Amos Lee isn't as soulful as Van Morrison. He's not as funky as Al Green. And his voice isn't as distinctive as Sam Cooke's. Even so, Amos Lee is pretty damn good.
The Philadelphia soul man presented a deeply satisfying concert Wednesday night at the Uptown Theater.
There's no shame in his not quite meeting the standards of the greatest artists in R&B and folk-rock. Effectively emulating the best that music offers is half the battle. Just ask the approximately 400 adoring fans who turned out to see the talented newcomer.
Lee is talented. His raspy voice was completely convincing on the haunting "Careless." And the folk-based "Night Train" is one of several songs that showcased his substantial chops as a songwriter.
Where his studio work for Blue Note Records can seem stifled, Lee's dynamic 90-minute performance was fully engaging. He spent most of the night strumming an acoustic guitar as his three-piece band recreated the vintage sound of Bobby Womack.
Aside from the slightly more contemporary feel of "Won't Let Me Go," a sultry song that hinted that Lee might be familiar with the work of Gerald Levert and Luther Vandross, not a note Lee and his band played would have been out of place in 1973.
Each time Lee's exquisite tastefulness threatened to become tedious, a woman in the audience would add an appreciative scream or Lee would pick up the pace. It's no accident that his liveliest songs, such as "Seen It All Before," were audience favorites.
Yet the emotional core of his set was a transcendent duet with Priscilla Ahn on the fragile "Black Water."
"Quite a beautiful voice, huh?" Lee said of Ahn's breathtaking contribution.
Ahn began her 30-minute opening set with "Dream," an achingly lovely ballad featured on "Grey's Anatomy." Ahn is one of many sensitive young songwriters given a career jump-start by the television drama.
Her wide-eyed, childlike songs were enchanting, but it was Ahn's silly introduction to "The Boob Song" that won over the audience.
Based on their outstanding performances Wednesday evening, it's likely that Ahn and Lee's greatest achievements are yet to come.
| Bill Brownlee, Special to The Star
I saw Amos Lee open for Norah Jones a few years back at Municipal Auditorium and was, well, underwhelmed.....at a Norah Jones concert, no less. I'm surprised he even got 400 people to the Uptown last night. Well, more power to him. Perhaps Jack Johnson will give him an opening slot in the future. I HAVE had a little trouble sleeping lately......
Posted by: Geordan | August 14, 2008 at 03:50 PM
He was solo/acoustic for that show -- no backup band and in Municipal Auditorium, which overwhelmed him. And Norah Jones isn't exactly a pitcher of Red Bull.
Posted by: Tim Finn | August 14, 2008 at 04:58 PM
True that, True that......
Posted by: Geordan | August 14, 2008 at 05:14 PM
Why was he booked at the Uptown? Last time he was in town he played the old Grand Emporium. Playing in front of 400 folks at the Uptown would be odd.
Posted by: bob | August 18, 2008 at 08:43 AM