Alicia Keys hits the high note.Review and Photos by Terry Mayer
Alicia Keys can do it all, sing with a big heart, play the piano masterfully and craft some fine, soul searching lyrics. Nearly sweeping the Grammys earlier this year Keys is living up to all the hopes and dreams placed on her. Not an easy chore. Her new legion of fans adore her. With her smash debut album Songs In A Minor under her belt, Keys relationship with her fans goes far beyond the catchy hit tunes.
She carries an authentic enthusiasm missing in many of todays "grab the money and run" stars.
Kicking off her most recent tour in Milwaukee, Keys entered the stage and started a big city block party. Making her entrance she sat down at the centrally located piano and took a few seconds to fondle the ivories. You gotta treat the things well that take care of you. Her fingers started to dance in unison with the notes as their musical marriage made their way to the receptive ears of the smiling audience. She would look up at her fans smiling under her half-cocked fedora and let her swinging braids fall to her face.
"Rock With U" led the barrage for a R&B fun filled and soulful evening. With a mixture of her own songs Keys worked in a version of "ABC" and the Doors "Light My Fire" - funky style. "A Woman's Worth" proved to be a favorite of the night, along with "How Come You Don't Call Me Anymore" by Prince, who was formerly know as the artist formerly know as Prince.
Keys demonstrated her musical talent on the piano with "Butterflies." It's R&B core helped to anchor Keys beautifully soulful voice. The encore found "Fallin" breaking out of it's radio rotation and take a quicker, yet spunkier rendition that played fresh for the audience. Keys was giving the crowd everything she had with emotion and grace. This young R&B talent will surely be heard from for many more years to come.
