So our girl Jill Scott brought her Block Party Tour to her old stomping grounds on Saturday, August 6, 2011. The concert at The Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden, NJ was packed with adoring fans anxiously waiting to see one of their favorite people from North Philly bless them with her musical and lyrical gifts.
This reviewer was caught in a maze of Murphy’s Law which included being stuck in a Judgment-Day-long line of traffic and walking 8 or more blocks from my parking spot only to get to the Will Call window and realize that I left someone’s tickets in my car; needless to say I missed half of the show.
By the time I entered the venue, Anthony Hamilton was taking the audience to church with a soul stirring inspirational song. I fully appreciated the performance at that moment, because I needed the spirit of Jesus to calm my nerves. Anthony, dressed in all white, was singing from his toes, from the graves of his ancestors, from the depths of his soul. His performance included spirited strolls through the isles, dancing on stage and pitch perfect vocals. I love how he always sounds like his records…maybe better. During the set change, Jazzy Jeff stepped behind the turntables and really turned SBC into an old school block party. Jeff gave us everything from classic Hip Hop to R&B and Soul and we loved every minute of it. All props go to Doug E. Fresh for showing us how to REALLY “Dougie.” He even gave us various versions like the “basketball court Dougie,” and the “hole in one Dougie.”
Once Jazzy Jeff completed his set, it was time for the queen to address her subjects. Three male background singers enter the stage looking like Boyz II Men Coolly High Harmony wearing jeans, white button up shirts and baseball caps. A single male dancer enters the stage and begins to break dance while the band plays the intro for Jill’s single “Shame.”
Illy Jilly from Philly enters wearing a black and silver fitted v-neck top, black shiny leggings and bright lime green sneaks. Jill looked good and was ready to throw down. Her set included new music from her latest CD “The Light of The Sun” and classics from her previous albums. Her dancer made several appearances and accented several songs. Vocally Ms. Scott was on point, as usual, but there seemed to be a very subdued vibe in the room. You could tell people were having a good time and getting lost in her lyrics and in her song, but it was clear that many fans were “standing on the wall at the party.”
I certainly had a good time, and one of the highlights for me was her duet with Doug E. Fresh on Ladi Dadi. I can say it was a treat to watch her rap to that! If you missed the show, I’ve included a snippet of the Ladi Dadi duet so you can have a piece of the magic for yourself. If you would like to see the entire video visit my blog TiffanyBaconOnline.Blogspot.com. – Tiffany Bacon, Cultural Ambassador
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