Jill Scott and Jamie Hawkins

First off, let me just say that I waited with high hopes for this show to come back around and was not disappointed with the results. The Paramount Theatre in Oakland is a great place to see a show. It is one of the last Depression-era movie houses still standing on the West Coast, and an exquisite example of the Art Deco architecture beginning at that time.
Jamie Hawkins, best known for his keyboard and production work with Destiny's Child, opened the show with a short and rather uneventful set. The music was classic R&B, though it lacked the punch and originality that his collaborative work seems to bring. He did, however, represent with a live band that was impressive. I don't think that the sound crew put much effort into honing his sound, as they and their mixing boards (as well as the rest of the house) seemed to be passively awaiting the night's featured artist, Jill Scott.
Jill Scott walked out onto the stage under full house lights and greeted the audience. As the lights abruptly dimmed and a spotlight dropped on her, she blindly told them to cut it. She told the crowd that there has been a lot of drama around her, with "…everyone tryin' to make Jill Scott fancy. Well, Jill Scott ain't fancy." And, so the show began.
One by one, her band, Fatback Taffy, strolled out. There were drums, bass, keys, trumpet, trombone, and two backup singers, but no guitar. She kicked it off with the last song on her album and went from there. Throughout the show, the band took songs in places that the album never went. The arrangements were spectacular, as were the musicians. Between songs and in the middle of some, she would talk to the crowd about love (losing it, hating it and loving again), about throwin' down if someone interferes with your principals, and just takin' care of business in general. The crowd was listening. Her voice was absolutely spectacular and carried a real don't-fuck-with-me overtone. The band had a chance to shine with a medley that featured all of the musicians individually playing everything from Chick Corea's "Spain" to James Brown's "Chicken." It was great. The show ended with a standing encore and a lot of love coming from the Oakland crowd.
Jill Scott is amazing. If you don't have her album, Who is Jill Scott?, you must check it out. It is the best thing I've heard since Erykah Badu's Live. (By the way, Badu is coming to the Paramount March 12th and 13th. Get your tickets fast!)

- Colby Barr

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