful, beautifully mixed neo-soul statements on the female black identity. Harkening back to Badu’s sense of spirituality, the philosophies of literary scholars like Toni Morrison and Lucille Clifton, and the dynamics of Sade’s best work, material from both albums shined last night. Lonely Lonely’s brilliant interpolation of Paula Cole’s I Don’t Want to Wait (the Dawson’s Creek theme) is delivered with raw sincerity in its live incarnation, while Legacy! Legacy! highlight Basquiat takes a similar front seat in concert. Implanted with no introduction, the late night burner brought the house down; Woods’ still in control mezzo sounding madder than ever while Matt Skillz took a bass solo.
Listen/save to Legacy! Legacy! below. See Jamila Woods when she hits Europe this November and join the comments after the jump
Jamila Woods finally got to play Toronto last night. The sold out event postponed from May, was moved to Radio, the updated Adelaide Hall, a 500 person capacity below ground venue. It was a comparatively small stage for the respected r&b singer, regardless Woods and her band, standing what seemed to be nearly shoulder to shoulder delivered an excellent performance.
From the warm up it was clear, these guys were gonna kill this shit. Woods’s four-piece band is a revelation, showcasing a versatility able to make it through last album Legacy! Legacy!’s diverse arrangements. Bandleader Ami, Matt Skillz, Justin Canavan, and noted gospel chops drummer Leonard Maddox Jr, put on an incendiary, dialled performance providing worthy accompaniment. Woods herself put on a relaxed, if not focused performance waxing poetic with conviction, but most importantly, happy with the overwhelmingly positive crowd reception. The charismatic leading lady showed characteristic humility and poise coming out victorious over the venue’s cheap sound system. The music was powerful, with Maddox and Skillz’s rhythm section having the crowd dance all night.
Jamila Woods’s two records: Legacy! Legacy!, and the soundcloud released HEAVN are graceful, beautifully mixed neo-soul statements on the female black identity. Harkening back to Badu’s sense of spirituality, the philosophies of literary scholars like Toni Morrison and Lucille Clifton, and the dynamics of Sade’s best work, material from both albums shined last night. Lonely Lonely’s brilliant interpolation of Paula Cole’s I Don’t Want to Wait (the Dawson’s Creek theme) is delivered with raw sincerity in its live incarnation, while Legacy! Legacy! highlight Basquiat takes a similar front seat in concert. Implanted with no introduction, the late night burner brought the house down; Woods’ still in control mezzo sounding madder than ever while Matt Skillz took a bass solo.
Listen/save to Legacy! Legacy! below. See Jamila Woods when she hits Europe this November and join the comments after the jump
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