Jan. 14, 2007 — Rare electricity charged the air at the Reichhold Center Saturday night between Angelique Kidjo and her audience. The African diva got as good as she gave, as the people of St. Thomas did the territory proud.
Kidjo took advantage of the perfect sound system — clear, clean and loud. She is a powerhouse, one with a calm strength and compassionate message. Her words were as strong as her music as she spoke about her work for UNICEF, Oxfam and other humanitarian causes. The concert was a mix of old and new material that she delivered with power, grace and joy.
And it was the music that got everybody moving with songs from Oyaya!, her latest CD, which has a strong Latin and Caribbean feel. In all her music Kudjo remains true to her African heritage, as with the songs she sang from Oremi and her previous nine albums.
She was accompanied by top young players from the world music and jazz scene. They were fluent in many styles, from merengue to funk. All were great players: piano, guitar, bass and drums. "We are only five on stage, but we sound like 10," Kidjo says. There were hot afro-funk grooves, quiet African ballads with solo guitar and, in one of the evening's highlights, her version of Jimi Hendrix's "Voodoo Child," featuring the remarkable Rene CamachoTres on bass.
“Bahia” was a soulful Latin number in which Kidjo dazzled with both voice and feet, dancing across the stage in a display of non-stop energy. Her mother was a dancer and instructor in the West African country Benin, and it showed as Kidjo danced with simultaneous precision and abandon. At one point she walked through the entire audience, working and playing with everyone.
Her band demonstrated its calypso chops in the crowd favorite “Congoleo.”
Kidjo said the audience here was a good one because locals live with all of the many styles Kidjo and her band played. Whether it was menengue, ska or salsa, the crowd kept moving. She loved it.
Kidjo sang “Djo va min yi,” dedicated to the late, great Celia Cruz, who was supposed to sing it as a duet on Kidjo’s next CD. Cruz was a great favorite and the crowd showed its appreciation.
At one point while singing “Afirika,” Kidjo asked the audience to join her. The sound came back so clear and strong that she broke into a big smile. "Wow, this is going to be good," she said.
She gave the crowd a good-natured challenge, “I’m sweating. You should be sweating, too.” The audience accepted her challenge. About 200 people got up on stage and danced — really danced. Kidjo kept singing as she got lost in a sea of dancers, all showing their moves. It was one of those special moments in concerts when audience and performer become one, and the energy level goes straight up. Kidjo saw St. Thomas at its best.
She knew it was a rare night. A performer can feel when an audience is special. She was blown away and in turn, blew up the place. It was a privilege to be there.
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