CONCERT REVIEW: JAMIE FOXX

"I'm an Oscar winner but I'm ghetto, too," Jamie Foxx told his fans in the Music Hall on Wednesday night.

Foxx is enjoying a remarkable career as a successful actor, comedian and musician. Although a sold-out audience of about 2,400 paid to see Foxx's music and comedy, it was Foxx's skills as an actor that shone brightest. For all his prodigious talent, it seemed that Foxx was playing the role of a comedian and musician. He never completely connected with the demonstrative, women-dominated audience.

Foxx began with 35 minutes of stand-up comedy. His jokes and social observations were often hysterical. Targets included Mick Jagger, Paris Hilton, O.J. Simpson, and Britney Spears. Foxx suggested that the pop star's notoriously exposed body parts "looked sad."

While Foxx didn't address the Don Imus story directly, he did discuss a related aspect of that debate.

Black people," Foxx cried. "They're trying to take the word 'n*****' from us."

"We can use that one word to describe everything," he suggested before leading the audience in a chant of the controversial word. This led to the evening's most electric moment. Foxx accused a white man seated near the stage of participating.

You thought you'd get one in," Foxx chided.

Screams of admiration filled the Music Hall when Foxx began to sing. For 70 minutes, he and a nine-piece band trafficked in the silky soul sound of his multi-platinum Unpredictable album. He opened with an extended version of "Slow Jamz," his hit with Twista and Kanye West. The song extols the virtues of Marvin Gaye and Luther Vandross. That pairing provides Foxx's musical blueprint.

The only deviation in the effective set of smooth R&B was Foxx's uncannily accurate reprise of his role as Ray Charles. Foxx is a good -- and tremendously charismatic -- singer. But he suffered in comparison to his four outstanding backup singers. He allowed them plenty of room on his hit "DJ Play a Love Song."

Audience favorite "Three Letter Word" was enhanced by the efforts of a scantily clad female dancer. Foxx's comedic streak can betray him. He rarely completes a song without adding silly vocal effects or amusing impersonations. It's funny, but Foxx's joking comes at the expense of his music.

"A cold in my chest" hampered Foxx throughout the evening. Yet aside from a tiresome simulated sex act routine that he kept reviving, the show moved along at a nice clip.

But something was missing. Even before Foxx could begin his two-song encore, much of the audience was heading for the exit. Sometimes good looks, a winning personality and stunning versatility just aren't enough.

Speedy, who served as Foxx's MC, warmed up the crowd. His performance was hit-and-miss, but he struck comedic gold a few times. His wry appraisals of latecomers finding their seats was very funny.

Speedy pointed out that an inordinate number of men -- including the unarmed security staff -- wore sweater vests. "You're not security," he accused. "You're witnesses." In response to a persistent heckler, he suggested that a security guard "throw some yarn on her."

| Bill Brownlee, Special to The Star

Comments

[CWaters]

It almost sounds as if you were in the building yet in the restroom throughout this dynamic one man show! Your article was very detailed yet choppy and may have left the true Jamie Foxx's fans in the dark.

First the lights, Jamie, in his most comfortable skin immediately revs a full house crowd to their feet then has them falling to their seats in laughter. No let downs there. One of the most dramatic turns of the night was when Jamie called a town hall meeting with the black people discussing the n**** word usage. He advises all white people not to partake in his version of peat, repeat exercise. Suddenly, a camera catches a multicolor sea of people as the face of a white man is shown repeating the n**** word. The crowd is immediately alarmed as if someone called Kansas City, Missouri... Kansas. Instead of Jamie turning this innocent bystander of comedic satire into another Don Imus, he offers him redemption and the crowd cheers him on. It was his way of saying to a room of 2,400 black people, I am sorry.

Camera, action, here comes the Fox! Fox lowers the lights, slows the laughter and enters the "grown and sexy" segment of his vocal performance. From the three piece suit to the breathe taking, well deserved standing ovation impression of Ray Charles was nothing short of his "I'm an Oscar winner but I'm ghetto, too," theme. Fox also entertained the crowd with an electrifying band, seductive dancers, and noteworthy backup singers. Although he often took time to apologize for being under the weather, his show exuberated the vivacious and energetic Fox we all know. Overall, the Jamie plus the Fox was well worth the wait Kansas City.

[mia vann]

Jamie Fox by far was the best performace at a concert I've ever been to. Jamie knocked every performer out the box, his lady dancers were impressive and also the back up singers were off the chains. Wow that's a concert I will never forget. Ohh don't let me forget the band they were awesome also. Jamie Fox was very impressive,his body, his style, he had ghettoness but also class how? the two combine, I still haven't figuered that out. Jamie haven't forgot were he came from and that's what I like most of all. I thought R Kelly was the best but he's not shit compared to Jamie Fox, Jamie basically made everybody step there game up. I heard a lot of people say they thought someone else was comin with Jamie but after the concert everyone would say, I could watch Jamie do a concert by himself he don't need anyone else. Even my man had to admit that was the best concert he has ever saw and he's 38, I'm 28 so u know how hard it is for a man to give another man props but the funny thing is nobody wanted the concert to end Speedy the comedian had to say,"Aight it's over everybody" nobody was ready for it to end. Ohh and Speedy he was hilarious. I just wanna say thanks for the experience of wat a concert should be like unlike R Kelly sorry ass he performs in clothes he been laying around the house in nobody wants to look at him like that, but Jamie he had class and Jamie u are #1. Keep up the great work. Your fans love u!

[Florn Roonst]

I don't know what all the Jamie Foxx fuss is about. The concert was completely overrated and just wan't much fun. (If you're being picky, for the record I didn't actually attend and I still haven't seen Ray, though I hope to rent it on video).

His whole routine of "entertaining" with music, dance, comedy and the like is just too varied to be taken seriously. Hello, this is Kansas City, not Las Vegas.

And I don't think we have to go running down R Kelley just to make a point. Maybe his clothes were laying around the house because he's so busy practicing and giving his all?

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Aamazing movie! one of the best ive seen in the last 7-9 years.Jamie's acting skills are at their prime!

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